US1304363A - Indirect and semi-indirect fixture - Google Patents

Description

R. F. PECKHAM. INDIRECT AND SEMI-INDIRECT FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. I917.

Patented May 20, 1919.

[NYEAZ'TUH RE'smrzLr 2-? PE :KHAM,

Hrs Arraazxzzar.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REGINALDv F. PECKHAM, OF RUGBY, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INDIRECT AND SEMI-INDIRECT FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 20, 19-19.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REGINALD F. PEGK- HAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Rugby, county of Warwickshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indirect and Semi- Indirect Fixtures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to lighting fixtures and more particularly to fixtures such as are used in systems of semi-indirect and indirect lighting. In such systems the usual practice is to suspend beneath the light source a shallow bowl of translucent or non-transparent material, the latter being usually suspended from the ceiling by means of chains, or by means of supports radiating out from a, central hanger. The lamp or lamps are suitably supported in this bowl, and the bowl serves to partially or totally re-direct,

the downward rays of light upwardly onto the ceiling, the latter being white or light colored so as to reflect and diffuse the light rays downward again into the room. Such fixtures, especially where there is only one high candle power lamp with a concentrated source of light supported therein, have the disadvantage that shadows of the suspendchains or radial supports are cast on the eel ing, and also that there is a. sharp line of 'cutofi on the ceiling or the upper part of the wall caused' by the opaque bowl in a totallyindirect system.

The object of my invention is to overcome these disadvantages and to that end it.consists in the employment of a difl'usin means of such character and so arranged t at the direct rays from the lamp striking the edge of the bowland the chains are caused to pass through a diffusing medium thereby greatly softenin the line of cutoff in non-transparent bowfs and diminishing or avoiding the shadows of the chains, while both the indirect and direct rays which do not cause these troubles pass freely upward to the ceiling and re unobstructed and unimpeded by the difiusing means. I More particularly Iprovide bands of diffusing material and arrange them beneath the chains or supports so as to intercept the shadow-casting rays but permit all other rays to freely pass up to the A rther ob ect of my invention resides in the arrangement whereby in addition to 65 the avoidance of shadows and sharp outlines which cause this trouble a di on the ceiling the difl'using means is simply and easily supported and eflicient ventilation of the fixture is obtained by the particular arrangement and character of the diflusing means.

Other advantages of my invention will be apparent on an inspection of the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 of which shows one modification of my invention. Fig. 2 shows another modification, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of one element of the fixture illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is illustrated an indirect or semi-indirect fixture embodying a bowl 1 suspended by a plurality of chains 2, usually three in number. In an indirect fixture the bowl 1 may be of some opaque material, either metal or glass, and this bowl is conveniently provided with a detachable interior reflector 3, or the interior surface of the bowl 1 itself may comprise a reflecting medium. In a semi-indirect fixture the bowl 1 is referably of some a translucent material, as rosted, opalescent, or pr1smat1c glass, and in this case the interior reflector 3 is dispensed with. In thesemi-indirect system a portion of the light passes downwardly from the light source directly through the bowl and a part thereof is reflected up to theceiling, while in an ing. In accordance with one feature of my invention, I interpose in the ath of the rays Easing medium, while a free and unobstructed passage is offered to all other rays iming from the light source. This dilfusin means consists of diffusing bands located tween the sus pending chains 2 or radial supports and the light source, and in the referred arrange? ment these difi'using ban s are incorporated in the clear glass cover or skirt 5 located just above the; lamp bulb 4. These bands 6 correspond in number to the suspending chains or radial-supports and are incorporated in the skirt 5 in any suitable manner, as by etching, sandblasting or painting in such a &

manner that they become translucent and diliusing as distinguished from the other parts or the skirt 5 which are transparent and offer a free and unimpeded. passage to a great portion of the upward rays. In this manner only the rays which cause shadows are difiused and consequently the efficiency of the unit or fixture is substantially unimpaired, the greater portion of the direct rays passing up to the ceiling without encountering the diffusing medium. The lower edge of the skirt 5 may also be rendered difiusing as shown like the strips or hands 6 in order to obliterate the Sharp outlines of the rim of the bowl 1 upon the ceiling. This skirt 5 may lee-supported in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by means of downwardly dependin fingers 7 cooperating with a ring 8 whici is adapted to be slid downwardly over the fingers and cause them to grip the flaring rim of the skirt.

In Fi 2 is illustrated another modification em odying a translucent or opaque bowl 1 similar to the one illustrated in Fig. 1. The difiusing bands in this case are incorporated in a carrier of a character to promote ventilation of the fixture. To this end this carrier consists of a cylindrical member of clear glass 5 resting directly on the bulb l. Since the carrier or cover does not conform to the configuration of thebub 4:, it may be supported directly thereon without causing undue heating of the bulb at the points of contact, radiation from the bulb being unimpeded thereby. The lower end of the cylinder 5 may be made difiusing, as is indicated in dotted lines, in order to avoid sharp outlines of the bowl on the ceiling.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofi the United States, is,-

1. In indirect and semi-indirect lighting fixtures, the combination of a bowl and a light source therein with'aplurality of suspending devices for the bowl attached at one end to the bowl and at the other end to the ceiling support above the light source and a transparent cover for the lamp having bands of difiusing material incorporated therein situated directly between thelight source and the suspending devices for intercepting and difi'using the shadow-casting rays, all other rays passing freely to the ceiling without loss by diffusion.

2. In indirect and semi-indirect lighting fixtures, the combination of a bowl and an incandescent lamp therein with a plurality of suspending devices attached at one end to the bowl and at the other end to the ceiling support above the lamp and a cover of a configuration difierent from the configuration of the bulb and resting directly thereon, said cover having diffusing means incorporated therein located between the light fila- 3. In indirect and semi-indirect lighting fixtures, the combination of a bowl and an incandescent lamp therein with a plurality of suspending devices attached at one end to the bowl and at the other end to the ceiling support above the lamp and a cover resting directly on the bulb, said cover having dif fusing means incorporated therein located between the light filament and the suspending devices for intercepting and difi'using the shadow-casting rays.

4:. In indirect and semi-indirect lighting fixtures, the combination of a bowl and an incandescent lamp therein with a plurality of suspending devices for the bowl attached at. one end to the bowl rim and at the other end to the ceiling support above the incandescent lamp and atransparent cylinder resting on said lamp bulb and having incorporated therein diffusing bands located directly between the light source and the suspending devices for intercepting the shadowcasting rays, all other rays passing freely and unobstructedly to the ceiling.

5. In indirect and semi-indirect lighting fixtures, the combination of a bowl and a light source therein with a plurality of suspending devices attached at one end" to the bowl and at the other end to the ceiling sup port above the light source and a transparent cover for said lamp bulb having incorporated therein diffusing bands situated directly between the light source and the suspendin devices and also having incorporated t erein adifl'using ring located di rectly between the rim of the bowl and thelight sourcefor intercepting the shadowcasting rays, all other rays passing freely and unobstructedly to the ceiling.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 'y hand this twenty eighth day of February, 1917.

REGINALD F. PECKHAM. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. FULLER, JOHN HALroRIn

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