Illumination – With furniture – Chair – stool or sofa
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-01
2001-03-13
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With furniture
Chair, stool or sofa
C362S127000, C362S234000, C297S445100, C297S217600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199999
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lighting system for use in areas of low-level lighting which improves visibility of objects held adjacent to a light source of the lighting system, without detracting from an overall desired low-level lighting.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lighting systems designed to improve safety in theaters, planetariums, aircraft and auditoriums are known. In particular, lighting systems which illuminate walkways, stairs and handrails are known in the art. One area which has not been improved is lighting which enhances visibility of objects while maintaining an intended overall low-level lighting environment and minimizing the direct projection of light into a person's eyes.
Some theaters and auditoriums employ overhead lighting to provide sufficient illumination of objects such as playbills. Such lighting systems suffer disadvantages. First, overhead lighting scatters within the theater or auditorium, thereby increasing ambient light levels and interfering with a person's ability to view a movie or show. Second, even if scattering is minimized by limiting the size and quantity of overhead lighting, a human viewer must hold an object such as a playbill up to the light to be able to see the object. Looking up at the light prevents a viewer's eyes from adjusting to the ambient low-level lighting, thus preventing the viewer from fully enjoying the movie or show.
Lighting systems used in exhibits of nocturnal creatures in museums are also generally only used as safety aids to improve the visibility and illumination of walkways therein.
Instrument panels of aircraft flown at night are known to be equipped with post-lights that emit red light downwardly toward the instrument panel but not upwardly directly toward the eyes of a pilot.
Thus, there remains a need for a low-level lighting system for theaters, planetariums and auditoriums that permits a person to read a playbill, star chart or other written material while maintaining the low-level lighting environment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system of the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and deficiencies which are characteristic of the prior art. The system of the present invention also has the further advantages of being relatively simple and economical to prepare. The system of the present invention has still further advantages of enhancing educational or enjoyment aspects of a performance or similar display.
The present invention employs a light source, for example, a light-emitting diode, disposed in a room such that it will illuminate only a desired small area of an otherwise darkened room. The lighting system of the present invention not only maintains a desired low level of ambient lighting, it also allows the eyes of a person using the lighting system to remain adapted to darkness, even when viewing objects with the lighting system. The present lighting system permits a person to see distant objects in a low-level ambient-lighting area and hand held objects held by the person.
Thus, one aspect of the invention provides a lighting system for use in a theater, auditorium, museum or planetarium having a low level of ambient light. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting system of the present invention includes a first seating structure having a back disposed along a plane which is substantially vertical and preferably disposed at an angle of 30 to 120 degrees and most preferably disposed at an angle or 60 to 90 degrees relative to a first supporting surface disposed beneath said seating structure, a support affixed to the back of the first seating structure, at least one light source, and a cover extending from the back of the first seating structure for blocking a major portion of light emitted from the light source in an upward direction, such that the emitted light does not project directly into the eyes of a person adjacent the lighting system. The lighting system does not significantly increase the level of ambient light in a theater, auditorium, museum or planetarium.
Preferably, the first seating structure is a bench, chair, seat, pew, bleacher or other similar structure generally used for the provision of seating.
Preferably, the light source emits any visible light. More preferably the light source emits red or green light and most preferably the light source emits green light.
Preferably, the lighting system permits a user's eyes to remain dark adapted in areas with low-evel ambient lighting.
The lighting system preferably includes more than one light source.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention provides an image projection system for use in an auditorium, planetarium, museum or theater having low-level ambient lighting. The projection system includes an image projector and one or more lighting systems. According to this embodiment, the lighting system includes a body including a first side and a surface defining a bore extending upwardly into the body; and one or more light sources disposed within the bore for emitting light downwardly such that light emitted by the one or more light sources is not projected upwardly directly into the eyes of a person adjacent the light system in which the one or more lighting systems do not significantly increase the low level of ambient lighting.
The image projection system of the present invention preferably includes two or more different lighting systems.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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patent: 1420059 (1922-06-01), Roth
patent: 2192577 (1940-03-01), Jungerman
patent: 2257496 (1941-09-01), Gaugler et al.
patent: 2635681 (1953-04-01), Hiltman et al.
patent: 4217628 (1980-08-01), Windom
patent: 4394714 (1983-07-01), Rote
patent: 5311411 (1994-05-01), Garolfi
patent: 2579297 (1986-09-01), None
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld L.L.P.
Brown Randall C.
Cariaso Alan
DelGizzi Ronald E.
Ferguson Priscilla L.
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