Technical field

The present disclosure relates to a lamp, such as a table lamp, comprising a base portion adapted to rest on a horizontal surface, a shade portion, adapted to be carried by the base portion and to wholly or partly surround a light source, and a holder comprising a light source connector for connecting said light source to a power outlet.

Background

Such a lamp is disclosed in US-1886634, where the shade portion is releasable, and the holder is attached to the base portion.

One general problem with producing, storing, distributing, and selling such a lamp to a consumer, is that the parts need appropriate packaging. Especially if the shade and/or base portions are made of glass and/or having a layer of lacquer, they will be fragile, and need to be individually protected by being wrapped in paper. Then, the individual parts need be packed together to form a kit that can be assembled to a complete lamp by the end user or at a retail location. This means the costs for transport and storage in the steps between the production and the end user may contribute to a sizeable portion of the final cost.

One object of the present disclosure is therefore to provide a lamp that allows efficient distribution such that costs can be reduced.

This object is achieved by means of a lamp as defined in claim 1 . More specifically, in a lamp of the initially mentioned kind the base portion is bowl-shaped, defining an inner volume surrounded by an inner surface and having an outer surface. The base portion has an opening arranged in the bottom of the inner surface. The shade portion is also bowl-shaped, defining an inner volume surrounded by an inner surface and having an outer surface, and also comprises an opening arranged in the bottom of the inner surface. Either of the base and shade portion is configured to be nested inside the other in an unassembled state, with the outer surfaces facing in the same direction. The holder fits in the openings of the base and shade portions, such that it can fixate the shade portion to the base portion in an assembled state where the outer surfaces of the base and shade portions are facing each other, i.e. facing in opposite directions, and the openings of the base and shade portions are aligned.

This provides a lamp where during transport and storage, the base and shade portions can be nested, saving a considerable part of the storage space otherwise needed. When the lamp is assembled, the holder is used to attach the shade portion to the base portion. The result is a lamp that can be stored and transported in a costefficient manner, and that can be assembled in an efficient way using the lamp holder that is needed in the lamp for other reasons.

The base and shade portions may be configured such that one can be completely housed within the space defined by the other in the unassembled state. This provides a very compact package.

To allow even more compact packages, the base and shade portions and the lamp holder may optionally be configured such that the lamp holder can be completely housed within the space defined by the smallest among the base and shade portions in the unassembled state.

The lamp holder may comprise a cylindrical threaded portion and a removable ring comprising an inner thread, such that the cylindrical threaded portion is configured to be inserted through the openings of the base and shade portions with the threaded ring removed. The threaded ring may then be screwed onto the cylindrical threaded portion of the lamp holder reaching the cylindrical threaded portion from above the shade portion. This provides a simple assembling of the lamp that can be carried out by an end user.

The lamp holder may then comprise a circumferential ledge adjacent to the cylindrical threaded portion, wherein the threaded ring, if screwed down on the cylindrical threaded portion until tightened, squeezes the rims of the inner openings of the base and shade portions between the threaded ring and the ledge of the lamp holder.

Alternatively, the lamp holder may comprise a cylindrical, threaded portion being configured to be inserted through the openings of the base and shade portions. At least the shade portion comprises an inner thread, preferably provided on a collar portion at the bottom opening, which can be screwed onto the cylindrical threaded portion of the lamp holder squeezing the rim of the opening of the base portions between the shade portion and a ledge of the lamp holder. The base and shade portions may be substantially circular symmetric with regard to an axis, which also runs through the center of the openings. However, e.g. polygonal shapes are possible as well.

The shade portion may be translucent.

The base portion may comprise a rim at its wider end configured to rest on a horizontal surface and may comprise a notch in the rim for leading out a cable from the interior of the base portion.

Typically, each of the base and shade portions comprise a rim at its wider, open end, and for each portion, the diameter of the rim is between 0,5 - 3, preferably 0,6 - 2,5, times the distance between the plane of the rim and the opening in the bottom of the bowl shape.

Typically, each of the base and shade portions comprise a rim at its wider end and the diameter, or a corresponding measure of a non-circular base or shade, of the larger rim among the base and shade portions may be in the range 1 ,05 - 3, preferably 1 ,05 - 2,5, times the diameter of the smaller.

When one of the base portion and the shade portion is nested into the other one of the base portion and the shade portion, the part being nested in the other part extends a maximum of 10 mm outside of that part into which it is nested, preferably that part being fitted in the other part does not extend outside of that part into which it is nested.

When one of the base portion and the shade portion is nested into the other one of the base portion and the shade portion, the part being nested in the other part being nested inside of the other part to at least 75% of its height, preferably at least 90% of its height.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig 1 shows a base portion of a lamp.

Fig 2 shows a shade portion of a lamp.

Fig 3 shows a lamp or light source holder of a lamp.

Fig 4 illustrates the lamp in the unassembled state.

Fig 5 illustrates assembling of the lamp. Fig 6 shows the lamp in the assembled state with an added light source.

Fig 7 shows an alternative embodiment of a shade portion.

Detailed description

The present disclosure relates to a lamp such as a table lamp, by which is meant any lamp devised to rest on a horizontal surface such as a table, an interior windowsill, or the like. The lamp is transported and stored in an unassembled state and may be assembled in a retail location or by an end user. In the following, parts of the lamp are described.

Fig 1 shows a base portion 3 of a lamp. The base portion 3 is generally bowl-shaped, which is not limited to the circular-symmetric example shown in fig 1 as will be discussed. The base portion 3 defines an inner volume 5 surrounded by an inner surface 7. The base portion 3 further has an outer surface 9 facing away from the inner surface, and the goods thickness may be uniform, although this is not necessary. A seen in the perspective of fig 1 , the upper, wide end of the base portion 3 defines a rim 11 , which will form the bottom of the lamp when the lamp is assembled. A notch 13 may optionally be made in this rim 11 , as will be discussed. Indicated hidden in fig 1 there is provided an opening 15 arranged in the bottom of the inner surface 7. This opening may be circular, although this is not necessary.

Fig 2 shows a shade portion 17 of a lamp. Similarly to the base portion 3, the shade portion 17 is generally bowl-shaped, defining an inner volume 19 surrounded by an inner surface 21 and an outer surface 23 facing away from the inner surface 19. The upper, wide end of the shade portion 17 defines a rim 25. Indicated hidden in fig 2 as well there is provided an opening 27 arranged in the bottom of the inner surface 21 . This opening 27 may be circular, although this is not necessary.

The base portion 3 and shade portion 17 may each be manufactured from, for example, sheet metal, plastic, glass, and wood material. Optionally, the base portion 3 and/or the shade portion 17 may be provided by a lacquer, a foil, a coating, or other surface treatment. The base portion 3 and the shade portion 17 may be manufactured from the same material, or different materials.

As mentioned, each of the base 3 and shade 17 portions comprise a rim 11 , 25 at their wider ends. For each portion, the diameter 45, 46 of this rim, as indicated in fig 5, is between 0,5 - 3, preferably 0,6 - 2,5, times the distance 47, 48 between the plane of the rim 11 , 25 and the opening 15, 27.

In some embodiments, it may be preferred that each of the base 3 and shade 17 portions comprise a rim 11 , 25 at the wide end and that the diameter of larger of those rims is in the range 1 ,05 - 3, preferably 1 ,05 - 2,5, times the diameter of the smaller. This makes it easier to fit one inside the other.

If the shape of the base 3 and/or shade 17 portions deviate from a circular symmetric shape, e.g. polygonal or elliptic as will be discussed, the above-mentioned proportions of the respective diameters can be translated to proportions of the widest extensions of the rims of such other than circular symmetric shaped base and/or shade portion.

While it is advantageous that the smaller of the base 3 and shade 17 portions fits completely within the other, this is not necessary. Typically, it can be allowed that the smaller of the base and shade portions extends up to 10 mm from the larger one of the base and shade portions when stacked therein.

Typically, when one of the base portion 3 and the shade portion 17 is nested into the other one of the base portion and the shade portion, that part being nested in the other part being nested inside of the other part to at least 75% of its height, preferably at least 90% of its height or more.

Fig 3 shows a lamp holder 29, sometimes referred to as a socket, for use with the base 3 and shade 17 portions. The holder 29 may be of a per se known type and comprises an opening 31 giving access to a cable connector. A cable may be connected to the cable connector in order to provide power directly from an AC power outlet, or alternatively from a general power converter or battery, for instance, depending on the used light source and how the light source of the lamp is to be supplied with power.

On the side of the lamp holder hidden in fig 3, there is provided a light source connector of any type (cf. 38, fig 5) intended to cooperate with a mating connector of a light source, such as a light bulb. As is well known, several connector standards exist for cooperating with a light source, such as for instance Edison standards such as E14, E27, bi-pin connectors such as GLI5.3, bayonet-type connectors such as BA22d, etc. The light source connector may be any such connector available. The lamp holder 29 is devised to connect with the base 3 and shade 17 portions, and different options are possible to that end. In the illustrated case, the lamp holder 29 has an outer thread 30 provided on an upper cylindrical portion 33. A separate, removeable ring 35 having a corresponding inner thread (34, cf. fig. 5) may be screwed onto the cylindrical threaded portion 33 and may cooperate with a circumferential ledge 37 provided below the cylindrical threaded portion 33 to firmly assemble the lamp as will be shown.

Fig 4 illustrates the lamp in the unassembled state. As illustrated, the base portion 3 is nested inside the shade portion 17 with the respective outer surfaces 9, 23 facing in the same direction. This is simply achieved by providing a geometrical relationship between the base 3 and shade 17 portions that allows this, and as will be discussed this can be done in different ways.

In the case illustrated in the figures, the base 3 and shade 17 portions have roughly the same overall shape, a bowl-shape that is circular symmetric along an axis, which will coincide with the assembling axis as will be discussed later. The stackability is achieved by making the base portion 3 significantly smaller than the shade portion 17. As is seen in fig 4, the base portion 3 fits entirely inside the shade portion 17.

This is not necessary, a relatively taller base portion could project somewhat out from the shade portion 17 interior, and still a significant package space would be saved.

It is possible to reverse the size relationship between the base and shade portions 3, 17 and instead stack the latter inside the former, i.e. to stack the shade portion 17 inside the base portion 3.

In the illustrated case both the base 3 and the shade 17 portions are circular symmetric along a center axis, such that a cross section across that axis forms a circle. This is not necessary, the corresponding cross section could instead be more generally elliptical, or could be generally polygonal, e.g. hexagonal, or even starshaped, as long as one portion fits in the other to some extent.

The term bowl-shaped is thus broadly defined as any shape that has a relatively wide and open rim 11 , 25 and defines a volume by means of walls extending from that rim and forming, or connecting to, a bottom where the opening can be arranged. One advantageous feature to achieve stackability is to make the base and shade portions 3, 17 widen somewhat from the bottom surface to the rim 11 , 25, continuously. This is however not necessary, as for instance one cylindrical shaped portion can fit inside another by being different in size, i.e. in diameter. However a shape that narrows from the rim and downwards is less demanding in terms of tolerances.

It should also be noted that different sized base and shade portions 3, 17 is not necessary. As is for instance common with tableware glasses, stackability can easily be achieved by having a narrower bottom section which fits inside a wider upper section of an identical item.

In the illustrated case, the inner portion, the base portion 3, is large enough to house the lamp holder 29 and optionally also house at least a portion of a cable and optionally also house at least a portion of a plug (not shown) connected thereto. This is advantageous as all parts of the lamp can be placed inside the shade portion 17, it is however not necessary.

Optionally, the included parts could be wrapped in for instance paper or plastic before being nested as in fig 4. This is not shown for a clearer presentation of the stacking.

The base and shade portions 3, 17 may typically be made in sheet metal such as steel or aluminum, glass, plastic, or ceramics, for instance. It is not necessary to make both portions in the same material. The shade portion may be translucent and function as a diffuser or non-translucent to function as a screen.

Figs 5 illustrates assembling of the lamp. This is a simple procedure that the end user can readily carry out. From the unassembled, packed state in fig 4, the holder 29 is brought out of the base portion 3, and the base portion 3 is brought out of the shade portion 17, and is turned upside-down, such that the rim portion 11 faces downwards so as to form the base of the lamp 1 that will rest on a flat surface such as a table or the like.

The separate, threaded ring 35 of the holder 29 is screwed off the cylindrical threaded portion 33 of the holder 29.

The base portion 3 and the shade portion 17 are arranged with the shade portion 17 on top, and aligned on a common imaginary assembling axis 39, which coincides with the centers of the openings 15, 27 of the base 3 and shade 17 portions, respectively. The outer surfaces 9, 23 of the base and shade portions 3, 17 are facing each other.

The upper, cylindrical portion 33 provided with an outer thread 30 on the lamp holder 29 is inserted from below through the opening 15 of the base portion 3 and the opening 27 of the shade portion 17. Then, the threaded ring 35 of the lamp holder 29 is again screwed onto the cylindrical threaded portion 33 of the lamp holder 29 reaching the cylindrical threaded portion 33 from above the shade portion 17. The threaded ring 35 is screwed down on the outer thread 30 until tightened, at which point the opening rims 14, 26 of the openings 15, 27 of the base and shade portions 3, 17 become squeezed between the threaded ring 35 and the ledge 37 of the lamp holder 29. This completes the assembling procedure.

It should be noted that other variants are possible by which the lamp holder 29 becomes capable of fixating the shade portion to the base portion in the assembled state.

To start with, the openings need not be circular, other shapes such as elliptical and polygonal openings are possible as well.

If the above-described feature of fixating the opening rims between a ring and a ledge is used, it is not necessary to provide the threads of the cylindrical portion and the ring, as other options are conceivable such as a bayonet fit or a snap fit, for instance. A ring with a strong permanent magnet acting on a ferromagnetic structure or another permanent magnet close to or in the ledge would be another option, especially if the base and shade portions 3, 17 are made in plastic, glass, or a nonferromagnetic metal material.

It is also possible to insert the lamp holder 29 from above, and in that case move the cylindrical threaded portion 33 below the ledge, for instance.

If the base and shade portions 3, 17 are made in a thick enough material, it would be possible to provide inner threads in the openings 15, 27 themselves, particularly.

Another option, which is illustrated in fig 7 is to provide the shade portion 17’ with a cylindrical threaded collar 50 which projects from the rim 26 of the shade portion opening 27. This allows the use of a thinner goods thickness. Then it is possible to, using the cylindrical threaded portion 33 of the holder 29, to attach the holder directly to those threads, not using a separate ring 35.

Another option would be to provide the lamp holder 29 slightly oversized compared to the openings and with a rubbery outer material that can be compressed slightly to force a cylindrical part of the lamp holder 29 into the openings where it becomes stuck with a press fit.

Fig 6 shows the lamp 1 in the assembled state. A light source 41 has been attached to the lamp holder or socket. While this light source 41 projects beyond the rim of the shade portion, it should be noted that this is not necessary.

As shown, a cable 43 may reach out through the notch 13 of the base portion 3 rim 11.

The present disclosure is not restricted to the above-described examples and may be varied and altered in different ways within the scope of the appended claims.

In summary, the present disclosure relates to a lamp, such as a table lamp, comprising a base portion adapted to rest on a horizontal surface, a shade portion, adapted to be carried by the base portion and to wholly or partly surround a light source, and a holder comprising a light source connector for connecting said light source to a power outlet. The base portion as well as the shade portion are bowlshaped, defining an inner volume surrounded by an inner surface and having an outer surface. Openings are arranged in the respective inner surface, at the bottom thereof. Either of the base and shade portion is configured to be nested inside the other in an unassembled state, and the holder fits in the openings of the base and shade portions, such that the holder is configured to fixate the shade portion to the base portion in an assembled state where the outer surfaces of the base and shade portions are facing each other and the openings of the base and shade portions are aligned.