Improvements in Shades and Screens for Lamps and Candles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Shades and Screens for Lamps and Candles.
We EDMOND CONINCK and JEAN JUSTIN DANTY both of 21 Boulevard
Poissonnière Paris in the Republic of France Engineers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to shades and screens, and more especially to the
construction of the skeleton or frame which supports the paper, fabric or material
of which the shade or screen is made.
According to this invention, the frame or skeleton of the shade or screen consists
of arms which are hinged or jointed, either at any given point (or points) along
their body, or at their central supporting ring or gallery, so that the shape of the
screen or shade may be altered at will, and the size or extent of the conical space,
comprised in it, varied according to requirements.
The arms may be folded at their joints either by hand or suitable mechanism.
In one article-whether a shade or screen-all the arms of the skeleton may be
arranged either for mechanical, or for hand operation; or one half of them may be
adapted to be controlled by hand, and the other half fitted with mechanical
operating devices; so that the arrangement of the articles may be extensively
varied. In screens, the arms of the skeleton or frame may be telescopic so as to
enable the extent of the surface, opposite to the one facing the light, to be
augmented or reduced at pleasure.
The invention further comprises certain details of construction and manufacture,
which shall hereinafter be more fully described.
66
"
In a lamp shade constructed according to this invention the arms of the skeleton
or frame (of which arms there may be any number in one frame) are pivotted to a
gallery or supporting circle which may be secured in any convenient manner to
the chimney or the lamp itself. Each arm, made of light metal or wood, and
of suitable shape and size in section, should consist of two or more parts or links
hinged or jointed together in such a manner that it may be folded in a corresponding
number of points, and thereby permit any required alteration to be made in the
general shape or outline of the lamp-shade.
Each arm is hinged to the gallery or ring by means of a pivot arranged at right
angles to the arm and fitting its bearings so closely as to create sufficient friction to
retain the arm in the position in which it has been placed by hand for the
time being. Now each arm may thus be brought to, and retained in, a different
position, and the shade may therefore assume any form other than symmetrical,
according as it is desired to direct more or less light to a given part or point of
the apartment wherein the lamp is burning.
These variations of shape, due to the operation of the hinge-joints of the frame,
may be produced by suitable mechanism, the preferred form of which shall be
hereinafter described.
The mechanism, located within the gallery or crown enables all the arms of the
lamp-shade frame to be simultaneously raised or lowered by means of a single key
or stud. The said gallery is, for the purpose, formed of two circles, one of which
is stationary, and the other, moveable, so that its position in relation to the
stationary circle may be varied.
The said key or stud operates suitable pinions which gear with a rack integral
with the moveable ring.

page_text: :
The said pinions are mounted upon a support secured to the stationary circle and
covered or concealed on the opposite side by a guard corresponding to the support
in shape; whereby the pinions are maintained at the proper distance, and in gear
with each other.
Thus, by turning the key a circular movement is imparted to the said moveable
ring whereby the following result is obtained :-
All the arms hinged to the stationary ring are provided with sectors the teeth of
which pass through a slot in the said ring and engage in helical grooves formed in
the moveable ring opposite each arm. Now the gyratory movement imparted to
the last mentioned ring is, owing to this arrangement, necessily imparted also to the
arms of the frame, and consequently all the arms simultaneously rise or sink
a proportionate distance; so that the light may either be diffused over a greater
area, or more circumscribed, and concentrated upon a definite spot; or again,
almost complete darkness may be produced in the room.
For the purpose of thus reciprocating the stationary and the moveable circles
in relation to each other these two circles are so embossed or hollowed out as to be
fitted together, one on the top of the other, the stationary circle being embedded in
a groove and adapted to receive the moveable circle on a flat surface formed for the
purpose in the circles; whereby the said circular motion is facilitated.
All or part of the arms of the frame may be arranged for mechanical operation;
where part of them only are so arranged, the remaining arms may have free
joints controllable by hand.
The arms are connected to the sectors or pinions by their end portions flattened
out in dove-tail shape, and covered or sheathed in a tightly fitting oval tube.
Within the shade, there is soldered at four points an insulator made of wire.
Where all the joints are free, the ring or gallery may be made in one piece,
stamped out in any desired shape and provided with slots or notches for the passage
and unrestrained motion of the arms of the skeleton. The bearings of the pivots
may, in this case, be retained on one side by suitable hooks, and on the other side by
correspondingly threaded screws.
In the case of screens, the gallery is dispensed with, a solid centre-piece being
used instead, and all the arms of the skeleton or frame being hinged to that
centre.
The said centre piece consists of two plates retained in position by a screw, and
between which are fitted, within recesses provided for the purpose, loops or eyes
which terminate the arms. The frame thus constructed enables the screen to
be folded up like an umbrella, and thus facilitates the packing of such screens, and
their conveyance from place to place in a compact shape, while permitting also,
when in use, their shape to be varied at will, so that they need not always remain
flat and straight.
The rod, through the medium of which the improved screen is connected to the
spring gripping device, whereby it may be secured to a candle, is preferably hinged
likewise, so that it may be folded up and placed within the folded screen. This
rod, which is really but another arm of the skeleton or frame, is made in two parts.
One part is jointed, by means of a slide, to the portion forming the skeleton
arm proper, so that the user, by pulling it towards himself disengages the end of
said arm from a catch or notch on said rod whereupon he is in a position to fold it
down inwardly. The reverse movement enables the rod to be straightened out and
secured in place as an extension of the hinged skeleton arm.
If desired the arms may also be telescopic or in other words may consist of two
or more tubes, fitted, and adapted to slide, within each other. An inwardly located
spring forces the lengths of tube into their extended or displaced position; while a
wire may be wound upon the central pivot, as on a drum or pulley, so that by
pulling such wire, the tubes may be caused to slide back into each other, overcoming
the resistance of the antagonistic spring.
The said central pivot or screw may assume the shape and office of a ratchet-
wheel, acted upon by a spring, whereby it is firmly secured in the position in which

page_text: it is placed for the time being; but it will be understood that this arrangement is,
by its very nature, extensively variable, and that other devices may be substituted
for it without departing from the principle of the invention.
It will also be understood that we do not in any way limit ourselves as to the
shape and dimensions of the several parts of the invention, or the materials to be
used in their manufacture, and that we consider ourselves at liberty to make shades
and screens of any size or form, and with frames comprising any suitable number of
arms, linked together freely, or operating automatically, with or without inter-
mediate joints (in the body of each arm), or in parts telescoped together; provided
their length and direction be variable at will.
1
זגי
1800
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Fels. Chartered Inst. Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
For the Applicants.
Improvements in Shades and Screens for Lamps and Candles.
We, EDMOND CONINCK and JEAN JUSTIN DANTY, both of 21, Boulevard
Poissonnière, Paris, in the Republic of France, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to shades and screens, and more especially to the
construction of the skeleton or frame which supports the paper, fabric or, material
of which the shade or screen is made.
According to this invention, the frame or skeleton of the shade or screen consists
of arms, which are hinged or jointed, either at any given point (or points) along
their body, or at their central supporting ring or gallery, so that the shape of the
screen or shade may be altered at will and the size or extent, of the conical space,
comprised in it, varied according to requirements.
The arms may be folded at their joints either by hand or by suitable
mechanism.
In one construction of the article, whether a shade or screen, all the arms of the
skeleton may be arranged either for mechanical, or for band operation; or one
half of thein may be adapted to be controlled by hand, and the other half fitted
with mechanical operating devices; so that the arrangement of the articles may be
extensively varied. In screens, the arms of the skeleton or frame may be telescopic
so as to enable the extent of the surface, opposite to the one facing the light, to be
augmented or reduced at pleasure.
The invention further comprises certain details of construction and manufacture,
which shall be hereinafter more fully described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of a complete skeleton of a lamp shade, the body of
which (not shewn) may consist of paper or fabric of any suitable description, either
frilled or not.
The arms A of the skeleton or frame (of which arms there may be any number
in one frame) are pivotted to a gallery" or supporting circle B, which may be
secured in any convenient manner to the chimney or to the lamp itself. Each arm,
made of light metal or wood, and of suitable shape and size in section, should
consist of two or more parts or links hinged or jointed together in such a manner
that it may be folded in a corresponding number of points (as illustrated in Fig. 2),
and thereby permit any required alteration to be made in the general shape of the
lainp-shade.

page_text: Each arm is hinged to the gallery or ring B by means of a pivot b (Fig. 3),
arranged at right angles to the arm A, and fitting its bearings e so closely as to
create sufficient friction to retain the arm in the position in which it has been
placed by hand for the time being. Each arm may thus be brought to, and
retained in, a different position, and the shade may therefore assume any form other
than symmetrical, according as it is desired to direct more or less light to a given
part or point of the apartment wherein the lamp is burning.
These variations of shape, due to the operation of the hinge-joints of the frame,
may be produced by suitable mechanism, the preferred form of which is hereinafter
described.
The mechanism, located within the gallery or crown B, enables all the arms of
the frame to be simultaneously raised or lowered by means of a single key or
stud C (Figs. 1 and 4); the said gallery being formed of two circles, one of which a
is stationary, and the other a' movable, so that its position in relation to a (the
stationary circle) may be varied.
To the support E is journalled the key or stud C, which operates suitable
pinions d, motion being conveyed from the latter to a larger intermediate pinion d¹
in gear with a rack e¹ integral with the movable ring a¹ (Figs. 1 & 4).
The pinions are mounted upon a support E secured to the stationary circle a and
covered or concealed on the opposite side by a guard F, corresponding to the
support in shape; whereby the pinions are maintained at the proper distance, and
in gear with each other.
Thus by turning the key C a circular movement is imparted to the said movable
ring a whereby the following result is obtained :-
All the arms A, hinged to the stationary ring a (Figs. 1 and 5) are provided
with sectors s the teeth of which pass through a slot in the said ring and engage in
helical grooves r formed in the movable ring a' opposite each arm. Now the
gyratory movement imparted to a¹, the last mentioned' ring, is, owing to this
arrangement, necessarily imparted also to the arms of the frame, and consequently
all the arms simultaneously rise or sink a proportionate distance; so that the light
may either be diffused over a greater area, or be more circumscribed, and
concentrated upon a definite spot; or again, almost complete darkness may be
produced.
For the purpose of thus reciprocating the stationary circle a and the movable
circle a in relation to each other (Fig. 4) these two circles are so embossed or
hollowed out as to be capable of fitting together, one on the top of the other,
a being embedded in a groove and adapted to receive a¹ on a flat surface formed
for the purpose in the circles; whereby the said circular motion is facilitated.
The two portions K K' of the circles are centrally fitted together as shewn.
All or some of the arms of the frame may be arranged for mechanical operation;
where some of them are only so arranged, the remaining arms may have free joints
controllable by hand.
The arms are connected to the sectors or pinions by their end portions being
flattened out in dove-tail shape, and covered or sheathed in a tightly fitting
oval tube.
Within the shade, there is soldered in four points an insulator L made of wire
(Fig. 1).
Where all the joints are free, the ring or gallery B₁ (Fig. 3), may be made
in one piece, stamped out in any desired shape and provided with slots or notches
for the passage and unrestrained motion of the arms of the skeleton. The
bearings of the pivots may, in this case, be retained on one side by suitable hooks,
and on the other side by correspondingly threaded screws.
In the case of screens, the gallery B is dispensed with, a solid centre piece D
being used instead, and all the arms of the skeleton or frame being hinged to
that centre.
The centre piece D (Figs. 6 and 7) consists of two plates retained in position
by a screw, and between which are fitted, within recesses provided for the purpose,

page_text: loops or eyes which terminate the arms.
The frame thus constructed enables
the screen to be folded up like an umbrella, and thus facilitates the packing of
such screens,
and their conveyance from place to place in a compact shape, while
permitting also, when in use, their shape to be varied at will, so that they need
not always remain flat and straight.
The rod, through the medium of which the improved screen is connected to the-
spring gripping device, whereby it may be secured to a candle, is preferably
hinged likewise, so that it may be folded up and placed within the folded screen..
This rod, which is really but another arm of the skeleton or frame, is made in two
parts. One part g is jointed, at g', by means of a slide, to the portion forming the
skeleton-arm proper, so that the user, by pulling it towards himself, disengages the
end h of said arm from a catch or notch ¹on said rod, whereupon he is in a position.
to fold it down inwardly. The reverse movement enables the rod to be.
straightened out and secured in place as an extension of the hinged skeleton arm.
If desired the arms may also be telescopic, or in other words may consist of two
or more tubes, fitted and adapted to slide within each other (Fig. 8). An inwardly.
located spring forces the lengths of tube into their extended or displayed position
while a wire i may be wound upon the central pivot v, as on a drum or pulley, so
that by pulling such wire, the tubes may be caused to slide back into each other,
overcoming the resistance of the spring.
In the drawings, the said central pivot or screw is shewn to assume the shape
and office of a ratchet-wheel, acted upon by a spring u, whereby it is firmly secured
in the position in which it is placed for the time being; but it will be understood
that this arrangement is, by its very nature, extensively variable, and that other
devices may be substituted for it without departing from the principle of the
invention.
Figs. 9 and 10 refer to a modification in the construction of the frame (or
skeleton). Fig. 9 shews a portion of the frame full size and Fig. 10 is a general
view in plan of the modified frame.
In this arrangement the arms A are articulated with a circle B2 of wire and each
arm is provided with an eyelet and ring a². Under the circle B' there is a second
circle C provided with inclined planes cupon which the eyelets or rings a
respectively slide. A third circle D' acts as a support to the two others by means
of cross-ties d, the prolongation of which forms the top. On the upper circle B*
there is a support S2, the, top portion of which is shaped like a socket and receives.
the stem of the fastening key concealed in the capital. A lever l, the end of which
enters the ring connected with the circle C, forms part of the stem of that key...
It will be seen that the rotary motion imparted to the key C causes the circle C³,.
to move in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 9) while the others B and D' remain
motionless, and that the inclined planes which move with the circle C' will.
consequently, raise or lower the eyelets a³ of the arms A which arms will accordingly
close or open.
It will be understood that we do not in any way limit ourselves as to the shape.
and dimensions of the several parts of the apparatus, or the materials to be used in
their manufacture, and that we consider ourselves at liberty to make shades and
screens of any size or form, and with frames comprising any suitable number of
arms, linked together freely, or operating automatically, with or without inter-
Ineliate joints (in the body of each arm), or in parts telescoped together; provided
their length and direction be variable at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is:-
The improvements in shades and screens, substantially as described, and more
especially,
(1.) In skeletons or frames of shades and screens, pivoting the arms thereof,
freely or automatically, to the circle, gallery or centre-piece, for the purpose of

page_text: enabling the extent of display of (or the space covered by) the shade to be varied
at will, so as either to diffuse the light over a greater area, or to concentrate it on
a definite spot, substantially as set forth.
(2.) In skeletons or frames of shades and screens, for the simultaneous and
automatic operation of all or part of the arms of a frame, the provision of a gallery
(crown or ring) formed of two circles capable of being displaced in relation to each
other by means of a single stud or key, one of which acts by means of helical slots
or grooves, or any other suitable arrangement, upon toothed segments forming part
of the hinged skeleton-arms, substantially as described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
(3.) In skeletons or frames of shades and screens, the subdivision of the arms
into a number of parts or links, connected by joints, so that they may be brought
to any position (or moved in any direction) other than symmetrical whereby the
shape of the screen or shade may be varied accordingly, substantially as specified.
(4.) In skeletons or frames of shades or screens, the telescopic arrangement of
each of the arms, and the means for operating the same, as to enable the body of
the shade or screen (of paper or fabric) to be more or less displayed, or the space
covered thereby to be more or less circumscribed, substantially as described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
(5.) The modified construction and arrangement of skeletons or frames of shades
or screens substantially as described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 9
and 10 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this 16th day of August 1894
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Filing Agents.