Abstract:
A direct/indirect task light for use in connection with office work stations has an elongated light source, preferably a fluorescent bulb as the source. The light source has a housing that is imperforate, but has an opening directed toward an overlying canopy that forms a reflector for the light. The canopy has perforations or apertures therethrough so that light will pass through the perforations to the exterior to provide ambient lighting. Light striking the canopy surface between apertures will be reflected from the lower surface of the canopy onto an office work surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a lighting system used in connection with office work stations that provides a light that provides both direct and indirect lighting. A canopy is provided over the lamp or light source, with a number of perforations through the canopy that permit light to be transmitted outwardly from the canopy as well as reflecting from the surface of the canopy facing the light source.  
           [0002]    Eye strain caused by glare from lights has been recognized as a source of discomfort. Eye strain can cause lack of energy, loss of productivity, decline in mental sharpness, and even muscular and skeletal injuries. Direct lighting has long been used in work places to light work surfaces, but this causes harsh glares, and also reflections when computer screens are used. Direct lighting makes it difficult for the eyes of workers to adjust, as the eyes move from a white paper, to a computer screen and to glossy magazines, for example.  
           [0003]    A recent trend in lighting at the work place has been away from direct lighting to a combination of ambient lighting and task lighting. Ambient lighting is used to illuminate the overall work environment, and task lighting is used to decrease shadows under heightened storage. Task lighting also provides additional light for work requiring higher light levels.  
           [0004]    Individually controlled task lighting in addition to ambient light will direct the light onto a work surface, and by angling the light or otherwise adjusting the light, enough illumination can be provided to a work area or top while glare is minimized.  
           [0005]    Direct/indirect lighting is mixed from direct sources and indirect reflection, and means that different types of luminaries or lamp housings are installed. The luminaries emit light both up to the ceiling and down to the work area. A balance of ambient illumination and accent or focus lighting can be provided in addition to having energy efficiency and control over reflective glares.  
           [0006]    Direct lighting is directly from a source but is not reflected from other surfaces. Typically direct lighting refers to ceiling mounted or suspended luminaries with light distributed chiefly downwardly. Standard, under cabinet mounted task lights fall in the direct lighting category. Direct lighting can be very energy efficient and effective but it does leave the ceilings fairly dark creating “cave-like” environments and often causes reflected glare on computer screens, desk surfaces and glossy paper.  
           [0007]    Indirect lighting is created by reflection off the walls or ceiling surfaces. Luminaries are work station mounted, wall mounted or suspended from the ceiling and disperse light upwardly to be reflected toward work areas off the ceiling and walls. This does create a soft undisturbing atmosphere appropriate for concentrated work although it does become disconcerting if the ceiling is the brightest surface in the room. In addition, indirect lighting is not as energy efficient as other types of lighting, and controlling brightness or the degree of illumination can be a problem.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention relates to a direct/indirect combination of lights in a light assembly used as task lights or work space lights, without uncomfortable glare and reflection. A comfortable balance of indirect yet focused light is provided. The light assembly includes a canopy or overlying wall surface with perforations that emit light outwardly to provide an ambient illumination in the room. The under surface of the canopy wall is made reflective, so that it will reflect light down onto a work top in the work station, or in the area where computer operations, reading or other office work is taking place.  
           [0009]    The present lighting system or light assembly has a light source used in combination with the canopy, with the light source mounted below the canopy but directing light upwardly toward the canopy. Preferably the light source is an energy efficient fluorescent lamp, that is mounted in an imperforate, open top reflective housing that does not permit any direct light to be radiated down on the work top. All of the light is directed or reflected up to the underside of the canopy. Suitable reflectors can be used around the fluorescent lamp.  
           [0010]    The perforations of the canopy are formed so that they are relatively small, and preferably, but not necessarily, evenly spaced to provide an open area of approximately 10-15% of the area of the canopy wall. This permits lines of light that directly emanate out the openings or apertures of the canopy upwardly. Ambient lighting in the environment of the work station is thus provided. The undersurface of the canopy is made reflective, generally using a white reflective surface that will tend to focus the indirect light onto the work top or work station below the light.  
           [0011]    The light canopy and light source are mounted as a unit, and will fit well onto uprights used for work station panels, or are easily adapted to any type of mounting. They can be provided in widths that are varied according to the needs of the work station area, and easily powered from regular power sources. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical work station utilizing a direct/indirect light assembly made according to the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view from the underside of a canopy of a light assembly showing a light source in position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a double sided canopy using the direct/indirect lighting assembly of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a single canopy for one side of a work station panel made according to the present invention with parts broken away to show a supporting frame;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a double canopy made according to the present invention with parts broken away to show a supporting frame;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a single sided canopy showing the mounting frame and light source in position; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is an enlarged side view of a hinge support for the light housing; and  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line  8 - 8  in FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    Referring to FIG. 1, a work station or work area indicated generally at  10  comprises a series of upright supports  12 , that support a work top or surface  14 , and divider panels  16  extending between the uprights  12 . The panels  16  can support bins or hoppers  18  for holding papers or the like, and suitable shelves  20  also can be supported onto the upright  12  in a normal manner with brackets  20 A. The shelve can be perforated as shown and can be inclined, with tapered front panels  19 .  
         [0021]    In order to light the work surface  14 , without glare, and yet provide ambient light, light assemblies  22  made according to the present invention are supported on the uprights in a suitable manner, such as with retainer hooks or the like. Light assemblies  22  as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be directed toward one side of the work station. In FIG. 2, different shelves  24  are shown, with side panels  26  and a shelf member  28  that is perforated so that it also will let light shine directly below the shelves if desired.  
         [0022]    The light assembly  22  has a framework  30 , which is shown in greater detail in FIG. 4, and also in FIG. 6. The framework  30  is a cantilevered type framework that has a back frame with upright end members  32 , that are adapted to be supported on uprights  12 , or on other support members. The upright end members  32  are joined with longitudinal stringers  34  that are spaced apart in a vertical direction. The upright end members  32  and stringers  34  form a base frame section  35 . Outwardly extending canopy support stringers  36  are attached to ends of the upper one of the cross members  34 , at the upper end of the upright end members  32 . The canopy support stringers are attached as arcs and are supported with a bridging or bracing rod  38  and a tension carrying cable  38 A in a suitable manner. The rod  38  and cable  38 A are fixed to the uprights  32  of base frame section  35  and connect to the outer ends of the canopy support stringers. A front cross member  40  is also provided between the outer end of the canopy support stringers  36  to provide the frame assembly  30 .  
         [0023]    A canopy shown at  42  is made to be supported on the stringers  36 , and fold over the upper one of the cross members  34 , so that it extends down on the back side of the cross members  34 . A portion of the back wall is shown at  44 , in FIG. 4.  
         [0024]    The canopy  42  is made of a suitable sheet material, such as a metal or other material that is desired, and is of size to span the open spaces of the frame  30 . The canopy  42  is formed in an arc, so it is part cylindrical, about a longitudinal axis that extends along the width of the workstation. The arc of canopy  42  is less than 90°.  
         [0025]    An under surface  46  of the canopy  42 , as seen in FIG. 2, is white, and is a light reflective surface. The canopy  42  is perforated with numerous holes or perforations  48 , that are of size to let small diameter shafts of light through. The apertures are preferably evenly across the entire canopy area to provide for approximately 30% to 40% open area on the canopy  42 . That means that shafts of light that are indicated by rays in FIG. 4 for example will go upwardly into the office space, and reflect off the walls and ceiling, to provide for ambient lighting that is essentially “filtered.” It does not cause glare or high density reflections. The light that is reflected off the interior surface  46  of the canopy, is reflected down onto the work surface or work top  14 , as indirect light, to provide a low glare soft lighting for the work area which normally will be covered with paper, usually white. Additionally, if a computer screen is used, the reflected lighting from the canopy is not a high glare light that would reflect directly from the computer screen. The apertures  48  are not all shown in the drawings, but would be provided in the entire canopy wall.  
         [0026]    The frame  30  hingedly supports a lamp or light housing  50 , which, as shown, has an imperforate (solid) wall  52  that is on the lower side of the light housing  50 , and has a vertical or upright wall  54  that is also imperforate, that extends along the plane of the frame cross members  34 , and is positioned on the inside of the panel  44  of the canopy. The light housing  50  has end walls  56  that support fittings  58  for receiving a fluorescent light tube, shown schematically at  60 . The light housing  50  is mounted onto the lower cross member  34  with suitable hinges  64 , shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and  8  to permit adjusting the light housing  50 , as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 6. The hinge members  64  include a “Z” shaped bracket  65  having one leg  66  has one leg  66  secured to the lower frame member  34  in a suitable manner, such as with screws or rivets or other fasteners. The bracket  65  has a second leg  67  that extends at right angles to the leg or wall  66  and a third leg  68  that is tapered outwardly toward the top and is perpendicular to leg  66 . A hinge or pivot bracket  69  is “L” shaped and has one leg  69 A adjacent to and pivoted to the leg  67  of the bracket  65  with a pin  70 . The pin  70  forms a hinge axis parallel to the axis of the canopy arc. The bracket  69  also has a leg  69 B perpendicular to leg  69 A and in alignment with the leg  68  of bracket  65 .  
         [0027]    The leg  69 B is mounted to the rear wall of the light housing  50  in a suitable manner, for example with a bracket  70 C, that is only schematically shown.  
         [0028]    As shown schematically in FIGS. 6, 7 and  8  an adjustment thumbscrew  71  can be used between the pivot bracket  69  and the bracket  65  to permit adjusting the angle of the light housing about the hinge axis. The screw  71  is threaded through a hole in the pivot bracket leg  69 B. By turning the screw  71  the pivot or hinge bracket and the light housing  50  can be adjusted at a selected angle from a starting position shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 6 and 7 upwardly to the solid line position shown. The thumbscrew at each hinge can be adjusted to change the angle of the light housing. Other forms of adjustable pivots or angle adjustment connections can be used.  
         [0029]    Changing the angle of the light housing  50  will change the angle of incidence of light coming from the fluorescent tube  60  as shown in FIG. 6. Adjusting the angle of the light housing relative to the canopy  42  can change the focus of light coming from the fluorescent tube  60 .  
         [0030]    These light paths are illustrated schematically at  72  and  74 , respectively, to show the different paths that the light can take.  
         [0031]    The double side canopy light assembly  80  shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, is constructed in substantially the same way. The light  80  has frame  82  that uses a center frame member  84  comprising transversely extending members  34 A, which are substantially the same as that shown at  34  in FIG. 4. In this case, the end stringers  86  extend in both directions from the center frame  84 . The stringers  86  form arcs extending in the two opposite directions from the center. The stringers  86  are suitably supported with a brace  88  and a cable  88 A back to the center frame  84 . The stringers are connected together with transverse members  92  at each end.  
         [0032]    The light assembly  80  has a perforated canopy panel  90 , which as shown extends from one end transversely extending member  92 A across the frame  84  to the second transversely extending member  92 B. This double frame can be mounted where there are double (back to back) work stations, or where there is a similar need for lights on both sides of a divider. The canopy panel  90  is made in the same manner as the canopy panel  42 , and is perforated with apertures  94  formed through the panel. The underside surface  96  of the canopy panel  90  is again reflective, and the perforations or aperture  94  permit shafts of light to pass out as previously described.  
         [0033]    The canopy panel is formed in an arc matching the arc of stringers  86  about a central axis. The arc of the double canopy is a total greater than 90°, and it extends equal amounts on opposite sides of the plane of center frame member or base frame section  84 .  
         [0034]    When the light assembly is used, as can be seen in FIG. 3, there will be lamp housings on both sides of the center dividing frame  84 . The lamp housings are supported on the lower frame members  34 A, with hinges as shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0035]    The two lamp or light housings can be seen in FIG. 3. The lights will be connected with suitable electric lines  98 , and of course suitable switches can be provided as well. The double sided light assembly having the larger canopy  90 , can be suspended from the ceiling if desired to provide the light patterns and reflected light as described in a room area.  
         [0036]    It has been found that apertures or holes are preferably in the range of {fraction (3/16)} of an inch and can range between ⅛ and ¼ inches in diameter, with {fraction (3/16)} diameter apertures, a spacing of about ½ an inch has been adequate. The spacing can vary between ⅜ to ⅝ inches, and is preferably just over twice the aperture diameter. The curve or radius of the arc of the canopies can be adjusted as desired, but a radius in the range of 33 inches has been found to be adequate.  
         [0037]    While the illustrations do not show the apertures or openings in the canopy panels throughout the entire surface, it is to be understood that the entire surface of the canopy panels that receive light will be provided with the openings or apertures to permit light to pass through.  
         [0038]    The canopies can be made of any desired material, but thin metal that is coated suitably with a reflective coating on the underside, and then painted or coated with the desired color on the top side works satisfactorily. The apertures extend through the material of the canopy. The arc shaped reflective surface permits better reflection and focusing of the reflected light onto the work station.  
         [0039]    It can also be noted that any type of an adjustable hinge can be used. The center pin can be adjusted for tightening the parts together, so that the load required for moving the hinge is increased and adjustment can be accomplished.  
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.