Reflectors For Strip Type Fluorescent Lighting

Abstract

A reflector of a heavy-gauge aluminum foil includes a central reflector base wall and angularly depending side walls. The base wall is adapted to overlie one or more fluorescent tubular lamps. The side walls are each provided with a plurality of longitudinally distributed openings arranged in a pair of rows with flow of air therethrough. Applicant has found that the openings not only permit the escape and distribution of light but more importantly result in a self-cleaning lamp action such that dirt and foreign matter does not accumulate on the lamps. Thus, the lit lamps generate a slight air flow which is of a characteristic to maintain the lamp surfaces essentially free of foreign matter for relatively long periods of time. Suitable double-faced adhesive strips on the back side of the base wall may interconnect the reflector to the fixture. The reflector is alternatively supported by direct resting of the base wall upon the lamp or lamps. A plurality of longitudinally spaced cushion strips are secured to the inner surface of the base wall and extend completely across the wall to allow attachment to any one of a plurality of fixtures. The strips have a light-reflecting outer surface to eliminate undesirable light absorption. The reflector may have a V-shaped base wall which depends downwardly between the two lamps, with the depending inner wall having the extended support strips to support the reflector on the lamps.

Parent Case Text

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation in part application of my copending application entitled REFLECTORS FOR STRIP TYPE FLUORESCENT LIGHTING with Ser. No. 82,733 filed on Oct. 21, 1970.

Description

The present invention is particularly directed to a fluorescent lamp reflector for releasable attachment to a fluorescent lighting fixture.

Fluorescent lighting systems employing elongated bulbs or lamps are widely employed in relative large room areas. Generally a plurality of separate fluorescent lighting units of a standard design may be mounted to produce the desired illumination. These units may be constructed with integral reflector and enclosing housings, with suitable light-directing openings. In relatively inexpensive systems, the fluorescent lighting units employ a simple rectangular housing with one or more depending lamp connectors and supports at the opposite ends. The elongated lamp or lamps are releasably supported in laterally spaced and parallel relation at the opposite ends in the supports. The lamps emit light in all directions including upwardly. The bottom surface of the housing provides a reflecting surface but it is normally of course much narrower than the width of the upwardly directed lights. The units may be conveniently mounted in parallel rows, each of which includes a plurality of the aligned units mounted in end-to-end abutting relation.

Though such units provide a relatively inexpensive construction, the lighting effect is not particularly desirable. Thus, the light upwardly directed may be absorbed by low reflectance surfaces. Further, when applied to a building structure having exterior windows and the like, the lighting is not uniform and the horizontal and slightly downwardly directed light tends to create an excessive or extraneous lighting adjacent the window area, producing a glaring flood-type illuminating characteristic. Thus, there is a distinct need for a low-cost reflector which can be applied to such fixtures to effectively concentrate the illumination throughout the work or display area in order to reduce the extraneous lighting and overall produce a more comfortable lighting effect.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is particularly directed to a separate fluorescent lamp reflector which can be readily applied to the existing relatively inexpensive fluorescent lamp units having one or more fluorescent exposed lamps.

Generally in accordance with the present invention, a reflector is made of a relatively thin, self-supporting material with a central reflector base portion and outer depending reflector portions. The unit is adapted to fit over the lamps with the side walls extending downwardly to reflect the light into a highly desirable pattern. In order to adapt the unit to a substantial plurality of different single and multiple lamp constructions, the reflector includes a base portion which is adapted to overlie one or more lamps with a pair of angularly related depending planar side walls. In accordance with an important aspect of the present invention, the side walls are provided with a plurality of longitudinally distributed openings which permit the interchange or flow of air therethrough. Applicant has found that the openings not only permit the escape and distribution of light but more important result in a self-cleaning lamp action such that dirt and foreign matter does not accumulate on the lamps. Thus, the lit lamps generate a slight air flow which is of a characteristic to maintain the lamp surfaces essentially free of foreign matter for relatively long periods of time. This is important in maintaining efficient lighting without requiring cleaning maintenance at relatively short time periods.

In a preferred and highly practical construction, the lamp reflectors are made of a relatively heavy-gauge aluminum foil. Such a material is relatively self-supporting such that there is no necessity for forming or providing additional supports to maintain the reflector configuration. However, it is sufficiently light, therefore, to permit very convenient attachment to existing lighting fixtures. Thus, in one embodiment the reflector includes a planar base which is interconnected to an appropriate existing lamp structure by suitable double-faced adhesive strips such as a fabric. Thus, the adhesive strips are secured to the back side of the reflector base portion in longitudinal spaced relation and interconnected to the lighting fixture by merely pressing of the unit against the fixture. The reflector can be readily supported by a relatively few number of longitudinally distributed adhesive strip means.

Further, applicant has found that the reflector can also be supported by directly resting upon the lamp structures. Where the reflector is secured to the lamp fixture through the adhesive means or the like, difficulties can be encountered where the upper housing has projecting elements on the bottom wall. Thus, for a number of years following the adhesive attachment means applicant has sold the light aluminum gauge reflectors which rest on the lamps with small pad members of a width less than the width of a fluorescent tube applied to the inner face of the reflector base wall immediately over the lamp areas. The pad members provide noise isolation and also prevent the depositing of mercury or the like on the tube at the locations of the support. Generally, the number of pads required was somewhat related to the length and shape of the point reflectors and were individually applied in accordance with the spacing of the lamps.

Applicant has found that a universal cushion mount can be provided by employing a plurality of longitudinally spaced cushion strips extended clear across a support portion of the reflector. It is important, however, to employ strips having an outer surface which has a high reflectance to eliminate undesirable light absorption.

The reflector of this invention may also be constructed with a V-shaped base portion where it is to be specifically applied to a multiple lamp unit and particularly where an even number of lamps are employed. The apex of the V-shaped base depends downwardly between the two lamps, with the depending inner wall preferably resting on the lamps. Cushion strips are provided on the inner surface of V-shaped walls to support the reflector once again directly on the lamp.

The ends of the base portion of a foil-like reflector are readily cut to accommodate the particular projecting lamp supports or legs. The ends of the reflector can be provided with suitable indicating indicia for a single lamp and multiple lamp units with the aluminum foil cut with any suitable scissors means. The cut portion is preferably bent backwardly onto the back side of the reflector to provide a reinforcement, particularly where the reflector rests on the lamp.

Further, where the reflector rests on the lamp with the elongated cushion strips, the reflector can be tilted by offsetting of the reflector from the longitudinal center line. Thus, the center of gravity of the reflector is not directly in line with the center of the lamp or lamps and will tend to tilt. The degree of tilt is, of course, limited by the degree of offsetting and the spacing of the fixture housing from the lamps.

The present invention thus provides an improved low-cost reflector which can be readily applied to existing and new fluorescent fixtures employing exposed bulbs and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction of the present invention in which the above advantages and features are clearly disclosed as well as others which will be readily understood from the following description of the illustrated embodiment.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an end elevational view of a fluorescent lamp fixture with a reflector constructed in accordance with the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fluorescent unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the reflector removed from the lamp housing as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of an alternative reflector unit construction, with parts broken away in section to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4 and illustrating mounting of the reflector in FIG. 4 in accordance with a further aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a further view illustrating an alternative tilt mounting of the reflector of FIG. 4 as a result of the off-center location of the reflector with respect to a single lamp unit; and

FIG. 7 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the reflector.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawing and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a conventional fluorescent fixture 1 is illustrated having a lamp-supporting housing 2 of a generally rectangular elongated configuration. Lamp-supporting legs or brackets are provided at the opposite ends, and in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the fixture 1 is constructed with pairs of correspondingly aligned brackets 3 and 4 at each end. A pair of elongated tubular fluorescent lamps 5 are mounted within the aligned brackets 3 and 4 to physically support the lamps 5 in the usual manner in downwardly spaced relationship to the housing 2 and to provide a power connection to the lamps. Thus, the necessary ballast elements, conductors, and the like are mounted within the housing with contacts in the brackets 3 and 4 providing power connection in the usual manner. In accordance with the present invention, a specially constructed reflector 6 is located in overlying relationship to the pair of lamps and provides an improved dispersion of the illumination.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1-3, the reflector 6 is made as an elongated member having a length slightly greater than the standard lengths of the fluorescent housing to permit a continuous installation for row-mounted fixtures and also, allowing for fixture mounting gaps and variations therein. Generally, the reflector 6 includes a flat planar base portion 7 adapted to span one or more lamps 5 and may have a width corresponding to the width of the conventional fluorescent lamp housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1. A pair of integrally formed and angularly related planar side walls 8 and 9 extend downwardly from the opposite edges of the base portion 7 and terminate in outwardly extended lips 10. The reflector thus has a generally frusto conical cross-section and is preferably formed from a heavy-gauge aluminum foil; for example, an aluminum foil of approximately .0055 inch thickness and commercially available as an 1145 alloy has been found to be particularly satisfactory. The back side is preferably coated with a white eopxy, while a bright S-1 finish is provided on the inner reflecting side, which may be covered with a clear epoxy protective coating. Such material may be bought as a flat sheet member and formed to define configuration shown in FIGS. 1-3 or other suitable configuration such as shown in FIG. 7.

The reflector 6 is secured in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 to the fixture housing 2 by a plurality of longitudinally distributed double-faced adhesive members 11 having one surface secured to the back side of the base portion 7. The other adhesive surface permits ready attachment to the corresponding flat-bottom wall of the housing 2. The members 11 may be formed of any suitable material such as a fabric or the like.

The reflector base 7 is cut out to define end slots 12 accommodating the end brackets 3 and 4 and is preferably cut such that the slot edges abut the outermost edges of the brackets, as shown. This provides for accurate laterial location of the reflector 6. The base portion 7 is preferably provided with suitable visual indicia, not shown, related to the relatively standard fluorescent lamp fixtures manufactured and sold commercially. This permits the convenient on-site slitting and installation of the reflector. Although not shown, end caps may be provided which fit over the side walls of the exposed ends in row lighting to provide an attrative, finished appearance.

In accordance with the present invention, the side walls 8 and 9 are provided with a plurality of openings or perforations 13 to permit air movement through the side walls and in particular over the lamps 5. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, each of the side walls includes similarly located perforations 13. In particular, a pair of longitudinally aligned perforation rows 14 and 15 are provided in laterally spaced relation to each of the side walls 8 and 9. The perforations in row 14 are offset longitudinally by one-half the spacing between the perforations 13 from the perforations in row 15. Thus, the two rows are generally located with the openings 13 adjacent both the upper and lower planes or edges of the fluorescent lamps 5.

Applicant has found that the provision of openings 13 results in a highly desirable cleaning action on the lamps and, in fact, eliminates the rather time-consuming cleaning required with the conventional exposed lamp fixtures. The cleaning air flow apparently prevents depositing of dirt and foreign matter in the air. Thus, although the lamps produce a thermal air flow which would tend to carry dirt into the area, the air pattern, particularly with the illustrated openings, has a dynamic action such that the foreign matter is not deposited on the lamps but rather is continuously moved through the system without any essential depositing over long periods of time. Thus, applicant has found that in a conventional commercial retail store cleaning of the lamps is not required for periods of a year or more. Further, the openings 13 do produce some illumination above the light fixture as such which can provide an advantageous or aesthetic appearance.

The generally frusta conical cross section has been found to produce a highly desirable light pattern and in combination with the openings 13 provides a highly desirable air-flow pattern to maintain not only proper illumination but minimal cleaning requirements.

Although the adhesive means provides a convenient system of mounting of the lamps, certain fluorescent lamp fixture housings may have projections or recesses in the bottom wall which interfere with the convenient and simple adhesive interattachment.

A highly improved method of supporting a modified reflector 16 is to allow them to merely lie directly on the lamps 17, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Thus, the reflector 16 is constructed essentially with frusto conically shaped cross-section, as shown in the first embodiment. However, the adhesive strips are not applied to the back side of the unit. Rather, the reflector surface of the reflector 16 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally distributed resilient strips 18 which extend completely across the base portion 19 of reflector 16. The resilient strips 18 are formed of a suitable soft material and may be secured to the face of the reflector 15 by a suitable adhesive or any other means. The strips 18 rest directly on the lamps 17 without transmission of the high-frequency electrical noise associated with fluorescent lamps and the like. The lateral strips 18 are completely extended across the base portion 19 to provide a universal mounting of the reflector 16 in a rapid and simple manner. The bottom exposed surface 20 of the strip 18 is specially selected to have a high reflectance so as not to interfere with the dispersing and reflecting of the light; for example, a suitable white foam type material, such as a vinyl.

As in FIGS. 1-3, the ends of the base portion 19 are slitted to define end slots 21 for accommodating the lamp supporting brackets 22. The slit portion may be bent rearwardly, as at 23, to strengthen the thin, foil reflector. Further, the strips 18 extending across the base portion 19 allow the fixture to be tilted with respect to the lamp or lamps 17.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, which illustrates a single lamp fixture, a reflector 24 similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 rests on a lamp 25. The reflector 24 is offset laterally of the lamp 25 so that the center of gravity is not in line with the single lamp 25. The reflector 24 automatically tilts with the upwardly tilted back edge 26 engaging the lamp housing 27. This may be advantageously employed to disperse the light predominantly to one side.

Although the planar base portion shown in FIGS. 1-6 readily adapts the reflector to a great variety of standard fixtures, for multiple lamp units a reflector 28 may advantageously be formed extending downwardly between a plurality of lamps 29; for example, as shown in FIG. 7 for a two-lamp fixture 30. Thus, the base portion 31 is made with a shallow V-shaped configuration which, with the apertured and angled planar side walls 32, defines a generally M-shaped reflector. In the preferred illustrated embodiment of the invention, the V-shaped base 31 projects approximately one-half the length of the side walls 32. The partially extended dividing central portion improves the light dispersion without interferring with the air flow from the apertured side walls 32 to maintain clean lamps for relatively long time periods. The reflector 28 can be mounted to the fixture 30 in any suitable manner, but preferably, once again, rests on the adjacent lamps 29 with a plurality of supporting strips 33 secured to the V-shaped wall in longitudinal spaced relation. Once again, the supporting strips 33 are extended throughout the length of the supporting base 28 to permit the convenient adaptation and application of the separate reflector to a great plurality of different forms of multiple-spaced lamps. The support strips may also be applied to depending side walls 32 if the lamps are properly spaced.

The present invention has been found to provide a highly satisfactory and inexpensive fluorescent lighting fixture reflector which can be constructed as a separate unit and readily applied to a great plurality of different types of fixtures.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims, particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

Claims

1. A releasably mounted reflector apparatus for interconnection with a fluorescent lighting fixture having a supporting housing and at least one elongated fluorescent tubular lamp secured to the housing in downwardly spaced relation therefrom and secured thereto at the opposite ends, comprising an elongated reflector body member having a base supporting wall portion adapted to span a plurality of lamps and having lateral depending angularly related side walls extending downwardly and outwardly past the lamp, each of said side walls including a substantial plurality of apertures longitudinally spaced throughout each of said side walls and permitting the flow of air therethrough to substantially prevent accumulation of foreign matter within the reflector body member and upon the lamp, said reflector apparatus having mounting means connected to the elongated body member for interconnection of the reflector to a fixture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apertures are arranged in a pair of vertically spaced rows, each row including a plurality of said

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apertures are arranged in a pair of vertically spaced rows, each row including a plurality of said apertures extending throughout the length of the side wall, the apertures of the two rows being offset to locate the apertures of one row essentially equidistant between a pair of adjacent openings in the

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including a supporting strip member secured to the inner face of the body member and extending laterally substantially for a distance in excess of the width of a fluorescent bulb and constituting gravity mounting means with said reflector body resting directly on the upper surface of the fluorescent lamps in spaced relation

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said strips extend essentially completely across the base wall portion and are formed of resilient and electrically non-conducting material having a high light reflectance

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base portion is a planar member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced supporting strips of a resilient construction secured to the inner surface of the base portion and spaced inwardly from the ends, said strips extending essentially completely across said base whereby said reflector is mounted resting on the upper surface of single and multiple lamps and in spaced relation to the side

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein said base portion defines an essentially planar base integrally formed with the side walls, and side

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflector has said base portion projecting inwardly as a substantially V-shaped wall between said side walls, the base portion projecting inwardly substantially but significantly less than the total depth of the side walls whereby the innermost apex generally lies between a pair of adjacent fluorescent lamps

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the V-shaped wall is provided with a resilient supporting strip extending laterally across the base portion and of a length substantially greater than the diameter of a fluorescent lamp and extending laterally outwardly in spaced relation to the lamp, said supporting strip having an outer high reluctance surface to minimize light

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said reflector is formed of a heavy-gauge aluminum foil no greater than the order of .0055 inch thickness and permitting ready deformation of the side walls in accordance with a desired lighting pattern and further permitting the manual cutting of the end base portion to accommodate the supporting structures for the fluorescent lamp, said end portions being formed to abut the side edges of the supporting butts and thereby accurately locating the reflector and

11. The releasably mounted reflector apparatus of claim 1 wherein said elongated reflector body member is formed of a heavy-gauge self-supporting metal foil no greater than the order of .0055 inch thickness and with the base supporting wall portion integral with said side walls, said side walls being flat members and means for mounting of said reflector resting

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said base wall portion is a substantially V-shaped wall between said side walls, said V-shaped wall

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said base wall portion is a flat

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said reflector is formed of a

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side walls terminate in laterally outwardly bent lower edge lips.