GB2031138A

GB2031138A - Light fitting

Info

Publication number: GB2031138A
Application number: GB7834884A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-08-29
Filing date: 1978-08-29
Publication date: 1980-04-16
Also published as: GB2031138B

Abstract

A decorative light fitting for overhead, wall or free standing mounting or for use as a table centre piece, has a number of light conducting members 22 extending through it from a surface to conduct light from a light source behind the surface. Coloured filters between the light source and the light conducting members are moved so as to produce illumination of varying colours from the members. The movement of the filters may be continuous or may be intermittent. The light conducting members may be enclosed by a transparent or translucent dome 20 and are preferably irregular solids. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Light fitting The present invention relates to a light fitting, such as a domestic light fitting, providing a decorative feature in addition to modifying the output from a light source.

According to the present invention there is provided a decorative light fitting comprising a surface defining member; a light source mounted on an axis substantially normal to the surface; a plurality of light conducting members extending through or from the surface defining member, the ends thereof being exposed to the light source for conduction of light therefrom; a filter support having thereon filters of at least two different colours and being interposed between the source and the light conducting members; and filter drive means, whereby light passing from the source to each of the light conducting members through the filters subjected to time-varying colour filtration.

Preferably a transparent or translucent dome is mounted on the surface defining member so as to enclose the light conducting members.

The surface defining member may have side walls attached thereto surrounding the light source.

Filters may be mounted for movement relative to the filter support, and in a preferred embodiment there is a friction pad arranged to contact such filters to provide such relative movement intermittently.

The light conducting members are preferably irregular solids.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the underside of an overhead light fitting, according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the fitting shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an upward perspective view of the fitting shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the fitting of Fig.

1, showing the internal arrangement; and Figure 6 is a view of part of Fig. 5, showing the filter drive arrangement in greater detail.

An overhead light fitting 10 as shown in the figures has side members 12, spaced from side walls 14 by spacers 16, 17.

Mounted between the side walls 1 4 is a surface defining member 1 8 having a dome 20 with a surface which is part of the surface of a sphere, fixed centrally thereto. Within the dome 20 are prismatic blocks 22 which form light conducting members, fixed to the surface defining member 1 8. In the corners of the member 1 8 are tubes 24, extending through the member 1 8 to allow the passage of air for ventilation.

Between the side walls 1 4 are hangers 26, fixed to the spacers 16, 17, by which the fitting 10 may be suspended, and supports 28 for a light source 30, such as lamp bulbs.

Also between the side walls 1 4 is a motor/ gearbox drive assembly 32 supporting a filter support 34 for rotational movement thereof.

Mounted on the filter support 34 for rotation with respect thereto are filter discs 36.

In the embodiment shown, see Fig. 6, an arm 38, has at one end a friction pad 40, which is biased by a spring 42 acting about a pivot 44, to bear on the edge of the filter support 34. The filter discs 36 overlap the edge of the filter support 34, and as the filter support 34 rotates, the pad 40 engages the overlapping portion of a disc 36 and causes the disc 36 to rotate through an angle defined by the overlap of the disc 36, in the opposite direction to the rotation of the support 34.

The filter discs 36 are divided segmentally into various colours, and thus due to the rotation of the filter support 34 and the filter discs 36, the light falling on the blocks 22 for conduction therethrough is subjected to filtration of different colours, which filtration varies with time, and is different for different block 22.

While the description is of an overhead light fitting, a similar construction may be used for a wall-mounted fitting or an inverted fitting, such as may be used for a table-centre piece or a free standing light source.

The materials used for the side members 12, the side walls 14, the member 1 8 and the dome 20 may be selected from translucent or transparent materials. In a preferred embodiment the side members 12, the side walls 14 and the member 1 8 are formed from translucent plastics sheet, and the dome 20 is formed from transparent plastics sheet. This in addition to the coloured light conducted through the blocks 22, while light is radiated from the side members 12, the side walls 14 and the member 1 8.

The light source 30, as an alternative to bulbs, may be fluorescent lamps, and may be pulsed.

The blocks 22 may be transparent or translucent, and may be regular or random shapes.

The filter discs 36 may be of different colours and in addition or alternatively the filter support 34 may carry further filters fixed thereto. The filters may be arranged to overlap over all or part of their movement.

Alternative filter drive means may be used, for example, each filter disc 36 may be driven by a separate motor or by gear reduction from the motor/gearbox drive assembly 32. The motor or motors may be continuously or intermittently powered.

The tubes 24 may be omitted and alternative means of ventilation provided if required.

The shape formed by the side walls 1 4 may be other than square, and the dome 20 may be other than hemispherical, and may be omitted.

The side members 1 2 may be of a variety of shapes or may be omitted.

The surface defining member 1 4 may be recessed in a surface such as a wall or ceiling, and the side walls 14 will then be unnecessary.

The light fitting is suitable for a decorative feature in an office, or other building in addition to domestic use.

CLAIMS (17 Aug 1979) 1. A light fitting comprising a surface defining member; a light source mounted on an axis substantially normal to the surface; a plurality of light conducting members extending through or from the surface defining member, the ends thereof being exposed to the light source for conduction of light therefrom; a filter support having thereon filters of at least two different colours and being interposed between the source and the light conducting members; and filter drive means, whereby light passing from the source to each of the light conducting members through the filter is subjected to time-varying colour filtration.

2. A light fitting as claimed in Claim 1 including a transparent or translucent dome mounted on the surface defining member so as to enclose the light conducting members.

3. A light fitting as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the surface defining member has side walls attached thereto surrounding the light source.

4. A light fitting as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the filters are mounted for movement relative to the filter support.

5. A light fitting as claimed in any preceding Claim having a friction pad arranged to contact the filters to produce intermittent filter movement.

6. A light fitting as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the light conducting members are irregular solids.

7. A light fitting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

CLAIMS (7 Nov 1979) 1. A light fitting comprising a surface defining member; a light source mounted on an axis substantially normal to the surface; a plurality of rigid light conducting members extending through or from the surface defining member, the ends thereof being exposed to the light source for conduction of light therefrom; a filter support having thereon filters of at least two different colours and being interposed between the source and the light conducting members; and filter drive means, whereby light passing from the source to each of the light conducting members through the filter is subjected to time-varying colour filtration.

5. A light fitting as claimed in any preceding Claim having a friction pad arranged for intermittent contact with the driven filters to produce intermittent relative filter movement.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The shape formed by the side walls 1 4 may be other than square, and the dome 20 may be other than hemispherical, and may be omitted. The side members 1 2 may be of a variety of shapes or may be omitted. The surface defining member 1 4 may be recessed in a surface such as a wall or ceiling, and the side walls 14 will then be unnecessary. The light fitting is suitable for a decorative feature in an office, or other building in addition to domestic use. CLAIMS (17 Aug 1979)

1. A light fitting comprising a surface defining member; a light source mounted on an axis substantially normal to the surface; a plurality of light conducting members extending through or from the surface defining member, the ends thereof being exposed to the light source for conduction of light therefrom; a filter support having thereon filters of at least two different colours and being interposed between the source and the light conducting members; and filter drive means, whereby light passing from the source to each of the light conducting members through the filter is subjected to time-varying colour filtration.

CLAIMS (7 Nov 1979)

1. A light fitting comprising a surface defining member; a light source mounted on an axis substantially normal to the surface; a plurality of rigid light conducting members extending through or from the surface defining member, the ends thereof being exposed to the light source for conduction of light therefrom; a filter support having thereon filters of at least two different colours and being interposed between the source and the light conducting members; and filter drive means, whereby light passing from the source to each of the light conducting members through the filter is subjected to time-varying colour filtration.