Improvements in Lamp Shades.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 13th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Lamp Shades.
I, WILBER REUBEN HITCHCOOK, residing at Cornwall, in the County of
Stormont, and Province of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, 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 :-
My invention relates more especially to shades for incandescent electric lights,
but may also be adapted to arc and other lights.
The device herein described consists essentially of a number of hinged
overlapping leaves, each acting independently and adapted to form and envelope
the bulb of the light when closed down, and when opened out to form a reflector
for the said light, additional ornamentation is also provided which will be hereafter
described. When opened the leaves form a resemblance to a star shaped flower,
and close down in such a manner so as to still continue the resemblance to the
closed flower.
In the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a view of the shade fixed on the socket of an incandescent electrio
light bulb, from the inside showing the shade
open.
Fig. 2 is a section of the same on line 2, 2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a view showing the shade closed.
Figs. 4 aud 5 are detail views of the leaves and connections.
A is the socket of an electric light bulb, B is a sleeve of a sufficient size to slide
on the said socket and to be secured thereon, threaded 'screw holes are provided in
the upper part of this sleeve to receive the screws b which secure the sleeve to the
Bocket. On this sleeve is formed a series of lugs E formed preferably by stamping
a semi-circular cut with a die in the sleeve, and then bending the piece so as to
project out at right angles to the sleeve, as shown in Fig. 4 which is a developod
view of part of the sleeve B, each alternate lug is a little higher or lower
than the one next to it, so as to allow the alternate leaves, to be mentioned
hereafter, to overlap each lug E is pierced at e for the passage of a screw.
The leaves H, which I prefer to make of thin sheet metal electro-plated, are
concavo-convex and are overlapping segments of the form they are intended to
take when all are closed. A rib G is formed on the outer or convex side of each
leaf by being pressed or stamped from the concave side, in this rib G on the
inner side of the leaf is secured by solder or otherwise a wire W, which passes
through the leaf to the outer side at 9 and projecte some distance above the leaf.
A clip I forming two lugs is secured to the projecting end of this wire and the
lugs are notched at i to receive the upper end of the leaf, the portion of the
wire still projecting above the clip I is turned to form a finger hold J. Each of
the lugs forming the clip I, is pierced for the passage of a screw K, one only of
these apertures being threaded, thus when the leaf is secured on the sleeve B
and the apertures in the clip I register with the apertures e in the lug E, the screw
is tightened binding the clip on the lug, so that the leaf may be held in any desired
position.
I have here shown eight of these leaves the alternate ones overlapping more
or less may be used as thought desirable as the leaves act independently part of
them may be closed, and part opened, so as to throw the light on one side only,
or they may be all partially closed and the light regulated as desired. The
screws K giving the necessary friction to hold the leaves in any position.

page_text: In order to prevent the escape of light from the centre of the concavo-convex
leaves, a series of small leaves C or ornaments or other suitable substance of mica,
are secured to the lower end of the sleeve B, these leaves are held between two
annular plates D and L which are secured to the socket by means of lugs F which
are pierced at their upper ends for the passage of the screws b.
I am aware that independently moving concavo-convex sections adapted to
fit over the bulb of an incandescent lamp have been used before and such I do
not broadly claim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declaro that what I
claim is.
1. In a lamp shade the combination with the sleeve B, adapted to be secured on
the socket of an electric lamp, lugs E formed around the outer surface of the said
sleeve B and projecting therefrom, of the concavo-convex leaves FI, each of the
said leaves having a rib G stamped therein centrally and longitudinally, wires W
secured in the said ribs G, clips I secured to the projecting ends of the said wire,
the said lugs E, and clips 1 being bored, and one side of the said clips threaded
for the reception of a screw K, the screw K securing the said leaves pivotally to
the said sleeve and the finger hold J, substantially as set forth.
2. In a lamp shade, a sleeve adapted to be secured to the socket of an electric
light bulb to which are hinged a series of concavo-convex leaves, and a series of
flexible leaves or ornaments secured to the lower end of the said sleeve,
substantially as set forth.
3. In a lamp shade for incandescent electric lights, a sleeve B having lugs
projecting therefrom, the said lugs being formed by a semicircular cat in the body of
the said sleeve, and the portion so cut bent at a right angle from the said sleeve, the
said lugs being alternately higher or lower than the lugs immediately adjoining it,
concavo-convex leaves H baving clips secured on their inner ends adapted to be
secured on the said lugs, the screws K securing the said clips to the said lugs, the
said sleeve boing pierced with threaded apertures for the reception of screws,
and the screws 6 adapted to hold the said sleeve on the socket of the lamp,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a lamp shade for incandescent electric lamps, a concavo-convex leaf buying
a rib pressed or stamped centrally and longitudinally therein, a wire secured in
the said rib and projecting at the upper end of the said loaf, a clip secured to the
projecting ends of the said wire, and a finger hold formed by the projecting end
of the said wire, the said leaf being one of a series and adapted to be of such a
form, that the series will when closed, overlap and cover the bulb, substantially as
set forth.
Dated this Thirty-first day of January 1896.
WILBER REUBEN H.
Witness-
C. H. Cuu.
Geo. Downing,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.