Illumination – Revolving
Patent
1992-04-09
1994-05-24
Cole, Richard R.
Illumination
Revolving
367307, F21V 800
Patent
active
053154908
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to light fittings and in particular to light fittings adapted to employ high-intensity light sources.
Many lighting situations require high levels of illumination, but at the same time the light sources should not be obtrusive although the illumination itself should be capable of adding to the overall visual effect. For example, in a shop window display, it can be advantageous to use high illumination levels but if the lighting is properly designed, the overall effect of the window display can be much enhanced. This may be achieved by using a number of properly coordinated light sources in conjunction with reflectors especially adapted for use with those sources, whereby each light fitting will project a concentrated beam of known shape. To facilitate the designing of an appropriate form of reflector for this purpose, there have been developed various kinds of relatively high intensity light sources having a relatively small light emitting region--and mention here may be made of so-called HQI TS lamps (halogen/quartz discharge lamps) as well as low-voltage quartz halogen incandescent filament lamps.
A known technique for improving the effect of lighting is to distract the eye from the actual light source, and this may effectively be achieved by disposing a number of low-intensity secondary light sources in the region of, but spaced from, the primary high-intensity source. Such individual low-intensity sources are conveniently produced by fibre optic technology, using a loom of optical fibres the distal ends of which terminate in the required display formation and the proximal ends of which are grouped together within a light box, there being arranged in the light box a high intensity source together with an associated reflector and suitable lenses to direct light on to the proximal ends of the optical fibre. Often a fan has to be provided to maintain the temperature within the box at a suitable level.
The fibre optic technique described above involves considerable installation costs, as well as increased running costs in view of the high-intensity source provided to feed light into the optical fibres, and the fan. Also, it may be necessary to employ a relatively long loom of optical fibres, since the light box often cannot be positioned in the immediate vicinity of the distal ends of the optical fibres. As such, though the technique of distracting the eye from a primary light source by means of a plurality of individual low intensity sources may be desirable, it is used only relatively infrequently on account of the additional complications and costs.
It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide apparatus whereby low intensity secondary light sources may be installed in the vicinity of a high intensity primary source of illumination, whilst overcoming the disadvantages discussed above.
Accordingly, this invention provides a light fitting comprising a holder for a high intensity light source, a reflector specifically adapted for use with a held source and juxtaposed with respect to the holder whereby a held source will provide a beam of a predetermined configuration, there being an orifice formed through the reflector and the light fitting including a fibre optic loom having an end coupler which is mounted to co-operate with the orifice so that light from a held source will be incident on the end face of the coupler to enter the optical fibres of the loom, the orifice being formed through the reflector at a site where a majority of the light from a held source and impinging on that site does not contribute significantly to the resultant beam produced by the reflector.
It will be appreciated that in the light fitting of the present invention, the same high-intensity light source as is used for the primary lighting is also used to provide low intensity distracting lights. Thus, the need for a separate light box together with the attendant equipment and problems of installation are completely obviated and there is no increase in running costs, as compared to the provision of
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patent: 3626170 (1971-12-01), Schwan
patent: 3666180 (1972-05-01), Coombs et al.
patent: 4751617 (1988-06-01), Ryder et al.
patent: 4755918 (1988-07-01), Pristash et al.
patent: 5021929 (1991-06-01), Danielian
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