US1922786A - Store illuminating device - Google Patents

Description

1933- H. D. THOMPSON 1,922,786

STORE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Filed Feb. 11, 1932 IZ Z3 jnvknfoz 5 i Harp/M1 T/mmpdm Patented Aug. 15, 1933 PATENT OFFICE STORE ILLUMINATING DEVICE Harold D. Thompson, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Piggly Wiggly Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a Corporation of Delaware Application February 11, 1932. Serial No. 592,411

3 Claims.

This invention relates to the illumination of stores and store fixtures and particularly to means for illuminating columns and cornices in the stores.

The object of the invention is to provide new and improved lighting arrangements which will better illuminate the store and hence give the commodities on display in the store a more attractive appearance to the customers.

Referring to the accompanying drawing which is made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure l is a vertical section of the device taken on line :ca: of Figure 2,

Figure 2, a front elevation of a portion of the device, and

Figure 3, a vertical section of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, numeral .10 indicates a support which may be a block which is attached to a wall of the building by means of bolts 11. To this block is secured a box consisting of preferably a sheet iron back 12 and a sheet iron top 13. The top 13 may preferably have ventilating openings 14 therein. The front of the box is provided with panel supporting means 15 which may and preferably are formed of strap iron. Secured to these supports are a number of reflecting panels or elements 16. These elements are positioned horizontally and one above the other and are formed with a concave surface on one side and a convex surface on the other. These reflecting elements are preferably made of some highly polished metal, one example of such metal being aluminum. At the rear of these reflecting elements is a glass panel 17. This paned may be secured to the supporting strips 15 by means of a clamp 18 at the top of the panel and may be held between the lower end of the support 15 and a portion 19 of the frame work of the box. A metal strip 20 is preferably secured to the lower edge of the front side of the box and this strip is shaped in any desired artistic manner so that in front view it will harmonize with the curved reflecting elements 16. A panel 21 formed preferably of glass which has been ground to make it non-transparent but translucent is positioned on ledges 22 so that it may be lifted out to permit access to the box. A lamp socket 23 is secured within the box and is so secured by means of a nut 24 as to permit it to be rotated to any desired angle to positiona lamp in any desired angular position within the box. The ends of the reflecting elements may be secured on any suitable supports and between these ends immediately in front of them there is provided a number of artistic caps 26. The only purpose of these caps is to set off in an artistic manner the reflecting elements 16. y

In operation lights are positioned within the lamp sockets at the rear of the reflecting elements. By means of these surfaces the light is deflected against the concave front surfaces of the reflecting elements immediately above them. These latter surfaces deflect the light toward the front of the fixtures, the light also shines through the ground glass panels 21 and is diffused through the openings 14 in the top 13. The front glass panels 17 may be colored as desired. One pleasing effect may be given the store fixture by making these panels of green cathedral glass. Glass of any suitable color, however, may be used depending on the taste of the decorator or on the color scheme in the store and the color of the furniture. When positioned around a store the lighting effect above the goods on display as well as the lighting effect on the ceiling adjacent the wall and on the wall will be such as to offset commodities on sale resulting in leaving a very pleasant impression on the customers mind.

In Figure 3 is shown a modified form of the invention which is adapted especially for use around columns. As here shown it is particularly adapted for use about square columns but obviously could be applied to round columns without changing the principle of the invention. As here shown the rear plate 27 of the box is secured to a column 28. A lamp socket 29 is adjustably secured to the plate 27. A suitable support 30 is attached to the rear wall of the box, this support preferably being formed of a strap iron or some other suitable material. Furthermore portions 31 are secured to the front of the supports 30 and supporting elements 32 are secured to the supports 30. To the latter supporting elements are secured light deflecting panels 33, these panels may and preferably are formed oi highly polished aluminum. At the rear of the panels is secured a glass panel 34 which in the instance of the form shown in Figure 1 may be made of green cathedral glass or in any suitable translucent material. A glass cover plate 35 may be placed upon the supports 30. A mirror 36 is preferably secured just beneath the light fixture just described and is secured in position by means of suitable polished metal strips 37. These strips may and preferably are formed of Monel metal or any other highly polishable artistic metal binder.

In use this form of the invention serves to illuminate columns in the store. The cover plate 35 is preferably formed of frosted glass so as to be translucent but non-transparent, the effect of which will be to transmit a difiused light to the upper portions of the columns in the store as well as to illuminate the ceiling adjacent the upper ends of the columns. The column lighting arrangement when used together with the cornice lighting arrangement serves to form a highly pleasing lighting arrangement for a store.

While the lighting arrangements described may be used with any kind of a store they have been worked out particularly with a view to their use in grocery stores in which counters containing the vegetables and other commodities on display may be illuminated so as to cause them to present a more pleasing appearance than has been possible heretofore in poorly lighted stores.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in my device without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore I do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An illuminating device of the kind described comprising a box having a plurality of lights mounted therein, said box having a ventilated cover plate and a bottom plate consisting of a frosted glass panel, a colored glass panel positioned in front of said lights and extending throughout the length of the box, and a plurality of concave convex deflecting panels positioned in front of said last named panel, substantially as set forth.

2. An illuminating device of the kind described comprising a box having a plurality of lamps mounted therein, a translucent panel forming the top of the box, a colored translucent panel forming the front of the box and a plurality of convex-concave light deflecting elements positioned in front of the last named panel adapted to cut off the downwardly directed rays and to deflect them upwardly, substantially as set forth.

3. An illuminating device of the kind described comprising a box having lamps mounted therein, a light-diffusing panel forming the top of the box, a colored translucent panel forming the front of the box, and a plurality of convex-concave light deflecting elements positioned in front of the last named panel adapted to cut off 'the downwardly directed rays and to .deflect them upwardly, substantially as set forth.

HAROLD D. THOMPSON.

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