Illumination – Housing – With mounting means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-10
2001-09-04
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Housing
With mounting means
C362S362000, C362S147000, C362S190000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283616
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for providing illumination from a corner. More particularly, the present invention provides illumination from an apparatus attached to a corner of two connecting walls, thus providing illumination that defines boundaries of rooms, hallways, stairs and other indoor areas in low light or no light conditions.
The interiors of homes, offices, and other buildings frequently experience low light conditions. Low light or no light conditions in interior areas pose a considerable safety concern, as people moving through such areas can harm themselves through collision or fall.
Low light conditions can be the result of inadequacies in standard fixture lighting or can be due to emergency situations, such as power failure. In dark or dimly lit conditions, standard fixture lighting systems pose a problem in that they are often controlled by switches, that are often difficult to locate to turn on the desired lights. In power failure situations, of course, turning on a light switch does not usually remedy the lighting problem.
A further problem with standard fixture lighting systems is that the light provided by such systems are often inadequate for illuminating various structural features in an interior area, such as stairs and corners. Standard fixture lighting systems are most commonly placed on, or adjacent to, the ceiling of interior areas. The placement of lighting systems in such locations often results in the production of heavy shadows and other such unwanted lighting effects with regards to stairs and corners.
There are, of course, numerous emergency lighting systems currently available or power failure conditions, yet they all contain certain features which are undesirable. The most common emergency lighting system is one which is hardwired into the AC electrical system of a building, and contains a DC power source which is charged by AC electrical power. Such emergency lighting systems use AC power until a time when such power is unavailable. The systems then draw power from their DC source. U.S. Pat. No. 4,977,351 issued to Bavaro et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,365, 145 issued to Fields disclose such systems. The drawbacks to these types of systems, include, for example, complex installation requiring the emergency lighting system to be physically hardwired into the AC electrical power source in the building. Professional electricians are often required to install such systems. This makes installation of such systems expensive and time-consuming.
More importantly, most emergency lighting systems are often large and unattractive. The size and design of most systems is a necessary trade off for the functionality of providing enough power (usually though a large battery unit) for a light generating source to emit a bright light within a space. The size of many of these systems makes it difficult to mount them externally in stairs and corners.
Some prior art systems have attempted to specifically respond to the problem of illuminating, e.g., corners, stairs, etc., in low light or no light condition. These lighting systems designed to better illuminate such areas also often have many drawbacks. Such lighting systems are often required to be embedded in walls, stairs, and floors of the building itself so as not to obstruct the walkways of individuals. U.S. Pat. No. 4,394,714 issued to Rote and U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,468 issued to Shimada, both disclose lighting systems for stairs which require the systems be built into the steps themselves. Such lighting systems are difficult and costly to install in an existing set of stairs.
Thus, a need exists for an attractive and effective illumination device for corners which can function independent of AC power, is inexpensive, and is easy to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a corner accentuator or illuminator which is self-illuminating for providing illumination from a corner. The accentuator in accordance with the resent invention is aesthetically pleasing, inexpensive, small, unobtrusive and easy to install. The device is electrically self-contained requiring no external electrical wiring.
The foregoing and other advantages of the present invention are realized in one aspect thereof in a corner accentuator for providing illumination from a corner, comprising a unitary structure configured and dimensioned to fit in a corner. The accentuator includes a corner plate having a front side, a back side, a perimeter edge separating said front and back side, and an aperture therethrough; a reflector having a front reflective side, a back non-reflective side, and a reflector aperture; a light source; and an energy storage device electrically connected to the light source.
The plate is mounted in a corner such that it prevents the buildup of dust in corner areas, which are generally hard to reach with cleaning devices. The perimeter edge of the plate is beveled so that the plate fits easily and snugly into a corner to prevent dust from building up in the corner. The corner plate is mounted in a corner so that the front side of the plate faces the room, and the back side of the plate faces the corner. The reflector is mounted within the aperture in the corner plate so that the front reflective side faces the same outward direction as the front side of the corner plate. The light source is mounted within the reflector aperture such that the light source projects light onto the surface of front reflective side of the reflector. The illumination provided by the light source is concentrated and redirected by the reflector providing a bright source of illumination that alerts an individual of the location of the reflector, and therefore, the location of the corner. The energy storage device is mounted proximate to the back side of the corner plate.
In another aspect of the present invention, the energy storage device is charged by a solar powered collector, e.g., a photovoltaic cell. Such a collector is disposed within the recess aperture in the corner plate and is operatively connected to charge the energy storage device for the purpose of keeping it charged.
In further aspect invention, the corner plate is secured thereby to a corner. In another embodiment, the invention can be secured to a corner by using a fastener, e.g., a nail or a screw, that passes through connection apertures in the plate, or by applying adhesive to the perimeter edge.
In another aspect, the invention provides a lighting system which includes a pair corner accentuators used in tandem. In the system, one of the corner accentuators is mounted on the corner of a wall, a stair and the other in an opposite corner. This provides a bright light source that alerts an individual, in low light conditions, of the perimeter and boundaries of the wall. Such a wall can be the wall of a room, hallway, back of a stair, or the like.
In yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of illuminating and defining the steps of a stairway, which includes the steps of securing to each corner of a step a corner accentuator, the corner accentuator including a corner plate having a front side, a back side, a perimeter edge separating said front and back side, and an aperture therethrough; a reflector having a front reflective side, a back non-reflective side, and a reflector aperture, the reflector being mounted within the first aperture; a light mounted within the reflector aperture; and an energy source proximate the back side of the corner plate, and proximate to and electrically connected to the light.
Other advantages and a fuller appreciation of the specific attributes of this invention will be gained upon examination of the following drawings, detailed description of preferred embodiments, and appended claims. It is expressly understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limit
Michael & Best & Friedrich LLP
Negron Ismael
O'Shea Sandra
Peterson Jeffrey D.
Welch Teresa J.
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