GB2398179A

GB2398179A - An ionizing lamp which heats halite to produce negative ions

Info

Publication number: GB2398179A
Application number: GB0302954A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shaman Emrys; Sarah Katherine Jefferys-Emrys
Original assignee: BLUE PERSON Ltd
Current assignee: BLUE PERSON Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-08
Filing date: 2003-02-08
Publication date: 2004-08-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-02-08
Also published as: GB0302954D0; GB2398179B

Abstract

An ionizing lamp assembly comprising a container 1 in which numerous crystals or pieces of halite, i.e. rock salt or sodium chloride (NaCl), 4 are contained above or surrounding a heating/lighting source 3, and a housing 2 for said heat/light source 3. The lamp assembly can be left uncovered (see figures 2 and 3), or be covered with a lid 5 constructed in a way that allows the passage of ions produced by the heating of the crystals when the heat/light source is activated. The heat/light source 3 may comprise at least one electric light bulb, LED, candle, or any other type of lamp or flame producing device. The assembly may also comprise a colour filter mechanism to alter the color of the light passing through the body of the assembly.

Description

2398 1 79 An ioniser.

This invention relates to lamps of the type which heat halite to produce ions.

Halite is a colourless or white material made up predominately of sodium chloride (NACL) which occurs in cubic crystals and is found in dried lake beds and arid climates and which is used as common table salt. Halite is also known as rock salt and is mined commercially in Poland and Pakistan. Translucent halite often has impurities in the form of natural trace elements such as hematite, manganese, iodine, copper, iron and zinc which colour the halite in hues such as orange, rose, and red. It has been shown that when halite is heated an excess of negative ions are produced on the surface of the crystal which pass into in the atmosphere around the crystal. It has also been shown that a negatively ionised atmosphere in an enclosed space such as a room will reduce dust and the bacterial count in the air in that space. It has also been shown that some asthmatics or people with allergies to dust, pollen or dust born mites and the like can benefit from being in such an environment with a reduced allergen count. Halite crystals have been used in the past for various types of salt sculptures and have also been used as sculptured lights by the addition of an internal light source.

The principle behind such lamps is well known, for example: US6270720 uses the principle to produce ions to carry an antibacterial agent coated on the surface of a sculpted rock crystal lamp, but existing examples suffer from the disadvantage that the surface area where the ions are generated is relatively small in relation to the volume of salt crystal, and that because the heating/lighting element is encased inside a single or relatively large piece of rock salt crystal as shown in DE3237152, few ions are released until the entire block is heated to ion-producing temperature which, in the case of a sizeable block, can take considerable time and use a large amount of energy. An attempt was made with DE19929129 to overcome this problem and also another defect of existing salt-block lamps, namely that the amount of light passing through the rock crystal diminishes in direct proportion to the thickness ofthe rock crystal relative to a given luminosity ofthe light source, by producing a hollow mushroom shaped lamp with the heat/light source inside it, but the resulting device is still made from two relatively large pieces of halite and so still suffers from the aforementioned disadvantages.

An object of this invention is to increase the surface area ofthe rock salt available for ion production.

Another object ofthis invention is to create an aesthetically pleasing lamp that is more efficient in passing light from the internal light source to the exterior ofthe lamp.

Another object of this invention is to start ion production more quickly than existing Iomsmg lamps.

Another object ofthis invention is to use less energy than existing ionising lamps before ion production begins.

Accordingb, this invention provides a container in which numerous small crystals of rock salt (halite) are contained, above or surrounding a heat/light source. This facilitates the passage of heated air between the said crystals, the conduction of heat to said crystals via the material of the said container, and the quicker production of ions because each small crystal heats to ion-producing temperature much more quickly than a single large block of halite, and more useful light is given offby the invention than lamps with an identical volume of solid halite with an identical light source because the volume of halite in the said container is less dense than an identical volume of solid halite crystal and contains gaps through which light can pass relatively unimpeded. The container can be left uncovered or be covered with a lid constructed in a way that allows the passage of ions produced by the said heated crystals.

The invention can be made of any suitable material or combination of materials.

The invention can use any suitable source of light and heat, for example electric light bulbs, or candles. In an embodiment using candles as a heat/light source suitable ventilation holes would be provided in the structure.

A preferred embodiment ofthe invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1 shows a cross section of the invention in which the principle parts ofthe invention are shown In site; Fig 2 shows the same cross section with a variation in the shape of the invention to illustrate the diverse range of shapes the invention may have while still embodying the principles ofthe invention; Fig 3 shows a cross section of another embodiment ofthe invention further showing the diverse ways in which the invention may be embodied.

With reference to Figures 1 & 2: A transparent or translucent container ( I) which may, for example, be made of glass, contains halite crystals (4) is positioned upon another container which may, for example, be made of ceramic material, in which a heat/light source (3) is housed which may, for example, be an electric light bulb or a plurality of electric light bulbs. To provide stability the base ofthe said container (1) might have a protuberance (6) moulded into its base that exactly fits the aperture at the top ofthe said light housing-container (2) in which it sits. The invention might have a perforated lid (5) as shown in Fig 1 only.

Light and heat from the electric light bulb (3) pass through the material structure ofthe invention by conduction, and also through the spaces between the halite crystals by convection. As a result the said halite crystals quickly become heated and start to emit ions. At the same time the said light being diffracted and diffused through the said halite crystals and the spaces between them and Me body ofthe invention creates a pleasing decorative effect. Further lighting effects can be obtained, for example, by the use of different coloured materials for the said container (1) or by using coloured light bulbs, or by using coloured filters or mechanisms to alter the colour or intensity ofthe light passing through the body ofthe invention.

With reference to figure 3: The said two containers (1) and (2) shown in Figs 1 & 2 might be made in one unit manufactured from, for example, glass, as shown in Fig 3 in which the halite crystals are placed in the upper cavity and the heat/lighting unit placed in the lower cavity in exactly the same way as in the aforementioned preferred embodiment shown in Figs 1 & 2. This embodiment ofthe invention works in exactly the same way as the aforementioned preferred embodiment and is included simply to show the possible diversity of manufactured forms that might be employed to embody the invention. However, the present invention is not to be considered limited to the forms shown which are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

Claims

Claims 1. An ionising lamp assembly comprising a source of ions in the

fonn of many halite crystals contained in a container above or surrounding a heat/light source, and a housing for the said headlight source;
2. An ionising lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat/light source includes an electric light bulb, a light emitting diode, or any other type of lamp, or a plurality thereof;
3. An ionising lamp assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light/heat source is a candle or any other type of flame producing device, or a plurality thereof;
4. An ionising lamp assembly according to claims 1 or 3 wherein ventilation holes are provided in the invention to facilitate the burning of a candle or other flame;
5. An ionising lamp assembly according to claims 1,2,3, or 4 wherein the halite crystals are contained in a container which is separate to the aforementioned heatAight source housing;
6. An ionising lamp assembly according to claims 1,2, 3, or 4 wherein the halite crystals are contained in a single container which has an integral space therein to house the heat/light unit;
7. An ionising lamp assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the assembly has a lid or covering manufactured in such a way as to allow the passage of ions through the said covering;
8. An ionising lamp assembly according to any preceding claim wherein there is a coloured filter mechanism or device to alter the colour ofthe light passing through the body ofthe invention;
9. An ionising lamp assembly according to any preceding claim wherein there is a mechanism or device to alter the intensity ofthe light passing through the body of the invention.