Abstract:
Stained glass lampshades and decorative lamps and methods of making and fabricating stained glass lampshades and other ornamental shades and decorative articles for lamps, formed from customized glass tiles, that allow for additional glass tiles to be hung from hooks on fixed glass tiles, and allowing for indicia, such as but not limited to names, birthdays, designs, logos and pictures to be customized on selected glass tiles. Water jet cut glass tiles can be attached to one another into a hemi-spherical shape by a cured and hardened grout between each tile.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to lampshades, and in particular to stained glass lampshades and decorative lamp covering articles and methods of making and fabricating stained glass lampshades and other ornamental shades and decorative articles for lamps, formed from customized glass tiles, that allow for additional glass tiles to be hung from hooks on fixed glass tiles, and allowing for indicia to be customized on selected glass tiles. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Stained glass lampshades using different colored glass sections have been popular over the years and are often limited to single glass domes and half spheres, and the like, wherein the individual glass pieces and/or decorative pattern are fixed on the surface. See for example, U.S. Patents: U.S. Pat. No. 928,340 to Steffin; U.S. Pat. No. 1,041,938 to Young; U.S. Pat. No. 1,769,000 to Smith; U.S. Pat. No. 3,872,574 to Worden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,009,309 to Holt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,839 to Worden; U.S. Pat. No. 4,883,813 to Longo; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,772 to Crist, Jr. 
     A problem with these current types of glass lampshades are that they have fixed glass pieces that can not be changed and altered once the shade has been fabricated. 
     The prior art does not describe, teach or suggest methods of making and fabricating stained glass lampshades formed from separate pieces of stained glass that allow for loose glass pieces to be hooked thereon. 
     The prior art does not allow for the fabricator or user to customize individual pieces of glass, such as adding names of family members, and other selected indicia on the individual pieces of glass, and allow for loose pieces of glass to be hung from directly from glass fixed to the lampshades. 
     A still another problem is that most stained glass projects are cut with the score and break which is done by hand that can result in nonuniform cut pieces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 16,350 to Jenkins shows and describes a “Pendant for Lamps”, title, that hooks pendants to a rim around a light shade. However, Jenkins requires a separate rim which would not be aesthetically desirable with a stained glass lamp shade, and Jenkins does not allow for attaching separate glass pieces directly to other glass pieces. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. 76,987 to Cricchio shows a “table lamp or article of analogous nature”, title, showing the lamp shade having the appearance of leaves on a tree. However, the leaves in Cricchio appear to be fixed which would not allow the leaves to removed. Additionally, Cricchio replicates a tree and not a stained glass lampshade. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide stained glass lampshades and decorative articles with customized glass tiles, that allow for additional glass tiles to be hung from hooks on fixed glass tiles, and allowing for indicia to be customized on selected glass tiles. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide methods of making and fabricating stained glass lampshades and other ornamental shades and decorative articles for lamps, formed from customized glass tiles, that allow for additional glass tiles to be hung from hooks on fixed glass tiles, and allowing for indicia to be customized on selected glass tiles. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide methods of making and fabricating stained glass lampshades and other ornamental shades and decorative articles for lamps, formed from customized glass tiles where individual tiles (“leaves”) are cut from glass sheets with water jets to form selected geometrical shapes. 
     A method of making a stained glass lampshade, an include the steps of cutting glass into individual tiles of glass, forming indicia onto front surfaces of the individual cut tiles, printing tile location positions for on an exterior of a semi-hemispherical form, attaching a removable layer to back surfaces of the individual cut tiles, wrapping the form in a clear plastic sheet, attaching the cut tiles to be positioned over the printed location positions, grouting spaces between each of the attached tiles with a grout, curing the grout into a hardened grout which interlocks the cut tiles with one another over the semi-hemispherical form, removing the form and the removable layer from the interlocked cut tiles, to form a finished lamp shade, attaching hangers to exterior or interior lower edges of the lamp shade, and hanging loose cut tiles to the hangers. 
     The cutting step can include cutting tiles with a water jet. 
     The forming step of forming can include heating a decal having indicia on the tiles. 
     The removable layer attaching step can include applying contact paper with a sticky side as the removable layer. 
     The step of attaching individual tiles can include gluing tiles to the plastic sheet wrapped about the form. 
     The method can include the step of attaching a wheel ring to an upper opening in the plastic wrapped form; 
     The method can include the steps of positioning the lampshade with the wheel ring over an upper end of a stem on a lamp base, and attaching the lampshade to the upper end of the stem with a cap. 
     A stained glass lampshade can include a semi-hemispherical shape with a plurality of cut glass tiles adhered to the surface with grout between each of the cut glass tiles, hooks attached to portions of the grout adjacent to a perimeter base edge of the lamp shade, and loose cut glass tiles hanging from the hooks along the base of the lamp shade. 
     The plurality of cut glass tiles can be cut with a water jet. 
     The plurality of cut glass tiles can include indicia that that has been heated onto exterior surfaces of the cut glass tiles. 
     The indicia can include names permanently on the exterior surfaces of the cut glass tiles. 
     The indicia can include birthdates permanently on the exterior surfaces of the cut glass tiles. 
     The indicia can include pictures permanently on the exterior surfaces of the cut glass tiles. 
     The finished lamp shade can form a family tree lampshade listing names, birthdates, pictures and the like, of families and friends. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1A  shows an oval tile with text that can occur from method of making steps  1 - 5  of the invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the oval tile of  FIG. 1A  along arrow  1 B with the contact paper applied in step  5 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a foam hemispherical form with tile locations patterns wrapped in plastic wrap with lamp attachment post wheel ring affixed from method of making steps  6 - 8 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the hemispherical form of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the hemispherical form of  FIG. 2A  with the tiles of  FIG. 1A  affixed thereon from method of making steps  9 - 11 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3A  showing the form being backed out and removed, and removal of contact paper from method of making steps  12 - 13 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hemispherical form of  FIGS. 3A-3B  with wire hooks adhered thereon, and additional tiles hanging from the hooks with the lampshade installed on a post of a lamp base of method steps  14 - 18   
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a bottom end of the lampshade of  FIG. 4  showing wire hangers glued to grout of shade and shield tiles with holes on the hanging tiles for the hooks. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing method steps to make an embodiment of the stained glass lampshade of  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     A listing of the components used in the figures will now be described.
       10  Oval tile.     20  Contact paper.     30  Text/indicia on tile.     40  Shield tile.     50  Foam form with numbered tile pattern printed on surface.     60  Printed tile pattern number.     70  Printed oval tile pattern.     80  Printed shield tile pattern.     90  Plastic wrap.     100  Metal support wheel ring     102  Bolt     106  Nut     110  Grout.     120  Completed/finished lamp shade.     130  Shield tile with hole for wire hanger.     140  Hole in shield tile.     150  Wire hanger.     160  Glue secures wire hanger to inside grouted surface of lamp shade.     190  Lamp base     192  shade mounting stem with threaded top end     198  threadable cap to hold shade to mounting stem     200  Flow chart showing method of making steps     202  Step  1 ) Print name and date information, supplied by potential customer, onto “Fusing Photo Paper”, with a laser jet printer.     204  Step  2 ) Cut glass tiles (“leaves”) with a water jet.     206  Step  3 ) Apply name bearing decals to the face of glass “leaves”.     208  Step  4 ) Fire glass “leaves” with decals in kiln, to make names permanent.     210  Step  5 ) Apply clear contact paper to back of “leaves”.     212  Step  6 ) Draw a “leaf” location diagram on Styrofoam form.     214  Step  7 ) Wrap the form with plastic wrap.     216  Step  8 ) Affix  3 ″ brass wheel to the top of the form with a ¼″ bolt and nut.     218  Step  9 ) Attach glass “leaves” to the form using one “Glue Dot” (U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,670) per “leaf”.     220  Step  10 ) Grout spaces between “leaves” with epoxy grout.     222  Step  11 ) Clean excess grout off outside of “leaves”.     224  Step  12 ) Remove Styrofoam form when grout becomes rigid.     226  Step  13 ) Peel contact paper off inside of “leaves” and remove any excess grout.     228  Step  14 ) Glue on wire hooks to inside edge or outside edge portion of lamp shade base edge area to accommodate bottom row of loose hanging tiles (“leaves”).     230  Step  15 ) Install light bulb in lamp base.     232  Step  16 ) Install shade on base.     234  Step  17 ) Hang bottom row of “leaves” on hooks.     236  Step  18 ) Install  3 ″ vented brass vase cap on top of wheel.   

       FIG. 1A  shows an oval tile  10  with text  30  that can be made from method of making steps  1 - 5  of the invention.  FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional view of the oval tile  10  of  FIG. 1A  along arrow  1 B showing the contact paper  20  applied in step  5 .  FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the method steps  1 - 18  followed to make a preferred embodiment of the novel stained glass lampshade  180  of  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , and the flowchart  200  of  FIG. 6 , steps  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5  will now be described. Step  1  is to print name and date information, supplied by potential customer, onto a photo type paper, such as a “Fusing Photo Paper”, with a laser jet printer,  202   FIG. 6 . 
     Step  2  is to cut glass tiles (“leaves”) with an automated tool such as but not limited to a water jet,  204   FIG. 6 . Glass tiles of different colors can be formed from glass cut with water jets to form tiles (“leaves”)  10  of different geometrical and selected shapes, such as but not limited to oval shapes, shield shapes and the like. 
     Step  3  is to apply name/indicia  30  bearing decals to a face of the tiles (“leaves”). The indicia can include selected designs, logos, and pictures of family and/or friends and the like,  206   FIG. 6 . Names can be family names and the like, with or without other information, such as but not limited to date of birth, death, thereon. 
     Step  4  is to fire (heat) the glass tiles (“leaves”)  10  with decals in an oven or kiln, to make the names/indicia permanent on each of the tiles (“leaves”)  208   FIG. 6 . 
     Step  5  is to apply clear contact paper  20  to back of each of the tiles (“leaves”)  210 . The contact paper  20  can have a light adhesive, such as that found on “sticky” notes and the like, so that the contact paper can easily be peeled off and removed later on from the tiles (“leaves”)  10 . 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a foam hemispherical form  50  with tile location patterns wrapped in plastic wrap ( 90   FIG. 2B ) with lamp attachment wheel ring  100  affixed from method of making steps  6 - 8 .  FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the hemispherical form  50  of  FIG. 2A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , and the flowchart  200  of  FIG. 6 , steps  6 ,  7  and  8  will now be described. 
     Step  6  is to draw a tile (“leaf”) location diagram a Styrofoam form  50 , such as but not limited by using the “GF16 Worden System” described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,839 to Worden, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety  212   FIG. 6 . In a preferred embodiment a 16″ diameter hemispherical form was used since it was inexpensive and readily available. 
     Here, individual tile shapes such as an oval tile pattern(s)  70  and shield tile pattern(s)  80  can be pre-located on the form with outlines of these patterns used in order to locate the different cut tiles (“leaves”) thereon. Different numbers  60  can be printed inside of these shapes in order to count the number of shapes so that the correct number of tiles (“leaves”) can be cut. Although oval and shield printed shapes are shown, the tiles (“leaves”) can have any other geometrical shape as desired. 
     Step  7  is to wrap the form with plastic wrap  90 ,  214   FIG. 6 . 
     Step  8  is to affix a lamp wheel ring  100  (such as but not limited to a  3 ″ brass Odyssey brand wheel ring) to the top of the form  50  with a bolt  102  (such as but not limited to a ¼″ bolt and nut  106 . The wheel ring  100  is the support structure of the finished lamp shade ( 180   FIG. 4 ) that will pass over or thread onto the top of the stem  192  the lamp base  190 ,  FIGS. 4 and 216   FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the hemispherical form  50  of  FIG. 2A  with the tiles (“leaves”) of  FIG. 1A  affixed thereon from method of making steps  9 - 11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3A , and the flowchart  200  of  FIG. 6 , steps  9 ,  10  and  11  will now be described. 
     Step  9  is to attach glass tiles (“leaves”)  10  (that include different shaped tiles, such as ovals  10  and shields  40 ) to the outer plastic  90  wrapped about the form  50  with an adhesive per each tile (“leaf”)  218   FIG. 6 . Such an adhesive can include but is not limited to using “Glue Dot” per tile, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,670 to Downs, which is incorporated by reference in its&#39; entirety. 
     Step  10  is to grout  110  spaces between each of the tiles (“leaves”)  10 ,  40  with an epoxy grout  110  as referenced in  220   FIG. 6 . 
     Step  11  is to clean excess grout off the outside of each of the tiles (“leaves”)  10 ,  40  as referenced in  222   FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3A  showing the form  50  being backed out and removed, and removal of contact paper  90  from method of making steps  12 - 13 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3B  and the flowchart  200  of  FIG. 6 , steps  12  and  13  will now be described. 
     Step  12  is to remove the Styrofoam form  50  when grout  110  has cured and becomes rigid, by backing the form  50  from the hemispherical shape formed from the tiles (“leaves”) and cured grout  110 , as referenced in  224   FIG. 6 . The bolt  102  and nut  106  is first taken off so that the form  50  can be removed. 
     Step  13  is to peel the removable contact paper  90  off inside surfaces of the grouted tiles (“leaves”) and remove any excess grout when backing out the form  50 . The paper can be peeled off from the inside surfaces of the hemispherical shape of the grout connected tiles (“leaves”). 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the hemispherical finished lampshade  120  of  FIGS. 3A-3B  with wire hooks adhered thereon, and additional tiles  130  hanging from the hooks with the lampshade  120  installed on a post  192  of a lamp base  190  of method of making steps  14 - 18   
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a bottom end of the finished lampshade  120  of  FIG. 5 . showing wire hangers/hooks  150  glued  160  to grout  110  of the shade  120  and shield shaped tiles  130  with holes  140  on the hanging tiles  130  for hanging to the hooks  150   
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and  200   FIG. 6 , steps  14 - 18  will now be described. 
     Step  14  is to glue on wire hooks  150  to inside edge portions of grout or outside edge portions of the grout adjacent to the base of the lamp shade  120  to accommodate bottom a row of loose hanging tiles (“leaves”)  130  as referenced in  228  step  14   FIG. 6 . Although shield shaped tiles  130  are shown, the invention can use different shaped tiles (“leaves”), such as but not limited to ovals and other selected geometrical shapes and the like. 
     Step  15  is to install a conventional light bulb (not shown) in socket (not shown) of a lamp base  190 ,  230   FIG. 6   
     Step  16  is to install shade on base  190 , as referenced in  232   FIG. 6 . Installation can be by positioning the center hole of the wheel ring  100  of the finished lamp shade  120  over the top of lamp stem  192 , and now or later locking the lampshade  120  in place with a screw on cap  198 . 
     Step  17  is to hang a bottom row of tiles (“leaves”) on the hooks  150  along the base of the lamp shade  120 , as referenced in  234   FIG. 6 . 
     Step  18  is to install a cap, such as but not limited to a 3″ vented brass vase cap  198  on top of wheel ring  100  and screw it onto threaded top of stem  192  of the lamp base  190 . 
     With the completed/finished lampshade  120  installed on a lamp base  190 , the lampshade can display different names (and other information, such as but not limited to birthdays, and pictures) of family members on each of the tiles (“leaves”), so that the finished lampshade forms a family tree. 
     Although the preferred embodiment shows loose hanging tiles  130  on a bottom row of the lampshade  120 , the hangers/hooks  150  can be attached to other locations on the lampshade  120  as selected. In addition, the hangers/hooks  150  can be adhered to tiles (“leaves”) directly instead of or in addition to being attached to grout  110 . 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.