Lampshade with removable panels and a method of assembling the same

1 . A lampshade configured to be disposed on a lamp, the lampshade comprising

a lampshade frame, the lampshade frame including a plurality of frame members, at least one of the plurality of frame members including at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members; and

one or more removable panels, at least one of the one or more removable panels having a translucent portion, and the at least one of the one or more removable panels having at least one panel hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members;

wherein the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame define a plurality of side openings, at least one of the plurality of side openings configured to be covered by the at least one of the one or more removable panels.

2 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame comprise one or more top frame members, a plurality of side frame members, and one or more bottom frame members; and

wherein the at least one of the plurality of frame members that includes the at least one slot is at least one of the one or more top frame members.

3 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more removable panels comprise a plurality of interchangeable panels, and the at least one slot comprises a plurality of slots formed in one or more of the plurality of frame members;

wherein each of the plurality of interchangeable panels comprises at least one respective panel hook portion configured to be received in a respective one of the plurality of slots formed in the one or more of the plurality of frame members, the plurality of interchangeable panels being disposed on different sides of the lampshade.

4 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , wherein the translucent portion of the at least one of the one or more removable panels is formed by a translucent glass panel or a translucent polymeric panel disposed within an outer peripheral frame member.

5 . The lampshade according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one panel hook portion is connected to the outer peripheral frame member of the at least one of the one or more removable panels by a panel tab portion, the panel tab portion extending outwardly from the outer peripheral frame member, and the at least one panel hook portion extending downwardly in a generally vertical orientation.

6 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , further comprising a panel gasket member, the panel gasket member configured to be disposed between a rear surface of the at least one of the one or more removable panels and a front surface of one or more of the plurality of frame members, the panel gasket member configured to dampen a movement of the at least one of the one or more removable panels relative to the one or more of the plurality of frame members, and the panel gasket member further configured to block light generated by a light source of the lamp from escaping between the front surface of the one or more of the plurality of frame members and the rear surface of the at least one of the one or more removable panels.

7 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more decorative overlay panels, at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels configured to fit over the at least one of the one or more removable panels, the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels having at least one generally opaque decorative portion, and the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels having at least one overlay hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members, the at least one overlay hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot in a second location separate from a first location occupied by the at least one panel hook portion, thereby allowing for simultaneous attachment of both the at least one of the one or more removable panels and the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels to the at least one of the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame without interference.

8 . The lampshade according to claim 7 , wherein the at least one overlay hook portion is connected to an outer peripheral frame of the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels by an overlay tab portion, the overlay tab portion extending outwardly from the outer peripheral frame, and the at least one overlay hook portion extending downwardly in a generally vertical orientation.

9 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , further comprising a top cap member configured to fit over a top portion of the lampshade frame, the top cap member having at least one cap tab portion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the top cap member, the at least one cap tab portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members, the at least one cap tab portion configured to be received within the at least one slot in a third location separate from first and second locations occupied respectively by the at least one panel hook portion and at least one overlay hook portion, thereby allowing for simultaneous attachment of the top cap member, a decorative overlay panel, and the at least one of the one or more removable panels to the at least one of the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame without interference.

10 . The lampshade according to claim 9 , further comprising a top cap gasket member, the top cap gasket member configured to be disposed between the bottom surface of the top cap member and the at least one of the plurality of frame members with the at least one slot.

11 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one panel hook portion of the at least one of the one or more removable panels comprises a pair of spaced-apart panel hook portions, the pair of spaced-apart panel hook portions configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members.

12 . The lampshade according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame comprise a top frame member, a plurality of side frame members, and one or more bottom frame members; and

wherein the at least one of the plurality of frame members that includes the at least one slot is the top frame member; and

wherein the top frame member further includes at least one elongate aperture disposed through the top frame member, the at least one elongate aperture being spaced apart from the at least one slot of the top frame member.

13 . The lampshade according to claim 12 , wherein the lampshade frame further comprises at least one vertical support arm attached to a retention ring member, the at least one vertical support arm including an end portion that is configured to be received within the at least one elongate aperture of the top frame member, and the retention ring member being configured to attach the lampshade frame to a light bulb socket in a lamp.

14 . The lampshade according to claim 13 , wherein the at least one vertical support arm of the lampshade frame further comprises a top offset portion forming a support surface on which a portion of the top frame member is configured to rest; and

wherein the end portion of the at least one vertical support arm of the lampshade frame is in a form of a threaded end portion that is configured to be threadingly engaged with a fastener member, the portion of the top frame member configured to be sandwiched between the fastener member and the top offset portion of the at least one vertical support arm.

15 . A method for assembling a lampshade, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a lampshade that includes:

a lampshade frame, the lampshade frame including a plurality of frame members, at least one of the plurality of frame members including at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members; and

one or more removable panels, at least one of the one or more removable panels having a translucent portion, and the at least one of the one or more removable panels having at least one panel hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members;

aligning the at least one panel hook portion of the at least one of the one or more removable panels with the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members;

inserting the at least one panel hook portion of the at least one of the one or more removable panels into the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members so as to hang the at least one of the one or more removable panels on the lampshade frame;

providing one or more decorative overlay panels, at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels configured to fit over the at least one of the one or more removable panels, the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels having at least one generally opaque decorative portion, and the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels having at least one overlay hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members, the at least one overlay hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot in a second location separate from a first location occupied by the at least one panel hook portion;

aligning the at least one overlay hook portion of the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels with the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members; and

inserting the at least one overlay hook portion of the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels into the second location of the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members so as to hang the at least one of the one or more decorative overlay panels on the lampshade frame over the at least one of the one or more removable panels.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the one or more removable panels comprise a plurality of interchangeable panels, the at least one panel hook portion comprises one or more respective hook portions on each of the plurality of interchangeable panels, and the at least one slot comprises a plurality of slots formed in one or more of the plurality of frame members; and the method further comprises the steps of:

aligning each of the one or more respective hook portions on each of the plurality of interchangeable panels with a respective one of the plurality of slots formed in the one or more of the plurality of frame members; and

inserting each of the one or more respective hook portions on each of the plurality of interchangeable panels into the respective one of the plurality of slots formed in the one or more of the plurality of frame members so as to hang the plurality of interchangeable panels around sides of the lampshade frame.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

providing a top cap member configured to fit over a top portion of the lampshade frame, the top cap member having at least one cap tab portion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the top cap member, the at least one cap tab portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members, the at least one cap tab portion configured to be received within the at least one slot in a third location separate from the first and second locations occupied respectively by the at least one panel hook portion and the at least one overlay hook portion;

aligning the at least one cap tab portion of the top cap member with the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members; and

inserting the at least one cap tab portion of the top cap member into the third location of the at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members so as to attach the top cap member on the top portion of the lampshade frame.

18 . A lampshade configured to be disposed on a lamp, the lampshade comprising:

a lampshade frame, the lampshade frame including a plurality of frame members, at least one of the plurality of frame members including at least one slot formed in the at least one of the plurality of frame members; and

one or more removable panels, at least one of the one or more removable panels having a translucent portion in an outer peripheral frame member, and the at least one of the one or more removable panels having at least one panel hook portion configured to be received within the at least one slot of the at least one of the plurality of frame members;

wherein the translucent portion of the at least one of the one or more removable panels is formed by a translucent glass panel disposed within the outer peripheral frame member, or a translucent polymeric panel disposed within the outer peripheral frame member.

19 . The lampshade according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame define a plurality of side openings, at least one of the plurality of side openings configured to be covered by the at least one of the one or more removable panels.

20 . The lampshade according to claim 18 , wherein the plurality of frame members of the lampshade frame comprise one or more top frame members, a plurality of side frame members, and one or more bottom frame members; and

wherein the at least one of the plurality of frame members that includes the at least one slot is at least one of the one or more top frame members.