Abstract:
Improved light distribution means comprising light distribution means constructed of material such as plastic, transparent metals and the like, which is strong enough to be used as permanent or mobile structural components of buildings, sidewalks, streets and the like, and as signs, furniture and the like, and having a pair of lens panels formed with a flat front, light emitting surface and an inclined rear light reflecting surface, together with a light source located in a recess formed in the lens panels and serving to deliver light into said lens panels for distribution.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to lighting systems and is particularly directed to improved systems for distributing light for a wide variety of purposes. 
     PRIOR ART 
     For hundreds of years, artificial and solar lighting systems have made our lives much more pleasant and productive. However, prior art light sources and solar light have been limited to point sources, such as flames or incandescent bulbs or to linear sources, such as flourescent bulbs, neon tubes, lasers and the like. Unfortunately all of these light sources are formed of relatively fragile materials. Also, artificial and solar light has been distributed primarily by radiation or, recently, by linear devices, such as optical fibers or wave guides, which are essentially one dimensional. Consequently, although prior art lighting systems have been extremely useful, This lack of a multi-dimensional distribution system has greatly limited the utility of artificial and solar lighting systems. Recently, electricity has greatly increased the usefulness of lighting systems. However, electricity can be extremely hazardous and even fatal, especially when used under water or in explosive atmospheres. Thus, none of the prior art lighting systems have been entirely satisfactory. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF INVENTION 
     These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome with the present invention and improved lighting systems are provided which employ light distribution means, having significant length and width, and formed of rugged materials which permit the use of the light distribution means as permanent and mobile structural components of architectural structures and infrastructure, such as buildings, sidewalks, streets and the like, and in signs, furniture and other uses which makes possible vastly new and different uses of lighting systems. Also, the present invention contemplates using flexible materials which can be bent around corners or coiled and the use of non-electric energy delivery means, such as light pipes, lasers and the like, which can safely be used under water or in explosive atmospheres. 
     These advantages of the present invention are preferably attained by providing an improved lighting system comprising light distribution means constructed of material, such as plastic, transparent metals and the like, which is strong enough to be used as permanent and mobile structural components of buildings, sidewalks, streets and the like, and in signs, furniture and the like, and having a pair of lens panels formed with a front, light emitting surface, which may be planar, convex, concave, faceted, embossed or otherwise surface decorated, and an inclined rear light reflecting surface, together with a light cartridge, insertable in said lens panels and serving to deliver light into said lens panels for even, glare-free distribution, together with energy delivery means which may be non-electric 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improved light distribution means. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide light distribution means having significant length and width. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide light distribution means which can be made small enough to be employed as components of microsized instruments and the like. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide light distribution means which can be employed as in-wall television and the like. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide light distribution means which receives solar power and delivers some of the solar energy to light panels to create light, which may be filtered to enhance or remove infrared, and converts some of the solar energy to electrical energy which can be stored in batteries, fuel cells and the like and distributes the power through electrical or non-electrical means to energize desired electrical or lighting devices. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide improved light distribution means composed of materials which are strong enough to be used as permanent and mobile structural components of buildings, sidewalks, streets, signs, vehicles and the like, and of signs, furniture and the like. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide improved planar light distribution means having vastly new uses. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved light distribution system including non-electric energy delivery means. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved light distribution system which can be safely used under water or in explosive atmospheres. 
     A specific object of the present invention is to provide improved light distribution means comprising light distribution means constructed of material which is strong enough to be used a structural components of furniture, buildings, sidewalks, streets, signs, vehicles and the like, such as plastic, transparent metals and the like, and having a pair of lens panels formed with a front, light emitting surface, which may be planar, convex, concave, faceted, embossed or otherwise surface decorated, and an inclined rear light reflecting surface, together with a light cartridge insertable in said lens panels and serving to deliver light into said len panels for even, glare-free distribution, together with energy delivery means which may be non-electric. 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a light distribution device embodying the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a transverse section through one of the lens panels of the light distribution device of  FIG. 1 , taken on the line  2 — 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of an alternative form of the lens panels of the light distribution device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view showing another alternative form of the lens panels 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, showing an installation embodying the light distribution system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view showing several of the light distribution systems of  FIG. 1  assembled to form a table; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the table of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is side view of an alternative form of the light distribution system of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of another alternative form of the light distribution device of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In that form of the present invention chosen for illustration,  FIG. 1  shows a light distribution system, indicated generally at  10 , having a pair of lens panels  12  and  14  containing a light cartridge  16 . As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lens panels  12  and  14  each have a generally rectangular base portion  13  with a front surface  18 , extending outwardly from the upper edge  15  of the base portion  13 , which serves to transmit the light and a rear surface  20 , inclining upwardly from the lower edge  17  of the base portion  13 , which is darkened, granulated, coated, sprayed or mirrored to reflect and modify the light directed toward the front surface  18 . As seen in  FIG. 1 , the lens panels  12  and  14  are attached in opposing relation. However, it will be understood that the lens panels  12  and  14  may be from integral with each other or may be attached at right angles to each other or in substantially any desired relation, as seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , The light cartridge  16  is inserted into a recess  19  formed in the lens panels  12  and  14  and serves to transmit light into the lens panels  12  and  14 . If desired, the lens panels  12  and  14  may share a recess  19  and have a single light cartridge  16  illuminating both lens panels  12  and  14  or each lens panel  12 , as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , or the lens panels  12  and  14  may be formed separate with each having its own recess  19  and separate light cartridges  16  may be provided for each of the lens panels  12  and  14 . As seen in dotted lines in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The light cartridge  16  may extend the entire length of the lens panels  12  and  14 , as seen in solid lines in  FIGS. 1 and 2  or may be relatively compact and project only a short distance into the lens lanels  12  and  14 , as seen in dotted lines in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Also, the light cartridge  16  contain a suitable light source  9 , such as a fluorescent bulb, neon, mercury or sodium gas tube, laser, etc. and may be supplied with electrical energy from an outside source, not shown, by means of cable  36 . Alternatively, cable  36  may be a device for transmitting non-electric energy, such as light or sonic energy. If desired, a suitable control device  38  may be housed within the light cartridge  16  to monitor and control the light source  9 . For example, cable  36  could carry electrical energy from a generator or other external power source, not shown, and control device  38  could be a power supply which receives the energy from cable  36  and converts it to a form needed to energize the light source  32 . Alternatively, cable  36  could be a fiber optic cable or laser carrying light from an external solar or artificial light source which could be supplied to the control device  38 , which may include suitable light modifying means, such as mirrors, lenses, filters, LEDs, image projection means and the like to control the light sources  32 . When this is done, the light panels  12  and  14  and light cartridge  16  can be located safely under water or in an explosive atmosphere, since no electricity is required. Also, if desired filters can be included in the light modifying means  38  to control the amount of infrared radiation delivered through the light panels  12  and  14  and, hence, can be used to control the temperature of the environment of the light panels  12  and  14 . Alternatively light modifying means  38  could include means such as a photomultiplier and photoelectric cell, to convert the light energy to electrical energy for powering conventional electrical devices, such as furnaces, driers, motors and the like, not shown. Also, if desired light modifying means  38  could include suitable lenses or filters interposed between the light cartridge  16  and the lens panels  12  and  14  to modify the color, frequency or other characteristics of the light transmitted from the light cartridge  16  to the lens panels  12  and  14 . Again, if desired, the light modifying means  38  could include means for projecting television pictures and the like through the light panels  12  and  14 . Furthermore, it will be seen that the lens panels  12  and  14  may be made solid, as shown by lens panel  12 , or may be formed with a central opening  40 , as seen in lens panel  14 . The opening  40  could be filled with a light-enhancing gas, such as neon, mercury or sodium, which will respond to light from light cartridge  16  and will amplify the amount of light transmitted by the hollow lens panel  14 . In addition, other uses of the hollow lens panels will be discussed below. Furthermore, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the front surface  18  of the lens panel  12  or  14  may, if desired, be carved, frosted, etched, embossed, painted or have material applied thereto, as indicated at  42  in  FIG. 3 , to form lettering, designs or to otherwise modify the texture of the light transmitted from surface  18  and, if desired, the front surface  18  may be made concave or convex to focus or diffuse the light from the lens panel  12  or  14  or may be sculpted or otherwise formed, as seen at  22  in  FIG. 3A . 
     In use,  FIG. 4 . shows a building, indicated generally at  44  having framing studs  46  with a plurality of the light distribution devices  10  mounted on the studs  46  to serve as floor, wall and ceiling panels, as seen at  48 ,  50  and  52 , respectively, to provide unique interior lighting and decoration concepts. If the lens panels  12  and  14  are energized, by a fiberoptic light pipe or the like, it is possible to project images internally of the lens panels  12  and  14  which can be viewed by people in the room. Obviously, the light pipe could receive energy from solar panels or the like, which makes the light distribution system of  FIG. 4  especially useful in space stations, space ships and the like. Also, the non-electric energy delivery means may, if desired, generate no heat and electricity. Consequently, the light distribution system described above, can be used for temperature regulation, as well as providing light, and can be used safely underwater or in explosive atmospheres. Additional light distribution devices  10  can be mounted to form an exterior wall, as seen at  54 , to provide a lighted facade for the building  44 . Other light distribution devices  10  can be embedded in the ground to serve as sections of sidewalks or streets, as seen at  56 , to provide additional exterior lighting and to provide safety and security for pedestrians and motorists. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  show a plurality of the light distribution devices  10  assembled together to form a table, with one pair of lens panels  12  and  14  attached in opposing relation to form the top of the table, while other pairs of lens panels  12  and  14  are connected beneath these, at angles to each other, to form the table legs.  FIG. 7  shows a light distribution device  10  mounted assembled on suitable legs  60  to form an illuminated couch. In this instance, a pair of lens panels  12  and  14  are attached, substantially at right angles, to form the seat and back of the couch. It should also be understood that the light distribution system  10  could be miniturized to permit applications in microdevices and the like. 
       FIG. 8 . Shows an alternative form of the light distribution device  10  wherein the lens panels  12  are generally arcuate and triangular in shape. It will be seen that this form of the light distribution device  10  can be used to form lighted domes for buildings or the like.
         1. In another use of the light distribution device  10 , as seen in  FIG. 1 , light control device  38  may include a filter interposed between the light cartridge  16  and the hollow lens member  14  to allow only ultraviolet light to be delivered to the lens panel  14  and water or sewage can be passed through the opening  40  to be purified by exposure to the ultraviolet light of lens panel  14 .       
     Obviously numerous other variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, it should be clearly understood that the forms of the present invention described above and shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.