Illumination – Light modifier – Translucent or opaque
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-09
2001-10-23
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light modifier
Translucent or opaque
C362S096000, C362S189000, C362S399000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305827
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a transportable lamp consisting of at least one lighting means which is received in a holding device, and to which voltage is admitted via a cable feed line, whereby an at least partly transparent lamp screen is arranged around the lighting means.
2. The Prior Art
Transportable lamps of said type are known as hand-held or standing lamps and are preferably used for temporarily lighting rooms or outdoor areas. Such lamps may be lamps with a low output or also lamps with up to 1000 watts or more output depending on the intended purpose of application. The more powerful lamps are preferably used outdoors for lighting, for example a construction site, locations where an accident or extensive damage occurred, or at sports events.
A lamp equipped with a balloon is known, for example from European patent application EP 0 834 693, in connection with which the balloon screen or shade is used for diffused scattering of the light, and an excess pressure is generated within the balloon shade by a compressor arranged on the inside. The balloon screen is initially tensioned due the excess pressure and the pressure in the balloon is measured by means of suitable pressure sensors. With adequate inside pressure, the lighting means is switched on or off via a safety circuit. It was found in the operation of such a lamp that the balloon screen can get very easily damaged depending on for which purpose the lamp is used, with cracks or holes being caused, for example by metal chips flying about in the construction industry, or by glowing ashes in fire fighting operations. Smaller holes or cracks in the textile balloon shade will not have any influence on the lighting; however, the pressure loss leads to premature shutoff of the lamp by the pressure difference sensor. Even smaller cracks and scores in the diffusion screen caused by regular packing, set-up and dismounting of the portable lamp lead to the fact that the final pressure required for switching on the lamp is no longer reached. The compressor arranged within the balloon screen is in fact capable of compensating a minor loss of pressure; however, the safety difference pressure switch leads to untimely shutoff of the lamp, as a rule. Such lamps, therefore, can be used only conditionally or not at all in certain work areas.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem of the present invention is to provide a transportable lamp of the type specified above that avoids the known drawbacks and, furthermore, assures its continuous and reliable function.
For solving the problem according to the invention, provision is made that the holding device is designed in the form of a bar and surrounded by the lamp screen at least partly, whereby the lamp screen is supported by movable tensioning means which, in their state of application, are spaced from the lighting means and abut the lamp screen along its curvature.
By using movably arranged tensioning means it is possible to reliably open the lamp screen, which extends at least partly around the holding device or, of course, may completely cover said holding device as well. The tensioning means employed are preferably arranged in this connection in such a way that in the operational state of the portable lamp, they are spaced from the lighting means and abut the lamp screen along its curvature after the screen has been opened. After the portable lamp has been used, the tensioning means can be relieved for the further transport of the lamp, so that the balloon screen collapses within itself and the material used for the lamp screen can be folded together. This results in a handy cylindrical shape of the transportable lamp, which can be stored or transported in the smallest of space. For said reason, such a transportable lamp is particularly well suited for use by fire fighting departments, technical emergency services or other mobile units. The lamp, furthermore, is characterized by a lighting means with high light intensity, so that the preferred field of application of the lamp is outdoors, for sports or cultural events, in connection with accidents or natural catastrophes, or for nighttime work operations. Lighting means in the form of halogen or metal vapor lamps with high light intensity are preferably employed for said lamps, whereby a non-glaring and diffuse light is produced. Furthermore, an adequate large spacing from the lighting means is assured when the screen is open, whereby the radius of the lamp screen is predetermined by the tensioning means. Therefore, a safe and reliable operation of the lamp is achieved owing to the spring-tensioned lamp screen particularly because no monitoring of the pressure is required within the interior of the lamp screen.
It is possible, furthermore, to use the lamp in recovery and rescue operations; as a mobile tent lighting lamp, asia film or photo lamp, and possibly as a military lamp. The lamp is particularly suited for transport in a passenger motor vehicle because of its high portability.
In order to avoid a glaring effect, provision is made according to a first embodiment of the invention that the lamp shade consists of an ellipsoidal to spherical balloon cover, which completely surround the lighting means. By designing the lamp cover in the form of a completely closed balloon it is possible to use such a lamp, for example as a road construction site lighting device in road traffic without dazzling the passing traffic. Furthermore, glare is reduced in such a way that not only objects or persons are seen in the cone or beam of the light, but areas located behind the lamp can be inspected as well. This makes it possible, for example to see hand signs or the like made by persons.
According to a further development of the invention, provision is made that the balloon cover consists of two halves, of which the upper half preferably consists of a reflecting textile material, and the lower half of a transparent, for example translucent material, which assures downward concentration of the light.
Owing to the utilization of said materials, an absolutely glare-free diffuse light is produced even in connection with extremely intensive lighting means such as halogen or metal vapor lamps, which permits a person to directly look into the light without being dazzled. With the lamp as defined by the invention, a glare-free and low-shadow light with high light intensity is achieved for a portable, foldable lamp, such light having a quality as it has been possible to achieve heretofore only with stationary lamps with milk glass or otter diffusing materials. In addition to reducing glare, the light produced by the textile balloon cover also reduces the heavy shadow caused by the projection of objects onto backgrounds. Diffuse lighting conditions similar to daytime light are created, whereby said special properties lead to useful lighting of construction sites, locations where recovery or rescue operations are carried out, in movie production locations, and for other purposes, where high light intensity has to be produced with portable lighting equipment.
For the purpose of facilitating replacement of the lighting means, provision is made according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention that the two halves of the balloon cover are joined with each other, for example by means of a Velcro® closure, a strip of buttons, or a zipper. The Velcro® closure thus permits separation of the two halves of the balloon and access to the interior of the portable lamp, for example for replacing the lighting means. Moreover, the halves of the balloon cover can be combined in different ways, if need be, or the one or other half of the balloon cover can be replaced in case of damage without major problems.
According to a particular embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the tensioning means consists of a plurality of springs, for example spring steel wires, flat spring strip, fiber glass or carbon rods. The use of springs effects in a simple and effective manner safe opening of the balloon cover, which
Collard & Roe P.C.
Sember Thomas M.
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