US2886697A - Illuminated ceiling - Google Patents

Description

y 1959 s. M. POMEROY 2,886,697

ILLUMINATED CEILING I Filed Jan. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-sheet 1 v V I0 1 ITENTOR.

/,/, SAWYER M. POMEROY BY FIG. 3 m

ATTORNEYS y 12, 1959 s M. POMEROY 2,886,697

ILLUMINATED CEILING I Filed Jan. 25, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. SAWYER M. POMEROY Jaydjay ATTORNEYS ILLUMINATED CEILING Sawyer M. Pomeroy, Lynrihurst, Ohio, assignor to The Vg. S. Tyler Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation Ohio Application January 25, 1954, Serial No. 405,835

12 Claims. (Ci. 2409) This invention, relating as indicated to an illuminated ceiling, is particularly directed to a woven structural material of metallic strands which are rectangular in cross section and parallel to the ceiling, together with a source of illumination and a light reflecting surface behind said source of illumination, whereby an appearance of a glowing ceiling is obtained whch may be of indefinite extent.

This invention further relates to a number of woven structural materials, particularly metallic woven structural materials of light metals, such as aluminum, having light reflective surfaces and finishes which are adapted to direct and control the source of illumination, together with support means for said woven structural material to produce a novel contrast which is continuous across an illuminated area, such as a lobby or the like.

An object of this invention is to produce an illuminated ceiling for public places, elevators, lobbies, and the like, which will not be composed of glass or similar materials, which are in violation of certain building codes, and will be safe, providing for a high level of illumination and interesting textured surfaces on the ceiling.

A further object of this invention is to produce an illuminated ceiling combination with a source of illumination which is not visible from below a 45 angle above the horizon, and this is considered to be the angle of normal perception.

A further object of this invention is to produce an illuminated ceiling having a glowing effect formed of rectangular strands which reflect and difluse the light, making use of a high proportion of secondary and tertiary light giving an etheral effect. Said illuminated ceiling would be useful with all types of illumination.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully decsribed and particularly pointed out in the claims; the following description setting forth in detail one approved means of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means, however, constituting but one of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be used.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of a woven structural material which makes up this illuminated ceiling combination,

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the entire illuminated ceiling, particularly through 3-3 of Fig. 1 in so far as it relates to the woven structural material,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another weave useful for woven structural materials in a ceiling panel,

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 5-5 of Fig. 4 showing the longitudinal support members, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the lines 66 of Fig. 4 showing particularly the transverse support members.

In Fig. 1, 10 shows the strands in the longitudinal 2,886,697 Patented May 12, 1959 direction and 11 the strands in the transverse direction, i.e., the cross strands. These are formed in a rather tight pattern with a spacing between the strands both longitudinally and transversely about equal to the width of a strand. These strands then are formed of material which is of rectangular cross section as is shown at 12, having a top which is flat as is shown at 13 as well as sides 14. In the weaving process the sides are bulged or extruded in various ways to provide reflective surfaces that are other than parallel one to another, and thus cause the light to diffuse, producing the effect of a glowing ceiling.

The woven structural material is formed to be made into an illuminated ceiling panel and is a light reflecting material. This is shown at 15. A source of illumination, which may be fluorescent, is shown at 16, with suitable support members, which are not visible in Fig. 1. The woven structural material is shown at 17. At the spacing between the reflecting surface 15 and the illumination there would be a spacing approximately equal to the spacing between the source of illumination and the woven structural material. In Fig. 3 this is designated as Dimension A, and this is approximately equal to Dimension B.

It will further be seen in connection with this figure that a high fraction of the light passing through the woven structural material will be secondary or tertiary illumination, i.e., after it is reflected from one or more surfaces. Some portion of the light will strike the curved extruded surfaces on the sides of the woven structural material and pass through the openings. Other portions will touch the top of the woven structural material and reflect against the reflective surface 15 and then pass through some opening. In any event, the combination of the elements will produce a high portion of secondary and tertiary light.

In connection with the strands themselves to form the woven structural material making up this illuminated ceiling combination, it has been arbitrarily indicated that the depth of a strand would be approximately equal to Dimension C, and the width of a strand would be equal to Dimension D shown on the drawing. In a number of cases it is believed that Dimension C should be approximately equal to Dimension D, as this would produce approximately a 45 angle which is the angle of normal perception above the horizon. For the purposes of this feature it is presumed that a person would not raise his eyes above this normal angle of perception and if the light cannot be seen below this angle there will be little or no glare as seen in these illuminated ceiling panels.

Other combinations and spacings between the width of the rectangular strand and the spacing between the strands may be used, but it is believed that this combination of a diffusing ceiling produces a glowing effect which has been described as having an ethereal effect, the light passing directly through the screen to a certain extent but being diffused by the strands, which, though rectangular, are extruded outwardly forming curved surfaces from which they reflect. Since the strands are woven up and down they also produce curved surfaces on their top face and diffuse the light, bouncing it upwardly against the reflective surface and downwardly through other openings in the woven structural material. This produces a combination of secondary and tertiary light having a high portion of light which is at least secondary or greater and causes the glowing effect mentioned above.

It is further realized that the woven structural material formed in this illuminated ceiling gives a textured appearance which has been said to look like cast glass. Of course, it is appreciated that glass in any large panel is dangerous in public places, elevators and the like, since these panels may be broken accidentally and might cause damage to the public. Storms, earthquakes and the like would be inclined to fracture or break the panels. Other materials which are used in place of glass are frequently described as egg crate construction and have, together with other plastics, a great afiinity for dust. This material, being a metal woven structure, does not have this aflinity. Besides, it passes a high proportion of the light through the screen, producing the appearance described above.

Another construction of this invention is illustrated in the illuminated ceiling shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Here only the reverse side of an example of a weave used for the material has been shown. The spacing between the strands of the woven structural material may be modified considerably and is shown here in only one view. Basically, this material used for a ceiling comprises a plurality of longtiudinal strands of generally rectangular cross section, formed together, in this case in fours. These strands are designated 20, 21, 22 and 23. The cross strands are shown at 24, 25 and 26. The support members for these strands are on strand 21 at 27, and upon the cross strand 25 at 28.

Fig. 4 shows only a fragmentary view of this invention but the view shows more than one panel. The dividing line between the panels is split between a group of strands, forming the weave. This parting line is shown at 29. In this way adjacent panels may be placed together to give an appearance of a continuous span across the ceiling. It might be possible under some conditions to design the screen so that it is capable of supporting itself but the size of the woven structural material would be so great that it might be impractical. With supporting members the size and strength of the strands forming the panel are greatly reduced. By splitting a group of strands to form adjacent panels the strands in each adjacent panel complement each other making up the weave, or a group of strands of equivalent width to the adjacent group. This gives a continuous appearance and it is very dimcult, if not impossible, to distinguish the junction between the panels.

In connection with the supporting members, said supporting members in general should be parallel to and centrally located with respect to the strands, either transversely or longitudinally. In connection with longitudinal strand 21, a support member 27 has been secured thereto, as shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, said support members secured to strand 21 as by welding at 31, and 32. These junctions must be at the top or knuckle portion of the strand and must not be secured at the lower portion of the strand. It is essential that the illumination pass beneath the supporting member to give a continuous appearance of illumination without undue shadows. Shadows create a discontinuous appearance that is objectionable. Though longitudinal supports may be sufficient in some cases, the great weight of the ceilings might necessitate transverse supports. Cross supports may be used by positioning them above the cross strands and secured in the same manner to the knuckle portion, as by welding, which is shown at 33 where cross support 28 is welded to the knuckle of the longitudinal strands. Other means may be employed to integrate the cross and longitudinal supporting members but the details of how this is done are not shown here and are believed to be conventional in supporting structures. It would be sufficient to say that these longitudinal and cross supports in general are barely visible from below. Preferably, these special construction techniques are resorted to in order to reduce any possible incidental vision which a keen observer might distinguish.

In the case of fluorescent illumination in a weave such as this, the elongated tubes of fluorescent lights may be roughly perpendicular to the longitudinal strands forming the weave. This is because the radiation of the tubes is perpendicular and it would pass through the slots in the longitudinal strands.

Further, as far as it is possible, the cross supports should be parallel to and behind a longitudinal strand. In this way illumination will be of equal intensity on each side of the strand and though the support itself will not be visible from directly below, from an angle the support might be visible. However, an equal amount of illumination on either side of the supporting member will reduce its apparent visibility from below, even when viewed above the normal angle of perception.

It is further advisable in connection with these structures and their lighting facilities that supports should not be placed close to the ends of the illuminated ceiling, as it would be difficult to arrange for an equal degree of illumination on either side of the support. In the event that the illumination is fluorescent it might be preferable to place transverse support members intermediate the tubes of fluorescent illumination, in that by this means the degree of illumination on either side would be approximately equal and their visibility would be reduced.

This illuminated ceiling emphasizes the fact that the source of illumination itself, the bulbs of fluorescent or incandescent lighting, is small in proportion to the size of the ceiling, but because of its reflection from the woven structural material and the reflective surface, and because of the secondary and tertiary illumination, the entire eflect of the ceiling will be that of a glowing ceiling. In one example, which is approximately that of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it was noted that the spacing between the rectangular strands was only equal to about one-fifth that of the strand width. However, to the observer the illumination appears to be in an area which is about equal to the width of the strand because of the apparent enlargement of the opening between the strands.

This entire improvement can be considered analogous to the effect of illumination in identification work where a high level of illumination is placed upon a woven structural material, or other foraminous construction, so that in another portion of the illumination on the other side of the woven structural material, an observer can look through the openings in the material and see an illuminated subject, possibly for identification purposes. Here the reflections from the intervening structural material cause a glare so that the subject being identified cannot see the people on the other side of the room.

Much the same effect has been seen from out-ofdoors on a bright day against a bronze screen, where the reflectrons from the sun prevent vision through the screen into the interior of the building. The various levels of illumination make it more diflicult to see under the circumstances. This invention is the converse of the aforementioned principle in that a high level of illumination is being produced in a confined area above a woven structural material, wherein the material is so formed that it is formed having curved surfaces by bending and by extruding the material itself so that a high portion of the light is what is known as tertiary and secondary light, having been reflected from a light reflecting ceiling material and a source of concentrated illumination so that it passes through openings in the woven structural material. When seen from below at the normal angle of perception, this appears as a glowing ceiling because the strands are so arranged with their openings that no direct vision is possible, and rather than causing a high degree of direct illumination, a large fraction of the light rays are reflected one or more times producing high secondary and tertiary illumination. This produces the glowing effect aforementioned.

Other combinations of illuminated ceilings and reflective materials, together with their supporting structures, are possible, but the description given in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6, as well as the earlier Figures 1, 2 and 3, will make very apparent the general scope and operational characteristics of this illuminated ceiling, producing the glowing effect that it does.

I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein set forth in the preferred means of carrying out my invention, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An illuminated ceiling combination formed of a woven structural material comprising longitudinal and cross strands and a source of illumination, said woven structural material being formed in large panels and having support means at spaced intervals along the panel, said support means being formed parallel to the longitudinal strands and of lesser width than that of the longitudinal strands, said support means being secured to the longitudinal strands whereby the support means for said woven structural material are not visible from below because they are hidden behind the longitudinal strands.

2. An illuminated ceiling comprising a light reflecting surface, a plurality of lighting tubes parallel to said ceiling and spaced therefrom, and a metallic woven structural material spaced below said tubes a distance approximately equal to the distance of the tubes below said ceiling, the strands of said woven structural material being rectangular with the rectangular portion parallel to the ceiling, the side and top surfaces being bent so that the light is reflected and diffused, producing a soft glowing ceiling, the spacing between said strands being not greater than the depth of the strands whereby the direct illumination is not visible at the angle of normal perception.

3. An illuminated ceiling combination comprising a light reflective surface, illumination spaced below said surface and parallel thereto, metallic woven structural material below and parallel to the illumination, the woven structural material being spaced below a distance approximately equal to the distance from the illumination to the ceiling, said woven structural material being formed of strands which are rectangular and in which one side of the rectangle is parallel to the ceiling, said strands also being formed together in a weave formed of groups of strands, the illumination being perpendicular to the longitudinal strands forming the weave whereby the light passes directly through the openings in the woven structural material and is reflected from the sides of the woven structural material and diffused, as well as being reflected from the woven structural material, resulting in a glowing effect because of the prominence of secondary and tertiary illumination.

4. The illuminated ceiling combination of claim 3, in which the spacing between the rectangular strands is not greater than the depth of the strand so that little direct illumination is visible from the angle of normal perception.

5. An illuminated ceiling combination comprising a light reflective surface, a plurality of lighting tubes parallel to said surface, a woven structural material spaced therefrom and parallel to said surface, said woven structural material being spaced from the tubes an equal distance that the tubes are spaced from the ceiling, said woven structural material being formed from rectangular strands, the surface of which are parallel to the ceiling, said material being formed in a weave formed of groups of strands woven together, having the lighting perpendicular to the longitudinal strands forming the weave and support members for said woven structural material, said support members being formed of material which has equivalent light reflecting surface and finish to that of the woven structural material, said support members being attached to the woven structural material and its strands and being of reduced cross-sectional width so that it is not visible from directly below the woven structural material, said support members further being perpendicular to the lighting tubes where possible, said support members further being positioned on the woven structural material with equal degrees of illumination on each side of the sup port member so that when viewed from below, even above the angle of normal perception, they will appear to be as a part of the woven structural material and will not cast undesirable shadows and consequently will result in a glowing ceiling.

6. The illuminated ceiling combination of claim 5 in which the support members are spaced away from the edges, reducing shadows which are created by different amounts of illumination on the various sides of the support member.

7. The illuminated ceiling combination of claim 5 in which the support members are composed of longitudinal supporting members and cross supports, and in which the longitudinal support members are attached at the highest portion of the longitudinal strands but not attached therebetween, said supporting members, as indicated, being of lesser width than the width of the strand and being parallel to the lighting tubes, thus providing equal amounts of illumination on either side of the support member, said illuminated ceiling being further provided with cross supports perpendicular to said earlier supports, but said cross supports being positioned as far as is possible between the tubes so that an equal amount of illumination will appear on each side of the support, said cross supports being of lesser width than the cross strands and being positioned centrally of said cross strands, whereby the combination of longitudinal and cross supports provides a continuous ceiling with no shadows.

8. In an illuminated ceiling combination providing a source of illumination, means attached to a ceiling for reflecting said illumination, said source of illumination being spaced therefrom, a woven structural material spaced from said source of illumination comprising longi tudinal and cross strands having openings therebetween, said longitudinal and cross strands being formed by bulging and forming of the strands so that a high fraction of the illumination below the Woven material is secondary or tertiary light, producing a glowing ceiling in which the direct illumination is not apparently visible from below in the angle of normal perception.

9. The illuminated ceiling combination of claim 5 in which the woven structural material is made up of a plurality of panels with supporting members which comprises a partial group of strands in one panel and a complementing portion of said group of strands in an adjoining panel so that the strands are complemented in the weave to form a single group of strands of equivalent width to carry out its original weave, producing a panel of indefinite extent.

10. In an illuminated ceiling combination of claim 8, support means for the woven structural material which are not apparently visible from below, comprising cross support members of lesser width than the cross members secured to the longitudinal strands on one side of the woven structural material and above the cross strands, whereby continuous and apparently unsupported panels may be formed as seen from the opposite side, which may be supported by said means though not apparently visible from below.

11. In an illuminated ceiling combination of claim 8 having additional support means in the form of longitudinal supporting members, said longitudinal supporting members being of lesser width than the longitudinal members and secured to said longitudinal members at spaced points along the woven structural material, whereby support is provided both in a longitudinal and cross direction for said material.

12. In an illuminated ceiling combination of claim 8, in which the woven structural material has longitudinal strands being woven together in groups of strands, means in connection with said material for forming a continuous woven panel of indefinite extent, which comprises means in connection with one group of cross strands severed intermediate said group of cross strands, means in con- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ransom Sept. 15, 1885 Teal Oct. 18, 1903 Greening Aug. 27, 1912 Mayer Dec. 7, 1920 8 1,709,951 Richardson Apr. 23, 1,767,179 Johns June 24, 1,956,773 Pflueger May 1, 2,013,762 Olsen Sept. 10, 2,049,251 Deitsch July 28, 2,090,529 Grum Aug. 17, 2,269,869 Specht Jan. 13, 2,506,951 Doane May 9, 2,607,455 Yellin Aug. 19,

OTHER REFERENCES Electrical World, page 118, April 7, 1952.

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