Space lighting

Abstract: A space lighting fitting comprises a support (11), lamp holder means (12) and light directing means (14) adjustable between first and second positions giving direct and indirect lighting respectively.

Description: This invention relates to a space lighting, that is to say lighting for illuminating spaces such as rooms of dwelling houses or offices or theatres or even for outdoor spaces such as patios. It is conventional to provide lighting fittings which have shades, reflectors diffusers and the like, and many designs of fittings are available which give indirect lighting as by directing light from a lamp in the fitting on to a wall or ceiling, while many other designs provide direct lighting by allowing light from the lamp to fall directly, either with or without an intervening diffuser or lensed refractor, into the space to be illuminated. In particular with tubular lamps such as fluorescent tubes, fittings comprise a reflector behind the tube with an optional diffuser prismatic controller, or lensed refractor in front of the tube, although often tubular lamps are used to give indirect lighting by being concealed within pelmets or under soffits or within alcoves where, however, they may provide direct illumination on to objects displayed within the alcove, but some indirect illumination into the room space beyond the alcove by reflection from the walls and ceiling of the alcove. Although certain shaded lamps can be adjusted, for example, desk and table lamps, to direct light at a working area, mostly lamps are designed to be permanently positioned to provide direct illumination or indirect illumination in order to achieve a permanent, desired lighting effect in a room, office or other space. The fittings for tubular lamps, such as fluorescent tubes, have been on the whole typical of such permanently deployed lighting fittings. DE-U-8523101 discloses a space lighting fitting comprising a support, lamp holder means and light directing means (5,5') adjustable between first (see Figure 1) and second (see Figure 2) positions giving direct and indirect lighting respectively. DE-C-885382 discloses a light fitting in which reflectors 4 are pivoted for altering the lighting direction; two reflectors are moved together by a ratchet mechanism. GB-A-2082744 discloses adjustable lighting apparatus comprising a shaped back plate (1) and a substantially parallel shaped front plate (7) which plates are spaced apart by triangular end panels so as to form smaller and larger apertures (15,16), these apertures having corresponding openable shutters (17,18). At least one fluorescent or other rectilinear, tubular source of light (25) extends fixedly and perpendicularly between the two end panels and has a reflector (28) turnable about its own longitudinal axis or an axis spaced a short distance therefrom. BE-A-540548 discloses (Figure 2) a table lamp fitting comprising a light directing means (4,5,13,14,15 and 16) which surrounds a lamp (6) held in a lamp holder means (8). The present invention provides improved lighting fittings that give more flexibility of lighting effect whereby a single lamp can be permanently or adjustably deployed in a variety of configurations. The invention comprises a space lighting fitting for illuminating a space and comprising support means for attaching the fitting to a wall or ceiling surface which borders the space, lamp holder means connected to the fitting for holding an elongated lamp therein, the lamp having a longitudinal axis, light directing means adjustable between first and second positions giving direct and indirect light respectively to the space, characterised in that it comprises a generally tubular member extending along said longitudinal axis and rotatable thereabout, said generally tubular member comprising a major arcuate portion of translucent material having a first inside curvature centred on said axis and a minor arcuate portion comprising a reflector and having a reflecting surface having a second inside curvature less than said first inside curvature and, in said first position, transmitting light from the lamp directly into said space through said translucent material and in said second position reflecting light from said lamp off said wall or ceiling surface. The said reflecting surface may be silvered, or may be enamelled. The said translucent material may comprise prismatic controller means, or may comprise lensed refractor means. The fitting may comprise a motor connected to drive the generally tubular member in rotation. The said generally tubular member and the motor may have meshing gears. The motor may have a lay shaft extending along the generally tubular member and drivingly connected to a generally tubular member at each end thereof. Embodiments of space lighting fittings according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :- Figure 1 is a side elevation; Figure 2 is a cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figure 3A, B and C are sections which illustrate different positions for the light directing means of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. Figures 1-3 illustrate a space lighting fitting 11 comprising lamp holder means 12 for a fluorescent tube 13 and light directing means 14 supported for rotation about the lamp holder means 12, and adjustment means 15 adapted to rotate said light directing means 14 about said lamp holder means 12, the light directing means 14 and the lamp holder means 12 being coaxial. The adjustment means 15 comprise rings 16 surrounding the lamp holder means 12 at each end of the tube 13 and fixed with respect to the light directing means 12, and locating means 17 to hold the rings 16 and hence the light directing means 14 in a set position. The locating means 17 comprise a motor 18 connected to drive the ring - which may be a stepping motor controlled e.g. by a wall switch or an infra-red signalling device or actuated by some automatic control arrangement such as a photocell which adjusts to suit ambient light conditions, or by a control signal for operating a plurality of lamps together, as in an office or factory, operating, for example, on a 0.5 to 10 volt d.c. superimposed on or sent separately from the a.c. mains supply. The motor 18 is connected to drive the ring by meshing with it via an idler 19. The motor 18 acts on the rings 16 at both ends of the tube 13 via a lay shaft 21 extending parallel to the tube 13. The light directing means 14 surround the tube 13 and comprise reflector means 22 which comprise an arcuate member 23 (which might have for example a silvered or an enamelled surface 24) having a lesser curvature than the cylinder (illustrated in broken line) which is the locus of its rotation about the axis of the tube 13 (hence of the lamp holder means 12). The light directing means 14 also comprise diffuser, prismatic controller or lensed refractor means 25, which are circular cylindrical and coaxial with their axis of rotation about the tube 13. The light directing means 14 comprise a circular cylindrical shell 14a surrounding the tube 13 and having the reflector means 22 internally thereof. In use, the space lighting fitting can be installed as by screwing it to a ceiling as shown in Figure 2. The tube 13 is removable together with with light directing means for such installation and also of course for the replacement of fluorescent tubes. By "meshing" of course is also to be understood a frictional drive without gear-type teeth, which might facilitate the insertion and removal of the light directing means together with the fluorescent tube. However, the diffuser, prismatic controller or lensed refractor means 25 can be made of a resilient plastics material so that it can be sprung into and out from engagement with the reflector means 22 to facilitate independent access. The arrangements provides a simple and neat solution to the problem of adjustable lighting especially in situations where the lighting fittings are not readily accessible e.g. on a ceiling or high up on a wall. But, with or without the motor or other automatic or remote control arrangement, the fittings can be adapted for use in connection with standard lamps, desk lamps and lamps which are built in to domestic commercial or industrial furniture.

Claims: A space lighting fitting (11) for illuminating a space and comprising support means for attaching the fitting to a wall or ceiling surface which borders the space, lamp holder means (12) connected to the fitting (11) for holding an elongated lamp (13) therein, the lamp (13) having a longitudinal axis, light directing means (14) adjustable between first and second positions giving direct and indirect light respectively to the space, characterised in that it comprises a generally tubular member extending along said longitudinal axis and rotatable thereabout, said generally tubular member (14) comprising a major arcuate portion (25) of translucent material having a first inside curvature (23) centred on said axis and a minor arcuate portion comprising a reflector and having a reflecting surface (24) having a second inside curvature less than said first inside curvature and, in said first position, transmitting light from the lamp (13) directly into said space through said translucent material (25) and in said second position reflecting light from said lamp (13) off said wall or ceiling surface. A space lighting fitting according to claim 1, characterised in that said reflecting surface (24) is silvered. A space lighting fitting according to claim 1, characterised in that said reflecting surface (24) is enamelled. A space lighting fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said translucent material (25) comprises prismatic controller means. A space lighting fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said translucent material (25) comprises lensed refractor means. A space lighting fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised by comprising a motor (18) connected to drive the generally tubular member (14) in rotation. A space lighting fitting according to claim 6, characterised in that said generally tubular member (14) and said motor (18) have meshing gears. A space lighting fitting according to claim 6, characterised in that said motor (18) has a lay shaft (21) extending along the generally tubular member (14) and drivingly connected to the generally tubular member (14) at each end thereof.

Inventors: ABDY COLIN, BURN MICHAEL, ABDY, COLIN, BURN, MICHAEL
Applicants: LIGHT YEARS AHEAD LTD, LIGHT YEARS AHEAD LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: F21V17
IPC codes: F21V17, F21S8, F21S4, F21V7