Collapsible lampshade

Claim 2

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering, said covering being substantially rigid in a direction parallel to said axis and substantially flexible in a direction radial to said axis; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with radial flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; and a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop having such dimensions as to be removably positionable within said channel to retain said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop so that said flexible covering and said retainer are retained in a shape dictated by said hoop, said hoop being removable to permit flexure of said lampshade covering.

Claim 3

The collapsible lampshade of claim 1 wherein: said retainer is positioned away from both ends of said flexible lampshade covering.

Claim 4

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; an upper retainer positioned adjacent and spaced away from said upper end of said flexible lampshade covering; a lower retainer positioned adjacent and spaced away from the lower end of said flexible lampshade covering, each of said retainers being formed of flexible material so that each said retainer can flex with radial flexure of said flexible covering, each of said retainers having walls defining a retainer channel, each of said channels being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; and upper and lower substantially rigid hoops, said hoops having such dimensions as to be respectively removably positionable within said upper and lower channels to retain said upper and lower retainers and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoops so that said flexible covering and said retainers are retained in a position dictated by said hoops.

Claim 5

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; an upper retainer positioned adjacent and spaced away from said upper end of said flexible lampshade covering; a lower retainer positioned adjacent and spaced away from the lower end of said flexible lampshade covering, each of said retainers being formed of flexible material so that each said retainer can flex with radial flexure of said flexible covering, each of said retainers having walls defining a retainer channel, each of said channels being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; and upper and lower substantially rigid hoops, said hoops having such dimensions as to be respectively removably positionable within said upper and lower channels to retain said upper and lower retainers and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoops so that said flexible covering and said retainers are retained in a position dictated by said hoops.

Claim 6

The collapsible lampshade of claim 2 wherein: there is an upper retainer and a lower retainer, said upper retainer being positioned adjacent one end of said flexbile covering, and said lower retainer being positioned adjacent the other end of said flexbile covering, thus defining the upper and lower ends of said flexible lampshade covering; each of said retainers having a retainer channel therein, said retainer channels being open substantially axially, said channel in said upper retainer having its open side being directed toward said lower edge of said flexible lamsphade covering.

Claim 7

The collapsible lampshade of claim 4 wherein: said open channel in said lower retainer is directed toward the upper edge of said flexible lamspHade cover.

Claim 8

The collapsible lampshade of claim 5 wherein: there is an upper hoop removably positioned within said channel in said upper retainer and wherein there is a lower hoop removably positioned within said channel in said lower retainer.

Claim 9

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable to a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; an upper retainer and a lower retainer, each of said retainers being secured to said flexible covering, said upper retainer being positioned adjacent one open end of said flexbile covering and said lower retainer being positioned adjacent the other open end of said flexible covering, thus defining the upper and lower ends of said flexible lampshade covering, each of said retainers being formed of a flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, each of said retainers having a retainer channel therein, said retainer channels being open substantially axially, said channel in said upper retainer having its open side being directed toward said lower edge of said flexible lampshade covering and said open channel in said lower retainer being directed toward the upper edge of said flexible lampshade covering, said upper retainer being positioned away from said upper end of said flexible lampshade covering and said lower retainer being positioned away from the lower end of said flexible lampshade covering; and a substantially rigid hoop removably positionable within said channel in said upper retainer and a substantially rigid lower hoop removably positionable within said channel in said lower retainer, each of said hoops positioning the adjacent flexible covering attached adjacent said retainers into the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoops so that said flexible covering and said retainers are retained in a shape dictated by said hoops.

Claim 10

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable to a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; an upper retainer and a lower retainer, each of said retainers being secured to said flexible covering, said upper retainer being positioned adjacent one open end of said flexbile covering and said lower retainer being positioned adjacent the other open end of said flexible covering, thus defining the upper and lower ends of said flexible lampshade covering, each of said retainers being formed of a flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, each of said retainers having a retainer channel therein, said retainer channels being open substantially axially, said channel in said upper retainer having its open side being directed toward said lower edge of said flexible lampshade covering and said open channel in said lower retainer being directed toward the upper edge of said flexible lampshade covering, said upper retainer being positioned away from said upper end of said flexible lampshade covering and said lower retainer being positioned away from the lower end of said flexible lampshade covering; and a substantially rigid hoop removably positionable within said channel in said upper retainer and a substantially rigid lower hoop removably positionable within said channel in said lower retainer, each of said hoops positioning the adjacent flexible covering attached adjacent said retainers into the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoops so that said flexible covering and said retainers are retained in a shape dictated by said hoops.

Claim 11

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 12

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 13

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold Said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 14

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold Said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 15

The collapsible lampshade of claim 9 wherein: said retainer clip engages around said hoop so that said retainer clip is movably mounted upon said hoop.

Claim 16

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 17

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a continuous flexible lampshade covering, said covering being positionable into a configuration having a continuous closed side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends of said flexible covering; at least one retainer secured to said flexible covering, said retainer being formed of flexible material so that said retainer can flex with flexure of said flexible covering, said retainer having walls defining a retainer channel, said channel being open toward one of said open ends of said flexible covering, and being open in a direction generally parallel to said axis; a substantially rigid hoop, said hoop being removably positioned within said retainer, a retainer clip engaging said hoop and said retainer to hold said hoop within said channel; said retainer clip comprising legs which resiliently engage said retainer and having a flange engaging said hoop to retain said hoop within said channel, said hoop retaining said retainer and the adjacent flexible covering attached thereto in the particular configuration required by the shape of said substantially rigid hoop.

Claim 18

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a lampshade covering having a continuous side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends, said covering being flexible in a direction radial to said axis and rigid in the direction substantially parallel to said axis so that said lampshade covering can be flexed to a substantially flattened position; an upper flexible retainer attached to the interior of said lampshade covering adjacent one end thereof to define the upper end of said lampshade covering, said upper flexible retainer having an open channel therein directed substantially parallel to said axis and open in a direction away from said upper end of said covering; a lower flexible retainer attached to the interior of said flexible covering adjacent the other end thereof to define the lower end of said lampshade, said second retainer having an open channel therein directed substantially axially toward the upper end of said shade, both said upper and lower flexible retainers being capable of flexing with said lampshade cover; a substantially rigid upper supporting hoop configured to be supported by a lamp and to engage in said channel in said upper retainer so that said lampshade covering hangs on said upper hoop to retain said covering on said upper hoop; and a lower substantially rigid hoop engaged in and gravitationally restrained in said channel in said lower flexible retainer, so that said hoops substantially define the opening of said flexible lampshade covering.

Claim 19

A collapsible lampshade comprising: a lampshade covering having a continuous side and open ends and having an axis extending through said open ends, said covering being flexible in a direction radial to said axis and rigid in the direction substantially parallel to said axis so that said lampshade covering can be flexed to a substantially flattened position; an upper flexible retainer attached to the interior of said lampshade covering adjacent one end thereof to define the upper end of said lampshade covering, said upper flexible retainer having an open channel therein directed substantially parallel to said axis and open in a direction away from said upper end of said covering; a lower flexible retainer attached to the interior of said flexible covering adjacent the other end thereof to define the lower end of said lampshade, said second retainer having an open channel therein directed substantially axially toward the upper end of said shade, both said upper and lower flexible retainers being capable of flexing with said lampshade cover; a substantially rigid upper supporting hoop configured to be supported by a lamp and to engage in said channel in said upper retainer so that said lampshade covering hangs on said upper hoop to retain said covering on said upper hoop; and a lower substantially rigid hoop engaged in and gravitationally restrained in said channel in said lower flexible retainer, so that said hoops substantially define the opening of said flexible lampshade covering.