Improvements in Lamp and similar Shades.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
COMIDLETE
Improvements in Lamp and similar Shades.
We, ALBERT HENRY ENTWISTLE and HENRY JOSEPH STEPHENS of 10 Gray's
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 per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to that class of lamp shades known in the trade as silk or
lace shades. The shape or form may vary very considerably, but the figure of
these shades generally divides itself into two portions or sections, one (usually the
lower) is the large section and the shade proper, and the other (usually the upper)
is a small finishing device chiefly to improve the general appearance. The wire
framework upon which the silk or other material is stretched or carried has
hitherto always been made in a single piece which is inconvenient for packing
purposes, and the object of the present invention is to make these two divisions or
sections separate, partly for the aforesaid convenience in packing and partly as it
enables modifications in the design to be easily and readily made.
The lower framework may be of any usual or desired design and may be covered
with silk, lace or other material in any desired manner, and will be complete in
itself and may if desired even be used without the top piece or crown.
The top
piece or crown is made independently of the other portion and of any required
shape or design and covered like the bottom piece with any desired material and in
any desired manner, the material either agreeing with or differing from that of the
lower section. By this arrangement the number of shades employed in an
establishment may be greatly varied at different times by putting different tops
and bottoms together.
The accompanying drawings will serve to indicate how this invention may be
carried into effect. In these, Figure 1 represents the upper portion or crown in
elevation. Figure 2 the central portion of the lower portion of the shade proper,.
aud Figure 3 a section of the crown and portion of the shade fitted together. In
this figure and the previous description the crown has been spoken of as being the
upper portion and generally speaking this would probably be so, but it will be
understood that the arrangement is such that the crown can be placed below or
inside the shade proper just as well as above and it is merely a matter of taste
where it is placed. Hitherto where the crown and shade have been permanently
connected together the crown has always been placed above the shade.
The shade Figure 2 may be made of any desired pattern, shape or design, but as
the present invention deals only with the central portion relating to the connection
between the shade and the crown it has not been considered necessary to
illustrate the other portions of the shade. The wires A. which extend to the
circumference or perimeter of the shade and in fact impart to it its shape are
connected at their inner ends with the ring B which is in turn connected with the
inner ring C by means of the bands or connecting wires D the whole forming a
strong and rigid support. The inner wire C is adapted to fit the support upon
which the shade rests. The shape and general arrangement of the crown, Figure 1
may be varied to suit circumstances, but conveniently this may consist of two.
rings E and F the former serving as a support for the frame wires G which impart
the shape to the crown. From the ring E extend the curved wires H which are
carried past the ring F bent back into a return bend I and finally looped at H¹
upon the ring F as will be clearly seen from Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings.
When the crown and shade are placed together the bends I which may possess a
considerable amount of spring are forced in between the wires B and C of the

page_text: shade with one or both of which they engage, and the two parts are thus held
firmly together although they can readily be separated by a moderate pull. In
Figure 3 the crown is shown on top or outside of the shade but as already
explained it may be placed below or inside the shade.
The above described manner of connecting the crown and the shade we have
found by experiment to be satisfactory but we do not confine ourselves to this
particular means as other forms of spring or other attachment may be employed.
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 lamp or similar shade consisting of two independent parts the shade proper
and the crown adapted to be sprung or otherwise connected together or separated
substantially as described.
2. The combination with a lamp or similar shade of an independent crown
adapted to be readily connected with or separated from either the upper or under
surface of the shade substantially as described.
3. As a means of connecting together a lamp or similar shade and its independent
crown the combination with the rings B and C of the frame of the spring bends or
catches I of the crown which engage with one or both of the said rings B or C
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1892.
ALBERT HENRY ENTWISTLE.
HENRY JOSEPH STEPHENS.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.