US77115A - Improvement in lamp-shades - Google Patents

Description

A. A. SMITH. Lamp Shade.-

Patemed April 21,.1a68.

AUSTINVA. SMITH, OF SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent 'Nm 77,115, dated April 21, i868; antedaterl Aprvll, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT INA LAMPf'SHADES.

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TO ALL WHOM Il MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN A. SMITH,'of Seneca Falls, in the county of Seneca, and State of New York, have invented acertai'n new and useful Improvement in Lamp and Gas-Light Shades; and Ido, hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description, thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this speciiication.

Figure .lis a plan of my improved shade.

Figure 2, an elevation of the'same.

Figures 3 and 4, diagrams showing the spring-jointfor holding the panels in position.'

Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention consists in forming 4thesides of a lamp or gas-light `shade of ordinary form into numerous panels or sections situated upright between` the rims, and turning horizontally or -angularly so as to open any fportion, on anyside, to allow the passage of light; also, in the employment of a joint, consisting of two springwires resting in a square ,or oblong slot, and operating in such a way as tohold the panel either open or closed, as hereinafter set forth. v

As represented in the drawings, the skeleton of the-shade is composed of top and bottom rims, A A, braces a a, connections b b, and the usual ring, B, or its equivalent, for connecting the shade with the chimney of-,the lamp, or with the tip of thegas-burne'r.. The shadeis in the usual form of 4lamp-shades, being the frustum of a'coue. l

' Between the rims A Aare situated numerous upright panels or sections, C C C, resting on joints 01 hinges so as to turn or swing' horizontally or angularly, and tting closely together when shut. These panels form the shade proper. i They maybe made of pasteboard, thin metal, orany other suitable material. They may also heembossod, stamped with any ornamental design, or `made semi-transparent, if desired.

Thejoint or hinges g g may be arranged at any position, so that the panels will turn horizontally or angulai-ly, but I prefer to locate themeentrally at 'top and bottom. I lmake one set of the joints (preferably lthe upper) of 'two expanding spring-Wires,ff, securcd to the panel, and resting in a square oroblong slot, ci', made in the rim A.: -The notches or elongations of this slot are se arranged that when the wires expand in them, the panel will stand either in an open or closed position..

It is my object, in this constructomfto preserve the usual circular, .conical form of the shade, which is the only one adapted to general use, and at the same time prot-ido numerous panels, that canv be opened or closcd at pleasure on any side, and can be graduated to'allow the passage of any desired degree of light.

I am aware that it has before been proposed to use sliding screens' with thefshade, as in Patent No. 39,438, but in this case only a very limited number of slides can bc employed, since as much space is covered by the slide in opening, as the space that is opened. v I ain also aware that it has been proposed to employ a shade with four hinged flaps, that turn up vertically, as in Patent No. 48,632, but in this case` the usual form of thc shade is lost, and one substituted in the form ofy a truncated pyramid, which isnot adapted to ordinary use. When the ilaps are turned up they obstruct the -passageof light upward. I

In my shade I obviate the disadvantages of these. It is of the usual form, and adapted to all ordinary uses. I can set the panels all open, if desired,l so as to form no obstruction to the light at all, or I can open one or more at any. point, independent of the others. I can graduate the amount of space opened, from the single small panelto any desired number, and when opened there is no obstruction to the upward'pa'ssagc of light.

Thespring-wires forming tue upper joint serve as a very convenient means of holding the panels either closed or opened. A slight touchA of theingers will turn the panel sufficiently to receive motion by the spring, when the panel turns automatically to the desired position. l

I donot claim' va shade with sliding screens closing the openings for the passage of light, neither doI claim a. shade with hinged flaps turning up vertically; but

What I claim as my invention, and desireto secure by Letters Pateut,' is- 1. As n new article of manufacture, a. lamp or gnsdght shade of usual form, compose-d of numerous upright pnelsV or sections, C C C, situated elosely'togethe'r to form a. screen, and turnnghorizontally or nngulmly on suitnblejoints, the whole arranged; and operating so that any number of said panels may be opened at any desiredposition, end the passage of light mnybe graduated, as herein set forth.

2. Forming one or both of ythe joints of-tho panels, of spring-wires ff, resting in the square'or oblong slots operating as and for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, I'have hereunto signed my namel in the presence of two subscribing-witnesses.

' v A. A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

R. F. Oseoon, EDWIN S. COYE.

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