Improvements in Lamp Shades.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 26th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1894
Improvements in Lamp Shades.
I, ROBERT HALL BEST of Cambray Works Handsworth near Birmingham,
Chandelier Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to produce an improved lamp shade whereby the
eyes may be shaded from the light, while the table is brilliantly lighted & the
ceiling is illuminated with a gentle, diffused light. It is applicable more
particularly to such burners as those known as "The Incandescent," "Welsbach,"
& "Auer burners, when they are used in suspensions or shade lights, & drawn
down over a table to occupy about the same position as the shade of an ordinary
pillar oil lamp. Owing to the intense light given by these incandescent burners it
is desirable to use shades of dense material to protect the eyes, & in using this
dense material on shades of ordinary descriptions or shapes, the objection arises
that the ceiling & upper part of room are likewise thrown into comparative
darkness. This objection could be modified by using a zone of semi-transparent
material on the upper portion of shade, but this would be brilliantly lighted & shine
immediately in front of the eyes, & therefore be objectionable in use.
My invention consists in the means by which the shadow for the eyes is retained,
while the ceiling & upper part of room are gently illuminated. They are, firstly,
by using a lamp shade with a flat, or nearly flat, top. Secondly, by making the
sides of a perpendicular shape, or at a gently sloping angle, & covering them with
a dense material. Thirdly, by covering the top with a thin, semi-transparent
material such as white silk, tissue paper &c., leaving a central aperture for the
chimney to pass through. In some cases I employ a ruching or other suitable
material to project a little above the upper edge of the border, in order to further
keep the semi-transparent material from view. I also modify the size of the surface
covered by semi-transparent material, & the size of the opening through which the
chimney passes, according to the nature of the light required to be thrown on to
the ceiling. By these arrangements the eyes are shaded, all brightly lighted
material hidden from view of persons seated at the table, while a strong light is
cast upon the table, & a gentle light diffused over the upper part of the room.
Dated this 25th day of May 1893
ROBERT HALL BEST.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamp Shades.
I, ROBERT HALL BEST, of Cambray Works, Handsworth, near Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to produce an improved lamp shade whereby the
eyes may be shaded from the light while the table is brilliantly lighted and the
ceiling illuminated with a gentle diffused light.
It is applicable more particularly to such burners as those known as the "Incan-
descent," Welsbach and "Auer" burners, when they are used in suspension or
shade lights and drawn down over a table to occupy about the same position as the

page_text: shade of an ordinary pillar oil lamp. But it is also applicable to other table lamps,
brackets, suspensions and the like fittings. Owing to the intense light given by
the incandescent burners it is desirable to use shades of dense material to protect
the eyes, and in using this dense material on shades of ordinary descriptions or
shapes, the objection arises that the ceiling and upper part of room are likewise
thrown into comparative darkness. This objection could be modified by using a
zone of semi-transparent material on the upper portion of shade, but this would be
brilliantly lighted, and shine immediately in front of the eyes, and therefore be
objectionable in use.
My invention consists in the means by which the shadow for the eyes is retained
while the ceiling and upper part of room are gently illuminated.
I will describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the top of the shade,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 3 a perspective view.
Firstly, by using a lamp shade with a flat or nearly flat top as at A. Secondly,
by making the sides B of a perpendicular shape, or at a gently sloping angle, and
covering them with a dense material. Thirdly, by covering the top with a thin
semi-transparent material, such as white silk, tissue paper, opal, albatrine, celluloid,
or other similar translucent material, and leaving a central aperture C for the
chimney to pass through. In some cases I employ a ruching D or other suitable
material to project a little above the upper edge of the border in order to further
keep the semi-transparent material from view. I also modify the size of the surface
covered by the semi-transparent material, and the size of the opening through
which the chimney of the burner passes according to the nature of the light required
to be thrown on to the ceiling. By these arrangements the eyes are shaded, all
brightly lighted material hidden from view of persons seated at the table, while a
strong light is cast upon the table, and a gentle light diffused over the upper part
of room.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
The improved lamp shade substantially as described whereby the shadow for the
eyes is retained whilst the ceiling and upper part of the room is illuminated with
a subdued light.
Dated this 14th day of February 1894.
HENRY F. TALBOT,
7, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.