U.S. patent application number 09/866972 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-13 for apparatus and methods for improved architectural lighting fixtures.
Invention is credited to Jones, Peter J..
Application Number | 20010050852 09/866972 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21793690 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010050852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jones, Peter J. |
December 13, 2001 |
Apparatus and methods for improved architectural lighting
fixtures
Abstract
The invention provides in preferred aspects architectural
lighting structures that comprise a plurality of tubular elements
at least partially embedded into an at least substantially
transparent lens structure of a lighting fixture. The lighting
fixture is typically a device employed for interior use,
particularly residential buildings or commercial buildings such as
office buildings. By partially embedding the array or plurality of
tubular elements into the transparent lens structure, the fixture
can appear as if it is substantially a part of the surrounding
surface when the lighting fixture is turned off. Nevertheless, when
the light is turned on, light coming from the fixture can still be
directed or modified in an appropriate manner, e.g. without
detrimental light output reductions), and without the need of an
expensive, sophisticated reflector or any necessity of the fixture
extending beyond the surrounding surface as has been utilized in
certain prior attempts to mask architectural lighting fixtures.
Still further, while the light fixture is turned on, an unsightly
bulb or glaring reflector can be masked from a viewer's eye as a
result of the partially embedded tubular elements.
Inventors: |
Jones, Peter J.; (Belmont,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARDS & ANGELL, LLP
P.O. Box 9169
Boston
MA
02209
US
|
Family ID: |
21793690 |
Appl. No.: |
09/866972 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09866972 |
May 29, 2001 |
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09207743 |
Dec 8, 1998 |
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6238065 |
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60019530 |
Jun 10, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/339 ;
362/291; 362/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 11/00 20130101;
G02B 19/0047 20130101; F21V 13/10 20130101; F21V 11/06 20130101;
F21V 5/04 20130101; G02B 19/0028 20130101; F21V 11/00 20130101;
F21S 8/02 20130101; F21V 5/02 20130101; G02B 19/0042 20130101; F21V
7/0025 20130101; F21V 5/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/339 ;
362/330; 362/291 |
International
Class: |
F21V 005/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 9, 1997 |
US |
PCT/US97/09931 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An architectural light transmitting device comprising: a light
transmitting lens positioned in front of a light source and having
a substantially non-opaque front surface and a light receiving rear
surface and having at least one lens or prism elements, light
received from said light source being transmitted substantially
through the non-opaque front surface of said light transmitting
lens; an array of substantially tubular elements proximate to said
substantially non-opaque front surface of the lens whereby, when
said light source is not operative, said front surface of the light
device appears as a substantially opaque surface.
2. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 1 wherein
the device further comprises a reflective surface associated with
said light source for projecting light from said light source to
said rear surface of said light transmitting lens and outwardly
through said light transmitting lens.
3. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 1 wherein
the device is adapted for use in the interior of a residential or a
commercial building.
4. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 3 wherein
the device is adapted to be positioned proximate a wall and to
illuminate said wall.
5. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 2 wherein
said light source includes a light bulb.
6. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 5 wherein
said light source is a high-efficiency light bulb.
7. The architectural light transmitting device of claim 1 wherein
said light source is a skylight.
8. A method for producing an architectural light transmitting
device comprising: heating a lens material to at least its glass
transition temperature; at least partially embedding an array of
substantially tubular elements into said heated lens material; and
cooling said lens material with substantially tubular elements
embedded therein whereby lens elements form around and/or between
the tubular elements.
9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of: before the
step of heating a lens material to its glass transition
temperature, the step of forming said lens material with a
predetermined shape, whereupon the step of at least partially
embedding an array of substantially tubular elements, said lens
material will displace and form into a plurality of lens elements.
Description
INTRODUCTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to techniques for
concentrating or directing the output from lighting fixtures and
modifying the fixtures' appearance in the off and/or the on
state.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Lighting fixtures, e.g. the recessed "can lights" used in
architectural lighting, have traditionally used a variety of
techniques to efficiently direct or otherwise manipulate their
light output. For example, the fixtures may be designed to be
recessed into a wall or ceiling, may incorporate reflectors or
lenses or may incorporate baffles or shields.
[0003] However, manipulation of the light output or increase
efficiency often comes at the price of a less pleasing appearance
when the lighting fixture is turned off or on. Recessed "can
lights" for example, look like holes in the ceiling plane when they
are off; "wall washer" fixtures, i.e. fixtures set into a ceiling
and configured to throw light onto an adjacent wall, often project
below the surface of the ceiling and are often of low efficiency;
reflectors used to direct light downwards can create glare to a
viewer's eye.
[0004] The problem of unattractive lighting fixtures has become
worse with the advent of high-efficiency, compact fluorescent bulbs
replacing simple incandescent bulbs in many lighting fixtures.
These compact fluorescent bulbs, with their large, twisted glass
tubes, are unpleasing to the eyes, and since they are much less of
a point source than incandescent bulbs, do not lend themselves to
simple, efficient reflector design.
[0005] At present, the practical solutions to the above problems
are limited. For example, certain grids of vanes have been placed
in front of the light source to shield a viewer's eyes from glare
coming from the bulb or its reflector or to make a light look like
less of a hole in the ceiling. Sophisticated and precisely shaped
reflectors can be incorporated into a compact fluorescent lamp's
fixture to try to direct light from the bulb efficiently in the
desired pattern. PAR-type lamps can be mounted at an angle inside a
recessed fixture to wash a wall with light without a bulb or
fixture hanging below the plane of the ceiling.
[0006] Those approaches each suffer from significant disadvantages.
Current grids of shielding vanes can reduce the efficiency or
restrict the angle of illumination of a fixture. Sophisticated and
precisely shaped reflectors are expensive to manufacture. PAR-type
lamps are substantially more expensive than standard-type
bulbs.
[0007] Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to have other
techniques to manage the light output from a lighting fixture as
well as provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance when the
fixture is in the either on or off state.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The invention provides a lighting structure that comprises a
plurality of tubular elements at least partially embedded into an
at least substantially transparent lens structure of a lighting
fixture. The lighting fixture is typically a device employed for
interior use, particularly interior commercial or residential
buildings. The lens structure may be of any of a number of
materials that are employed to disperse or enhance light produced
by and/or shield the light producing element(s) of the lighting
fixture. For example, the lens structure may be a standard lens
element, or may contain a plurality of lens-like or other light
modifying elements positioned at the front of a lighting fixture.
The lens or lens-like elements direct light coming from the
fixture's light source and reflector outward through the tubular
elements.
[0009] By partially embedding the array or plurality of tubular
elements into the transparent lens structure, the fixture can
appear as if it is substantially a part of the surrounding surface
when the lighting fixture is turned off (i.e. light bulb or other
light producing elements not emitting light). Nevertheless, when
the light is turned on (i.e. light bulb or other light producing
elements emitting light) light coming from the fixture can still be
directed or modified in an appropriate manner, e.g. without
detrimental light output reductions), and without the need of an
expensive, sophisticated reflector or any necessity of the fixture
extending beyond the surrounding surface as has been utilized in
certain prior attempts to mask architectural lighting fixtures.
Still further, while the light fixture is turned on, an unsightly
bulb or glaring reflector can be masked from a viewer's eye as a
result of the partially embedded tubular elements.
[0010] The invention also includes methods for manufacturing
lighting devices of the invention. Those methods comprise in
general steps of heating a lens material to at least its glass
transition temperature; at least partially embedding an array of
tubular elements into the heated lens material; and cooling the
lens material with tubular elements embedded therein whereby lens
elements form around and/or between the tubular elements.
[0011] Other aspects of the invention are disclosed infra.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 depicts diagrammatically the geometry of a typical
situation in which glare to a viewer from an incandescent recessed
lighting fixture can occur;
[0013] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates how a typical recessed
lighting fixture can look like a hole in a ceiling's surface when
in the off condition;
[0014] FIG. 3 depicts diagrammatically the geometry of a typical
situation where an observer outside the main area of illumination
of a typical compact fluorescent recessed lighting fixture can be
exposed to glare and also how an observer inside the main area of
illumination can easily see the complex and unattractive bulb;
[0015] FIG. 4 depicts diagrammatically the geometry of a typical
situation in which a grid of tubes installed in front part of a
lighting fixture to shield an observer from glare can also reduce
the output of the fixture and restrict its angle of
illuminating;
[0016] FIG. 5 depicts a particular embodiment of a structure in
accordance with the invention for use in improving lighting
fixtures;
[0017] FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates a section through the
embodiment of FIG. 5 and is useful in explaining the concept of
embedding a grid of tubes into a lens structure;
[0018] FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates how the structure in
accordance with the invention is placed in front of a lighting
fixture;
[0019] FIG. 8 diagrammatically illustrates how a lens element
embedded into a grid of tubes can collect light coming from one
side that would normally hit a grid of tubes alone and that with a
single grid without lens element would direct this light downwards
through the tubes;
[0020] FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates how a lens structure
embedded with a grid of tubes can widen the angle of illumination
of light coming from a fixture while still shielding an observer
from a direct view of the interior of the fixture;
[0021] FIG. 10 diagrammatically illustrates how a structure in
accordance with the invention can spread essentially collimated
light coming from a lighting fixture;
[0022] FIG. 11 depicts diagrammatically the geometry of a typical
"wall washer" type lighting fixture;
[0023] FIG. 12 diagrammatically illustrates how lens elements
embedded with a tilted grid of tubes can direct light to "wash a
wall" with light, while at the same time shielding the view of an
observer from glare or a view of the interior of the fixture;
[0024] FIG. 13 diagrammatically illustrates how a lighting fixture
incorporating a structure in accordance with the invention can wash
a wall with light without extending below the ceiling plane, can
make the light look like part of the ceiling and can shield a view
or from glare;
[0025] FIG. 14 diagrammatically illustrates, with a section through
the long axis of a compact fluorescent bulb fixture with an
inexpensive reflector, how a structures in accordance with the
invention can help manage the light output of a fixture that does
not have an efficient reflector/bulb combination, while at the same
time hiding a direct view of the unsightly interior;
[0026] FIG. 15 depicts an alternative embodiment of the lens/tube
structure;
[0027] FIGS. 16, 17, 18, and 19 depict still further alternative
embodiments of lens/tube structures;
[0028] FIG. 20 diagrammatically illustrates how lens elements
embedded into a grid of tubes can be stepped in the fashion of a
fresnel lens to mimic the effect of a much thicker and more a
steeply curved lens;
[0029] FIG. 21 diagrammatically illustrates how lens elements
embedded into a grid of tubes can each have a different purpose
than its neighbor;
[0030] FIG. 22 diagrammatically illustrates how lens elements
embedded into a grid of tubes can spread essentially collimated
light to illuminate a wider angle without having large amounts of
the light blocked by the tubes;
[0031] FIG. 23 depicts an alternative embodiment for the gathering
of the tubes into a grid;
[0032] FIGS. 24 and 25 depict still further alternative embodiments
for the gathering of the tubes into a grid;
[0033] FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 are useful in explaining the concept of
pre-forming the shape of lens structure so that when a grid of
tubes is pressed into it, material flowing away from the tube walls
will form the desired final lens shape; and
[0034] FIG. 29 depicts a still further embodiment for use with a
skylight in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0035] Referring now to the Drawings, as can be seen in FIG. 1, a
typical lamp fixture 32 (shown here as a recessed into a ceiling
34) projects light from a bulb 36 reflector 30 outward in a zone 38
to illuminate a desired area. Although the bulk of the light, as
shown by exemplary rays 40, may stay within the desired
illumination zone of an angular spread .alpha. some light, as shown
by exemplary ray 42, can cause glare for an viewer 37.
[0036] As can be seen in FIG. 2, another problem that can occur
with a lighting fixture 32 that is recessed into a surface, such as
a ceiling 34, is that in the off state, it can look unpleasingly
like a hole in the plane of the ceiling 48 to an viewer 37.
[0037] As FIG. 3 illustrates, the aesthetic problems of recessed
lights 32 has become worse with the advent of energy efficient
compact bulbs 46. The bulbs 46 themselves are often in the form of
large, twisted tubes 48 that present an unpleasing aspect to a
viewer 50. In addition, the large bulbs 48 are less of a point
source than incandescent bulbs and thus require expensive,
carefully shaped reflectors 30 to effectively obtain an
illumination pattern (as shown by exemplary rays 40) over a desired
zone 38 of angle .theta.. In spite of expensive reflectors 30, such
fixtures are often even more prone to glare (as shown by exemplary
ray 42 to a viewer 37).
[0038] FIG. 4 shows a proposed technique for preventing glare by
the use of a grid of tubes 52 positioned in front of a fixture 32.
This grid 52 shields a viewer 37 from glare by blocking off-axis
light as shown by exemplary ray 42. In addition, when the lighting
fixture is in the off state, the grid helps keep the fixture from
looking like a hole in the plane of the ceiling. However, the grid
also reduces the efficiency of the fixture by blocking light, as
shown by exemplary rays 54, that would otherwise be part of the
output as shown by exemplary rays 40. Thus the illumination zone 38
is reduced to angle .beta..
[0039] FIG. 5 shows one preferred embodiment of a structure in
accordance with the invention for improving lighting fixtures. As
seen therein, a grid of tubes 56 is partially embedded into the a
lens plate 58, having a configuration which permits the structure
to be attached, in a suitable manner which would be well known to
the art, at the front of a lighting fixture 32 (not shown). FIG. 6
shows a section through this embodiment, detailing how the grid of
tubes 56 is embedded into the lens material 58 with lenslettes 70,
which will be discussed below. FIG. 7 shows how the structure 60 is
places n front of fixture 11. Suitable grid of tubes are described
herein and have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,929,055 and
PCT/US93/11459.
[0040] As seen in FIG. 8, a section through the structure of one
preferred embodiment, by refracting light that strikes it from one
side (as shown by exemplary ray 62), a suitable lens plate 58 can
direct light that would normally be blocked (as shown by exemplary
ray 54) by the grid of tubes 56 downwards through the tubes (as
shown by exemplary ray 64), thus increasing the amount of light 40
that is passed out of the lighting fixture.
[0041] Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 9, when a structure of a
preferred embodiment 60 is placed in front of a fixture 32, the
fixture can maintain the desired illumination zone of an angular
spread .alpha. that it had without a grid of tubes, as shown in
FIG. 1, while at the same time passing a larger amount of light 40
than a fixture 32 (as shown in FIG. 4) with only a grid of tubes
52. Also, the structure 60 will shield a viewer 37 from glare, and
when the fixture is in an off condition, the grid of tubes 56 will
keep the fixture from looking like a hole in the ceiling 34.
[0042] FIG. 10 shows another preferred embodiment of the structure
used with a fixture 32 that has a parabolic reflector 66. The light
coming from the fixture (as shown by exemplary rays 68) are
essentially collimated, and the lenslettes 70 of the lens plate 58
refract this light outward in a spreading pattern (as shown by
exemplary rays 40) over an illumination angle.
[0043] FIG. 11 shows a proposed technique of the prior art for a
lighting fixture 32 that functions as a "wall washer." This kind of
fixture is generally recessed into a ceiling 34 and uses a small,
angled surface 72 to reflect light (as shown by exemplary ray 40)
from a bulb 36 onto an adjacent wall 74 to illuminate it. This type
of fixture has a number of problems: for example, more than half of
the light from the bulb 36 (as shown by exemplary rays 76) are
simply absorbed by the inside of the fixture's housing 58 and not
projected outward to light the wall 74. Moreover, these fixtures
typically physically extend a distance 80 below the plane 82 of the
ceiling 34. Furthermore, when in the off state, these fixtures
typically look like a hole in the ceiling.
[0044] Another preferred embodiment of the invention can solve
these problems with existing "wall washer" type light fixtures.
FIG. 12 shows a section of a structure 60 where the grid of tubes
56 is embedded into the lens plate 58 at an angle .lambda. to the
axis 84 of the lighting fixture 32. With a suitable lenslette shape
74, which would be well known to the art, essentially collimated
light coming from the bulb and reflector (as shown by exemplary ray
40) will be refracted off at an angle .mu..
[0045] FIG. 13 shows an overall view of one preferred embodiment of
a "wall washer" type lighting fixture 32 in accordance with the
invention. The structure 60 is placed at the front of the fixture
and takes light coming from the bulb 36 and off the reflector 30
(as shown by exemplary rays 40) and refracts it so that the light
40 is directed at the wall 74. A lighting fixture such as 32 is
relatively simple to fabricate, and therefore less expensive than
existing "wall washer" type fixtures as shown in FIG. 11. In
addition, it should be more efficient than the type of fixture
shown in FIG. 11, since a large portion of the light is not simply
absorbed by the housing as it is in FIG. 11. Furthermore, because
the grid of tubes 56 are at an angle to a viewer 44, the viewer
will see the fixture as part of the ceiling plane 82 when the light
is in both the on and the off state, and therefore the fixture will
not appear as a hole in the ceiling 34.
[0046] With a lighting fixture using an energy efficient compact
fluorescent bulb as shown in FIG. 14 (a sectional view
perpendicular to the long axis of the bulb 46), one preferred
embodiment of a structure 60 in accordance with the invention can
be figured such that the lenslettes 70 at the edge of the fixture
are shaped such that the light (as shown by exemplary rays 42)
coming at an angle from the bulb 46 which lies in the center of
tubes, a maximum amount of the light being directed into a
preferred illumination zone 38 (as shown by exemplary rays 40). In
this way, a less expensive reflector 30 can be used while still
maintaining good efficiency. The structure 52 also shields the
viewer 44 from an unpleasant direct view of the interior of the
fixture when the fixture is in the off or on state.
[0047] In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
detail in FIG. 15, the lenslettes 70 that make up the structure 60
have a convex outer surface 86 and a planar inner surface 88.
[0048] In a further embodiment as shown in detail in FIG. 16, the
lenslettes that make up the structure 60 have a planar outer
surface 86 and a convex inner surface 88.
[0049] In a further embodiment as shown in detail in FIG. 17, the
lenslettes that make up the structure 60 have convex outer 86 and
inner 88 surfaces.
[0050] In a further embodiment as shown in detail in FIG. 18, the
lenslettes that make up the structure 60 have concave outer 86 and
inner 88 surfaces.
[0051] In a further embodiment as shown in detail in FIG. 19, the
lenslettes that make up the structure 60 have concave outer 86 and
a convex inner 88 surfaces.
[0052] In yet a further embodiment, FIG. 20 shows a lens structure
60 where the lenslettes 70 are stepped, in the manner of a fresnel
lens, so that the lens plate structure 60 can mimic the performance
of a much thicker and more steeply curved, lens 90.
[0053] In a yet a further embodiments, FIG. 21 shows a lens
structure 50 where each of the lenslettes 70 can have a different
purpose or configuration than its neighbor, to produce varied
lighting effects.
[0054] As seen in FIG. 22, a section through the structure of yet
another embodiment, the lenslette 70 has a short focal length f
such that light coming from the bulb and reflector of the fixture
(as shown by exemplary rays 40) in an essentially collimated manner
can be brought to a focal point 92 inside the embedded tube 56 and
then made to spread out widely (as shown by exemplary rays 40). In
this way the structure 60 can shield the view of the inside of the
fixture 32 and also keep the fixture 32 from looking like a hole
when it is in the off state, while still giving the fixture 32 a
wide angle of illumination .upsilon..
[0055] As used herein, the term grid of tubes is deemed to mean an
element of generally tubular configuration having any selected
geometrical cross-sectional shape. Thus, the tubular elements 57 in
FIG. 5 are shown as being square in cross-section, although other
shapes can be used, e.g., other rectangular configurations, a
triangular configuration, a hexagonal configuration, etc., such
elements capable of being suitably nested to form a substantially
unifonn honeycomb or grid-like overall structure. Suitable grid of
tubes or tubular elements are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,929,055 and PCT/US93/11459, both incorporated herein by
reference. Also, references herein to a grid of tubes or tubular
elements being partially embedded in a lens indicate that the
tubular elements extend to within the lens substrate as exemplified
in FIG. 26, rather than merely abutting the lens surface.
[0056] The tubes that make up the grid 56 can have a number of
different configurations, though the cross sectional shape of the
tubes would generally be selected to that they could be nested into
a honeycomb type arrangement. FIG. 23 shows another preferred
embodiment of a tubular grid structure 56 with tubes of a
rectangular cross section 96. In yet another embodiment, FIG. 24
shows a structure 60 within an arrangement of concentric tubes 57
held in position by horizontal and vertical vanes 98. In yet
another embodiment, FIG. 25 shows a structure 60 with tubes 57 of a
hexagonal cross section.
[0057] One method of embedding the grid of tubes 56 into the lens
plate 58 would be to heat the lens plate 58 to its state-change
temperature (Tg) and then pressing the grid of tubes 56 into the
lens. The problem with this method when seeking to form lenses is
that the material displaced by the encroaching grid 56 can deform
the pre-molded lenslette shapes on the lens plate. FIG. 26 shows, a
desired final form of a structure 60 incorporates a lens plate 58
with an embedded grid 56 the lenslette 70 having the desired final
form.
[0058] According to an example manufacturing method of the
invention, as exemplified in FIG. 27 when there is a lens plate 58
that is to have a grid of tubes 56 embedded into it, the lenslettes
70 can be formed with a lenslette shape 100 such that when, as
shown in FIG. 28, a grid 56 is pushed into the lens plate 58 heated
to its glass transition temperature (Tg) or somewhat in excess
thereof, the material displaced 102 by the grid will flow back and
fill in the designed final form of the lenslette shape 100.
[0059] The structure 60 also can be placed in a ceiling 34 as shown
for example in FIG. 29. In that Figure, room 104 is below a
skylight 106 (a type of lighting fixture). During the night, when a
skylight normally looks black or dark, the structure 60 will look
light and essentially part of the ceiling. During the day, light
rays 108 from the sun 110 can be spread through a wider angle of
rays 112 to make a light source that will be more pleasing and more
evenly illuminate a room 104 than an unmodified skylight would.
[0060] Structures in accordance with the invention can be
relatively easily fabricated for use on many different types of
lighting fixtures. In addition to interior architectural lighting
applications such as residential or commercial buildings, the
lighting fixtures of the invention can be used in theatrical
lighting or the like.
[0061] Other modifications of the invention will occur to those in
the art within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, the
invention is not to be considered as limited to the particular
embodiments discussed and shown in the figures, except as defined
by the appended claims.
* * * * *