Improvements in Lamp and similar Shades.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
Improvements in Lamp and similar Shades.
We, ALBERT HENRY ENTWISTLE and HENRY JOSEPH STEPHENS, of
10 Grays Inn Road, in the County of Middlesex, Lamp Shade Manufacturers, 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 lamp and similar shades of the kind known as silk or
lace shades and which consist of a wire framework upon which the silk, lace or
other material is mounted. Frames of this description are usually made in what
amounts to two parts although they have hitherto been rigidly connected together
viz. the shade proper and a smaller part which we may call the crown, and which
usually extends upwards from the shade proper. Owing to this projection and the
general shape of the shade the packing of them for transit is a somewhat difficult
operation, and when packed they occupy a relatively large space and are liable to
be crushed out of shape. By our present invention we so construct the shades that
they can be laid down practically flat and occupy a very small space so far as depth
or thickness is concerned. The principle adopted is to make some or all of the
parts capable of being folded up and the invention will be best understood by.
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents one of the skeleton frames without the cover, complete, and
with the parts in the positions they would occupy when the shade was complete
and in use,
Fig. 2 being a cross section of the same showing the parts folded together.
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a portion of a modified frame.
Like letters represent like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A are the curved wires or loops forming the
perimeter of the shade proper, these wires being jointed at A to the fixed
portions B which are rigidly connected with the ring C with which again is rigidly.
connected the inner ring D which supports the shade when in use. The parts DC
and B are the rigid or non-folding parts and the other parts now to be described
are the folding parts, jointed to the above mentioned rigid parts.
The shapes E of which there may be any required number, in the drawing three
are each complete in themselves and are hinged or jointed at E¹ to the ring C having
at the joint a socket F into which fits the turned up end G¹ of the rod or stay G
which at its outer end G' is hinged or jointed upon the loop A.
When the shade.
is opened out in its proper position for use the bent end G₁ is in the socket F and
thus holds the shape E in its raised position ready for use the socket at the same
time serving to retain the rod G firmly and in its proper position to hold the loop A
also in its proper position relative to the two fixed loops B with which it is at each.
end connected by its joints A¹.
When it is desired to flatten this frame for packing the ends G' are withdrawn
from the sockets F and the shapes E laid down flat as shown in Fig. 2 while at the
same time the loops A being no longer held by the rods G may be opened out or
raised up so as to lie flat in the same plane with the fixtures B, the rods G also
occupying the same plane. In this position the greatest thickness of the frame is
that of the shapes E the thickness of the other portions of the frame being merely
that of the wire of which they are made. As the shapes E may be made very thin
an inch and a half being sufficient depth or thickness to provide quite a handsome
shape it will be seen that the whole thickness of the frame when packed would not
be more than that and could very well be made even less, whereas when the frame
is opened out for use its total depth or thickness would be some ten inches or
thereabouts or even more according to size and shape. If desired also it will

page_text: at once be seen that the shapes E may also in themselves be jointed but, as they
take up very little thickness altogether, it will generally be found sufficient for
practical purposes to dispense with any such jointing.
All the portions of the framing may be covered with the silk, lace or other
material as required, either before being put together or after, so long as the
covering is arranged so as not to interfere with the folding or unfolding of the parts.
The frame shown in Fig. 3 differs from the one above described inasmuch as the
whole of the lower portion or frame proper is rigid the portions ABG C
and D of Fig. 1 being in Fig. 3 all rigidly connected, and the only movable
parts being the shapes E. In this figure the shapes E are hinged or jointed to
the ring C as before but each shape E is provided with a projecting wire or
tail-piece E which when the shape is raised in its operative position enters the
spring clip G fixed upou the rod G; the shape is thus retained in its operative
position and when it is to be folded down it is merely necessary to spring the
portion E out of the clip G and the shape E can then be folded down as shown at
the right hand side of the drawing Fig. 3, the frame in this case would be greater
in depth or thickness than in the former case, but, as the up-standing shapes E are
avoided, it packs well and gets rid of the chief objections hitherto found in the
packing of shades of this description.
The crown or shapes Eare usually placed on top as shown in the drawings, and
as described, but it will be understood that they may be arranged to open down-
wards or if preferred to open either up or down according to circumstances.
The shape of either the tops, crowns or bottoms (shades proper) may be varied
in any desired manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. A folding lamp or similar covered shade substantially as described.
2. A lamp or similar covered shade having some parts fixed or rigid and
others adapted to fold substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
.
3. In a lamp or similar covered shade the combination with fixed or rigid
portions such as BC and. D of folding portions such as A. G and E substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a lamp or similar covered shade the combination with a folding loop or
wire such as A jointed to fixed portions such as B and a folding shape such as E of
a stay or rod such as G jointed to A and adapted to engage with E substantially
as described and illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a lamp or similar covered shade the combination with a folding part of the
lower portion or shade proper and a folding part of the upper portion or crown of
a rigid connection adapted to connect the two or to be disconnected therefrom
substantially as described.
6. In a lamp or similar covered shade in which the whole of the lower portion or
shade proper retains rigidly its shape the combination with such lower portion or
shade proper of one or more folding portions such as E substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In a lamp or similar covered shade having folding portions such as E the
combination with said folding portions of an extension such as E2 and clip such as G³
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the
accompanying drawings.,
Dated this 19th da 1000