Environmental control room dividers

A portable wall-like room divider rests on a floor and rises to a height of preferably at least three feet. Front and rear facings of the divider, in conjunction with edge and internal members, form a cavity in which a light source (two diverse light sources in an alternate embodiment) is positioned for producing reflected light which is transmitted through a hidden light-transmisive portion of the front facing for illuminating a designated task area of the room. An additional light filter can be added. An externally-located adjusting member is linked to the light source to allow adjustment of the position of a member of the light source so that the pattern of light passing through the light-transmissive member can be varied. The divider is brought into communication with heating (or airconditioning) ducts for dispensing heated (or cooled) air into the designated task area. The cavity communicates with an exhaust duct for exhausting heat generated by the light source, which heat is processed, preferably for reuse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to the art of portable room dividers, and 
more particularly, it relates to a type of room divider which allows 
environmental control of particular task areas being defined by the room 
dividers. 
Many office buildings, as well as other buildings, are constructed with 
large open floor space from which smaller individual work, or task, areas 
are carved by portable room dividers, or partitions. A difficulty 
encountered when employing such partitions is that, since the shapes and 
sizes of the task areas are not usually predictable when the building is 
built, they form obstacles to environmental control. That is, lighting, 
heating, and cooling are designed for the floor space as a whole, but the 
partitions often hamper the design so that one employee's task area might 
be too dark, another employee's task area might be too cool, etc. This 
problem is complicated in that environmental conditions change between 
winter and summer, so that the same employees who are too cool in summer 
might be too warm in winter, etc. Thus, it is an object of this invention 
to provide a room divider which can be used to define work spaces in an 
open room without adversely affecting environmental control of specific 
task areas. 
In any event, managers of large buildings usually have a difficult time 
pleasing all occupants, in any case, with regard to the environment. What 
is too warm for one person is pleasing to another person; what is too cool 
for a third person is yet not cool enough for a fourth person, It is 
likewise unsatisfying for occupants to not have control of their 
environment and to often have to live under environmental conditions 
pleasing to others, but not themselves. Thus, it is another object of this 
invention to provide room dividers which will allow environmental control 
by individuals occupying specific areas. In achieving this purpose, this 
invention tends to promote satisfaction of employees by enabling them to 
control their environment. 
Large buildings often have much unused space therein which nevertheless, is 
allowed to dissipate unnecessary environmental-control energy. For 
example, tall ceilings of buildings often have lights therein which are 
positioned quite far from the people using them. Thus, light is 
transmitted over whole rooms, and to many areas in which is it not needed. 
Similarly, some areas in which there are no people, or people only occupy 
in transit, are unnecessarily heated and cooled, which is wasteful. 
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and 
system for controlling the environment of specific task areas within large 
rooms without the wasting of energy in adjacent areas. 
In large buildings where there are numerous lights, the lights, ballasts, 
and other elements generate an inordinate amount of heat energy which, 
quite often, is thrown away as waste heat or, even worse, is allowed to 
detract from operation of an existing environmental control system. In the 
wintertime, when heat from the lights could be used for heating work areas 
of the building, the heat from ceiling lights is often left on the ceiling 
where it is too far from people to significantly aid in keeping them warm. 
In the summertime, when attempts are being made to aircondition buildings, 
heat from lights tends to cancel out a portion of the airconditioning, 
which is economically undesirable. Still further, when heat is left in 
lighting enclosures, so that it elevates the temperature of light bulbs, 
it reduces the life span of the light bulbs. Thus, it is yet another 
object of this invention to provide a method and system for recapturing 
heat from light bulbs and beneficially processing the heat. 
It is still another object of this invention to provide a room divider, or 
partition, that acts as an efficient sound absorber and also produces its 
own locally controllable "white sound", or environmental sound, for 
masking sounds in a room. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a light fixture which 
produces exceptionally high quality, individually adjustable, and pleasing 
light. 
SUMMARY 
According to principles of this invention, a portable room divider, or 
partition, is shaped like a wall, normally rests on the floor, and has an 
efficient sound-absorbing material on at least a back face thereof. The 
room divider is preferably at least three feet high from the floor and a 
portion of the front facing thereof is constructed of a light-transmissive 
material, or is open. The room divider has a hidden light source in a 
cavity therein, offset from the light-transmissive portion of the front 
facing, for producing light which passes through the light-transmissive 
material of the front facing. An externally-located adjusting member 
linked to the light source allows positioning of a light-source member for 
controlling the illumination pattern of light passing through the light 
transmissive material. 
In one embodiment the room dividers are coupled to heating ducts of a 
building to dispense heated (or cooled) air into task areas defined by the 
room dividers. In addition, the room-divider cavities are coupled to 
exhaust ducts for exhausting heated air from the light sources and 
transporting such heated air to processing areas for beneficially 
processing such heated air.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIG. 1, room dividers, or partitions, 10 according to this 
invention, are arranged to define a work space, or task area, for a desk 
12. Each of the room dividers 10 is preferably at least three feet tall so 
as to be higher than work surfaces of desks, and other tables, and is 
wall-shaped. However, where work spaces are closer to the floor they can 
be as low as two feet high. Each room divider 10 has a front facing 14, a 
rear facing 16 (FIG. 3) side, top and bottom edge members 18a, b, c, and 
d, and internal partitions 19a and b. The front facing 40, rear facing 16, 
side and top edge members 18a and 18c, and internal partitions 19a and b 
define a light-source cavity 20 therein. 
An upper portion of the front facing 14 is open or is formed of a 
translucent, or otherwise light-transmissive material, 22 which is 
positioned, at least in part, above the work surface of the desk 12. The 
translucent material 22 allows passage of light from the cavity 20 that is 
produced by a light source 24, such as a fluorescent light bulb or tube. 
It will be noted in FIG. 2 that the fluorescent light bulb 24 is offset in 
the light-source cavity 20 far below the translucent material 22. Thus, 
the light-transmissive material 22 and the light source 24 are "hidden" 
from one another such that very little, less than 10% if any, light passes 
directly from the light source 24 through the light-transmissive material 
22. In this respect, the interior of the light-source cavity 20 is covered 
with a totally, insofar as possible, reflective material 26 and positioned 
close to the top of the light-source cavity 20 is an adjustable mirror 28. 
The mirror's position can be changed in two ways: it can be vertically 
slid in slots 30a and 30b (in the side edge member 18a and in the internal 
partition 19a respectively); and it can be rotated about an axis 32. By 
properly adjusting the position of the mirror 28, one can control the 
pattern of light passing through the translucent material 22 toward the 
work surface of desk 12. In an undepicted embodiment, the mirror 28 is 
preadjusted to a fixed position, and cannot be further adjusted. The 
reflective material 26 can be a highly reflective paint, for example, or 
can also be mirrors. 
The room dividers, or partitions, 10 further enable an individual to 
control his task, or work, area environment by controlling the amount of 
heated air in winter, and cool air in summer, that is dispensed into the 
task area. In this respect, in the FIG. 1 embodiment each of the room 
dividers 10 is attached to utility conduits 34, which are shown as 
packaged units in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 it can be seen that each of the 
packaged units actually comprises three conduits, the first conduit 36 
being a temperature-control conduit, the second conduit 38 being an 
electrical conduit for housing power lines (including low voltage power 
for intercoms, 110 v, and higher voltages for electrical machines, for 
example) and telephone lines 40, and the third conduit 42 being a 
heat-exhaust conduit for capturing heat created by the light source 24. 
With regard to the first conduit, or temperature-control conduit 36, this 
conduit is attached to a building heat duct 44 for channeling heated air 
in winter, and cool air in summer, from the main heat duct 44 to a 
temperature control cavity 46 in the room divider 10 defined by the front 
and rear facings 14 and 16, the side and bottom edge members 18b and 18d, 
and by the internal partitions 18a and 18b. The temperature-control cavity 
46 does not substantially communicate with the light-source cavity 20, but 
rather has an outlet 48 (shown with a grill 50 thereon in FIG. 1) for 
allowing this heated, or cooled air to exit from the room divider 10 into 
the partitioned task area. An adjustable flutter baffle 52, or similar 
control, having an outside handle 54 coupled thereto, is mounted in the 
temperature control conduit 36 so that an individual can control the 
amount of heated, or cooled, air exiting from the outlet 48 into his task 
area. 
With regard to the second conduit, or electrical conduit 38, this conduit 
merely allows the passage of electrical wires to electrical outlets 56, 
and electrical wires for supplying low potential for telephones, video 
cable, control circuits, alarms, etc. In an unillustrated embodiment, this 
conduit is actually divided into two subconduits, one for high voltages, 
and one for low voltages. 
Turning next to the third conduit, or heat exhaust conduit 42, this conduit 
communicates with the light-source cavity 20. In addition, the 
light-source cavity 20 has an opening 60 therein for communicating the 
light-source cavity 20 with outside atmosphere adjacent to the light 
source 24, and on the opposite side thereof from the heat exhaust conduit 
42. 
An air impeller 64 is positioned in a heat collection conduit 66 which 
collects heat from light-source cavities of several room dividers 10 (a 
second tributary line 68 from another room divider which is not shown is 
depicted in FIG. 2). This heated air is then beneficially processed in an 
appropriate manner. There are numerous beneficial ways to process this 
heated air and, for the sake of economy, many of these ways are shown in a 
single system in the embodiment of FIG. 2. In one mode of operation of 
this system, the heated air is channeled to a return cool air duct 70 
which transports the air back to a furnace 72 where it is reheated and fed 
to the building heat duct 44 which, in turn, feeds the heated air to heat 
registers such as the outlet 48 in the room dividers 10. In this manner, 
heat from the various light sources 24 are collected and added to the 
heated air of the overall heating system for redistribution so as to 
lighten the load of the heating system. Of course this mode of operation 
of the invention will be employed mainly in the wintertime when the 
furnace 72 is running. 
However, in the summertime, when an airconditioner is used rather than a 
furnace 72, a valve 74 can be moved as is indicated by an arrow 76 to 
thereby channel heated air coming from the light source 24 to an exhaust 
78 which exhausts the heated air to outside atmosphere. Thus, in this mode 
of operation, which is usually used in the summertime, air which is heated 
by the light source 24 does not counteract the operation of an 
airconditioner. In yet another mode of operation, a valve 80 can be moved 
as is indicated by arrow 82 to channel the heated air to a low-temperature 
heat engine to aid in driving an airconditioner, or some other machinery 
or heater. 
FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of this invention which is quite similar to 
the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 with the exception that the utility hookups to 
the room divider 84 are from the floor rather than from the ceiling. Thus, 
it can be seen that a manual flutter valve 86 having an external control 
handle 88, is mounted near the floor to prevent heated or cooled air from 
reaching the outlet 48 and a separate conduit 90 extends along the back, 
to the top of the room divider 84 to capture light-source heat. The 
light-source heat is otherwise channeled in the same manner as is depicted 
in FIG. 2. Electrical and telephone lines 92 extend upwardly from the 
floor to outlets 94. 
The outside of the room dividers 10 and 84, especially the back facing 16 
thereof, is covered with a barrier of acoustical material 96, and in 
addition, the reflective material 26 aids in preventing the passage of 
sound through the room dividers 10. In one embodiment the acoustical 
material 96 is burlap and the reflective material 26 is a rather thick tin 
or aluminum foil. 
In a preferred embodiment, the room dividers 10 and 84 are about five feet 
high, four and one-half feet wide and five and one-half inches thick. 
Other than the translucent material 22, the various baffles and walls of 
the room divider 10 and 84 are constructed of wood, or wood substitutes 
such as pressed board, however, they can also be constructed of metal or 
plastic. In this respect, however, if they are constructed of metal or 
plastic they may not absorb sound as efficiently as if they were made of 
wood. 
In most cases, it is important that the room dividers are at least three 
feet high so that a portion thereof extends over a normal working surface 
of a table to provide light through a translucent material facing to the 
working surface. However, where they are to be used to light floor areas, 
they can be as low as two feet. 
In operation, a building is built without a substantial number of area heat 
registers for dispensing heat, however, sufficient heat ducts are in place 
for heating the entire building. Once the building is ready for occupancy, 
the occupying parties arrange room dividers 10 or 84 (depending on whether 
the utilities are in the ceiling or floor) therein as they desire them. 
Mechanical contractors and electricians then make the necessary utility 
hookups, as described above, to the dividers. Thereafter, workers in the 
task areas defined by the room dividers can control their own work 
environments as they desire. A similar procedure is followed for modifying 
the room divider arrangement. 
FIG. 5 depicts yet another embodiment of this invention. In the FIG. 5 
embodiment, there are at least two diverse light sources 98 and 100. The 
first light source 98 is, for example, incandescent light bulbs, while the 
second light source is fluorescent light bulbs. These light sources 98, 
100 are separately controlled by respective switches 102 and 104. The 
switch 102 for controlling the incandescent light bulbs 98 is not only an 
off/on switch but also variably controls the intensity of the incandescent 
light bulbs. By using this system, light can be individually controlled to 
combine the virtues of diverse type light systems. In the illustrated 
embodiment, light from the two different systems can be, to some extent, 
blended as is desired by the user for beneficial results. It will be 
understood by those skilled in the art that various other types of 
different types of light sources can be used together. For example, 
yellowish colored light from sodium vapor light sources can be combined 
with relatively blue fluorescent light to yield interesting hues. Also, 
one can obtain the substantially instant start of an incandescent light 
source while still having the increased intensity, and more efficient, 
sodium vapor light source utilized in conjunction therewith. It is, as 
will be readily appreciated, possible to combine three, and more different 
types of light sources as is desired for individual control of uses. The 
light fixture of this invention is particularly suited for combining 
various types of light sources since its hidden-light concept with 
numerous reflections prior to light escapement, mix and blend light from 
the various sources. 
Another feature of the FIGS. 5 and 6 embodiment, is a light filter 106 
which is inserted above light sources 98 and 100 but below a fixture 
opening 108. The filter 106, in one embodiment, only allows passage of 
polarized light. In this case, the filter can be made of polarizing 
material such as NICOL or POLAROID. In another embodiment, this filter 
allows passage of only certain colors of light. In yet another embodiment, 
the filter 106 is merely a diffuser. In all of these cases, the filter 106 
enhances the blending and mixing of light broadcast by the light sources 
98 and 100. prior to its escapement from the opening 108. 
Yet another feature of the FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 embodiment is that it includes 
a cover 110. The cover 110 is rotatable about a hinge 112 between two 
positions 114 and 116. In the first position 114 the cover 110 covers an 
opening 118 at the top of a housing 119. In this position, substantially 
all of the light produced by the light sources 98 and 100 passes through 
the opening 108 as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1-4. However, in the second 
position 116, the cover 110 covers the opening 108 and uncovers the top 
opening 118 to allow light produced by the light sources 98 and 100 to 
exit from the top of the housing 119 and thereby strike a room ceiling and 
provide indirect lighting for a room. The intensity of this light can be 
controlled by controlling the angle of the mirror 28. Thus, with the FIG. 
5 embodiment, one can provide either of two types of light, task lighting, 
or indirect room lighting. In an unillustrated embodiment, the housing 119 
does not have the cover 110 and light is always allowed to pass through 
both the front opening 108 and the top opening 118 to both provide task 
lighting and indirect room lighting. In this embodiment the amounts of 
light passing through the respective openings is determined, to a large 
extent, by the angle of the mirror 28. 
Looking at the FIG. 7 embodiment, this embodiment is similar to the other 
embodiments already described, with the exception that there are two 
task-light openings 120a and b on opposite sides of a housing 122. 
FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment of this invention in which a housing 124 is 
connected with hot and cold air heating ducts and electrical utilities by 
means of flexible hoses 126a and 126b. Numeral 128 identifies a suspended 
ceiling in FIG. 8. 
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the room dividers 
of this invention provide highly beneficial individual environmental 
control for specific task areas by allowing individuals to control light 
illumination patterns, light quality and temperature. In addition, these 
room dividers are highly effective in absorbing sounds, to thereby control 
the noise level of the task area. By masking surrounding sounds, the room 
dividers of this invention allow an easy understanding of conversations 
within the task areas and virtually eliminate the requirement for "white 
sound" within a room. In any case, if "white sound" is required, 
individuals can control their own. 
Finally, the environmental room dividers of this invention provide for the 
efficient use of energy by allowing the evacuation, and beneficially 
processing of light-source heat energy. 
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with 
reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those 
skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made 
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
For example, although a height of five feet is normally adequate for most 
environmental control room dividers, if a desk or work surface is 
unusually large or high, a larger room-divider height may be desirable in 
order to properly disseminate the light. 
In addition, although in the depicted embodiment the light source 24 is 
shown located close to the bottom of the room divider it could be located 
almost anywhere inside the room divider, and could also be located at the 
top of the room divider. In this regard, the light source 24 itself could 
be adjustable for controlling the pattern of light passing through the 
diffuser 22. Also, the diffuser 22 could polarize light passing 
therethrough or could filter various colors. 
It should be appreciated that the manner of positioning the light source 24 
depicted in FIG. 2, and in other figures, provides an indirect lighting 
wherein light from the light bulb (such as a fluorescent light and other 
sources) is the result of many reflections. This is especially desirable 
for fluorescent tubes which have a natural flicker, this flicker being 
smoothed somewhat by the indirect lighting. 
Although the duct 90 is shown external of the room divider 84, this is for 
illustrative purposes only, and it would most likely be internal thereof.