US3124308A - Goldstein - Google Patents

Description

March 10, 1964 A. GOLDSTEIN ILLUMINATION DIFFUSER CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 8, 1958 United States Patent 3,124,308 ILLUMINATION DIFFUSER CGNSTRUCTION Arnold Goldstein, 3363 Trexler Blvd, Allentown, Pa. Filed Sept. 8, 1958, Ser. No. 759,712 2 Qlaims. (Cl. filth-46AM) This invention relates generally to the field of illumination and more particularly to an improved diffuser construction and means and methods of making the same.

It is desirable under different lighting conditions to prevent persons from directly viewing an intense source of illumination and for this purpose it is known to partially enclose a source of illumination and to provide a grid or grating at the opening, such grid or grating acting as a shield which allows lightrays to go in a predetermined direction and obstructs their passage in other directions in order to get good results. Because of the complex structure involved, it is known to mold the same of synthetic resin but such structures involve relatively high mold costs, high material cost and when the parts are thick enough to be physically strong, they tend to obstruct the passage of light.

It is therefore among the objects of this invention to provide new and useful diffuser construction in which relatively thin material may be used and yet which has the required physical stability even under the influence of the heat.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described which may be used with standard reflectors or enclosures requiring no special structure for the retention thereof.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims:

In the drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of each embodiment.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the device of FIGURE 1 installed.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 33 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of one of the radial members enlarged from FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken from the plane 5-5 on FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective View showing a step in the process of manufacturing the second embodiment.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view partly in section showing a second embodiment of the invention as installed.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 8-8 on FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is an elevation of one of the radial members of the second embodiment.

FIGURE 10 is a sectional view as seen from the plane Iii-1t? on FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is a perspective View of a cushioned gripping member.

Turning to the first embodiment of the invention, the diffusing device generally indicated by reference character 19 comprises broadly a plurality of radial members 12, upper and lower support members 14 and 16 and a bracing member 18.

Since the radial members 12 are substantially identical, a detailed description of one will suflice for all. As seen in FIGURE 4, the radial member is preferably formed by being bent from a fiat strip to have a straight shank portion 2% and a curved portion 21. The portion 12 may have a so-called inner end 22 while the portion 21 may have an outer end 23. While the radial members may be made of any suitable material, I have found them to be most useful when they are made of strip thin steel for some resiliency and provided with a white exterior coa mg.

The upper and lower support members are preferably identical and these may be in the form of an annular ring. While shown in FIGURE 3 as being circular in cross section, as for example, formed from round wire, other cross sectional shapes may be used. The upper and lower support members 14 and 16 are rigidly connected to the upper and lower edges 25 and 26 of the radial members 12 preferably by welding. While the support members 14 and 16 are shown as contacting the edges 25 and 26, it will be apparent that where sufficient heat and pressure are used in the welding process, said support members will be pressed down into the edges 25 and 26 to deform the same thereat. See dot-dash lines (FIG. 3).

The bracing member 18 may be used where additional rigidity in the central portion of the device is desired and the same may be a ring generally comparable to the upper support member 14 but of greater diameter.

Turning to FIGURES l and 2, it will be seen by the full lines in FIGURE 1 that by virtue of the construction and arrangement of the parts, the ends 23 may be pressed radially inward to flex and take the position indicated by the dot-dash lines on FIGURE 1. Thus, for example, in FIGURE 2 the light source 11 may have the shade 13 of a cylindrical shape with a bottom opening 30. The effective internal diameter of the shade 13 is less than the normal relaxed position of the radial members 12 as shown on FIGURE 1. It becomes a simple matter to rotate the device 10 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1 and to simiultaneously press the same into the shade 13. The radial members flex inward and their resiliency causes them to press outward against the inner surface of the lamp shade 13 thereby holding the device It in place frictionally. Since there is only a frictional engagement between the diffuser and the shade, it will be seen that the diffuser may be shifted to optimum position with respect to the shade and the light source. Also, the diffuser having each of the radial members independently resiliently shiftable, will conform to irregularities in the shape of the shade.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the invention, for the purpose of avoiding needless repetition, certain of the parts corresponding to those of the first described embodiment are given the same reference characters with the addition of the prefix 2. The second embodiment difiers from the first embodiment principally in that the radial members have a curved cross section (FIGURE 10) as contrasted with the straight cross section of the rst embodiment (FIGURE 5); the bracing member is omitted; and certain of the outer ends 23 are provided with cushioned gripping members 235.

By the use of strips which form the radial members 212 which have a curved cross section, lighter weight material may be used while still preserving adequate stability and resiliency. The curved surfaces also provide greater light diffusion since their surfaces produce reflections which are interior to the lamp shade 213.

As will be seen in'FIGURE 7 the opening 230 is bounded by an inwardly curved edge 231 which has a latching effect when it coacts with the expansive action of the ends 223. The cushioned gripping members 235, are preferably composed of resilient synthetic resin such as, for example, vinyl copolymer, polyethylene, or similar rubbery material. They are in the form of hollow cups having an outer surface 237 and an inner surface 238. The members 235 are preferably a snug fit on the ends 3 223 and they are preferably applied to provide three or four point suspension by applying the members 235 to selected tip ends 223. The members 235 produce a more stable engagement and tend to prevent abrasion by the ends 223 upon the inner surface of the shade 2113.

Turning to FIGURE 6, one method of producing an article such as the second embodiment is shown. A female jig 340 includes a base 341; a base plate 342 and a plurality of irregularly shaped dividing supports 343. The supports preferably conform to the shape of the radial members 312 and hold them in position during assembly.

In the assembly operation, the lower support member 316 is dropped into place between the innermost faces of the dividing supports 343. Next, the complement of radial members 312 is put into place. Following this, the upper support member 314 is dropped down upon the upper edges of the radial members and between the inner faces of the supports 343. Finally, a male die member 345 is pressed downward by the ram 346 and welding current from a suitable source 347 travels via the conductors 348 and 349 to be applied to the support members 314 and 316. Since the greatest resistance to the passage of the current occurs at the junctures between the support members 314 and 316 and the edges of the radial members welding takes place thereby unifying the structure. The supports are preferably composed of nonconducting material or are preferably insulated from the radial members.

While I have illustrated the present devices as being round in exterior configuration, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates that the general exterior configuration may be changed while using the same general organization and arrangement of parts.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifica 4 tions will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I claim:

1. In a combination louver and lamp shade having an opening for the emission of light rays of fixed dimension, said louver being resiliently maintained within said opening, the improvement comprising: said louver including a centrally disposed circular support member; a plurality of radial members, each having a substantially inner straight shank portion and an outer curved portion, curved longitudinally thereof, with an outer end; said straight shank portions being connected to said circular support member; said outer curved portions being of substantially arcuate shape with the convex surfaces thereof outwardly disposed, whereby the convex surfaces of said outer ends may engage the inner surface of said lamp shade within said opening said outer ends being spaced at substantially equal intervals about the inner periphery of said lamp shade.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in the provision of cushioned gripping members in the form of a hollow cup of resilient material positioned upon the outer ends of said radial members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,053,321 Schrock Feb. 18, 1913 1,453,873 Hicks May 1, 1923 2,017,431 Anderson et al. Oct. 15, 1935 2,298,556 Foss et al Oct. 13, 1942 2,335,181 Heath Nov. 23, 1943 2,437,522 Handler Mar. 9, 1948 2,538,357 Eggleston Jan. 16, 1951 2,765,400 Scherer Oct. 2, 1956 2,777,940 Spiro et al Ian. 15, 1957 2,841,697 Smith July 1, 1958 2,906,864 Boutelle Sept. 29, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 549,152 France Nov. 13, 1922

Claims (1)

1. IN A COMBINATION LOUVER AND LAMP SHADE HAVING AN OPENING FOR THE EMISSION OF LIGHT RAYS OF FIXED DIMENSION, SAID LOUVER BEING RESILIENTLY MAINTAINED WITHIN SAID OPENING, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SAID LOUVER INCLUDING A CENTRALLY DISPOSED CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER; A PLURALITY OF RADIAL MEMBERS, EACH HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY INNER STRAIGHT SHANK PORTION AND AN OUTER CURVED PORTION, CURVED LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, WITH AN OUTER END; SAID STRAIGHT SHANK PORTIONS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID CIRCULAR SUPPORT MEMBER; SAID OUTER CURVED PORTIONS BEING OF SUBSTANTIALLY ARCUATE SHAPE WITH THE CONVEX SURFACES THEREOF OUTWARDLY DISPOSED, WHEREBY THE CONVEX SURFACES OF SAID OUTER ENDS MAY ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID LAMP SHADE WITHIN SAID OPENING SAID OUTER ENDS BEING SPACED AT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL INTERVALS ABOUT THE INNER PERIPHERY OF SAID LAMP SHADE.

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