Abstract:
A light assembly includes a linear light source has a longitudinal axis and a refractor and/or a reflector. A main refractor extends along the length of the light source and parallel thereto. The main refractor has a rear portion coated with a reflecting material in a desired pattern extending along the length of the main refractor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the priority of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/111,125 filed Dec. 4, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the lighting field, and, more particularly, to creating efficient and decorative distribution of illumination and flexible projection of linear light sources. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,356,654 discloses a linear light source system which has refraction and reflection in one arrangement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,643 discloses an arrangement using a tubular light source in which a lens system focuses the light onto a photo-conductive cable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,178 discloses a linear light source having a reflector formed of strip-like mirror surfaces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,876,633 discloses a linear light source having a housing bounded by two curved surfaces. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,066 discloses a linear lighting arrangement in which a continuous row of sectional lighting assemblies are used. 
     In my U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,570, issued Oct. 26, 1999, entitled Decorative Prismatic Lens Jacket For A Lineal Source, there is disclosed a jacket for a lineal light source which provides virtual images of the source altered in shape or dispersion and direction. 
     In my co-pending application Ser. No. 08/803,797 filed Feb. 24, 1997, there is disclosed a tubular light source with a generally refractive-reflective lighting jacket surrounding it in which the jacket has flutes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide broad distribution and highly direct indoor and outdoor illumination. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide lighting of the type described which is efficient and decorative. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide lighting which directly projects and distributes light broadly onto adjacent surfaces. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide lighting using shaped light projection. 
     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide such lighting using non-conventional means. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a decorative means of distributing light from linear sources such as fluorescent without diminishing efficiency. 
     It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a system for varying the direction and spread of light from linear light sources. 
     At least in part the benefits of the present invention are provided by greater efficiency by using no reflectors, or fewer reflectors than the prior art. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished in the following manners, among others. 
     A light assembly including a linear light source has a longitudinal axis and a refractor and/or a reflector. A main refractor extends along the length of the light source and parallel thereto. The main refractor has a rear portion coated with a reflecting material in a desired pattern extending along the length of the main refractor. 
     There may be a unified reflector partially surrounding the front of the light source and extending along the length of the light source. The reflector has openings therein at selected locations, one set of such openings providing light directly from the light source to the front of the assembly. The reflector has reflecting surfaces extending from the sides thereof and another set of such openings being located between the light source and the reflecting surfaces such that light from the light source is reflected from the reflecting surfaces toward the front of the assembly. 
     There may be a reflector assembly surrounding the length of the light source and including a plurality of reflector segments at least some of which are movable about the light source longitudinal axis. There is one group of reflector segments which are spaced apart from each other on a side of the light source and being connected together for movement together about the longitudinal axis. There is another group of reflector segments which are spaced apart from each other on a side of the light source being connected together for movement together about the longitudinal axis whereby the reflector segments are interdigitated. The groups of reflector segments are movable continuously into different angular positions about the axis whereby the groups may be moved to one position where they are on opposite sides of the light source, another position where they are all aligned on the same side of the light source, and any position therebetween. 
     There may be a plurality of reflecting transmission guides partially surrounding the linear light source and arranged radially with respect thereto and each having an entry face at least partially surrounding the light source, and each having a reflective surface, and each having an exit surface for the light to leave, whereby rays from the light source enter the entry surface pass though its transparent composition to its reflecting surface and are reflected through exit surface as rays. There is a linear refractive element partially surrounding the light source that acts as a connector for supporting the guides and for refracting light which is not collected by the guides for redirecting such rays. 
     There may be a reflector adjacent the light source and extending parallel thereto along the length thereof and the reflector is rotatable about the axis through 360 degrees. 
     There may be four linear light sources and four first reflectors, each partially surrounding a respective light source and extending for the length thereof and each rotatable for 360 degrees about its light source. There is a second reflector on one side of the four light sources and sufficiently large as to be capable of receiving rays reflected from the first reflectors when the first reflectors are in an angular position to reflect light toward the one side. 
    
    
     The means by which the foregoing objects and features of invention are achieved is pointed out in the claims forming the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, may be further understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the following drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a partial isometric view of a lighting arrangement with part cutaway of a linear light arrangement of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial isometric view of a lighting arrangement similar to FIG.  1  and having a specular patterned reflector on part of the front refracting element of the refractive jacket. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view of a lighting arrangement similar to FIG. 1, and having a central refracting element. 
     FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the light pattern formed by the lighting arrangement of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing one type rear refractor. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view showing another type of rear refractor. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view showing a further type of rear refractor. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view showing one type of central refractor. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view showing another type of central refractor. 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic sectional view showing a further type of central refractor. 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view showing one type of front refractor. 
     FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view showing another type of front refractor. 
     FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view showing a further type of refractor. 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view of a lighting arrangement having a unified reflector structure. 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of the lighting arrangement of FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic view showing a lighting pattern of the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view showing another lighting pattern of the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a lighting arrangement which includes a series of reflectors partially surrounding a light source. 
     FIG. 19A is a side view of the structure shown in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 19B is a side view of the structure shown in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 19C is a side view of the structure shown in FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a lighting system using various reflecting and refracting components. 
     FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view of a section through the system of FIG. 20 having a fluted linear refracting surface. 
     FIG. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing another type of linear refracting surface. 
     FIG. 23 is a diagrammatic view showing a further type of linear refracting surface. 
     FIG. 24 is a diagrammatic view showing still another type of linear refracting surface. 
     FIG. 25 is an isometric view of a rotatable reflector shown in its upper position. 
     FIG. 26 is an isometric view of the rotatable reflector shown in FIG. 25, but in a side position. 
     FIG. 27 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing two reflectors, one being rotatable and in its lower position. 
     FIG. 28 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the reflectors of FIG. 27 with the rotatable reflector being in its side position. 
     FIG. 29 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the reflectors of FIG. 27 with the rotatable reflector being in its upper position. 
     FIG. 30 is a schematic view of a lighting arrangement wherein there are four light sources. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cutaway section view of a linear lighting product containing a linear light source (such as a fluorescent tube)  10  surrounded by a refractive jacket  12 . Refractive jacket  12  is composed of a rear refracting element  14  and a front refracting element  16 . The rear refracting element  14  has a pattern of specular surfacing  18  that may be vacuum deposited on either the inside or the outside surface of  14 . The specular surface  18  may be of other reflective materials such as specular aluminum or aluminized polyester. Rays  20  emanating from light source  10  pass through rear refractive element  14 , while rays  22  emanating from light source  10  are reflected by specular surface  18  toward and through front refracting element  16  as rays  24 . The resulting visual effect of the combined elements is a pattern of bright shapes at specular surface  18  and dim shapes at non-reflective areas of rear refracting element  14 . 
     The rear refracting element  14  may be fluted at its front and rear surfaces as shown at  15  which is shown as concave to provide negative refraction with the surface facing light source  10  being parallel to the light source. The fluting could also be convex to provide positive refraction. 
     FIG. 2 is identical in structure and function to FIG. 1, with the exception of the addition of a specular pattern  26  applied to the front refracting surface  16 . Rays  28  emanating from light source  10  are reflected off the specular material on the front refracting surface  16  through rear refractive element  14  as rays  30  between areas of the specular surface  18 . 
     FIG. 3 is identical in structure and function to FIG.  1 . FIG. 3, with the exception of the addition of central refracting element  32  that partially surrounds light source  10 . In this configuration, central refracting element  32  is a 180 degree clear tube section having a pattern of reflective elements  34  vacuum deposited upon its surface. Light rays  20  emanating from light source  10  are reflected by reflective elements  34  back toward the light source  10 . The combined results of rays  20  passing through rear refracting element  14 , rays  24  having been reflecting off specular surface  18  and passing through front refracting element  16  and rays  36  being reflected back create a pattern of contrasting areas of relative brightness (when the structure is viewed as in FIG.  4 ). Relative areas of brightness are illustrated with dark areas D, moderately bright areas M, and bright areas B. 
     FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  illustrate cross-sectional variations of rear refractors as shown as  38 ,  40  and  42 , respectively, in FIG.  1 . FIGS. 8,  9  and  10  illustrate cross-sectional variations of the central refracting element  32  as shown as  32  in FIG.  3 . 
     FIGS. 11,  12  and  13  illustrate cross-sectional variations of the front refracting element  16  as shown as  16  in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 shows a linear light source  10  with a rear linear refracting element  38 . Rear linear refracting element  38  is shown as a 180 degree section of a circle for graphic purposes, yet represents any arc of a circle or other curvilinear shape such as an ellipse, parabola, hyperbola or oval. The refracting element  38  is shown as concave cylindrical in shape at  39  to provide negative refraction, but it could be made convex to provide positive refraction. 
     FIG. 6 shows a linear light source  10  with a rear-refracting element  40 . Rear refracting element  40  is shown as one half a hexagon representing any section of a regular or irregular polyhedron. 
     FIG. 7 shows a linear light source  10  with a rear-refracting element  42  in the form of a rectangle. 
     FIG. 8 shows a linear light source  10  with a central refracting element  44 . Although central refracting element  44  is shown as a 180 degree section of a circular tube, represents any curvilinear shape such as an ellipse, parabola, hyperbola, or oval. 
     FIG. 9 shows a central refracting element  46 . Although central refracting element  46  is shown as one half a hexagon, it represents any other portion of a regular or irregular polyhedron. 
     FIG. 10 shows a light source  10  with a central refracting element  48 . Central refracting element  48  is constructed of two curved linear sections. The curvature of these sections may be circular, parabolic, elliptical, or hyperbolic. 
     FIGS. 11,  12  and  13  show front refracting elements  50 ,  52  and  54  respectively of linear light source  10 . The descriptions of front refracting elements  50 ,  52  and  54  match those of rear refracting elements  38 ,  40  and  42 , respectively. 
     FIGS. 5-13 may be considered to represent clear refracting elements with or without patterns of reflecting surfaces on either side of the material. Any of the rear refracting elements of FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  can be combined with any of the front refracting elements of FIGS. 11,  12  and  13 . Any combined elements of FIGS. 5,  6  and  7  and FIGS. 11,  12  and  13  can be combined with any of the central refracting elements of FIGS. 8,  9  and  10 . The arrangement of these elements is graphically illustrated in FIG.  3 . 
     There are connecting elements  56 ,  58  and  60  of FIGS. 8,  9  and  10 , respectively, that may be used to connect the central refracting elements  44 ,  46  and  48  to the rear refracting elements  38 ,  40  and  42 , respectively, or the front refracting elements  50 ,  52  and  54 , respectively. 
     The inner and outer surfaces of the refracting elements (of FIGS. 5-13) can have negative flutes, positive flutes (cylindrical lensing) or V grooves as required, to modify light patterns by altering the direction of rays entering or leaving the refracting elements. 
     FIG. 14 is an isometric view representing a unified reflector structure  63  partially surrounding a light source  10 . Unified reflector structure  63  is a composite of a tubular reflecting section  65  (having open areas  62  on the front of the tube and open areas  64  on the side of the tube) and a rear reflecting surface comprising alternate specular sections  66  with open areas  68  between them. Light from light source  10  traveling through open areas  62  as rays  67  appear as bright areas  72  (FIG.  15 ). Light from light source  10  travelling through open areas  64  as rays  70  are reflected by reflector sections  66  to provide reflected rays  69  which appear as bright areas  74  (FIG.  15 ). 
     FIG. 15 is a plan view of FIG. 1 illustrating a contrasting pattern of light areas  72  and  74  and dark areas  76  and  78 . 
     Although both FIG.  14  and FIG. 15 illustrate a pattern of rectangular reflective and refractive areas, the open or reflective areas may be of any geometric or organic shape. The structure of FIG. 14 may be covered by a refracting jacket such as jacket  12  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG.  16  and FIG. 17 illustrate alternate patterns to that of FIG.  4 . FIG. 16 shows bright area  80  in contrast to dark areas  82 . FIG. 17 illustrates a pattern of colored illuminated stripes as R, Y, and B for red, yellow and blue. Bright areas projecting colored light can be achieved by the coloring the reflective areas or using color filters in open or refractive areas. 
     FIG. 18 is an isometric view of a lighting arrangement  83  which includes a series of reflectors partially surrounding a linear light source  10 . Open reflectors facing right  84  alternate with open reflectors facing left  86 ; closed reflectors facing right  88  alternate with closed reflectors facing left  90 . All reflectors  86  and  90  can rotate 360 degrees about light source axis  92  either individually or in groups or in staggered groups by attaching alternate reflectors mechanically. One manner of accomplishing this is to provide a bar  94  to which is attached reflectors  86  and  90 , and bar  96  to which is attached reflectors  84  and  88 . Closed reflectors  88  and  90  are constructed with specular sides  98 . 
     FIGS. 19A,  19 B and  19 C represent a side view of FIG.  18 . Each figure has two reflectors shown in varied positions to each other. By rotating at least one reflector about light source axis  92  (as shown as rotational arrow  100  in FIG. 18) the rays  102  emanating from light source  10  that are collected by the rotated reflector may be directed away from light source axis  92  at any radial degree that is perpendicular to the light source axis  92 . 
     FIG. 19A illustrates two reflectors,  86  an  84 , collecting and directing rays  102  as rays  104  and  106  at 180 degrees away from each other. 
     FIG. 19B illustrates two reflectors  84  and  108  projecting rays  110  and  112  (respectively ) at 90 degrees away from each other. 
     FIG. 19C illustrates two reflectors  114  and  116  facing the same direction, projecting rays  119  in the same direction. 
     FIGS. 20,  21 ,  22 ,  23  and  24  illustrate a linear light source lighting system and various components thereof. 
     FIG. 20 is an isometric view of a lighting system of various components. The primary component that may be used with light source  10  without the requirement of other components is reflecting transmission guide  118 . The reflecting transmission guides  118  are made of a solid transparent material such as plastic or glass. Guides  118  have an entry surface  120  which fully or partially surrounds the light source  10 , a reflective surface  122  which may be circular, parabolic or ellipsoidal (which reflects by the principle of total internal reflection or by being vacuum deposited with a reflective material to enhance efficiency) and an exit surface  124  for rays to leave. The function of the guides  118  is shown in FIG.  21 . Rays  126  emanating from light source  10  enter entry surface  120 , pass through its transparent composition to reflecting surface  122  (which may be circular, parabolic, or ellipsoidal) and are reflected through exit surface  124  as rays  128 . 
     A linear refractive element  130  partially surrounds light source  10  that can be used with elements  118  as a physical bridge to connect elements  118  and to refract light not collected by  118  for purposes of diffusing or redirecting rays from  10 . 
     FIG. 21 demonstrates the refracting function of one type of cross-section of linear refractive element  130 . Rays  132  emanating from light source  10  are refracted as rays  134  by the negative cylindrical fluting  131  of linear refracting element  130 . Other cross-sectional configurations of refracting element  130  include (but are not restricted to) those shown in FIG. 22 as a positive fluted surface  136 , in FIG. 23 as a double fluted surface  138 , and in FIG. 24 as the surface  140  comprised of V grooves. 
     FIG. 20 shows a bridge member  142  having a reflective surface which (partially surrounding  10 ) can also be used with components  118  as a physical bridge connecting the guides  118  and to collect and project the light not collected by components  118 . 
     The surface of bridge member  142  may be specular or white and may be ribbed in a positive or negative pattern. Bridge member  142  may or may not follow the contour of  122  and may be circular, parabolic or elliptical. 
     FIGS. 25 and 26 are projected views of light source  10  and a reflector  144  (that can rotate 360 degrees about light source  10 , graphically illustrated by arrow  146 ) shown in two positions  148  and  150 . As reflector  144  rotates about light source  10 , rays projected away from reflector  144  change direction in relation to reflector  144  as comparatively illustrated in the direction rays  152  in FIG. 25 to rays  154  in FIG.  26 . 
     FIGS. 27,  28  and  29  illustrate light source  10 , rotating reflector  156  (in positions  158 ,  160  and  162 ), and a secondary reflector  164  which is fixed in its position to light source  10 . As reflector  156  is made to rotate about light source  10 , light emanating from light source  10  is gathered by reflector  156  and projected in a direction away from reflector  156 . FIG. 27 illustrates reflector  156  in position  158  facing secondary reflector  164 , with rays  166  projected toward reflector  164  and being reflected away from reflector  164  as rays  168 . 
     FIG. 28 shows reflector  156  in position  160  projecting rays  172  away from reflector  164  at approximately 90 degrees. FIG. 29 shows reflector  156  in position  162  projecting all rays away from reflector  164  as rays  174 . In addition to the function of reflector  156  projecting light in various directions in relationship to reflector  164 , the radial position of reflector  156  controls the amount of light (emanating from  10 , not gathered by reflector  156 ) that strikes and is therefore reflected by reflector  164 . In FIG. 27 all the light emanating from light source  10  is located in the focal point (or in the optimal optical position) of reflector  156  and reflector  164 . In FIG. 27, light not gathered by reflector  156  is gathered and reflected by reflector  164  as reflected rays  168 . In FIG. 28, a portion of the light not gathered by reflector  156  strikes the right side of reflector  164  and is reflected as rays  168 . In FIG. 29, reflector  156  blocks all the light not gathered from reflector  164 . 
     Reflectors  156  and  164  may have ellipsoidal, parabolic, circular, or other geometric cross sections and may be specular in varying degrees and/or may have negative or positive flutes, bumps or indentations. 
     FIG. 30 shows a configuration of four light sources  10  partially surrounded by reflectors  178 , two of which are in position  180  and two are in position  182 . Reflectors  178  in position  180  collect light emanating from light source  10  and project light towards reflector surface  184 , which then projects light away from surface  184  as rays  186 . When reflectors  178  are in position  182 , light emanating from light source  10  collected by reflector  178  is projected away from surface  184  as rays  186 . Each reflector can rotate 360 degrees about light source  10  and therefore position light away from the source at any angle toward the reflector  184  as indirect illumination or away from reflector  184  as direct illumination. Reflector  184  may be specular, semi-specular, or white. Reflector  184  may be a component of a luminaire or an architectural surface such as a wall or ceiling. 
     It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.