US2032798A - Lighting fixture - Google Patents

Description

Marfiih' 3, 1935. G, E, GLATTHAR r AL Z,@32,798

LIGHTING FIXTURE 2 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1935 FIG-l INVENTORS GEORGE E. GLATTHAR &

FREDERICK WENING A TTORNE YJ March 1936- G. E. GLATTHAR ET AL 23 9 LIGHTING FIXTURE Fi-led Jan. 25, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ GEORGE E. ATTHAR 8. C FREDERICK WENING A TTORNEYJ Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LIGHTING FIXTURE George E. Glatthar,

University Heights, and

Frederick Wening, South Euclid, Ohio Application January 23, 1935, Serial No. 3,014

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in lighting fixtures, such as in the indirect ceiling fixture of our prior patent for a Lighting fixture, Patent No. 1,941,469, granted January 2, 1934, al-

though the present invention is equally applicable to other types of lighting fixtures, suchas table lamps, floor lamps, etc.

In our aforesaid patent, a ceiling lighting fixture is disclosed which includes a main reflector for the major portion of the light rays emitted by the light source, thereby providing for general illumination, and a supplemental reflector for a minor portion of the light rays emitted by said light source, suitable color means being provided for coloring said minor portion of light rays and said supplemental reflector being adapted to direct such colored rays onto the outer surface of said main reflector, with particularly pleasing lighting effects.

To obtain still more pleasing lighting effects with a fixture of such general character is the primary object of the present invention, such objective being attained by the provision, in that zone or area of the main reflector which has its outer surface illuminated by said colored light rays, of a plurality of suitably spaced openings and ornamental cover members therefor, through which openings and cover members outwardly pass uncolored light rays from said light source. The outward passage of such uncolored light rays through the zone or area of such colored illumination results in exceedingly enchanting lighting effects, which are further enhanced by the ornamental character of said light-transmitting cover members.

Further objects of the present invention, and further features thereof, will appear from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an indirect ceiling lighting fixture embodying the present invention, the view being on the line. l-l, Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of said fixture of the plane of the view being just above the main or upper reflector of the fixture; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of said fixture; Fig. 4 is a detail vertical sectional view of a portion of the main reflector of said fixture, the view being on the line 4-4, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a sort of diagrammatic view showing the path of a few of the light rays which enable the herein described novel lighting effects to be obtained.

In the ceiling lighting fixture here illustrated, there are three reflectors, a main reflector for general illumination, and two supplemental reflectors for what may be termed ornamental illumination. In other words, the main reflector directs outwardly into the room in which the fixture is located, for purposes of general illumination, the major portion of the light rays emitted by the light source of the fixture; one of the two supplemental reflectors directs onto the outer surface of said main reflector, for purposes of ornamental illumination thereof, a minor portion of the light rays emitted by such light source; and the other supplemental reflector directs onto the outer surface of said first mentioned supplemental reflector, for purposes of ornamental illumination thereof, another minor portion of the light rays emitted by such light source.

Obviously, these three reflectors may be made in various shapes and sizes and of any suitable material, the reflectors here shown being of sheet metal, such as aluminum, with the result that they are opaque throughout their entire extent, and being generally of inverted, frusto-conical shape. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the three reflectors are of graduated width, and are arranged in spaced relation, one above the other, the main reflector being the widest and the upper one of the three.

In the accompanying drawings, A indicates the main reflector, the upper portion I of which is of generally upwardly and outwardly flaring form, with a relatively narrow inwardly extending annular flange 2 at its upper end, around the opening 3, through which pass, for general illumination, the major portion of the light rays emitted by the light source of the fixture, said source being here shown as two horizontally disposed incandescent lamp bulbs 4. The lower portion 5 of the main reflector is of annular form and generally horizontally disposed, with a slightly offset relatively narrow inwardly extending annular flange 6 at its lower end, around the opening 1 through which pass, for ornamental illumination, a minor portion of the light rays emitted by said light source, said bottom opening I having a width considerably less than that of said top opening 3.

B represents the upper one of the two supplemental reflectors, the annularly corrugated upper portion 9 of which is of generally upwardly and outwardly flaring form, with a relatively narrow inwardly extending annular flange H] at its upper end, around the opening ll through which pass, for the ornamental illumination of the main reflector A, a minor portion of the light rays emitted by said light source, said opening having portion of the light rays emitted by said light source.

C indicates the lower one of the two supplemental reflectors, said reflector having a top opening I8, of a width substantially the same as that of the bottom opening I of the main reflector A and through which pass the minor portion of light rays which illuminate the supplemental reflector B. At its lower end, said supplemental reflector C is provided with an opening IS, the width of which is substantially the same as that of the bottom opening I5 of the supplemental reflector B.

,As before mentioned, these three reflectors A, B and C are arranged in spaced relation, one above the other, the supplemental reflector B being suitably supported from the main reflector A and the supplemental reflector C being suitably supported from the supplemental reflector B.

In the ceiling lighting fixture here illustrated, the main reflector A is provided at the junction of its upper and lower portions I, 5 with a slightly offset, horizontally disposed annular shoulder 22 to which are screwed or otherwise suitably secured the inner ends of a plurality of circumferentially disposed outwardly extending arms 23, the outer ends of which are adapted to project beneath the annular top flange III of the supplemental reflector B, with consequent support of said supplemental reflector. To permit the outer ends of all of said arms to be positioned beneath said supplemental reflector flange I0, said flange is provided with one or more notches 24 through which one or more of the outer ends of said arms may be passed, after which said supplemental reflector B is partially rotated with consequent securement of said reflector to said arms by a bayonet joint type of connection.

The lower supplemental reflector C is secured to and supported from the upper supplemental reflector B, in the embodiment of the invention here shown, by the use of a metal grommet 26 suitably secured in the adjacent bottom openings I5, IB'of the two supplemental reflectors.

For purposes of ornamentation, the ceiling fixture here illustrated is provided at its lower end with an ornamental glass ball 30, a cylindrical extension 3| of which projects upwardly through the two supplemental reflector openings I5, I9 and the grommet 26 secured therein. Pinned or otherwise suitably secured to said ball extension 3I is an inverted U-shaped strap member 33' to the intermediate portion of which is adjustably secured a screw 34 carried by an inverted U- shaped strap member 36 straddling the strap member 33 and resting upon the inwardly extending bottom flange I4 of the supplemental reflector B, with consequent support of said ball.

Inasmuch as the fixture here illustrated is a ceiling fixture, suitable means is provided for suspending it from a ceiling. The suspending means here shown includes a chain 40 having its lower 'end secured to a hook M on the upper end of a metal tube 42, the lower end of said tube having secured thereto a cross strap 43 provided with adjustable end members 44. These end members are adjustable longitudinally of said cross strap by co-operating screws and slots 45 and are adapted to be positioned beneath the inwardly extending top flange 2 of the main reflector A, the outer edges 46 of said end members being curved to correspond to the curvature of the main reflector, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By such means and in such manner, the main reflector and the parts carried thereby are suspended. If desired and as shown, the metal tube 42 may be enclosed by a finial 41, which adds to the attractiveness of the fixture in general.

Pivotally secured to the outer end portions of .the cross strap 43 are two lamp bulb sockets 48,

one on each side of said strap, said sockets lying Within the main reflector A and being generally horizontally disposed. Secured in said sockets are the incandescent electric lamp bulbs 4 which constitute the light source of the fixture, said bulbs being of any desired candle power, depending upon the amount of general illumination desired. The electric current for said lamp bulbs is provided, as is usual, by suitable insulated wire extending down along the chain 40, through the metal tube 42 and suitably connected to the lamp sockets 48.

As before mentioned, the main reflector A is for general illumination and the two supplemental reflectors B and C are for ornamental illumi-' nation. As indicated in Fig. 5 and as will be readily understood, the inner surfaces of portions I and 5 of the main reflector are adapted to reflect upwardly and outwardly through the top opening 3 thereof, for general. illumination, the major portion of the light rays emitted by the lamp bulbs 4, the paths of two of such rays being indicated by the arrows X, Fig. 5.

The ornamental illumination provided by the supplemental reflector B is the illumination of the main reflector A, the inner surfaces of portions 9 and I3 of the supplemental reflector B being adapted to reflect through the top opening I I thereof, onto the outer surface of the upper portion I of said main reflector, a minor portion of the light rays emitted by the lamp bulbs 4, the paths of some of such rays being indicated by the arrows Y, Fig. 5.

The ornamental illumination provided by the supplemental reflector C is the illumination of the supplemental reflector B, the inner surface of said supplemental reflector C being adapted to reflect, through the top opening I8 thereof, onto the outer surface of the lower portion I3 of said supplemental reflector B, a minor portion of the light rays emitted by the lamp bulbs 4', the paths of some of such rays being indicated by the arrows Z, Fig. 5.

As indicated by the arrow W, Fig. 5, a few of the light rays emitted by the lamp bulbs 4 pass downwardly through the bottom openings I5,'I9 of the supplemental reflectors B, C and strike the glass ball 30 at the bottom of the fixture, with bottom opening I of the main reflector A, through which opening downwardly pass from the lamp bulbs 4 the light rays which effect such ornamental illumination, suitable light-transmitting color means, such as colored glass disc 50. As shown, said colored disc is removably supported on the annular flange 6 of said main reflector, and by the selective use of differently colored discs, the color of the illumination of the main reflector A, the supplemental reflector B and the glass ball 30 can be varied as desired, all as will be readily understood.

To obtain still more pleasing lighting effects with a fixture of the character here described, whether such fixture be a ceiling fixture, as here illustrated, or a table lamp, floor lamp or the like, one or more light-transmitting openings 52 for uncolored light rays from the lamp bulbs 4 are provided in the upper portion l of the main reflector A, the outer surface of which portion is illuminated by colored light rays, as heretofore described.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown, five such light-transmitting openings in circumferentially spaced relation are provided in said main reflector portion l, and for each such opening, there is a faceted or other suitable ornamental light-transmitting cover member 53 on the illuminated outer surface of said reflector portion, said cover members being maintained in covering relation relative to said openings by any suitable means, such as bolts 54 and cooperating nuts 55. Although said light-transmitting openings 52 and their light-transmitting cover members 53 may be made of any suitable shape and of any suitable size, said openings are here shown as of generally X shape, with the bolts 54 extending through the centers of said openings. The cover members 53 are here shown as of generally star shape, being of glass or other suitable light-transmitting material.

As indicated in Fig. 5 and as will be readily understood, these light-transmitting openings 52 and the ornamental light-transmitting cover members 53 therefor permit a minor portion of uncolored light rays, the path of one of which is indicated by the arrow S, Fig. 5, to pass directly from the lamp bulbs 4 outwardly through the upper portion I of the main reflector, the outer surface of which portion is indirectly illuminated by colored light rays. The piercing of such annular zone or area of colored illumination by the uncolored light rays passing outwardly through such openings 52 and their cover members 53 produces particularly pleasing and novel ornamental lighting effects, as will be readily realized.

While the nature and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the foregoing description thereof, it is to be understood that said invention is not limited to what is herein described or illustrated but includes all such changes or modifications as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What we claim is:

In a lighting fixture, a light source, an opaque main reflector for reflecting from said light source, for general illumination, a major portion of the light rays emitted thereby, a supplemental reflector for reflecting onto the outer surface of a portion of said main reflector a minor portion of the light rays emitted by said light source, means for coloring said minor portion of light rays, whereby the illumination of the outer surface of said main reflector portion is correspondingly colored, a light-transmitting opening through said main reflector portion for uncolored light rays from said light source, with consequent piercing by such uncolored light rays of the colored illumination on the outer surface of said main reflector portion, and a light-transmitting faceted member on the illuminated outer surface of said main reflector portion for covering said lighttransmitting opening.

GEORGE E. GLATTHAR. FREDERICK WENING.

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