Decorative Lighting Apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed herein is lighting apparatus for display or decorative purposes in which a multifaceted jewel or a light dispersing and deviating element located between a focused light source and a screen or frosted globe is rotated about first and second transverse axes to provide variegated or kaleidoscopic lighting effects on the globe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates to decorative lighting apparatus and more particularly to lighting apparatus which uses a polychromatic light source to provide varying color patterns on a shade or globe.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention provides decorative lighting apparatus in which a light screen or globe supported on the top of a pedestal or base or located remote from the base receives an ever-changing variety of colored patterns, designs and images from a light deviating and dispersing prismatic element in the form of a multifaceted glass jewel which is rotatably supported for rotation about first and second axes.

The first axis is provided by an inclined tube or sleeve which rotatably supports a shaft which has an end secured to the jewel. The sleeve is fixed to an upstanding bracket which is supported on the inner race of a bearing. The outer race of the bearing is secured against rotation by a tight fit in a counterbore in the base. The inner race is rotatable with respect to the base and outer race to form the second axis of rotation for the jewel. An electric motor supported within the base has a friction roller on the motor output shaft which frictionally engages the inside surface of the inner race to rotate the inner race about the second axis. A friction roller on the lower end of the inclined jewel shaft, frictionally engages the upper surface of the outer race to rotate the shaft and the jewel about the first axis as the inner race is rotated by the motor.

The light source directs a focused beam upwardly onto the jewel. The jewel functions as a prism to disperse the various wavelengths of the polychromatic light source at different angles of deviation. The separated beams of light emerging from the jewel are received by the light screen. In addition to dispersion of the various component wavelengths from the light source as they pass through the jewel, it is believed that, some of the dispersed rays are reflected internally by the various facets or jewel faces and directed downwardly at an acute angle with the light source. These rays are reflected upwardly toward the screen by a reflector or mirror which can be supported on the inner race of the bearing. A small aperture in the reflector permits the light beam from the light source to pass through the reflector and strike the jewel.

The rotation of the jewel, about two axes, insures a constantly changing orientation of the jewel, light source and light screen, thus providing ever-changing color patterns on the screen. The coloring effects on the screen include patterns which travel around the screen in a direction counter to the direction of other patterns and at different speeds.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view in fragmentary section showing lighting apparatus in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified embodiment of the invention, in which the mirror is constructed of mirror sectors.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses lighting apparatus which is generally designated 10 and which includes a pedestal or base 12 which supports a frosted or translucent light screen or globe 14. The globe 14 has a flange 16 which innerfits in the upper end 18 of the base.

The lighting apparatus includes a light-deflecting element, prism, or jewel 20 provided with a plurality of facets 23. The word deflecting means any bending of light waves whether it occurs by reflection on the surface of the element or internally as the light beam passes through the element. In accordance with the invention, means are provided for supporting the jewel 20 for rotation about first and second transverse axes. In the disclosed construction, the jewel 20 is fixedly secured to the inner end of a shaft 22 which is rotatably supported in a hollow aperture in a tube or sleeve 24. The sleeve 24 is mounted on an upstanding bracket or support member 26 which is supported on the inner race 28 of a bearing 30. The outer race 32 is in firm engagement with the inner wall 34 of the base and supported on a shoulder 35. Although a ball bearing is disclosed, any bearing having independently movable elements can be employed.

The invention also provides means for rotating the jewel 20 about the first and second axes. As disclosed, the means comprises a drive roller 36 which is fixed to the outer end of shaft 22 and is in frictional engagement with the upper surface 38 of the outer race 32. Alternatively, the roller 36 can engage the base and a rotatably supported disc can be employed rather than the inner race 28. The use of a precision bearing, however, affords a smooth rotation about the axes at a constant speed without any intermittent irregularities of movement. A motor 40 with a gear reduction unit drives a shaft 42 which is provided with a friction roller 44 which frictionally engages the inner surface 46 of the inner race 28. With an outer race having a diameter of over 31/2 inches and the roller 36 having a diameter of approximately three-eighth inch, the jewel 20 rotates on shaft 22 about 10 times for each revolution of the inner race 28.

In operation of the lighting apparatus of the invention, when the motor 40 is energized the shaft 42 rotates the inner race 28 about the axis of the light beam 55. As the inner race 28 moves, the engagement of the drive roller 36 and the upper surface 38 of the outer race will cause the jewel 20 to rotate about the first axis provided by the shaft 22. The continual rotation of the jewel about the two axes provides ever-changing color patterns and designs. The jewel disperses the polychromatic light beam into the various colors of the rainbow. Some of the light is reflected internally by the jewel facets and will be directed downwardly toward a reflector or mirror 60, which is supported on the inner race and which is provided with an axial aperture 62 to permit the light beam 55 to pass through the mirror. Some of the light reflected from the reflector will be directed upwardly as shown by arrow 64 to strike the lower portions of the screen 14.

FIG. 2 shows a modified embodiment of the invention employing an upwardly convex mirror or reflector 68. It is believe that, mirror 68 more effectively reflects light from the jewel to the lower portions of the screen 69 which is supported remotely, as for instance, on a wall (not shown), rather than the base. The screen 69 is a fragment of a cylinder having a cylindrical wall with arcuate extent of less than 360.degree., which is thus open to provide a viewing surface on the inside rather than the outside surface as with a sphere.

FIG. 3 shows a mirror 70 constructed from circular ring sectors 72 arranged to provide a central aperture. The sectors 72 can also be supported at differing angles or planes to further increase the number of differing lighting effects.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the mirror sectors 72 are supported to form an upwardly concave reflector. The inner ends 74 of the sectors 72 are supported on a plastic disc 76 which can be secured to the inner race 28. The outer edges 78 of the segments can be supported by an annular ring 80 having a beveled surface 82.

The mirrors are believed to cause movement of some of the images at a higher rate of speed than background color effects and in a direction counter to the movement of the background colors.

Various light screens can be employed. Screens supported on the base can include elongated hollow cylinders, fragments of cylinders, cones and other geometrical configurations.

The light patterns can also be projected onto backdrops such as a wall, a ceiling or any other screen which is not supported by the base 12. Where the viewing surface of the screen is also the surface incident to the light, an opaque surface can be employed rather than a translucent surface.

The configuration of the screen, and the location and orientation of the screen with respect to the jewel 20 determine the shape, form and intensity of the images and patterns.

Claims

I claim:

1. Lighting apparatus comprising a base, a light-deflecting element having a polar axis, a light source providing a focused light beam on said deflecting element, a light-receiving screen spaced from said element and positioned to receive light from said deflecting element, means for supporting said deflecting element on said base for rotation about said polar axis and for planetary movement of said deflecting element in an orbit about said light beam, and means for rotating said element about said polar axis and moving said element in said orbit about said light beam to provide a variegated lighting effect on said screen.

2. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said element for rotation about said polar axis and for planetary movement in an orbit about said light beam comprises a bearing having inner and outer races, said outer race being fixed to said base, a support member having an aperture extending transversely to the axis of rotation of said inner race, said support member being supported on said inner race, a shaft fixedly secured to said light-deflecting element, said shaft being rotatably supported in said aperture in said support member, a drive roller on said shaft frictionally engaging said outer race and wherein said means for rotating said element about said polar axis and for planetary movement in an orbit about said light beam comprises drive means on said shaft engageable with said outer race and a motor having an output shaft drivingly connected to said inner race.

3. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 2 including a light reflector supported on said inner race, said reflector having a reflective surface below said light-deflecting element and an aperture in said mirror to permit said light beam to strike said element.

4. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein, said reflector is upwardly convex.

5. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein, said reflector comprises a series of circular ring sectors arranged to define a central aperture.

6. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein, said light-deflecting element comprises a multifaceted jewel.

7. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein, said light screen comprises a cylindrical wall portion having an arcuate extent of less than 360.degree..

8. Lighting apparatus comprising a base, a prism, a light source providing a beam of light on said prism, a light screen for receiving reflected and refracted light from said prism, means for supporting said prism for rotation of said prism about a first axis and for movement of said first axis and said prism about a second axis with said prism within said beam of light and means for rotating said prism about said first and second axes to provide a multicolored continuously changing light effect on said screen.

9. Lighting apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said reflector is upwardly concave.