Illumination – Revolving
Patent
1997-12-10
2000-06-27
Sember, Thomas M.
Illumination
Revolving
362 84, 362298, 362300, F21V 704
Patent
active
060798394
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a lighting or illuminatiug device, the preamble of claim 1. Such lighting devices are in particular, used in external advertising, emergency lights, fiber optic systems and displays. They generally comprise neon tubes, which are curved to the shape of a character to be displayed, groups or individual lighting means of known type. Such illuminated displays are expensive and susceptible to damage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Hitherto, in most methods known luminous means have been used. Hitherto the use of electroluminescent foils has been unsuccessful due to the low lighting efficiency thereof. An optimum utilization of the light produced is made possible through the combination, discussed in this patent specification, of introducing light into the body and the use of said light below the total reflection angle.
In conventional light sources light is emitted in all directions. If a strip-like light source is fitted to the edge of a flat lighting body with irradiation into the body or is embedded in the marginal area, a considerable part of the light leaves the body at the edge of the surface to be illuminated, giving rise to a visible, light edge or border.
This effect occurs in all known applications and arrangements, because in said area the light strikes the surface (light exit face) under an angle smaller than the total reflection angle and consequently largely emerges.
This natural property restricts the optimum utilization of the emitted light for the lighting effect in the entire lighting body area.
The possibilities of compensating this effect described in the present patent specification by means of a clearly defined arrangement of illuminating foils and/or a planned arrangement of reflection faces and/or radiants and consequently the possibility of using the light portion ignored in known lighting means and applications, represents an essential feature of the claim.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary object addressed by the invention is the provision of a lighting device of the aforementioned type, which can be manufactured inexpensively, in frameless form and in shape or mold-independent manner, which is less susceptible to damage and which makes optimum use of the light emitted by the source.
According to the invention this object is attained by a lighting device with a transparent material body, one or more light sources, which introduce light into the body, and a light exit face on one or more sides of the body, by which light introduced into the body exit the body. A strip-like light source is so fitted to one side that the light passing out of the side of the strip-like light source facing the body substantially completely enters the body. A lateral face of the body is at least partly constructed as a mirror for light traveling in the body and reflects the light impinging thereon at least partly to the light exit face. For use as the material for the body of the lighting device plastics material, e.g. acrylic glass, which is resistant to breaking and impact, may preferably be employed. The lighting devices according to the invention have a longer life than the neon tube letters used in external advertising. It is also possible to use a low voltage power supply, which brings about an energy saving compared with neon tube lighting elements.
Further, according to the invention, the problematic effects of the related art noted above are compensated by a clearly defined arrangement of illumination fails and/or a planned arrangement of reflection faces and/or radiants and consequently the possibility of using the light portion ignored in known lighting devices represents an important feature thereof.
According to a first embodiment of the invention, the entire body is constructed in the form of a character, symbol, pictogram or letter to be displayed, the strip-like light source being preferably laterally fitted in the body and follows the contour of the character, luminous body or letter. Th
REFERENCES:
patent: 5537296 (1996-07-01), Kimura et al.
patent: 5617251 (1997-04-01), Ohta et al.
patent: 5647655 (1997-07-01), Kashima et al.
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