Do-it-yourself lampshade kit

• US 6,786,621 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MODE Interiors LLC
• Original Assignee: MODE Interiors LLC
• Inventors: Sviland, Elen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US10/308,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20030081418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 362/351, 362/356, 362/357, 362/360, 362/355, 362/352, 362/237, 362/246
• US Class Current: 362/351
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/16 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/26 Manufacturing shades

Abstract

Lamp shades are provided in the form of one or more panels made of a flexible, self-supporting material. All of the panels have side edges with a plurality of holes, and when the side edges are overlapped to register the holes a fastener can be inserted (and preferably later removed) from the registered holes. A table lamp or pendant lamp includes a plurality of panels (at least two) and a hanger by which the lamp is supported on a stand or receptacle. String light lamps can be provided with a single shade for each lamp where the single shade is bent or curved around, over the lamp, to connect the side edges to each other.

Claims

1. A lamp shade comprising:

a plurality of panels, each panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges, each side edge having a plurality of holes adjacent each side edge;

fastener means releaseably securing two panels in adjacent and overlapping relationship along their corresponding side edges; and

means for mounting said plurality of panels on a lamp when the panels are assembled together by bringing adjacent panels into overlapping relationship whereby corresponding holes of adjacent panels register, and the fastener fits through the registered holes.

2. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein the fastener means are metal prong fasteners.

3. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein the fastener means are transparent plastic, translucent plastic, colored transparent plastic, or colored translucent plastic.

4. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein the fastener means are selected from thongs, cords, wires, and chains.

5. The lamp shade of claim 1, further comprising a label adhered to at least one of the panels, said label having essentially the same geometry as the panel to which it is adhered.

6. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein the panels are made from at least one of plastic, metal, and paperboard.

7. The lamp shade of claim 5, wherein each panel has a label adhered to it.

8. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein each panel has a pattern pre-printed thereon.

9. The lamp shade of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a strip of fasteners.

10. A kit for making a lamp shade, comprising:

a plurality of panels, each panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges, each side edge having a plurality of holes adjacent each side edge;

a set of fasteners releaseably securing two panels adjacent and overlapping along their corresponding side edges when corresponding holes of the adjacent overlapping panels register;

means for mounting said plurality of panels on a lamp when the panels are assembled together adjacently; and

at least one of (i) a plurality of pre-printed labels or (ii) a combination of blank labels and software able to be run on a personal computer for printing a pattern or design on the blank labels, each of said labels having essentially the same geometry as the panel to which it is adhered.

11. The kit of claim 10, further comprising instructions selected from the group consisting of instructions for assembling the lamp shade, and instructions for using the software for printing on the blank labels, and a combination thereof.

12. The kit of claim 10, wherein each fastener is insertable through corresponding registered holes in overlapping adjacent edges of the panels.

13. The kit of claim 10, wherein the fasteners are selected from thongs, cords, wires, and chains.

14. The kit of claim 10, further comprising a base and a stand.

15. The kit of claim 14, wherein the base and stand screw together.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the lampshade kit, base, and stand are flat-packed together in a single package.

17. A method for making a lampshade, comprising:

providing a plurality of panels having holes along edges where one panel meets another;

decorating at least one of said panels by means of (i) applying a pre-made label to the panel, (ii) creating and printing a label and then applying the label to the panel, (iii) providing a panel having a decoration printed thereon;

joining said panels in adjacent relationship to create a shade by overlapping said holes along adjacent edges and providing fasteners through said overlapping holes; and

affixing a hanger to said shade to create a lamp shade.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one panels is made front plastic, metal, or paperboard.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of creating the label is done via a website.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing a panel having decoration printed thereon is done by ordering said panel through a website.

21. A self-supporting lampshade lacking a frame, comprising:

at least one panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges;

each of the side edges of a panel having a plurality of holes spaced along each edge;

separate edges placed in overlapping relationship effective to register hales in one edge with corresponding holes in the other edge; and

a fastener through each of the corresponding registered holes, whereby the fastened panel is self-supporting as a lampshade without a separate frame.

22. A lighting display, comprising:

an electrical wire having a series of lamps disposed along its length, each lamp having associated therewith a lamp shade comprising;

a panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges, each side edge having a plurality of holes adjacent each side edge, and each of said panels being self-supporting, sufficiently flexible to be releasably secured in a curved form and to be packed in a flat configuration; and

fastener means releasably securing overlapping side edges to each other when the holes are registered.

24. The display of claim 22, wherein the panels and the fastener means are flat-packed together, separate from the electrical wire with lamps.

23. A lighting display, comprising an electrical wire having a series of lamps disposed along its length, each lamp having associated therewith a lamp shade consisting essentially of:

a panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposing side edges, each side edge having a plurality of holes adjacent each side edge, and each of said panels being self-supporting, sufficiently flexible to be releasably secured in a curved form and to be packed in a flat configuration; and

fastener means releasably securing overlapping side edges to each other when the holes are registered, said panel being associated with each lamp by the curvature at the top surface of the panel being appropriately sized for the particular lamp size when secured and being secured to the lamp without the use of a hanger.