Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02366092 2001-12-31
REMOVABLE LAMP SHADE COVER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to home furnishing accessories, and in
particular to a
removable cover for a lamp shade diffuser.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Lamp shades are typically constructed of relatively stiff but lightweight
materials and
usually can be installed and removed from a lamp base with minimum effort.
After an
extended period of use, the shade may become outdated or discoloured so that
replacement is desirable. An exact lamp shade replacement, in some cases, may
not be
possible. On other occasions, it may be desirable to coordinate the appearance
of the
lamp shade with other room furnishings such as curtains, bed linen, pillows
and the like.
The range of conventional lamp shade pattern and colours which are available
for such
fashion coordination is limited, and is generally expensive.
It is known to provide a fabric covering as a solution to the problem of lamp
shade
replacement. Such coverings have heretofore been serviceable in most respects
but have
not provided an economical, re-usable, pleated alternative to lamp shade
replacement.
Moreover, because of variations in the lamp shade diameter and taper, it has
been
necessary to customize each such covering according to the specific dimensions
of each
individual lamp shade.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to provide a
conformable,
removable lamp shade cover, which is adjustable to accommodate various lamp
shade
sizes.
A related object of the invention is to provide a conformable, removable lamp
shade
cover having a pleated appearance.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved lamp shade cover
that can
be prepared from a rectangular swatch of cloth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A covering for a lamp shade diffuser is prepared from a rectangular swatch of
cloth. The
tap and bottom edges of the swatch are hemmed to provide casing pockets, which
run
along the length of the swatch.
CA 02366092 2001-12-31
An elastic band is cut into two predetermined lengths, depending on the
diameter of the
top and bottom of the lamp shade. The shorter of the two elastics is received
in the upper
casing pocket and the longer elastic is received in the lower casing pocket.
The cloth
portions forming the hems and the upper and lower casing pockets are gathered
and
stitched at each end of the elastic band so that the length of elastic band
exceeds the
stitched length of the gathered hem. The ends of the rectangular swatch of
cloth are sewn
together to produce a tubular covering. The elasticized top hem is positioned
around and
over the top edge of the lamp shade, thereby defining an overlap. The
elasticized bottom
hem is expanded while the tubular cover is being pulled down and over the lamp
shade.
The bottom hem is pulled under the bottom edge of the lamp shade, thereby
defining an
underlap. The overlap and underlap can then be adjusted to provide an equal
distance
around the top and bottom diameters of the lamp shade.
The novel features, which characterize the invention, shall be defined by the
claims. The
forgoing and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will
hereinafter
appear, and for purposes of illustration of the invention, but not of
limitation, an
exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAW1NGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp having a lamp shade decorated with a
removable
lamp shade covering constructed according to the teachings of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a view of a length of elastic band cut into two predetermined
lengths.
FIG. 3 is a top view of a rectangular swatch of cloth which illustrates the
pattern for
constructing the lamp shade cover shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a rectangular cut-out taken from the swatch shown in FIG. 3 which
has been
partly assembled into a removable lamp shade cover.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a removable lamp shade cover, which is ready
to be
installed on a lamp shade.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the inside seam assembly of the lamp shade cover
as
illustrated in FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERED EMBODIMENT
In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the
specifications and
drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawings are not
necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions have been exaggerated
in order to
more clearly depict certain features of the invention.
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CA 02366092 2001-12-31
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, a removable lamp shade cover 14 is shown
assembled
onto a lamp shade 11, which is affixed onto a convention lamp base 12. The
lamp shade
cover 14 includes an underlap 16, an overlap 18 and an intermediate sidewall
portion 1.
According to an important feature of the invention, the underlap 16 is hemmed
along a
stitch line 21 adjacent the lower edge 3 thereby defining a casing pocket 22.
The overlap
18 is stitched along a stitch line 4 adjacent the upper edge 2, thereby
defining a casing
pocket 5. Although a single fold hem is illustrated, a double-fold can be used
to good
advantage.
The adjustable feature of the invention is provided by a length of elastic
band 6, cut into
two predetermined lengths 7, the shorter elastic 8, which is received within
the upper
casing pocket 5, and a longer elastic 9, which is received within the lower
casing pocket
22, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6.
According to an important feature of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 1,
5 and 6, the
hemmed portion 4, forming the upper casing pocket 5, and the hemmed portion
21,
forming the lower casing pocket 22; are gathered so that the length of elastic
bands
exceed the length of the gathered hems and are stitched with a cross stitch
10, to the
casing pocket it is received through. According to this arrangement, the top
hem 4 and
bottom hem 21 are elasticized to provide a snug fit around the upper and lower
edge of
the lamp shade 1 l, and also to produce pleats 15 along the length of the
covering.
After the casing pockets 5 and 22 have been gathered and the elastic secured
with a cross
stitch 10 at each end, A and B of the lamp shade cover 14 are sewn together to
form a
stitched seam 17, and thereby producing a tubular enclosure or covering as
illustrated in
FIG. 5.
After the stitched seam 17 has been sewn, the material forming the upper
casing pocket 5
and lower casing pocket 22, in which the elastic bands 8 and 9 are received,
is folded
back to the same casing pocket and sewn on each side as indicated by the
stitched dashed
lines 19 on either side of the stitched seam 17. According to this
arrangement, the elastic
bands 8 and 9 can expand freely within the casing pockets, while extensions of
the
gathered material in the hems 4 and 21 is limited, thereby preserving the
pleated
appearance 15. Although a single fold is illustrated, a double-fold can be
used to good
advantage.
The lamp shade cover 14 is preferably cut in rectangular form, from a large
swatch of
cloth 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, if desired, a lamp shade cover
can be prepared
from a swatch of cloth having curved sides as indicated by the dashed pattern
20. It will
be appreciated, however, that the curved pattern does not make efficient use
of the
available material 13, whereas the rectangular pattern 1 does.
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CA 02366092 2001-12-31
Referring again to FIGS.1 and 5, after the lamp shade 11 has been placed on a
flat
surface, the upper edge 2 of the lamp shade cover 14 is placed over the top
edge of the
lamp shade 11, thereby forming an overlap 18. The elasticized lower edge 3 of
the cover
14 is pulled down over the sides of the shade until the elasticized edge snaps
under the
entire bottom diameter of the shade, thereby forming an underlapl6. The
overlap 18 of
the cover is adjusted until it assumes a slightly smaller diameter than the
top of the lamp
shade. The underlapl6 is adjusted until it assumes an equal radius distance
around the
bottom diameter of the shade. The diameter of the lower edge 3 is adjusted by
drawing
the excess height of the cover to the bottom in order to maintain the desired
overlap 18
along the top of the lamp shade, using care to preserve the desired underlap
16 of the
cover. The pleating 15, can be adjusted, if necessary, by adjusting the
overlap and the
underlap to equally distribute the cloth around the top and bottom of the
shade.
At this point, the lamp shade 11 with the cover 14 installed, is ready to be
placed onto the
lamp base 12. Final pleating adjustments are made by simply rotating the
fabric around
the top and bottom diameters, and adjusting the elasticized hems accordingly.
It will be
appreciated that the lamp shade cover 14 can be easily removed for cleaning
and re-
installed by expanding the elasticized lower edge 3 and placing it over the
shade from top
to bottom, and snapping it under the bottom edge of the lamp shade l l, then
adjusting the
overlap and underlap accordingly.
Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail,
it should
be understood that various changes, alterations and substitutions could be
made therein
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
claims.
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