Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~V~ ~ ~1 i J ~ u~ ii i.~Y ~ i-l. G~
2~3~73~
PRECISIO~ C~NDELIER ~
This inventiorl ~elates gene~aîly to chan~elier
frames and, in particular, to chandelier frames
adap~ed ~or supportis~g or~aments ~uch as cry6~als ~n
a precifie array with r~spect to on~ another and with
respec~ ~o a light ~our~e.
BACKG~OUND OF THE INV~'TI9N
The art of makiny ~handeli~r frames has ~ried
only slightly i~ the pas~c hundred years. Most
chandelier fr~mes i~c~ude a ~lurality of hoops ~f
varyirlg diameter ~rranged coaxially and adap~ed ~or
~uppor~ing ornamer~t~ 6UC~ llS c2ys~ . The-hoop~
sre supported by ~po~es. Accordirlg ~o ~cy}?ical prior
art ~ons~ructions, th~ hoops ar~ ~ormed from
~traigh~c pieees of ~al whi~h ar~ bent ~o ~he
f~rm of Eings ~nd welded ~o~ether at ~heir ~ree
~nds. The ~pO~2S al~o are formed ~ypi~ally from
g~traight pi~es of metal ben~ and welded to oa~
snother. P~ior ar~ chandeli~E frame~ further
typ~cally ~aave portions beld l:oge'eh0r by 8Crl~WEi,
xivecs, eyele~ and ~he l~e.
Whers ~om~lex chandeiier fEame5 ~ueh ~s t~os~
d~scribed herein are ~on~er~d, ~che pr~o~ ar~
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~V~ !3i ~ ~Ui!'!~177!
2 ~ ~ method~ of manufaGture may involYe well over a
hundred discrete bending ~nd attachment operatio~s
and may require numerous work stations. The labor
snd organization reguired to ma~e ~ ~ariety of ~uch
chandeliers is extraordinary.
A prior art ~handelier frame ~hown in F;~gs. 1
and 2 is similar in ~un~tio~ to a ~handelier
according to the inventàon sh~wn in ~ig. 3. It~
par~s are made of stressed ~bent) metal ~nd held
together by welds. Th~ prior art chandelier ~r~me
has a center post 10 to which is a~tached upper,
middle and lower hoops, 12, 13 and 14 respecti~e1y.
The hoops 1~, 13, 14 may be bent from straight ~tock
~uch as rod, flat or tube stock into a circular
shape that is welded at joint~, 16 ~nd 18
respectiv~ly, ~o perma~ently join e~ch hoop's free
~nds~ The hoops may be die cu~ ~hoop 13). The
stressed hoops are attached, at poin~s 20 and 22 ~o
a ~eries of upright ~pokes 24 a~d radially ex~ending
~pokes ~6. ~hese spokes 24, 26 also are ben~ a~
various plae~s. The spokes 24, 26 are welded to
each other. This welded ~allection of part~ is
6ecured centrally by welds to a.~ent~r wa~her 28
disposed abou~ the csn~er post 10.
TA~ bending o~ ho~ps and ~pokes introduce~
imprecasio~s into the frame. A stressed hoop
usually ~s far from symetrical both ra~ially ~nd
- axially. ~hen combine~ with all ~he weldi~g
r~quired, the misalignme~t and imprecisi~n 9f ea~h
- frame is ~ubstantial. This lack of symmetry ha~ ~
su~tantial ~f~ect on the overall appearanc~ of the
- - fi~ished ~ha~delier in that ~rys~l ornamen~s are
not pr~ci ely located with respee~ to one an~her,
thereby dim~nishing the overall appear~nce ~ ~he
~handelier. Additionatly, no easy mean~ ~f
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alignment of all the ~sieces . o prepare- ~hem for
b~elding is possible with the prior art frame.
MorQ~ver, welds Dften are imperfe t and the hoops
and spokes may come apart. These and other
drawbacks are overcome by the chandelie~ ~rames of
the invention.
SU~MARY OF THE INV~TION
The invention involves a novel method for
manufacturing, alignin~ and mechanically
interengaging the ~omponent parts of a ~handelier
frame. The chandelier frames made ac~ording ~:o the
invention have a ~ymmetry, both radially and
axia~ ly, that is far superior to the prior art . The
chandelier frames of ~he inventi~n are easy to
manufacture, and do not involve welds, rive~s,
s~rews, eyelets ~nd *he like ~or the nteren~ag~me~t
of ~eir culi,po~ent p~rts. The frasres a~50 ~ay be
easily disassembled for repair or for replacing
par~s,
Ac~ording to the in~erltior~, a ~handelier fr~ne
made from rings and ~pokes is provided. The rings
sre adapted ~or ~upportis~g ~rnaments, a~à the spokes
are at~ached to ~he rings for suppo~ti~g the ri~gs,
pre~erably c~axially. The rings and ~pokes are
~tta~hed to one nother by interengaging locking
means whi~h mechanically and detachably secure the
rings and ~pokes to one a~other. The rings ~d
s~okes may be f~rmed enti~ely ~rom nDns~ressed
~etal, and most preferably are cut from ~lat s~est
metal.
Preferably, *he rings and ~poXes ure held
t~gether by interlocking tab5 ~nd ~lots, the tabs
~d slots being preformed ~nd lsoated at discx~te
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positions to precise}y align the rings and ~pokes
wi~h respect ~o Qne ~no~her. Mos~ preferably, ~he
tabs inGlude a head and a nec~, the neck having a
narrower diameter than the head. The ~abs may be
located on a plurality of arm 6egments i~te~ral with
and extending from a main egm~nt o f ~he S pD~es and
definin~ platforms for seating the ri~gs. In a most
pre~erred embo~i~ent, at least a portion of one of
the slots ~nd tabs is cut using a laser.
A~cording to anot~er aspec~ of the invention,
the ~pokes ~re aligned and attached mechanically to
a-centrally located plate, pre~erably by
interlocking tabs and slots. That pla~e may ~srm a
portion ~f a centerpiece such ~s a ligh~ box, which
itself may be manufa~tured from flat material joined
together by intQrlo~kin~ tabs and slots.
B~IEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~INGS
The f~regsing obje~t~ and advantages of the
present in~ention will be more clearly understaod in
connec~ion ~ith the a~oompanying drawin~s in whi~h:
FIG. 1 is a per~pective YiÇW of a pri~r art
chandelier $rame ha~ring st~essed hoops and };pO}C~5
welded ~o one another;
FI~. 2 i~ a partial cross-~e~tional ~ide view of
~he prior art chandelier frame of FIG. 1:
FIG. 3 is a per~pect~ve view o~ a ~handelier
frame constructed ~ccording to th s invention;
FIG. ~ i~ a more de~ailed pe~spe~tive ~iew of a
spoke and ring of the ~handelier of ~. 3, showing
- -an interengagi~g tab and s~ot;
~ . S i6 a top view of-a tab and lot as ~hown
in ~IG. 4 showing the tab twis~ed ~ loek the
~lot ed part to the ~a~bed pas~,
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FIG. 6 is a more detailed perspective ~iew of a
twist tab according to this inve~tion;
FIG. 7(a-b) are side ViQWs Df various ~pokes
having tAbs dispos~d upon ~e~ment~ ~or inter~gaging
rings and center pie~es: .
FIG. 8 is a top view of a serieS of conçentri~
rings ha~ing ela~orate ~dge de~ail~ for use wi~h the
~pokes of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a partial side view ~f a chandelier
frame constru~ted from spokes and rings of FI~S. 7
and 8;
FIG. lO is 3 perspective vi ew d et a i 1 ing the
attachment o~ a ~poke to the top plate cf a center
piece used in the chandelier of FIG. 9;
FIG. ll is a perspec~ive ~iew detailing ~he
cons~ruction of the center piece of the chandelier
of FIG. 9 ~ith sp~kes removed;
FIG. 12 is a per~pectiYe ~iew o~ an
o~liguely-constru~ted, no~circular chandelier frame
according to thi~ inve~tion:
FIG. 13 is a cross-~ecti~nal ~iew of ano~her
interlocking t~b a~d ~lot arrangemen~ accordi~g ~o
this inv~ntion:
. Fl~ is a ~ide view of an alt~rna~ive
~tru~tur~ for mechanically i~terloc~ing the rings
and ~pokes of a chandelier frame;
FIGs. l5[a-b) is a vasiation eif ~he chandelier
frame of FI~. 13 ~a~ing a different ~tru~ture for
~echanically i~terlocking the ring~ and ~pokes and
- FIG. 16 i~ ~ flow ~hart of ~ ~o~ru~io~
pr~o~ss of a ~handelier fram~ ac~ording to thi~
i~vention,
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~ETAIt.FD DESCRIPTION OF THE ~ RED EMBODI~ENTS
A chandelier frame i~ ~hown in a preferred
embodimen~ in Fig. 3 which illustrates multiple
aspects of the inven~ion. The depicted cha~delier
frame may ~e manufact~lred from fla~, nons~r,~ssed
sh~et material without ~he use of welds, eyel~ts,
scr8ws or rivets ~o join any of the parts toge her.
As described furt~er below, the use of non-stressed
parts, ~ut preci~ely, aligned and assembled withou~
the use of bending, welds or cther deforming
processes, results in a superior product. Hish
structural tolerances ~re possi~le that
~ignificantly enhance the optical effects o~tai~able
with a chandelier built in this mann~r. ~his
product is also easy to assemble.
The Pmbodim~nt depicted~ ig. 3 utilizes
coaxial upper and lower rings, 30 and 32
respectively, disposed about and rela~ive ~o a
c~nter piece 34 ~hown in ph~ntom. The ri~gs are
aligned and separated from each other by atta~hment
~0 2 set of ~pokes 36 radially positioned relative
to the cen~er pieee 34.
Due to ~he novel alag~ment ~nd attachme~t
arrangemen~ of the inventio~, the piec~s of ~he
~handelier frame ~f Fag. 3 may be cut from fl~t
sheet mat~rial. They remain ~bst~ntially
nonstressed i~ final assembled ~o~m ~ith no bending
reguired to place ~hem i~o the proper
~o~figur~tion. This i~ a siyni~ac~Rt dis~in~t~on
over ~he prior ar~.
- The spokes 36 and rings 30, 3~ of ~he embodiment
depi~tea in Fig. 3 defi~e a thick~@ss 3~ transver~e
to their flat urfaces ~0. The thi~kness 3~ is
substan~ial}y less tha~ th~ width 42 of the fl~t
-7- ~ ù~ 7 ~ ~
~urfaces. As ~uch, ~a~h piece tends to define a
plane, ~he rin~s defining parallel planes and the
~pokes defining planes substantially perpendicular
to these parallel planes. The plane of ~he spokes
is generally oriented vertically i~ use~
contributing to the strength of th~ frame. ..
The edge of the spokes 3S transverse to the flat
surfa~es 40 and ~a~ing the ri~gs 30, 32 define
nonlinear ~egments ~6, ~8, 50 ~nd 52 (i.e., the
straight ~egments meet one another at angl~s), ~wo
of t~ese segments 46 and 50 de~ine parallel
plat~orms ~hat support 8 flat side of ~he upper and
lower rin~s 30, 32, respec~ively. Th~se platforms,
~hus, make p~ssibl~ the integral ~ombi~ation of both
spa~ing the ~ings 30, 32 axially along the cen~er
piece 34 and aligning the rings 3D, 3~ c~axially
wi~h respec~ to the ~enter piece 34.
The platforms 46, SO preferably include tabs 56
extendi~g from the platform and engaging in~egrally
formed through-~ut slo~s 58 ~ut at predetermined
l~catio~s in the ra~gs 30, 32. The ~abs 56 z3d
slo~s 58 allow ~or positive m~hani~al
interengagement of the rings 30, 32 and ~h ~pokes
36. The ~abs 56 ~nd ~lot~ 5B also pre~i~e~y align
~he ri~gs 30, 32 radially relati~ tc one another
and t~ the spoXes 3S. ~hrough ~his interengagement,
She rings ~hen are ~e~red ~n position agai~st
rotataon ~bout the ~enter piece 3~ and displac~me~
r~dially relata~e ~o ~hç ce~ter pi@C~ 34, AS ~UO~,
ornaments 6D depe~ding ~rom differe~t rin~s ~which
ornaments are located throu~h prefsrmed holes 62 ~y
mPans of hoo~s 64) mai~tai~ a pr~ci~e ~lignm~nt with
respec~ one another for ~n enha~c~ optical
~e~ u~h ~re~ise alig~ment of ornamen~ of
di~f~re~ ri~gs was unachieva~le ~eording to prior
ar~ ~handelier ~rame ~onstruc~io~s.
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The mechanical in~erengagement of ~he tabs and
slo~s allows a chandelier frame to be quic~ly
assembled without the use of any welding, adhesives,
~crews or rivets. The tabs are of a unique desi~n
having close tolerances and, thus, ar~ particularly
well suited to ~uttin~ techniques includi~g.-la er
~utting. The ~abs may be ~ut ~imul~ane~usly and b~
~ormed i~tegrally with the overall cutting of the
chandelier part.
A mor~ detailed view of the mechani~al
in~erenga~ement of a ~po~e and ring via a preferred
~ab and slot arrangement is depicted in Fig~ 4~ A
portion 9f a sing 70 is shown resting in face ~o
~ace relation upon a plat~orm D~ a spoke 74~ ~he
spo~e 74 has an in~egrally ~ormed ~ab 56 proje~ting
through a ~lot 58 in the ring 70. The tab 56 may be
twis~ed to provide positive locking interengayemen~
of ~he ~ing 70 and ~p~e 74~ This con~iguration is
depi~d in ~ig. 5 in whach the upper portion of th~ ~
~ab 56 i~ ~wisted ou~ of alisnment wi~h ~he ~lot 58
to conta~t the ~urfa~es 78 ~f the ~i~g 70 on
opposing ~ides of the ~lot. The twis~ is
accomplished primari}y ~y deforming the narrow ~ab
ne~ This is the only ~t~ssing o~ the par~s tha~
i reguir~d~ Thus, t~e strue~ure i~ "~ub~tan~ially
~nstressed". Sanc-e the deforma~ion occur~ ~t only
sm?ll-isolat~d point~ upon the ~handelier frame
whsre radial ali~nment of the ri~gs relati~e ~o each
~her ~d to the center ~xas a~ ~ixed, ~he
s~ruc~ural toleranee of the chandelier f~me remains
extremely h~gh (less than 3/64 inch radial an~ axial
-toler~n~e). Additiona~ly, the speed at which the
tabs'may be twisted allow5 for gui~k and ~imple
as~embly.
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The details of a preferred tab are depict~d in
Fig. 6. The tab is constru~ted from a generally
rectangular proje~tion 82 formed integrally with a
spo!~e and ~xtending from a pla~form 84 for
supporting a ring ~not shown3. Since die ~uts
generally are more precise than la~er cuts,O.it is
preferred ~hat ~he tab and platfrom i~e~iately
adja~ent the tab ~nd ~orming th~ ~eat for the sing
are die cut rather than la er cut. Thi6 will insure
a ~nug f it between ~he tab and ~he ring ~lot ~d
ensu~e prDper ~eating o~ the ring on the platform.
The ~ectangular projection i~ defined by a top
~all 86 and two side walls ~8 exte~ding fEom the top
wall E36 tD the pla~form 84. ~ pair of thin ~lots 90
~re ~t (preferably by a laser) in o opposing side
walls 88. The slots 90 xtend toward one an~ther
and downwardly ~ward the platform 84, ~u~ ~top
short of mee~cing one ano~her so as ~to di~ride the
rec~angular projectior~ in*o three portiorls, a s~a~
92 adjacent ~he ~la~form 84, a narro~ed ~eck 9~ al:
the ~onvergerl~e of ~he ~lo~ 90 and ~ head 96
loc~ted ~b~ve ~he ~lots 90. The head 96 may be
gripped, preferably with a tool, and twi~ted about
~e narrow neck 94 ~o braag the head 96 out o~
pla~ar alignment ~ith respe~'c to the ~eat 92.
In use, a ~lo~ d p~rt 6u~h as a rin-3 as
positioned on th. platform 8~ of, ~r exasnple, a
spoke, with a the tab extendir~g through th~ slotO
Th~ ~eat 92 of the ta~ is ~ized to fit . nugly within
the ~ing ~lot ~o as to preci~ely align ~he rislg a~3d
~poke and to pre~rent any ~ignif icar~t la~sr
wove,-,e.~t ~f the ring wi~h ~esp~ct ~to ~he spoke. Thg
~lots 90 orl ~he ~a~ Arè sized w~th ~spect ~o ~h2
ring such ~hat they conYerg~ and form ~he n~ck 9
a ~;ition ~ithin the ring ,ilo~c when ~he ring i~
i V 7 ~ / ~ 7 7~ I C I~ A't
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~7 ~ eated on the plat:Eorm. The downwardly faci~g
a~ 6urfa~es 98 of the head 96 likewise extend ir~to the
ring slot when the ring is ~eated on the platform.
As such, ~hen the tab head 96 is twisted, the
. o~mwardly facing surfaces 98 of ~he head 96 engage
~ur~aees of the ring adjacent the ~lo~ ~nd erlsure a
tiyh~ interlo~ be~ween the ring and ~poke . Motion
in all degrees ~ reedom i~ prevented. I~ the
embodiment ~hown, th~ tab 810ts 90 sre straight. It
should be understood, however, that other
configurations, including ~lots defining a xadius
may be used, and may even be preferred.
In a pxe~erred embodiment, f or ef ~ective
locking, ~he rleck width 100 i6 1~.7 imes the spoke
thi~kness lD2, and the distance lo5 from a sidewall
88 ~o the ne~k as 1 . 25 the spoke ~hickne~s .
Similar}y, the head width 104 is at leas~ 4.2 ~imes
the spoke thicl~ness 102. In one ~uccessful
embodiment ~ccording to the i~ve~tion, the . heet
metal from which ~he spokes and rings were cu~ was a
close~oleran~e, ~old-rolled, ~ceel sheet, i~lat roll
and full hard, 14 gage thickn~ss ~ . 074 i~e~es,
. 002 thieXness tolerance), Dbtained from
Lapham-~lickey, Chicago, IL, under ~he ~rade
designa~icn C-lD~0 alloy. The ~eck w~dth was a~out
.125 inehes, and the head wid~h ~as about .3
inches . ThP ~lot~ f orming the 'cab nec~ and head
were . 007'~ in ~hickrles~ and ~onver~ed at an angle os~
~ine degrees relative to the platform. Th@se sl~ts
were cut u~ing a laser. The ~lot~ converged at ~he
- ne~k w~iGh was l~ated .005" below the ~urfa~e of
*he ring vhen the ring w 5 s~ated on the platform.
~he rirlg slots which receiYed the tabs were die cut
to provids a ~learas~e of . OD5 a~ou~ the tabs .
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~ h~ p~sitive l~ckir.g arrangement des~ribed abovealso maXes possible the suspension ~f a slotted part
in any orientation. Thus, a spoke may contain a tab
and platform upon its downward facing ~ide with a
ri~g hanging from the po~e, having its weight
supported only by the tab.
The use of the preferred tab ~nd ~lot
interengagement system i~ not limi~ed ~olely to
rings and spokes. As depicted in Fi~. 3, the
~handelier ~rame may have a slot dispo6ed upon, for
example, a spo~e 36. ~nother part ~u~h as a hook,
having a ta~bed projection ~ay ~e at~ach~d to ~he
sl~ on the spoke. ~ Fig. 3, a ~la~ar hook llO cut
from n~nstressed fiheet material ~nd ha~ing a ~ab 56
~ ~h~wn in phan~om is a~ta~hed ~D a slot lo~ated a~
the lower extremity of spoke 4D. This hook 110 may
be used for hanging a second tier or 'basket" ~f
rings, or ~or other purpose ~
Tt ~hould be no~d that other ~ys~ems for
fiecuring ~he chandelier frame parts together are
p~ssible and may be r~guired ~or no~metalli~ or ~oft
metal pa~s. Spokes and ri~gs may be interengaged
by a snap fit, in which ~ne of the pa~s is forced
isto an interfering fit with anoth~ ddit~onally,
parts7 may ho cut wi~h ~ppDfiing gr~ves that
intermesh and maintain the par~ an alignme~t with
r~spect ~o eac~ other and a ~entral axis. Th~se
~e~hods may invo~v~ the u~e of ~ome ~eldi~g,
adhesiYes, ~r o~her ~echni~ue~ ~f joinery wi~h,
ho~ever, th~ nificant ~dvantage over the prior
art in ~chat thP per~Dndi~ularly ~riented pl a~ar
~ons~ru~tion and use of interengaging slots or tabs
a~d ~lots allows frame alignment ~o be predefi~d
~nd maintaa~ed during a fanal joining pr~ce~s.
~xample~ of ~ther mechanical attachment5 r@
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described in greater detail in c~nec~ion wi~h Figs.
14-15 below.
Spokes may be cons~ructed elaborately t~ support
a multiplicity of coaxial, axially ~eparated,
rings. One type of spoke utilizing the t~isting ~ab
con~ept is shown in Fig. 7(B~. The spokes depi~ted
contain upward facing tabs 120 for mounting to a
~e~ter unit. They have downwardly ~acing ~abs f~r
supporting rings. A ~ab fiuch as ~ab 1~4 i~ located
along a 6egment 1~5 of the spoke such that a large
le~gth 126 of ~2gment 125 i~ disposed on either side
of ~he tab 124. Ano~her tab 12R i6 in ~106
proximi~y to ~n end of ~egment 130, wi~h a
~ubstan~ial leng~h o~ ~egment 132 on one ~ide of ~he
~ab 12B and ~ith Dnly a ~hort leng~h 134 o~ ~he
~her ~ide, the ~hor~ leng~h being ~ufficient in
order ~a provide an adeguate platform for the ring.
A ~econd ~ype of spoke, depi~ed in ~ig. 7(b),
has supporti~g ar~s 138 exte~ding from a main
segmen~ 140 ~nd defining arm plat~orms 142 from
which rings hang ~i~h their ~eight suppor~Qd by ~he
~abs. The spokes of Fig. 7~b~ may include a pair of
tabs 14~ disposed upon one of the a~ms 138 ~or
a~tachme~ ~o a center u~it. The u~ of ~wo ~abs
helps to provade extra ~,trength when attached to a
ce~ter uni~ ~whi~h has two corresponding ~lot~. A
~poke als,~ ~ay be provided with a ~le 154 di~posed
at one e~d of the ~p~ke. This hol~ may be used, for
example, to joi~ the spoke, by means of a fast~ner,
~o tAe h~l of anotAer ~pok~, ~uch as hole l~B of
thP spoke 150 shown in Fag. 7(~).
- Elaborate rings may be formed to construc~ a
r~n~elier ~rame ~o~ding ~o this inventio~,
par~acularly if la~er cuttang is uti~zed. ~hapes
~aryi~s f~m an ordin ry annulus having ~ ~ariety of
1 3 ~ v , ~
holes, slots and edge ~ontours are possible. ~ig.
8, for example, depic~ a ~eries of ~ix slo~ted
rings l~o, 162, 164, 166, 168 and 170, ~oncentric
sbout a central axis 170. Each of these ring~
contains a ~eries of ~mall holes 174 for hanging
ornament~ from hooks, as well as ~er~ain large holes
1~6, ~s ~hown UpOII the outermos~ ring 160, ~hrough
which orx~aments ~uch as cryst31 rods may be
~uspended. Each o~ the ~ings co~tains, e~enly
spaced abou~ its perimeter, a lieries of proj eotions
178 ha~ing slots 179 cut therethrough at precise
locations. The 610t~ 179 may accept ~he
me~hanically inter~ngaging ~abs described ~bove.
The preci~e alignment of the slo~s 179 and ornamer~t
molmting holes 174, 176 between two o~ ~nore rings in
the assemb~ed fram2 achieves symetrical crys~:al
placemen~ ~o a degreP nsver before a~hieved.
Each of these rings may be ~paced axially
relative to the other rir~gs by attachmerlt ~o spokes
such as those ~hown irl Figs. 7~a) and 7(~). C~rtain
rings 16~, 162, 166 and 168 ha~e slot~ disp~ ed in
radial aliy,.,.,~ dot~d line 180) rela~iYe ~o each
o1:her ~hile other rings ~64 and 170 are radially
aligned ~dot~d line 182) o~fset ~a the other
radi~lly aligned slot~. This allows cestain ~pol~es
to support ~ome of the rings ~hile o~her spoXes
carry o~her rings, thus p~e~rerltirlg oYerl~adir~g of
~pokes ~nd making possible very large groupings ~f
axially ~paced rings.
Th~ ~ings may tal~e varaous ~orms, a~ad b~oadly
may be de~ined as a plate h~ving ar~ o~eni~ag. The
p~rticular c~nfiguration will be selected based upo~
both f~cti~al and aesthetie considsration~. ~s
sxemplif~ed 3:)y the i~er projecting arms 18~ and
a3~nular cen~er 1~6 of ~he inner~ost ring 17D, ris~gs
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~a~5 may include ~hapes that extend outside of thegeneral radial bou~daries defined ~y ~-he ring.
~imilarly, a ring does not have to scribe ~ ~ircular
path, as ~hown by the irregular undulating outer
~urface ~ontour 1~8 upon each ring. In fact, as
depi~ted in Fig. 12, ring~ need not ~e circular at
all. ~ather, obligue and nonour~ed shapes 230 and
232 may be utilized as chandelier frame rings. The
central axis 234 for ~uch a ~hape also ~eed not be
the ~entroid of ea~h ring (note ~ha~ Dl i~ less than
D2).
The elabora~e ~pokes and rings of ~igs. 7~a~,
7~b) a~d 8 may be combined to for~ an e~ually
elaborate tab and 810t ~ype of cha~delier ~ho~
generally i~ partial side view in ~ig. ~ ~he upper
~poke 190 ~aving four supporting ~rms 192 defines a~
upper portion o~ the chandelier frame with coaxial
ri~s that in~rea e in di~meter from top ~o bot~om.
The ~poke 190 is mounted to the ~op pla~e 1~4 of a
~enter piece 19~ by msans of ~ pair of ta~s 198 tha~
po~itiv@ly se~ure i~J Ornaments are attached to the
ri~gs o~ this upper spoke 190 through holes 200 i~,
for example, the ri~g 292 using hooks 2~4 with one
end a~taeh~d to th~ ring ~nd exte~ding out~ard with
an ornament 206 atta~hed at the opposing ~nd. The
~nd 207 of the upper spoke 190 i~ ~ecur~d to a lower
~poke 2D8 with 8 bolt 210 pa~si~g through a
preformed hole in both ~po~es. .The lower spoke 20
al~o support~ a set of coaxial rings 211 wi~h
diamet~rs that decrease ~om top to ~ottom. ~hes~
rings i~lude holes 212 ~aving hooks 214 pl~ed
therethrough for ~anging ornamen~E 206.
The ~op pl-te 194 of ~enter piec~ 196 of the
~ixture of Fig. 9 ~s ~upporte upon a center rod 216
that may be holl~w and carry electrical wira~g for
~ ~ r
-15- ~U~'?.-!~.
the chandelier. The top plate 194 of he cen~er
piece 196 may be cut in the ~ame manner as other
chandeli~r ~rame par s, particularly using combined
laser and punch cutting. This top plate i secured
to th~ center rod 216 th~ough a hol~ ~20 in ~he top
plate 194.
The ~Dp plate 19~ is sh~wn separa~ely in'this
Fig. 10 to de~ail a pre~erred method of securing
spokes to a central mounting pla~e a~cording to t~is
invention. According to this method, a pair of tabs
198 on a spo~e arm 221 are positioned through
~orresponding ~lots 222 i~ the top plate 194 and
twist-locked in place.
The top plate 194 deseribed in Fig. 10 may form
a wall of a ~enterpie~ ~u~h as a ligh~ box. Fig.
11 details ~he ~ent~r pie~e 196 wath spokes removed,
ri~vealing the spoke slots 222 on the top plate 194
as previously described, and additionally, ~ade wall
slots 22~ on the top plate 194. These side ~all
slots 224 ~re dis~osed in closer proximity ~o t~e
outer edge o~ the ~op plate 194 ~nd are tran~rxe
in elonga~ion to ~he spoke slo~s 222. Through ~he
~ide wall ~lots ~24 in ~hi~ example are locat~d
twis~i~g tabs 216 for ~ecuring light box ~id~ walls
226. A ~o~om plate ~o~ hown) may be located at
the bo~tom of th~ ~ide wall~ 226 and secured by a
~e~o~d ~imilar set of tabs a~d ~lo~s to form the
light box. ~he side walls 226 of ~his cen~er pi~ce
may c~nta ~ number of ligh~ ~o~ets 230 upon ~heir
~urfa~e for illumination ~ th~ ~ix~ure. The ligh~
s~cke~s are co~nected t~ wares ~bat aze ~ed into ~he
~ i~t~risr of the box through openings in the eenter
rod 216 ~no~ ~ho~n~ in .h~ region of ~he ~en~er
pie~e i~erior. The center rod 216 ~ hown ~n
ph3~tom) may ~1~D h~ve, in proximity t9 a bott~m
., .
pl ate, a stop 228 to ~upport ~he center piece a~d,
con~equen~ly, the f ixture as it hangs upon ~he rod .
This ~top ~28 may be either machir~ed into ~he rod or
joined to the rod using a~ external joining method
such as ~ldirlg or ~crews.
Fig. 13 illustrates another tab aT~d slot
arrangement according to the in~rer~tion in whi~h
~poke 310 is a~ta~hed to a ring 311. The E;poke 310
has ~wo upwardly facis~g ~abs ~12, 314 sp~ced ~long
the length of ~he ~poke 3'~0, one being ~ ~he end of
t~ spoke and the cther proximate to ~he end. The
proximately loc~ted irLner ~ab 31~ is a twis~ tab
con~igured as described above in ~o~ection with
Fig. 6. The end tab 312 i~ rlot a twist tab, ~ut
rather is formed o~ ~m upwardly extending se~nent
316 and an outwardly ex~e~ding 6egment 318. The
spoke tabs 312, 314 ~re in~erengaged with ~na~ing
ring ~lots, an outer ring 510t 320 ~adially aligned
~i~eh an is~ner ring ~lot 322.
To at~ach the spoke and ring to one anothe~t ~he
ou~wardly ~xtending ~e~neslt 318 of ~e ~nd ~ 312
is in~er ed through th~ outer risag ~lot 320 ~ith ~he
leng~:h of the spoke oriented a~ an angle with
respe~ to the rir~g. The ~p~ke then is rota~d
~oward the ris~g about axis defined by the
in~erenga~ing outer ~lot and end tab in a men~r ~o
cause ~he ar~ne~ twis~ ~ab 314 t~ ~e ~ rodu~ed
~hrough ~he ring ~lo~ 322. The inner ~wist tab 314
~hen i~ ~isted to lock ~he ~poke to ~che Eing.
A~ ~hown, the ring of embodimen~ of Fig. 13
rests on t~p of the spo~e. Thi~ embodimerlt al~o i~
par~i~ularly useful when the inverted posi~ior2 i~
desir~d,, that ~s ~h~ rialg is ~uspea-ded from a
spoke or ~hen a ~pok is ~uspended from, ~~r
example, a cent~r washer. As ~t~ted pr~?YioUSly, ao~
:.. :~ . :,,
- ~
-17- ~id~
all material~ are ~uited to a twi~t tab joining
technique as disclo~ed abo~e. Furthermore, cer~ain
aesthetic reguirements may necess~ta~e the a~oida~ce
of ~wist tab covered urfac~s. Therefore, a~
al~ernati~e system for locking ings ~d ~pokes of
planar nonstre~sed material req~iring absol~tely no
str~ssing or deformation of parts and, thus,
~uitable to any virtually material o ~ufficient
rigidity is also possible according to another
embodament of the invention. In ~his embodiment, no
~wist tabs are reguired. This method is
particularly effec~ive whe~e tabs may be ~isible and
unsightly, such as in a chandelier having a largely
exposed frame.
Fig. 1~ depicts one ~uch frame having a ~ing 2~0
positioned ~oaxially r~lati~e to a center plate or
~enter ring 242 that ~arrie~ a plurali~y of radially
elo~gated through-cut S1Q~S 244 disposed about i~5
periph~ry. Ring ~lo~s 246 ar~ formed upon inward
facing projec~ions of the ring 240 in radial
ali ~ e~ with each of the slots 244 in th~ cent~r
plate 242. Th~se ri~ ~lo~s, of course, m~y b@
plac~d directly into an unprojected portion of the
ring. The ~ing 240 i~ ~upported rela~ive ~o the
cent~r plate 242 ~y ~pokes 24~ ex~e~ding be~ween ~he
~wo parts. Each spoke 248 has a spoke slot 250 at
~s outer end. ~he spoke slo~ are ~i2ed ~u~h ~ha~
~hey interengage with th~ ring slo~s ~n a snug fit
when the spoke i~ m~ed radially ou~w~rdly wi~h
.
respe~t to th8 ring. At the inwardly facing e~d of
ea~h spoke is a tab 252, located along a bot~om edge
o~ the spoke. ~hen the ring slo~s a~d ~p~ke ~lo~
are interenga~edt the tab5 252 ~ n wit~ and may be
posi~ioned within the slots 244 in the center plat~
242. T~e t2bs 252 are ~ized to ~nugly i~ter~ngag~
~: :
n~-~r ~
3t~ 18-
- the slots ~4~, but, unli~e ~he twist tab embodiment
previou~ly described, ~he tabs do not exit ~hr~ugh
an opposing side of the slot, nor do they ha~re an
in~egral lo~king me~hanism. Rather, each spoke 248
wi~h i~s tab in a ~lot i~ held forcibly in pla~
against the cen~er plate 242 by a locking d~sk 254
tha~ engages the upper thickness edge 256 of ea~h
~polce. This disk i~ brought into con~ac~ with the
~pokes using, ~or ~xample, a bolt 2SO and nuts ~2
and 2~4 locat~d through a hole 266 in the ~enter
plate. The loc~ing dis~ ~54 may be concave in shape
~o provide ~dditional ~pring ~orce a~ each upper
thickness edge 25~.
~he concept of in~erengagis~g slots al~o may be
appli~d to the locking of the spokes to ~he ~enter
plate. An example of this ~onfi~uration is ~hown in
~ig. 15(a) which depi~ts a spoke 270 and ~en~er
pla~e 272 I;imilar in ~onfiguration ~ tho~e shown in
Fig. 13, exce~t that the inner ~nd of the ~poke 270
is formed wi~th a lower pr~jection 27~L defining a
~lot ~76 wi~h a ~l~t wid~h 278 approximately equal
to the ~hic3cnes~ of the ces~t~r pl~te. ~he
pr~jection 274 is sized to fit through the pla~e
slots 284. On~e pas~ed into the slot, a~ shown isl
Fig. 15~b), the ~;poke i5 ~lid radially ou~wardly to
firmly interengag. ~h* ou~er spoXe lo~ 28~ w~th the
~lot 29~ of a ria~g 292 a~d to simultaneously
interengage the ~lot of the pr~je~tiorl 27~L with the
plate ~lo~ 284. In this i~terengaged positio~, ~a
~lat locking di~l~ 294 i5 ~herl posi~ionèd o~ ~he
~urfa~e of the center plate 272 where it r~st~
~nu~ly agair~st the inwardly facing side edges 296 of
the ~poXes. ~he l~}cing da k 2~4 may be ~cur~d ~s
~hown, in ~chi~ exampl~ in Fig. 15(b), by a bol~
assembly 300 through ~ h~lé in the ~enter of ~he
loc~ing di~k u~d c~nter plate.
-19~ 73~
The planar nonstressed pieces utilized in this
inven~ion ~ay he composed of a variety of materials
including sheet me~als like s~ei, bra~s and
aluminum. In one pre~er~ed embodiment, the parts of
the ~rame are composed cf shee~c 6t5~el hav ing a
su~~icient thickness ~o preven~ buckling a~à bending
under the weight of ~he frame ar~d srnaments. Steel
generally has ~he adYantag~ in tha~ i~ does ~ot wear
easily redu~ing potential loose~ing of lo~ked
sur~a~es, and it remains twistably deformed in place
if twisted tabs are employed. 8tainless s~eel has
~he advantage o~ increased structural s~rength amd
ic a noncorroding material reguirinq no finishing
proce~s. St~el ha~ g a hardness of Rockwell scale
903 has been used successfully ~c~ording to ~he
invention .
The chandelier frame may alternativ ~y be
~onstruc~ed of high s~re~gth plas~ic or acrylic,
ei~her ~lear or ~i~h ~oloriilg, ~hat has th~
advantages of certain àecorai:ive ~ralue, reducirlg the
cost of the ~ h~d cha~del~e~ and part~cularly
enabling ef~e~ive s~ap fit l~cking of part~.
Plastics also allow effective adh~sio~ of parts
thr~ugh ehemical, ~eas or ultrasorli~ welding. Such
~orlding may b accompli~hed af~~r the ~omponent
parts haYe been ~ubstantially assen~led ~d
symetrically aliyned.
As d~scribed a3:~o~e, the nDnstres~sd materials
utilized to ~onstru~t parts of a ~handelier frame
a~cordirlg ~o thi~ i~ves~tio~ may be formed ~nd cut
very precisely using a l~er cu~cter. A ~referred
~ype ~f laser cu~ter is a ~:ombinal~aon turret pu~h
press/laser cutter. - ~uEh a ma~hine i~ ~mployed
regularly i~ ~he sh~et m~tal andllstry. Th~
~;tri?pet~ model F/C 1250-30-~S~O made ~y E;~trip~pet
~ - . . - ,. - ~.
:, . .
2 ~ 8~ 3 ~ -20-
Co. of AXron, NY fi~ted with a Rofin-Sinar"' l2no
watt CO2 1 aser, for example, provides suffic~ient
capabili~ies for large ~cale produc~ion of
chandelier frame parts according to ~his inventiorl.
Cuts may be made entirely by laser, but
repeti~ive-shaped cuts may also be made by ~ pun~h.
This unit includes a me~ha~ical punch pre~s ~or
repetitive shape cuts, ~ùch as 510ts and blank
tabs. The punch press develops up to 30 tons of
punching force. The table of thi~ unit may
acc~runodate up to 5 foot by 10 foot sheP~ material
pie~es wi~h up to 6a X 60" of travel under
progran~ned ~omputer :~umerical control. The pun~h
includes ~urret ~ooling that a~c~mmod~tes up ~o 33,
di~ferently haped punches that may be brough~ into
ready position as necessary under programmed
con~rsl. Sin~e cur~ed sha~es may often by
encountered, the ~a~ should be zquipped wi~h
~tations tha~ ~llow the pu~ch to be ro~a~ed und~r
~ computer r~e~ical control. ~his allows Elots a~ad
other shapes to be rotatably disposed arou~d a
~arcumf erer~ce at will . Aotual progra~ning of ~he
unit i~ ~ccomplished llsing an X-Y axis positionang
s~fts~are program that may be ~oaded onto vir~ually
any ~tandard micro compu~er.
The desi~ of a ~ delier may be aocompli~hed
~n~asely on a ~omputer usi~g a computer aided desigr
prograrn w~th ~ar~ually ~o margis~ of ~rror isl ~he
nSi~S of part~. This computer design ean then
be t~onv~:ted to slumerical X-Y coordinate data ~ha~
~ dir~ctly loaded anto She las~ u~ter ~ontrol
program to produ~e the finished chand21ier ~rame
pa~ . . Thus, a full, complex chandelier may be
~struct~d as a one-off unique model with only the
design costs as an ~ddi~cional expen~e. ~uch a
~ j -
-21- 2~8573~
chandelier would ~e imp~ssible ~o build using
~radi~i~nal mass produ~tion techniques. The flat
pattern ~uts required lend themselves to an
au~omated cutting methods with or wi~hout lasers.
The ~tructure of a chandelier ~rame acc~rding to
this inven~ion, similarly, lends it~elf to ~uick
assemb}y even ~hile pieces are in the process of
cutting.
Fig. 16 depicts ~n example of a flow ~hart for
ass~mbly o~ a ~handelier ~rame. The process i~
initialized with the i~put 350 of a shee~ o~
nonstressed material to the ~utting devi~e. A xing,
including slo~s and ornament holes, is cut to a
prede~ermined size 352. This ring is then output
354 to an assembly srea. The sheet then is input to
a se~ond ~ut~er that. ~u~s 356 and uu~pu~s 358 spokes
of pr~determined sizes to ~n assembly area. ~in~e
~o welds or other adhesives are used tha~ would sl~w
the process, ~ssembly of ~pokes t~ each ~utput ring
can occur ~ o~ce by simply ~i~ting ~he part~
~oge~her and twisti~g ths ~ppropri~te tabs in plP~e
usin~, ~or ex~mpl~, an ordinary pair of plier~. An
~ddita~nal advantaye of the simple assembly made
possibl~ with these frames i~ ~hat ~a~nificantly
less ~kill is reguired, thus, lowering labor co~s.
The ~utting a~d output~ing process ~onti~ues 360
with ~h~ ring and spoke ~iz~ changes 3B2 until the
~ystem detErma~es 364 that the final 6utting
operatio~ has be~n per~ormed 366. No~e i~ ~ag. 8
how ~ach ring m~y fit complet~ly within th~ ~xt
larger ri~g, thus, allowi~g all ri~gs to be cut
con~entrically. The ~yst~m may output 368 any
~emaaning excess ~heet materi~l~ A~ ~a~h ~ompone~
part is output to the a~se~bly ~rea, it i~, in turn,
assembled 370 by twis~ing t~bs or other gui~
::
-22~
2 ~ a5 ~ssembly ~e~hod to spokes or other output parts
until a ~ini hed chandelier frame is formed 372.
This fini~hed frame may then have ~rnament6 applied
at a ~eparate ~ta~ion. It is important ~o ~ote tha~
even if assembly reguires the use of ~ome adhesive
or weld, this invention allo~s precise alisnment of
all parts prior ~o the welding or adhesive
operation, thus signifi~antly increasing the 6peed
and accur~y o~ assembly. All jo~nts ~an be
assembled znd then all we~ds can be applied in an
"asse~bly line" manner rather than one pi~ce
~arefully itted at a time.
~ t should be unders~ood ~hat the preceding is
merely z detailed description of a preferred
embodimen~. It ~h~uld be appare~.t ~o those 6killed
i~ the art ~hat vari~us modifi~ations and
equivalPnts can be made without depar$ing f~Dm the
spirit or ~cope of the inve~tio~. Th~ preceding
description i~ me~nt to des~ribe only a prefe~r~d
embDdimP~ and ~ot So limit the ~ope of the
inYentio~ .
~ hat is claimed is:
. . .
.
