US3094288A - Lamp - Google Patents

Description

P. D. DAIL June 18, 1933 w LAMP Filed Nov. 14. 1980 vINVENTOR.`

PAUL D. D/l.

TZ'ORIVEYS United States Patent Ofi ice 3,0-94,288 Patented June 18, 1963 3,094,288 LAMP Filed Nov. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 68,885 1 Claim. (Cl. 240-51.11)

The present invention relates to lamp or lighting fixturcs and more particularly to the elongated type employing, for example, a fluorescent lamp.

The lighting fixture of the present invention includes an elongated frame, one side of which is provided with a pro- Jection or projections with which the frame is supported and the other side provides .a plurality of elongated, substantially planar, in transverse cross-section, and parallelly arranged light reflecting surface sections. Preferably three such sections only are necessary. The center or intermediate section has a light reflecting surface of selected value and the outer or side sections have reflecting surfaces of greater value than the first mentioned reflecting surface, and -all of the light reflecting surfaces face in the same direction and lie substantially in the same plane.

The fixture also includes an elongated lamp, for example of the fluorescent type. This lamp is disposed parallelly of and preferably midway of the elongated edges of and spaced from the first mentioned light reflecting surface. An elongated translucent cover is provided for the three reflecting surfaces and the lamp.

The advantages will be apparent from the following descripton, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the -drawingsz FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved lighting fixture;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 but on a larger scale;

FIG. 3 sectional view taken on line '3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the fixture is shown at 20 which comprises a main frame 22 and -a lamp 24, and a translucent cover 26. The frame may be supported in any suitable manner, but is herein shown -as supported by clips one of which is shown at 28 and which in turn is carried 'by a Wire 30.

The main frame 22 includes an elongated central section 32, the elongated edges of which are shown at 34 and 36, and two parallelly arranged sections in the form of elongated strips 38 and 40. These strips 38 and 40 are each provided with confronting mortises or grooves 42 which receives the edges 34 and 36 of the central section 32. The strips 38 and 40 are secured to the central section 32 by rivet-s or screws 44.

The under sides of the central section 32 and sections 38 and 40 are planar to provide reflecting surfaces 46, 48 and 50, respectively, and all 'are arranged in substantially the same plane inasmuch as the metal forming these elements is thin. The opposite ends of the central section 32 are each undercut as at 52 for receiving electrical couplings 54 and 56. These couplings are each secured in place by a screw 58. The 'couplings support an elongated lamp 60, for example of the fluorescent type. 'Ihese couplings and likewise the lamp, are supported midway 'between the ends 34 and 36 of the central coupling 32. Obviously the lamp 60' extends throughout substantially the full length of the main frame.

Each of the sections 38 and 40 is provided with an open bottom groove 62 adjacent the outer end thereof .and with a lip 64 at the extreme outer end thereof and below the groove 62. The lips 64 support the translucent cover 26, the cover having 'an inwardly extending poition 66 'which rests upon the lip 64 and upwardly extending portions 68 which fit within the groove 62. The ends of the cover 26 are open |and are slid into place, and these ends |are thereafter covered by a metallic strip 70 which is provided with :an inwardly extending extension 72.

The central section 32 is provided with longitudinally extending and parallelly xarr-anged uprights 74 and 76 which are spaced from one another. Each of these uprights is provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 78. Each clip is provided with an upwardly faci-ng shoulder 80. The clip 28 is formed of resilient material, the shoulders 80 of which are a'daptcd to be snapped over the shoulders 78 of the uprights 74 and 76. The clip 28 is also provided with an upwardly extending ear v82 having a hole therethrough, through which the wire 30 is threaded. The uprights 74 and 76 are provided with confronting grooves 84 for receiving a plate 86 which is wed'ged in position. The extension 72 of the cover 70 is fastened to this plate 86 by a screw 88.

The sections 32, 38 and 40 m-ay be formed of extruded material, as for example aluminum.

The under sides of the sections or strips 32, 38 and 40 are finished so that the reflecting surfaces 48 and 50 are of higher value than the reflecting surface 46. It has been discovered that by properly differentiating the reflecting value of the central reflector 46 with respect to the outer reflecting surfaces 48 and 50, and by the use of a tran-slucent covering, the illuminating value is substantially the same throughout the entire under side of the cover 26, although only a single lamp is employed. Many specifications for lighting fixtures and particularly those used in schools, require that the illuminating value of the entire under side of a cover be substantially the same, and heretofore it was deemed necessary to employ -a plurality of elongated lamps, arranged in substantially the same pl-ane. By reason of the present invention the same result is achieved by employing a single lamp of somewhat higher wattage. In this manner the cost of the electrical couplings has been materially reduced; also one lamp of higher wattage value is far less expensive than two or more lamps of lesser 'wattage value.

As an example, the reflecting surface 46 of the central strip 32 may be formed by anodizing the aluminum while the reflecting surfaces 48 and 50 of strips 38 and 40 are cover-ed with white enamel. Obviously any other form of coatings of contrasting reflecting valeus may be applied to give the results as achieved by the anodizin-g -and the coating with enamel.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and descn'bed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claim th-at follows.

I claim:

A lighting fixture comprising in combination:

(A) means forming an elongated frame;

(B) an elongated translucent cover extending longitudinally of said frame, the major portion of said cover being planar in Shape;

(C) an elongated lamp carried by the frame longitudinally thereof and disposed mid-Way of the sides of the frame and cover;

(D) and means for eifecting substantially const-ant illumination value throughout the entire pl'ana-r surface of the translucent cover comprising:

(1) An elongated vcentral section extending longitudinally of and substantially throughout the length of the frame `and cover, said section having -a light reflecting surface coufronting the elongated lamp, said light reflecting surface being planar and extending throughout the length :and width of the section; and

(2) Two elongated sections, one on one side and the other on the opposite side of the central section and coextensive therewith, said latter two 'sections having planar light reflecting surfaces lying in substantially the same plane as the light reflecting surface vof the central section, the light reflecting surfaces of the latter two sections 5 being inherently of greater light refiecting value, said lamp being disposed between the cover and said light refiecting surfaces;

(E) means for attaching the three Sections to the frame.

(F) land means for attaching said elongated, translucent 10 cover to said two elongated sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Johnson Mar. 1, 1927 Doane Dec. 8, 1942 Lenze et al. June 3, 1958 Bodian et al Dec. 16, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 29, 1927

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