Abstract: A lighting fixture such as a chandelier formed of a supporting frame member defining a shape of the fixture and a plurality of solid listels or baguettes attached to opposing sides of frame member sections so as to surround and obscure significantly the underlying frame member from view. One or more fasteners may be used to secure the listels to the sections of the frame members. The listels may be produced using commonly available mass production or automated manufacturing techniques. A chandelier having a frame member interposed between glass listels is commonly referred to as a Maria Theresa style chandelier. Alignment features are preferably included on either or both the listels and the frame member to assist in the placement and arrangement of the listels on the frame member for subsequent attachment. Such alignment features may include one or more bosses integral with the section that align with corresponding alignment bores formed in the frame member.

Abstract: An ornamental sculpted arrangement having a plurality of ornaments interconnected by a plurality of elongated frame members. The frame members have a backbone extending the length of the frame member and include a series of prearranged attachment arts each of which couples an ornament to the frame member. Ornaments are interposed between and connected to adjacent frame members to form a mesh or net of ornaments. The mesh of ornaments may be sculpted, the shape of which is determined by the distance between neighboring attachment arts, the dimension of the ornaments and the shape of the backbone. This enables the resulting sculpture to take on any desired configuration or shape, and the resulting sculpture is not influenced by gravity. The frame members are preferably formed of a material that enables the backbone to be shape to form a desired sculpted appearance. The attachment arts may be positioned in any desire arrangement on the backbone.

Abstract: The invention provides lighting fixtures, components for lighting fixtures and methods of assembling lighting fixtures. The invention involves the assembly of ornaments onto chandelier frame members without the use of hooks. The lighting fixture is sculpted by attaching ornaments to the frame in a fixed geometric pattern utilizing seating posts and retaining stops on the frame member. The frame member has an aligned position in which the retaining stops hold the crystals in place on the seating posts and a non-aligned position in which the retaining stops are moved whereby the ornaments can be placed on or off the seating posts without obstruction by the retaining stops. Preferably the chandelier is flexibly and elastically biasable into and out of the aligned and non-aligned position.

Abstract: A preformed or preassembled bowl/plate assembly, including a bowl, a plate secured with respect to the bowl and defining with the bowl a chamber, the plate having a number of openings, each configured to receive a chandelier arm in a predetermined array. The chamber houses a plurality of wires with one pair of wires extending through each of the openings in the plate from the chamber. A plate/arm arrangement is provided to permit attachment of chandelier arms to the plate while only having access to the upwardly-facing surface of the plate. The chandelier arms may be both structurally attached to the chandelier framework and electrically attached to the central wiring of the chandelier after preassembly of the bowl/plate arrangement. The chandelier arms are preferably formed in an arcuate shape with a light socket attached to a first end and a sleeve attached to a second end and a pair of wires electrically attached to the light socket.

Abstract: A gallery ring assembly includes a plurality of decorative members, such as glass leaves, mounted around the periphery of a gallery ring. Each of the glass leaves is mounted to the gallery ring with a single mounting screw. Each glass leaf and each mounting location on the gallery ring are provided with interlocking elements to prevent rotation of the glass leaf about the mounting screw. The interlocking elements preferably include an integral dimple on the gallery ring and an indentation on the outer periphery of the glass leaf. The gallery ring may have a truncated conical shape and may be fabricated by laser cutting an arc-shaped flat blank, and rolling the flat blank into a truncated conical shape.

Abstract: A hook and ornament assembly for a chandelier is provided. The assembly includes a hook with a first end terminating in a straight end-segment with a free end. A first ornament defining a straight bore is positioned on the end-segment, with the end-segment extending into the bore. The hook also has a first stop portion for limiting advancement of the first ornament further onto the hook and a second stop portion for limiting advancement of the first ornament off of the free end of the end-segment. The hook is constructed and arranged so that the straight end-segment can be spring biased away from the second stop and so that the first ornament can be positioned on and off the end-segment without permanently bending the hook. Hooks for such assemblies and methods for forming such assemblies also are provided.

Abstract: A chandelier assembly and kit includes a first and second plate, each having opposing substantially planar surfaces. First and second openings are provided in the first and second plates, respectively. These openings are constructed and arranged so that an ornament bearing arm is biased into locking engagement and secured against rotation, but preferably is free of engagement with the planar surfaces of the plates when assembled. The openings are configured so as to provide a restrictive portion that frictionally engages the arm to prevent rotation when the arm is positioned at a specified angle. The openings also each include a non-restrictive portion that allows the arm to readily pass without frictional engagement. Assembly and disassembly is permitted simply by biasing the arm into and out of frictional engagement with the plates.

Abstract: A chandelier frame made from rings and spokes is provided. The rings are adapted for supporting ornaments, and the spokes are attached to the rings for supporting the rings, preferably coaxially. The rings and spokes are attached to one another by interengaging locking means which mechanically and detachably secure the rings and spokes to one another. The rings and spokes may be formed entirely from nonstressed metal, and most preferably are cut from flat sheet metal.

Abstract: A chandelier having a frame for supporting ornaments with loop shafts attached thereto provides a frame member having a predetermined thickness and a width between an inner edge and an outer edge. An ornament shaft that terminates in a loop has segments that engage a width defining edges of the frame member while the ornament is positioned in a vertical hanging orientation. The ornament further includes an opening defined by the shaft and a portion of the loop that is constructed and arranged so that the frame member may be engaged with and disengaged from the loop only through the opening and only by first rotating the shaft substantially out of the vertical orientation. The loop is further constructed and arranged so that substantially vertical displacement is prevented. The opening may be defined by an end of the loop and the shaft and the frame member may include one or more formations or indentations having a width less than the width of adjacent sections for supporting the loop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chandelier including chandelier trimmings connected to a framework by way of a hook and an attachment whereby the attachment is integral with at least part of the framework. The attachment consists of two openings which may be two slots or a slot and a hole which are located in the framework in such a way that the hook can be introduced into the attachment with the minimum of rotational movement and in such a way that the chandelier can be constructed even in close to the ceiling arrangement. It is advantageous if the framework is made from a flat strip or a plate. The hook is formed from wire and consists of a series of bends provided in such a way that when the hook is located in the attachment the trimmings achieve their correct position such that the framework is hidden by the trimmings. In this way, the framework need not be made of an ornamental material.

Abstract: A novel chandelier hook for a chandelier trimming is provided. The hook has a pair of bends, one of which is adapted for engagement with an opening in a chandelier frame, and the other of which is adapted to resist accidental displacement of the trimming from the chandelier frame.