GB2354533A - Floor panel - Google Patents

Floor panel Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2354533A
GB2354533A GB0011362A GB0011362A GB2354533A GB 2354533 A GB2354533 A GB 2354533A GB 0011362 A GB0011362 A GB 0011362A GB 0011362 A GB0011362 A GB 0011362A GB 2354533 A GB2354533 A GB 2354533A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
sheet
lighting panel
floor
glass
plastics material
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0011362A
Other versions
GB0011362D0 (en
GB2354533B (en
Inventor
Michael Gulvin Russell
Michelle Evelyn Russell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB0011362D0 publication Critical patent/GB0011362D0/en
Priority to EP00960875A priority Critical patent/EP1131514A1/en
Priority to AU73035/00A priority patent/AU7303500A/en
Priority to US09/856,563 priority patent/US6732478B1/en
Priority to PCT/GB2000/003638 priority patent/WO2001021909A1/en
Publication of GB2354533A publication Critical patent/GB2354533A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2354533B publication Critical patent/GB2354533B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
    • G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
    • G02B6/004—Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles
    • G02B6/0043—Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles provided on the surface of the light guide
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
    • E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
    • E04B5/14—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units with beams or girders laid in two directions
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
    • E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
    • E04B5/46—Special adaptation of floors for transmission of light, e.g. by inserts of glass
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/024—Sectional false floors, e.g. computer floors
    • E04F15/02405—Floor panels
    • E04F15/02417—Floor panels made of box-like elements
    • E04F15/02423—Floor panels made of box-like elements filled with core material
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0075—Arrangements of multiple light guides
    • G02B6/0078—Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
    • G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
    • G02B6/0081—Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
    • G02B6/0093—Means for protecting the light guide
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F19/00—Advertising or display means not otherwise provided for
    • G09F19/22—Advertising or display means on roads, walls or similar surfaces, e.g. illuminated
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04—BUILDING
    • E04F—FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS
    • E04F15/00—Flooring
    • E04F15/02—Flooring or floor layers composed of a number of similar elements
    • E04F15/02044—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer
    • E04F2015/02105—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer without load-supporting elongated furring elements between the flooring elements and the underlayer
    • E04F2015/02127—Separate elements for fastening to an underlayer without load-supporting elongated furring elements between the flooring elements and the underlayer adjustable perpendicular to the underlayer

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
  • Marketing (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

A light transmission floor panel 1 (e.g. for supporting and lighting a motor vehicle for display) has a glass sheet 7 mounted on a plastic sheet 5 and overlapping the edge of the plastics sheet. This allows a light source 8 to provide edge lighting of the sheet 5. As shown, the panel also comprises a second plastics sheet 6 and a base member in the form of a rectangular frame 2 which supports a support structure. The support structure comprises rectangular struts 3A and diagonal struts 3B. Mounted on the support structure is a reflective layer 4, first plastics sheet 5, second plastics sheet 6, and glass sheet 7. A floor may be formed by placing a number of panels 1 together, and the floor panels may be mounted on a matrix of beams (22, Figure 3) which are themselves mounted on height adjustable pedestals (24, Figure 2).

Description

2354533 Lighting Panel The present invention relates to a lighting panel
particularly for flooring.
Illuminated flooring panels are sometimes used e.g. at exhibitions, where it is desired to illuminate an object being displayed from underneath. Because such panels are also required to support the weight of people and in some cases heavy objects, such as a motor vehicle displayed at a motor vehicle exhibition, the panels have to be strong as well as transmit light. Known panels are provided by very thick (e.g. around 30 cm) panels of glass mounted on a floor fi-ame, with lights under the glass. The thickness of the glass is required to give sufficient strength, but the weight of the glass makes these panels very heavy to transport and assemble. Also the lights underneath make the light intensity non-uniform over each panel.
The invention seeks to provide a lighting panel such as a flooring panel which avoids the above disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a lighting panel comprising a sheet of plastic material and a sheet of glass mounted on and supported by said sheet of plastics material, and overlapping it on at least one edge.
Preferably the sheet of plastics material is supported in a base member. Preferably the base member includes a support structure to support the sheet of plastics material. The base member may be a rectangular fi-ame, and the support structure may be struts extending generally diagonally across comers of the frame and may also be parallel to the edges of the frame. The comers of the frame may include adjustable feet to level the frame relative to a floor on which it is sitting. Alternatively the support structure may be sheets of wood, such as plywood, in the base member.
In one embodiment the sheet of glass overlaps the sheet of plastics material on at least one edge, said light source/s being provided under the overlap between the edge of the sheet of plastics material and the frame. Preferably a second transparent or translucent sheet of plastic material is provided between the first sheet and said glass to give additional support to the glass under the overlap.
The sheet of plastics material may be an acrylic sheet. The acrylic sheet may have an ink dot coating on its surface to emit light from the light source edge lighting the sheet. The acrylic sheet may be of the type sold under the Trade Mark Prismex sold by ICL A reflective layer may be provided under the sheet of plastics.
The surface of the glass may be treated to provide a non-slip surface and /or to diffuse light. The surface of the glass may be treated by shot blasting the surface.
The invention also extends to a floor produced by assembling two or more floor panels as defined above together.
An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. I is a perspective view, partly in section, of a first embodiment of a flooring panel according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a raised floor, partly cut away, made from a second embodiment of panels according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of part of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a raised floor made from a panels according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
Referring now to Fig. I of the drawings, there is shown a flooring panel 1. Panel I has a base member in the form of an outer rectangular frame 2 which is L- shaped in cross section providing a vertical edge 2A and a horizontal base 2B. Frame 2 is made of a light weight material, in this embodiment aluminium, and the aluminium is anodised to improve, inter alia, its aesthetic appearance.
Supported on the horizontal base 2B is a support structure in the form of rectangular struts 3A parallel to and spaced from the vertical edges 2A with additional struts 3B extending diagonally across the rectangular struts and generally diagonally across the comers of the frame 2. Struts 3A, 3B are also made of a light weight material such as aluminium.
Mounted on the support structure is a reflective layer 4, a sheet of plastics material in the fon-n of a first sheet 5 of acrylic such as PRISMEX ("PRISME)C) is a Registered Trade Mark) on the upper surface of which is provided ink dots, a second thinner plastics sheet 6 of transparent acrylic, and a sheet of glass 7 on the second sheet 6.
Along one edge of the frame (as shown in the cross-section on the right) the sheet 7 of glass and the second sheet 6 of acrylic overlaps the first acrylic sheet 5. A light source in the form of a fluorescent tube light 8 is provided under the overlap between the edge of the first acrylic sheet 5 and the frame vertical edge 3A. The light 8 provides horizontal edge lighting to the first acrylic sheet 5.
In use the light 8 emits light into the first acrylic sheet 5, which light emerges substantially uniformly through the upper surface through the ink dots, passes through the second acrylic sheet 6 and the glass sheet 7.
Because the glass sheet is supported by the first and second acrylic sheets 5 and 6, and the support structure, the glass sheet can be relatively thin, e.g. around 20mm., and yet still support heavy weights. The second acrylic sheet provides support for the glass sheet in the region of the overlap above light 8, and it can be relatively thin.
The panel of Fig. 1 may have adjustable feet or pedestals (not shown) on the comers of the frame 2 to level the frame relative to a floor on which it is sitting.
It is envisaged that the panel of the invention is particularly usefiil for under lighting objects such as at an exhibition. The panel can be made in any desired size. Also two or more panels can be placed together to create a large illuminated floor area.
The invention thus extends to a floor produced by assembling two or more floor panels as described above together. In this respect the edges of the frame 2 may include connecting means so that two edges of separate frames can be joined together. 5 Referring now to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a raised floor made up of panels 20, according to a second embodiment of the invention, supported on a matrix of beams 22 supported by pedestals 24. The beams 22 are preferably made of steel or aluminium. As best seen in Fig. 3, the panels 20 are similar to those of Fig. 1, the same reference numerals being used to denote the same parts in the two Figs. The main differences are that the struts 3A and 3B have been omitted and that the horizontal base 2B of the fi-ame 2 abuts the bottom of the first acrylic sheet 5. In addition, a reflector 25 consisting of an aluminium sheet is located beneath the acrylic sheet 5. Also the top sheet 7 extends over the top vertical edge 2A of the frame to secure in position there one of two types of gasket. The gasket 26 on the panel 20L is a simple compression gasket sealing the light chamber 8, while the gasket 28 in the panel 20R has in addition a sealing lip 30 which extends into the gap between the two panels. The panel 20L has the gaskets 26 on its four edges while the panel 20R has the gaskets 28 on its four edges, and the overall floor has alternate panels 20L and 20R.
The panels 20 rest on the matrix of beams 22 which are in turn mounted on platforms at the top of the pedestals 24, and it is preferred that interengaging means, such as pins and holes, be provided between the beams 22 and both the panels 20 and the pedestals 24. The pedestals 24 are height adjustable and the beams 22 incorporate spirit levels or other visible leveling means thus enabling the simple fabrication of the beams in a horizontal plane.
VAiile as illustrated in Fig. 2 the beams are half the side length of the panels, they could be longer or shorter as desired, and similarly the number and spacing of the pedestals can be altered to give a flexible and easily adjustable support structure for the panels 20.
Because the panels of the invention use a relatively thin layer of glass (as any loading on the glass is distributed over the plastics sheet) as well as a light weight frame and support structure, the panels are relatively easy to transport and assemble compared to panels hitherto known where thick glass is required in order to obtain the desired strength. Also the edge lighting of the first acrylic layer gives a more uniform distribution of light.
Modifications may be made to the embodiments described. The surface of the glass sheet 7, which may be a laminated sheet, may be treated to provide a non- slip surface and /or to diff-use light. For example, the surface of the glass may be treated by shot blasting. The glass sheet may be ordinary annealed glass.
Fixing points may be provided to enable objects on the floor to be secured in position, and the panels as hereinbefore described may include aggregate such as glass in order to provide non-slip properties or may be treated with an adhesive film or panel or epoxy coating. The support structure for the panels of Fig. I may be sheets of wood, such as plywood instead of struts 3A, 313. Also more than one light can be provided in a panel, e. g. along two opposing edges. Also the sheet of plastics material, light source and sheet of glass need not be supported in a base member. For example a sheet of plastics material, light source and sheet of glass could be positioned as a panel as a flooring panel adjacent other illuminated or non-illuminated panels of a flooring system, e.g. an exhibition flooring system.
Instead of fluorescent lights other light sources such as light emitting diodes may be used, and indeed several light sources may be provided to allow for colour changes or patterns. In more complex situations the light source may project an image.
The lighting panel of the invention may be used for purposes other than flooring, e.g as a shelf in a display case to under light and support an object.
A reflector system may be provided around the light source to increase the overall light output and uniformity. This reflector system may consist of two parts, an upper and a lower section. The lower section is formed around the lamp while the upper section is supported by the lower. The upper section is formed so as to reflect light transmitted from the opposing light source through the glass top panel, so as to provide the effect of continuous illumination across the panel from edge to edge, thereby disguising the light source.
Fig. 4 shows a floor supported on beams 22 which are in turn supported on pedestals 24, the floor being made up from panels 42. Each panel 42 consists of four layers which are, from bottom to top, a reflective layer 44, a light emitting acrylic sheet 46, a thinner plastics sheet 48 and a sheet of glass 50. The top sheet of glass 50 overhangs the other three sheets on at least two sides of the panel 42 so that when two panels 42 are placed side by side the abutting edges of the sheets 50, preferably with a sealing gasket between them, defines a space in which is located a lamp 54. In this way each lamp 54 illuminates both of the panels between which it is located and this illumination is enhanced by upper and lower reflectors 56 and 58 respectively located above and below the lamp 54.
The gasket 52 is preferably attached to one of the panels, that panel also having at least one other gasket attached to one of its other sides.

Claims (19)

1. A lighting panel comprising a sheet of plastics material and a sheet of glass mounted on said sheet of plastics material, and overlapping it on at least one edge.
2. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 1, in which the sheet of plastics material is supported in a base member.
3. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 2, in which the base member includes a support structure to support the sheet of plastics material.
4. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 3, in which the base member is a rectangular frame, and the support structure comprises struts extending generally diagonally across comers of the frame.
5. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 4, in which the struts are also parallel to the edges of the frame.
6. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which the comers of the fi-ame include adjustable feet to level the fi-ame relative to a floor on which it is sitting.
7. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, in which the support structure is sheets of wood, such as plywood, in the base member.
8. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a light source is provided under the overlap at the edge of the sheet of plastics material
9. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a second transparent or translucent sheet of plastic material is provided between the first sheet and said glass to give additional support to the glass under the overlap.
10 10. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each sheet of plastics material is an acrylic sheet.
11. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the first acrylic sheet 15 has an ink dot coating on its surface to emit light from the light source edge lighting the sheet.
12. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a reflective layer is provided under the first sheet of plastics material. 20
13. A lighting panel as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the surface of the glass may be treated to provide a non-slip surface and /or to diff-use light.
14. A lighting panel as claimed in claim 13, in which the surface of the glass has been 25 treated by shot blasting the surface.
15. A floor produced by assembling together two or more floor panels as claimed in any preceding claim.
16. A floor as claimed in claim 15, in which the panels are supported on a matrix of beams.
17. A floor as claimed in claim 16, in which the beams include visible levelling means.
18. A floor as claimed in claim 17 or claim 17, in which the beams are supported on pedestals.
19. A floor as claimed in claim 18 in which the pedestals are height adjustable.
GB0011362A 1999-09-22 2000-05-12 Lighting panel Expired - Fee Related GB2354533B (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP00960875A EP1131514A1 (en) 1999-09-22 2000-09-22 Lighting panel
AU73035/00A AU7303500A (en) 1999-09-22 2000-09-22 Lighting panel
US09/856,563 US6732478B1 (en) 1999-09-22 2000-09-22 Lighting panel
PCT/GB2000/003638 WO2001021909A1 (en) 1999-09-22 2000-09-22 Lighting panel

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9922263.0A GB9922263D0 (en) 1999-09-22 1999-09-22 Lighting panel

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0011362D0 GB0011362D0 (en) 2000-06-28
GB2354533A true GB2354533A (en) 2001-03-28
GB2354533B GB2354533B (en) 2003-12-03

Family

ID=10861283

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9922263.0A Ceased GB9922263D0 (en) 1999-09-22 1999-09-22 Lighting panel
GB0011362A Expired - Fee Related GB2354533B (en) 1999-09-22 2000-05-12 Lighting panel

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9922263.0A Ceased GB9922263D0 (en) 1999-09-22 1999-09-22 Lighting panel

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB9922263D0 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2884026A1 (en) * 2005-04-05 2006-10-06 Oxo Sarl Image displaying device for e.g. dance floor, has light sources positioned such that illuminated zones are close to each another, where light from light sources is visible and contact zone is masked when sources enlighten diffusion unit
WO2007129214A1 (en) * 2006-05-10 2007-11-15 Fausto Barbisan Raised, supporting facing structure for covering floors, walls and similar and the like
US8894233B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2014-11-25 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Carpet back lighting system

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997018363A1 (en) * 1995-11-15 1997-05-22 Innovative Building Products, Inc. Light transmitting roof/floor system

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5046826A (en) * 1987-09-19 1991-09-10 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Illuminator and display panel employing the illuminator

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1997018363A1 (en) * 1995-11-15 1997-05-22 Innovative Building Products, Inc. Light transmitting roof/floor system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2884026A1 (en) * 2005-04-05 2006-10-06 Oxo Sarl Image displaying device for e.g. dance floor, has light sources positioned such that illuminated zones are close to each another, where light from light sources is visible and contact zone is masked when sources enlighten diffusion unit
WO2006106194A1 (en) * 2005-04-05 2006-10-12 Oxo Screen supporting device provided with screen illuminating light sources
WO2007129214A1 (en) * 2006-05-10 2007-11-15 Fausto Barbisan Raised, supporting facing structure for covering floors, walls and similar and the like
US8894233B2 (en) 2009-02-10 2014-11-25 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Carpet back lighting system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0011362D0 (en) 2000-06-28
GB2354533B (en) 2003-12-03
GB9922263D0 (en) 1999-11-17

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Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20140512