JPH0317902A - Decorative illumination apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate a virtual image of a light source so as to increase a sense of unexpectedness by floating a translucent hollow container on a translucent liquid filled in a translucent container, by irradiating the hollow container with a light source via the translucent container and the liquid, and by forming the part opposed to the light source of the hollow container almost in a spherical surface. CONSTITUTION:A translucent container 1 made of glass and so on is filled with water 2, on which an almost spherical shape hollow container 3 made of glass is floated, which is irradiated by a light source 4 arranged below the translucent container 1. As a critical angle when the light irradiated on the hollow container 3 is passing from the glass of the hollow container 3 to the atmosphere in the hollow container 3, becomes narrow, total reflection is apt to occur in the inner surface of the hollow container 3. The most part of the light irradiated from the light source 4 below the hollow container 3 undergoes total reflection on the spherical surface of the hollow container 3, and is irradiated to the side of the translucent container 1. A virtual image is formed by the light source 4 in the hollow container 3, which looks as if it is a light source, and a sense of unexpectedness is thus increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to decorative lighting equipment. [Prior Art] Various types of decorative lighting equipment are known, but -
There are many types of Jn where you can enjoy the movement of light and the changes in color within the decorative lighting fixtures. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, there are not many decorative lighting fixtures that enjoy the unexpectedness of a virtual image of a light source.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned background, and its purpose is to provide a decorative lighting fixture that increases surprise by creating a virtual image of a light source.

(Means for solving i!IB) The decorative lighting equipment according to the present invention has a transparent hollow container floating in a transparent liquid contained in a transparent container, A light source disposed outside illuminates the hollow container through the translucent container and the liquid, and the portion of the hollow container facing the light source has a substantially spherical surface.

In this decorative lighting fixture, the light source may be built into a non-light-transmitting base having a light-transmitting opening on the top surface, and a light-transmitting container may be placed in each of the 2874 units.

Further, in this decorative lighting fixture, the light source may independently control each of the three primary colors of light.

Furthermore, this decorative lighting fixture may also include a rocking device that rocks the liquid and the hollow container. [Function] According to the present invention, a virtual image of the light source is formed inside the hollow container by the light totally reflected on the inner surface of the hollow container, so that it appears as if the hollow container is the light source.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view illustrating the principle of the present invention, and this decorative lighting equipment has water 2 inside a translucent container 1 made of glass or the like.
A hollow container 3 made of glass and having a substantially spherical shape is floated on water 2, and the hollow container 3 is irradiated with a light source 4 placed under the translucent container 1. There is water in the path of the light from the light source 4.
There are glass and air, each of which has a refractive index of 1.
33, glass is 1.5, and air is 1.0. Generally, it is well known that when light tries to pass from a substance with a large refractive index to a substance with a small refractive index, the angle of total reflection becomes small. The critical angle when the light tries to pass from the glass of the hollow container 3 to the air inside the hollow container 3 is small, making it easy for total reflection to occur on the inner surface of the hollow container 3. Therefore, most of the light emitted from the light source 4 below the hollow container 3 is totally reflected by the spherical surface of the hollow container 3 and is irradiated to the side of the translucent container 1.

When this decorative lighting fixture is viewed from the side of the translucent container l, the light totally reflected by the spherical surface of the hollow container 3 forms a virtual image as a bright spot inside the hollow container 3, as if the light source were NB or an empty hollow. It looks as if it is inside H3 and gives a surprising feeling.

2 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical transparent container l made of glass is filled with water 2, A translucent hollow container 3 whose buoyancy is adjusted to balance in the water is floated in water inside the translucent container 1, and a light source having three primary colors of light and an automatic dimmer that independently adjusts the intensity of each of the three primary colors are built-in. The translucent container 1 is placed on a base 6 having a translucent opening 5 on its upper surface. By changing the color of the light source, it gives an even greater sense of surprise. In this decorative lighting fixture, the translucent container 1 and the base 6 are structured as shown in Fig. 3, so it may also be a spherical translucent container l as shown in Fig. Alternatively, the color of the hollow container 30 within the translucent container 1 may be changed. FIGS. 5 to 7 show hollow containers according to other embodiments of the present invention, in which a substantially spherical surface is provided on the side facing the light source in order to obtain a virtual image of the light source. It is also possible to change the color of the light source. Furthermore, by providing a t1 movement device for raising the translucent container 1 by #8, it is possible to shake the water 2 and the hollow container 3 to cause a change in the shadow of the light reflected on the ceiling surface etc. by the transmitted light.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show different examples of application of the present invention.

The device shown in FIG. 8 is applied to underwater lighting, and since the light source 4 is not underwater, it is safe without the risk of electric shock, and maintenance work such as lamp replacement is easy.

The device shown in FIG. 9 is applied to a wall-mounted lighting fixture, in which a translucent container 1 is attached to a glass panel 7 and light is emitted from a light source 4 disposed below. In this device, transmitted light is reflected onto the ceiling surface, and the shadow changes depending on the movement of the hollow container 3 and water 2.

Note that water 2 may be replaced with another suitable liquid.

[Effects of the Invention] Since the present invention is configured as described above, it produces the following effects.

In the decorative lighting fixture of claim (1), it appears as if there is a light source inside the hollow container, and a surprising decorative lighting fixture can be provided with simple precautions.

The decorative lighting device according to claim (2) has a simple structure.

In the decorative lighting fixture according to claim (3), further light effects can be produced by changing the color.

In the decorative lighting fixture of claim (4), it is also possible to perform light production by changing the shadow of transmitted light.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional front view illustrating the principle of the present invention. Figures 2 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 2 being a perspective view, Figure 3 being a perspective view in a separated state, and Figure 4 being a front view of another translucent container. It is. 5 to 7 are cross-sectional front views showing hollow containers of other different embodiments of the present invention. FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing different lighting fixtures to which the present invention is applied. Light source, 5...-Translucent aperture, 6--One base, glass panel

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A transparent hollow container is floated on a transparent liquid contained in a transparent container, and a light source placed outside the transparent container is used to illuminate the light through the transparent container and the liquid. A decorative lighting device that illuminates the hollow container, and characterized in that a portion of the hollow container facing the light source has a substantially spherical surface. (2) The decorative lighting according to claim (1), wherein the light source is built into a non-transparent base having a transparent opening on the top surface, and a transparent container is placed on the base. utensils. (3) The decorative lighting fixture according to claim (1) or (2), wherein the light source independently modulates each of the three primary colors of light. (4) The decorative lighting fixture according to claim (1), (2) or (3), further comprising a rocking device for rocking the liquid and the hollow container.