Lamp shades are devices that partially block the radiation of light from illumination means which are defined as any structure that includes a source of light, including table lamps, wall lamps, lanterns, candlesticks and their holders, street lamps, etc. Lighting a room must be safe, convenient, efficient and ought to suit the functions of the room. Colors and textures are affected by the intensity and color temperature of light available. The textures of furnishings, pictures and other objects in theorem can be emphasized or subdued by the choice of lighting. Light from a lamp can be warm or cool, bright or dim, depending on the type of lampshade employed. Most sources of electrical light, for example, incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs and fluorescent bulbs, produce a source of light that is usually too bright to look at directly. Accordingly, lampshades are designed to cover the source of light to prevent the temporary blinding of a person looking directly at the light, to disperse as much light as possible, and/or to direct light in a particular direction while simultaneously blocking light in another direction. Lampshades are mounted on lamps to protect and decorate them, and to dim the direct light coming from the source of light that has over the centuries evolved from candle to bulb. Lampshades are made of many different materials supported by a frame. Lamp shades for screening light from light bulbs have been made of a variety of materials. A hard-backed lampshade includes a self-supporting backing member, with or without a fabric material laminated thereon. A soft-backed lampshade includes a fabric material stretched taut over a wire frame. In the case of a fabric lampshade, the fabric is stretched about a metal frame that can be made in all different shapes and sizes, including cylindrical, conical, box-like and like geometrical configurations. Lamp shades have also been made out of stamped sheets of galvanized iron or brass, with the ends of the sheets being joined together by soldering to form the lampshade. Such lamp shades have found use in connection with candle type lamps. Although not flammable, such lampshades have not proven to be entirely satisfactory since galvanized iron or brass becomes rather hot after it has been exposed to heat emitted from a candle after a short period of time, does not give up heat quickly and is not easily cleanable.

Lamp shades are provided in many shapes and forms, and are provided for use in connection with table lamps, standard lamps, and ceiling suspended lights. Common lamp shades are generally frusto-conical in shape. Typically, lamp shades might be classified as being cylindrical or box shaped shades which might be mounted to lamps or light fixtures over the light bulb or under the light bulb. Among the most aesthetically pleasing lamp shade configurations are those having a generally conical configuration formed with generally longitudinally extending pleats. Typically, such lamp shades are fabricated by first forming the pleated, flexible shade material, which may be fabric, paper, etc. into a generally cylindrical configuration with the pleats extending generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. The pleated cylinder is then deformed into a generally conical configuration by attaching it about an interior frame. They are provided with a variety of fabrics and other coverings which are decorative. Tiffany glass lamp shades include a fine mosaic of stained glass patterned portions separated from one another by leaded portions. The lamp shades are particularly beautiful and the original forms produced by Tiffany exhibit especially attractive color effects. Stained glass lamp shades are constructed of pieces of stained glass soldered together. A large stained glass lamp may have hundreds of pieces of stained glass, with a corresponding number of seams between the pieces of stained glass. Lampshades are normally bulky and occupy large spaces during transport and storage. The need for collapsible lampshades stems from the fact that it is more cost effective to store and ship lampshades if they are flat than when they are erect because this reduces the amount of space that these lampshades require during shipment. Ever since the advent of lamp shades to shield the eyes from the harsh glow of a lamp and diffuse the light, there has existed the need for a device to secure the lamp shade around the lamp. A large number of lamps utilize a lamp shade support carried by the lamp and extending around the light bulb, such supports being referred to as harps.