Illumination – Light modifier – Refractor
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-28
2003-02-04
Tso, Laura K. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light modifier
Refractor
C362S806000, C362S373000, C362S294000, C362S019000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06513954
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lighting devices and, more specifically, to prism lighting devices. The present invention is a lighting device having a housing with means for projecting a spectrum of visible light upon an exterior surface. The prism lighting device has electrical means for energizing a light bulb, preferably a halogen lamp, that has a reflector element for projecting the light upon a planar element having a slit wherethrough the light beam passes. Positioned over the slit is a prism being of a size that is slightly larger than the slit. Upon entering the prism the white light is slit and projected out into various wavelengths representative of a rainbow.
The prism is fixed to the housing at each distal end by threaded members whereby the distance between the prism and the light egress slit can be selectively adjusted. The housing has a covering extending from the housing in a spherical fashion having its apex and termination over the prism.
Within the housing there is electrical means in the form of a transformer having external power for energizing the lamp. There is also a fan positioned at the base of the lighting device which draws air through vents in the base of the housing to dissipate accumulated heat.
A power switch is located on the exterior surface of the housing for powering on the light as well as controlling the light bulb lumens.
The lighting device in an alternative design may also have a motor within the base for rotating the housing throughout 360 degrees.
The housing can take the form of a cylinder, rectangle or other suitable container.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other prism lighting device designed for spectral projection. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 909,507 issued to Zubli on Jan. 12, 1909.
Another patent was issued to Collins on Apr. 11, 1922 as U.S. Pat. No. 1,412,675. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,223 was issued to Lillie on Oct. 11, 1940 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 22, 1980 to Kuhn et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,297.
Another patent was issued to Arai on Dec. 10, 1985 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,055. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,402 was issued to Tiffany on Jul. 21, 1987. Another was issued to Mori on Jul. 18, 1989 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,866 and still yet another was issued on Sep. 11, 1990 to Mori as U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,975.
Another patent was issued to Oku on Sep. 8, 1992 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,146,364 and another was issued to Kwaitkowski on Sep. 21, 1993 as U.S. Pat. 5,247,491.
U.S. Pat. No. 909,507
Inventor: Justus C. Zubli
Issued: Jan. 12, 1909
An illuminating device, comprising an electric lamp, and a prism rotatably mounted in front of the bulb of the lamp, and means in connection with the mounting for permitting said prism to swing with respect to the lamp.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,412,675
Inventor: Frank D. Collins
Issued: Apr. 11, 1922
An illuminating apparatus, the combination of a lens, a prism located in front of the lens, and a rotary lamp located in rear of the lens and in line with the lens and prism, and having a filament stretch arranged to intersect a line extending through the lens and prism.
U.S. Pat. Number 2,341,223
Inventor: William Lillie
Issued: U.S. Pat. No. 2,341,223
Apparatus of the character described, comprising a casing consisting of complementary half portions, a cover mounter over one end of the casing, being fitted over said half portions to aid in holding them closed, a sleeve fitted upon said half portions at the other end of the casing also aiding in holding said half portions closed, cheek members projecting forwardly of the sleeve and providing a bearing crosswise of the axis of the casing, a glass prism axially supported by said cheek members across the adjacent end of the casing, and means contained by the casing directing a light beam onto the prism for projection through the prism and away from the casing as spectrum rays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,297
Inventor: Gebhard Kuhn et al.
Issued: Jul. 22, 1980
The invention is in concern of an arrangement for producing artificial rainbows, particularly for use in planetaria, in which a bundle of light emitted from a light source and directed through an aperture upon a prism is dispersed by the latter and reflected at a cylindrical reflector. Due to the reflection at the cylindrical reflector the projected light bundle is of a rainbow shape, the radius thereof depends on the position of the cylindrical reflector relative to the prism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,055
Inventor: Akira Arai
Issued: Dec. 10, 1985
The present invention relates to a rainbow image projector adapted to project a vivid rainbow image from a relatively small light source onto walls of a stage, a store, places for various parties, and like. Specifically, light rays emitted from the linear incandescent light source are converted by a cylindrical condenser lens into parallel light rays which are, in turn, obliquely incident on a triangular prism over whole area of its first refraction plane. Thus, it is possible to project a vivid rainbow image of a large curvature radius from the small light source of small power consumption and heat generation. A housing containing therein said linear light source, cylindrical condenser lens and prism and provided with a projection window is inclination-adjustably mounted an inclination adjustment screw on a support leg so that a direction in which the rainbow image is projected may be variable. Said housing further comprises a blower for cooling contained therein and has a rear cover for exchange of the light source so that a useful life of the light source may be prolonged and maintenance and/or checking thereof may be easily done.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,402
Inventor: Carlton R. Tiffany
Issued: Jul. 21, 1987
A method and means for projecting a secondary rainbow of natural configuration comprising an arcuate prism of greater than about 180 degrees of arc and optionally an arcuate prism orienting means. The primary and secondary refractive surfaces of arcuate prism are oriented such that they meet along the edge of said arcuate prism closest to that point at the center of said arc. The angle formed by the primary and secondary refractive surfaces of said arcuate prism is from about 25 degrees to about 75 degrees, the “active range.” When the prism is of polymethyl methacrylate (such as Lucite) the refractive surfaces subtend an angle of greater than about 35 degree and less than about 65 degrees, the “particular active range.” Prisms within the active range provide for the projection of a secondary rainbow of natural configuration when a light course of generally parallel rays of light is oriented at a position from less than about 30 degrees from perpendicular relative to a plane through the interior edge of the prism. Prism materials of high indices of refraction will project secondary rainbows from a point where incident light forms an angle of less than about 30 degrees. This constitutes the maximum effective angular range.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,866
Inventor: Kei Mori
Issued: Jul. 18, 1989
A rainbow-creating device comprises optical conductors through which light rays consisting of visible light ray components are transmitted. A lens is placed opposite the respective light-emitting ends of the optical conductors for converting the light rays emitted from them to parallel light rays. Prisms are placed for receiving the parallel light rays from the lens and for effecting the spectroscopic separation of the parallel light rays.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,955,975
Inventor: Kei Mori
Issued: Sep. 11, 1990
A rainbow forming device includes a light guide for transmitting visible light therethrough and a prism having a cross-section of a substantially equilateral triangle for splitting the light into a series of colors of the spectrum to form a rainbow. A light-emitting end of the light guide is set with its axis perpendicular to the prism's first edge. The visible light emitted from the light guide's end passes through the prism along the path from prism's first vertex including
Kroll Michael I.
Tso Laura K.
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