US1793725A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 1931.

w. SYMMES L-IGHTING FIXTURE Fil ed June 8, 1928 INVENTOR.

QITTORNEY.

. Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED- ST TES PATENT OFFICE wmmm SYKIES, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB TO ANSON S. BLAKE,

OF BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA LIGHTING- FIXTURE Application filed June 8, 1928. Serial No 288,849. i

reflected upward again for illumination of the exterior of the fixture body, which otherwise would appear dark, and less attractive. One object of my'invention is to provide a lighting fixture having a body screen of pleasing form which can be more cheaply manufactured than those now in use, by cutting from sheet metal, and joining by soldering, brazing or spot welding instead of spinning to form, which is expensive, and prohibitive in cost for fixtures of large size.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lighting fixture havinga body screen which can be made in a variety of designs by cutting from sheet metal, and soldering,

, brazing, or welding to form, instead. of by stamping, which requires expensive dies, and thereby limits the variety of designs that-can be profitably produced.

Still another object of my inventionis to provide a lighting' 'fixture having an indirectly illuminated body screen of pleasing form which canbe made from sheet material in plane surfaces or surfaces bent in only one direction so that the same may be conveniently and economically decorated in colors by means of stencils, cut from sheet material and applied or similarly bent, or by means of flat castings or castings bent in only one 7 direction. 7

Still another object of my invention is to provide a more convenient method of assemamount of illumination without streaks or shadows by projecting the direct rays of light uniformly against the ceiling and side walls of a room as far down as a horizontal plane passing through the lamp, thus securing an effective illumination of the upper portion of theroom and preventing the direct rays from coming lower down and being seen by a person standing in the room, and by illuminating the lower portionof the room by diffusion to a maximum degree so as to secure a uniform blending of the portions of light at the line of intersection while pre- 1 venting any glare in the eyes of a person standing up and facing the fixture.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction; combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended tit. M d

teaccom an" rawin: Figure 1 is a view in side el vationwith parts broken away tomore clearly disclose the invention.

Figure2 is a horizontal. sectional view. A lamp 10, of any suitable construction, but preferably of that type having its-stem provided with an enameled covering which extends downwardly to the horizon of the lamp filament, is fitted in a socket 11 having a cover or hood 12, from which extends a pinrality of downwardly and outwardly flaring hanger rods or arms 13, 13. Supported at thelower ends of these arms 13 is a suspending band or-ring14. The band 14 is provided I on its inner surface with cars 15 for receiving the ends of two of the arms: 13. The

ends of these arms are bent at right angles, as

ears so as to have a' slip-joint connection therewithfor supporting the band .or ring therefrom. The other or remaining arm 13 is provided with a loop oreye 17 into which a screw 18 isreceived, which passes through the ring. or band 14.

With this construction the band 14 may be readily removed or applied to the lamps fix as ture by rotation relatively to the re will be readily understood. The band or ring 14 is preferably located around the base of the bulb of the lamp 10, and projects a suitable distance below the lamp. Mounted upon the band 14 and projecting upwardly therefrom is a body screen or reflecting shade 19, which may be of circular, polygonal or other suitable shape in horizontal section, but

which, in accordance with my invention, flares upwardly and outwardly between its lower and upper edges along straight lines, that is to say, is not curved in vertical section. This screen or shade is provided with an inner reflecting surface while its outer surface is preferably made non-reflecting and of such character as to give a pleasing effect. The object of the straight line flare of the shield is to cause the direct light rays from the lamp to be projected symmetrically and with a uniformity of efi'ulgence against the ceiling and side walls of a room without the streaks and'shadows produced by screens of curved form in vertical section. .The flare of the screen or shade may be uniform and continuous, but, in the present instance, I

have'shown a unitary double reflecting shade or screen com rising lower and upper halves or portions aring acutely to diflerent degrees, the upper portion or half to quite a pronounced degree greater than the lower portion or half, so that a wide spread of the light rays is obtained. Both portions of the shade or .screen, however, flare along straight lines for the purpose stated. The point of juncture'of these shade'or screen portions is, as shown, in-a horizontal plane close to and just below the horizon of the lamp filament, so that, with the fixture properly hung, the rays reflected more or less directly upward and to a certain degree outward by the lower frusto conical shade or screen portion of smaller size will be so disposed with relation to the rays projected upward and to a greater degree outwardby the upper frusto conical shade or screen portion of larger size that a uniform distribution of the direct rays against the ceiling and downupon the side walls to a level corresponding to the horizontal plane of the lamp will be obtained. While this-double frustoconical form of the shade or screen is preferred and is of great advantage in fixtures for use in medium and lar e sized rooms, I desire it understood that I 0 not limit the-invention thereto, as a frusto conical shade or screen body of uniform flare may be used without loss of .efliciency, particularly in fixtures for rooms of the smaller sizes, It is essential to my invention, however, whether the body consist of a single cone frustum or of two cone frus turns, that its walls flare upwardly and out wardly on straight lines in order to "secure the uniform distribution of the direct rays, without streaks or shadows, as hereinbefore set forth. 1 v

Supported from theshade or screen 19 and band 14 is a translucent light transmitting .member 20. The member 20 is preferably made in the form ofa shallow'bowlhaving '14, and the screen 19. Screws 21, 21 pass through the lower edges of the band or ring 14 and reflector 19 and engage the channeled neck or mouth of the reflector 20, for removably supporting it in poistion. This translucent member 20, by reason of its shallow form, will allow diffusion of a maximum amount of light from the lamp toward the floor for the purpose of illuminating the lower portion of the room without causing glare of the light into the eyes of a person standing in the room and looking toward the fixture. At the same time the shallow member 20 reflects the light upward into the body screen to reduce absor tion losses and secure a higher degree 0t direct ray illumination in the upper part of the room. As the member is of greater diameter than the base of the reflecting shade or screen the light rays-emanating from its peripherally projecting portion will strike the outer surface of the shade or screen and illuminate the same in a pleasing manner and prevent the exterior of the an annular skirting shield or band 22 isarranged about the member 20 and supported from the ring or band 14 by arms 23 engaging the screws 21. This band may be of ornamental type to give a pleasing marginal appearance about the margin of thebowl 20 and, when thefixture is hung low, will shield from the light the eyes of a person standing up and looking directly toward the rim of-the bowl.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides a novel form and arrangement of reflecting shade or screen for direct:

llO

ing the direct light rays uniformly, and without streaks or shadows, against the ceiling and upper portions of the side walls of a room down to the horizontal'plane of the lamp, and diffusing light downwardly through a bowl of novel type, so as to obtain maximum illumination without glare or other faults, while at the same time giving an attractive illumination of the ,fixture itself. By flaring the reflecting shade or screen on straight lines other advantages are gained, in that such,

shape of the screen adapts it to be made by cutting from sheet metal and soldering, brazmg or welding to form, instead of by spinning to form which is expensive and prohibitive in cost for of larg esiie, bit stam pweaves ing which requiresexpensive dies an thereby a limits the variety of designs that can be profitably roduced. Moreover, such shape of the sha e or' screen readily permits of its exterior ornamentation in ,colors by stenciling, allowing such ornamentation to be inexpensively carried out.

Having thus described my invention, I

7 claim 1. In a fighting fixture, the eombinati'oii,

- with a lamp havmg an upper stem portion and a lower bulb portion, the latter contain ing a filament, of a frusto-conical reflecting shade surrounding the bulb of the lamp for v rays of hght in an upward and outand top upwardly and outwardlyon straight ward direction, said shade extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having its walls inclined between its bottom and top upwardly and outwardly on straight lines, and a difi'usingmember at the base of the reflecting shade, said diffusing member being of greater diameter than vthe bottom of e shade and projecting marginally beneath the outer surface of the lower portion ofthe inclined wall-of the shade so as to illaminate said surface.

2. In a lighting fixture, the combination, with a lamp havmg an upper stem portion and a lower bulb portion, the latter containing a filament, of a frusto-conical reflecting shade surrounding the bulb of the lamp for directing rays of light in an upward and outward direction, said shade extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having its walls inclined between its bottom and a difiusing bowl having a neck portion secured within the base of the shade, said bowl being of greaterdiameter than the base .of the shade and extending marginally be-' yond the same and beneath the outer surface of the lower portion of the inclined wall of the shade so as to illuminate said surface.

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination, with a lamp aving an upper stem portion and a lower bulb portlon, the latter containing a filament, of a-frusto-conical reflecting shade.

surroundin he bulbof the lamp for directing rays ofight in an upward and outward direction,=said' shade extending above and' below the horizon of the filament and having its walls inclined between its bottom and top upwardly and outwardly on straight lines, a

ght difi'using member arranged at the baseof the shade and dprojecting marginally be-- beneath the outer surface 1 zontal rays therefrom and terminating at its upper edge in a plane adjacent to the upper surface ofthe projecting margin of the dif-,

fusing member to form a tin hght rays therefrom to shine upon said surface of the shade. a

4; In a lighting fixture, the combination, with a lamp havmg an upper stem portion and a lower bulb portion, the latter containing a filament, of a frusto+conical reflecting shade surroundin the bulb of thelamp for directin rays 70f light in an upward and outwar' direction, said shade extending above and below the horizon of the filament and havin its walls inclined between its bottom an top upwaralllg and outwurdly'on straight lines, a light using bowl having a neck portion secured within the base of the shade and a body portion rojecting marginally beyond the sides of t e base portion of the shade and beneath the outer surface of the lower portion of the inclined walls of the shade so as to illuminate the same, and an annular shield surrounding the body portion of the bowl for interceptinghorizontal rays passage for permittherefrom, said shield having its upper edge I direction, said shade; extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having its wallsinclined betw'een its-bottom and top upwardly and outwardly on straight lines, a

supportmg ring'arranged within the base of the shade, snpportingmeans for the shade engaging sai ring, a, light difiusin bowl having a neck portion secured within said ring and having a body portion pro ecting marginal] beyond the sides of the base of the shade an beneath'the outer surface of the lower portion ofthe inclined wall of the shade to illuminate the same, and an annular shield marginally surroundin the bowl and having its upper and lower e ges terminating substantially in the horizontal-planes of the top and bottom surfaces of the bowl, the said upper edge of the shield being spaced from the base of the shade to permit of the upward passage-of light from the margin of the bowl.

6. n a lighting-fixture, the combination, with a lamp havmg a stem portion vand a bulb portion, the latter containing a filament,

ing the bulb portion of the lamp and extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having a lower frusto-conical portion whose walls are inclined on straight lines at a certain upward and outward angle and an upper. frusto-conical portion whose waHs incline on straight lines at a greater u wardand outward an 1e, and a light di using member arrange at the base of the lower of a unitary double reflecting shade surroundfrusto-conical portionof the shade and projecting marginally beyond the same to cause light rays therefrom to illuminate the outer surface of said lower portion ofthe shade.

7. In a lighting fixture, the combination, with a lamp having a stem portion and a bulb .portion, thelatter containing a filament, of

a unitary double reflecting shade surrounding the bulb portion of the lamp and extending above and below the horizon of the filamentand having a lower frusto-conical portion whose walls are inclined on straight lines at a certain upward and outward angle and an upper frusto-conical portion whose walls incline on straight'lines at a greater upward and outward augle, a light diffusing member at the base of the lower portion of the shade and projecting marginally beyond the outer surthe bulb portion of the lamp and extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having a lower frusto-conical portion whose walls are inclined on straight lines at a certain upward and outward angle and an upper frusto-conical portion whose walls incline on straight lines at a greater upward and outward angle, and a light diffusing bowl having a neck portion secured within the base of the lower frusto-conical portion of the shade and having a body portion projecting marginally beyond the base of said lower portion of the shade for the upward passage of light rays to illuminate'the outer surface of such portion of the shade.

9. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a lamp having astem portion and a bulb portion, the lat er containing a filament, of a unitarymlouble reflecting shade surrounding the bulb portion of the lamp and extending above and below the horizon of the filal'nent and having a lower frusto-conical portion whose walls are inclined on straight lines at a certain upward and outward angle and. an upper frustro-conical poriion whose walls incline on straight lines at a greater upward and outward angle, a light diffusing bowl having a neck portionseeured within the base of said frustro-conical lower portion of the shade and having a body portion projecting marginally beyond the outer surfaces of the inclined walls of such portion of the shade to illumiprevent the horizontal passage of light rays I therefrom and having'its upper edge terminating in proximity to the horizontal plane of the upper surface of the projecting marginof the bowl to form a space for the upward passage of light rays therefrom.

10. In a lighting fixture, the combination, with a lamp having a stem portion and a bulb portion, the latter containing a filament, of a unitary double reflecing shade surrounding the bulb portion of the lamp and extending above and below the horizon of the filament and having a lower frusto-conical portion whose walls are inclined on straight lines at a certain upward and outward angle and an upper frusto-conieal portion whose walls incline on s raight lines at a greater upward and outward angle, a supporting ring disposed within the base of the lower 'frustoconical portion ofthe shade, fixture supporting means secured to said ring, a lamp diffusing bowl supported by the ring at the base of said lower portion ofthe shade and projecting marginally beyond the outer surface of the inclined wall of said portion of the shade to illuminate the same, andan annular shield surrounding the bowl to intereept and prevent the horizontal passage of light rays therefrom and terminating at its upper edge adjacent to the upper surface of the projecting margin of the bowl to form a space for the upward passage. of light therefrom.

11. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a lamp supporting member, and a lamp supported thereby, of a plurality of arms extending from'said supporting member, a

hollow shade member surrounding said lamp and screening a portion of it from view, said shade member haviuga rotary slip-joint interlocking connection with cer-l ain of said arms and a detachable fastening connection with another of said arms, and a light transmitting and diffusing member supportedat the base of said shade member.

12. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a lamp supporting member, and a lamp supported thereby, of a plurality of arms extending from said supporting member, a

hollow shade member surrounding said lamp and screening a portion of it from View, said shade member and-arms having interengag ing elements to removably support the shade member on the arms, said interengaging elements being engageable and disengageable i by relative rotary movement between said shade member and said arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WHITMAN SYMMES.

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