Abstract:
A lighting device capable of producing fluid wave projection is disclosed herein. The lighting device includes a lamp support having a bearing member, a wave-generating apparatus, and at least one light source. The wave-generating apparatus is installed on the bearing member and includes a translucent tank body within which a translucent fluid is contained as well as a wave-generating unit immersed in the fluid and installed in the tank body. The light sources are installed at one side of the wave-generating apparatus so that the light emitted therefrom travels through the wave-generating apparatus and produces wave projection.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a lighting device, and in particular to a lighting device which is capable of producing fluid wave projections. 
         [0003]    2. The Prior Arts 
         [0004]    The primary objective of a common lighting device is to provide illumination. Such a type of lighting device usually comprises a lamp support for the installation of a light bulb, which is covered with a lampshade. The disposition of the lampshade varies depending on the functions of lighting. For example, when stronger light is required for the purpose of reading or doing a task, the light reflected off from the lampshade or emitted from the light bulb are directed to the object to be lighted. On the other hand, in the case of general space illumination, the lampshade may be devised transparent and capable of dispersing the reflected light to enlarge the illuminated area. However, the aforementioned dispositions of lighting devices are to illuminate an object or space in the dark by means of the light emitted from the light bulb. They are monotonous and lack of variegation as far as lighting functions and aesthetics are concerned. 
         [0005]    A conventional water lamp has been provided to enhance the aesthetic effect of the regular lighting devices, which utilizes the transparency characteristic of water to produce various shades of brightness of waves. In the conventional water lamp, a glass lampshade that allows water to flow down along its outer shell covers the light bulb. The light emitted from the light bulb projects on the lampshade to produce a projection with various brightness of wave mark. However, the water lamp employs a water circulation device in which water flows through a specially structured glass lampshade to a container, and then pumped up to the top brim of the glass lampshade by a submersible motor to complete a circulation. Such a design results in a complicated structure and thus a higher manufacturing cost. Furthermore, according to the prior invention, the water circulates in open space, which makes it liable to be contaminated by air or dust, or to spill out from the surface of the lampshade and sprinkle on objects located in its vicinity. Therefore, the lighting device requires constant cleaning and maintenance, and causes inconvenience when in use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    To enhance the lighting effect of common lighting devices, as well as to improve the structural disadvantages and projection effect associated with the conventional water lamp, a lighting device is provided according to the present invention. The lighting device generates a variety of wave projections by a simple wave-generating apparatus to improve the variegation and aesthetics of the lighting effect. It broadens the application of conventional lighting, and at the same time is easy to assemble and maintain. 
         [0007]    The lighting device with fluid wave projection according to the present invention comprises a lamp support having a bearing member, a wave-generating apparatus, and at least one light source. The wave-generating apparatus is installed on the bearing member, and includes a translucent tank body that contains a translucent fluid as well as a wave-generating unit immersed in the fluid. The light sources are installed at one side of the wave-generating apparatus so that the light emitted therefrom travels through the wave-generating apparatus and produces wave projections. The wave-generating unit may be a pump or a vibrator, but not limited thereto. The tank body includes a cover and a bottom plate, either of which may be a plane, a convex dome, or a concave dome in structure, but not limited thereto. 
         [0008]    According to the present invention, simply with a sealed tank in conjunction with a fluid and a wave-generating unit, the wave-generating apparatus is capable of generating waves in the tank body. In this respect, the present invention is structurally simpler than prior inventions. Besides, the wave-generating apparatus according to the present invention circulates or vibrates the fluid in a closed space to generate different waves or variegated wave marks which are circumfused by the light source to produce a variety of wave projections at the other side of the light source. In this respect, the present invention not only increases the lighting variation, but also enhances the lighting aesthetics. Furthermore, the closed wave-generating space prevents the fluid from spilling out and contaminated by air or dust. It simplifies the cleaning and maintenance required. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view of the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a wave-generating apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the projection by the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a lighting device with fluid wave projection according to the present invention comprises a lamp support  10 , a wave-generating apparatus  20  and a light source  30 . The wave-generating apparatus  20  is installed on top of the lamp support  10 , and the light source  30  is installed below the wave-generating apparatus  20 . The light emitted by the light source  30  travels through the wave-generating apparatus  20  to produce a wave-like projection at the other side of the wave-generating apparatus  20 . 
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an exploded schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the structure of the lamp support  10  here serves only for illustrative purposes and is not limited thereto. The lamp support  10  includes a fixing member  11  for the installation of the light source  30  and a bearing member  12  for the installation of the wave-generating apparatus  20 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic view of a wave-generating apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. With reference to  FIG. 3 , the wave-generating apparatus  20  includes a tank body  21 , a fluid  22  and a pump  23 . The tank body  21  of the preferred embodiment is a cylinder, but its shape is not limited thereto. It may be a cuboid or any other shape depending on the shape of the bearing member  12 . The tank body  21  includes a cover  211  and a bottom plate  212 . The cover  211  seals the tank body after the tank body  21  is filled with the fluid  22 . The cover  211  and the bottom plate  212  are made of translucent material, such as glass, acrylic, or other similar materials, so that the light emitted by the light source  30  may pass through. The structures of the cover  211  and the bottom plate  212  may be any combination of a plane, a convex dome or a concave dome, but not limited thereto. The dome-like structure creates unique light concentration or dispersion, which variegates the projection effect. 
         [0018]    The fluid  22  is to be filled into the tank body  21 . The minimum amount thereof is one that allows the pump  23  to draw in and discharge water, and the maximum amount thereof is one that may fill the whole tank body  21 . The fluid  22  is translucent, and may be water or fluid of other density. It may be colorless or in any color. 
         [0019]    The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes the pump  23  as the wave-generating unit, but not limited thereto. The pump  23  is a conventional device commonly employed in water gardening. It includes a water outlet  231  and a water inlet  232 , and is powered with electricity by a first power supply cord  233 . Often a sucker (not shown in the drawing) is disposed at the water inlet end thereof to fasten the pump  23  to the bottom plate  212 . In the present embodiment, a fastening board  214  protrudes upwardly from the bottom plate  212  to fix the pump  23  to one corner of the tank body  21 . Besides, a groove (not shown in the drawing) may be formed protruding downwardly from the bottom plate  212  of the tank body  21  to fix the pump  23  in the groove. On the other hand, the first power supply cord  233  connected with the pump  23  may extend outwardly through a through hole  213  formed at the bottom plate  212 . The through hole  213  may be sealed with water-proof sealant to prevent the fluid  22  from leaking out and maintain the sealed state of the tank body  21 . 
         [0020]    There is no specific limitation to the type of light source  30 . It may be an incandescent light bulb, a fluorescent tube, a halogen lamp, or a light-emitting diode. The color of the light is not limited to white or yellow; other colors may apply. The number of the light source  30  is not limited, either. It may be single or plural. 
         [0021]    Please refer to  FIG. 2  again. When assembling the lighting device with fluid wave projection of the present invention, first, the first power supply cord  233 , which is connected to the pump  23 , is connected with the second power supply cord  31 , which is connected to the light source  30 . Then the light source  30  and wave-generating apparatus  20  are installed in sequence to the fixing member  11  and the bearing member  12 , respectively. Thus the assembly of the lighting device with fluid wave projection is rather simple. A lampshade  32  may be further installed around the light source  30  to enhance the aesthetics of the lighting device and soften the light emitted. The design of the lampshade  32  is not limited to the drawing. It may be varied to fit the lamp support  10  or to fulfill the lighting requirement. 
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the projection by the embodiment of the present invention. When the lighting device with fluid wave projection is assembled, the power supply may be switched on to turn the light source  30  on and actuate the pump  23 . In the present embodiment, the fluid  22  fills only part of the tank body. After drawn in, the fluid is discharged toward the cover  211  located at the top of the tank body  21  and forms unique wave marks at the cover  211  before it falls down, which results in the desired irregular variations of wave marks. The light emitted by the light source  30  passes through the irregular wave marks generated by the wave-generating apparatus  20  and forms projection of aforementioned wave marks at the other side. The installation position and discharge direction of the pump  23  is not limited and may be varied depending on the desired effect. The aforementioned wave mark projection may be cast on the wall or on the ceiling to variegate the lighting effect and enhance the uniqueness of the aesthetics. Furthermore, the waves of the fluid  22  are generated in the sealed tank body  21 , which overcomes the disadvantage associated with conventional water lamp caused by the fluid circulation in an open environment. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the wave-generating unit is a vibrator  24  instead of the aforementioned pump  23 . The vibrator  24  may be installed at the center of the tank body  21  of the wave-generating apparatus  20 , but not limited thereto. The vibrator  24  is capable of generating a predetermined frequency. The vibration thereof enables the fluid  22  to produce concentric ripples with the vibrator  24  as the center. Through the projection of the light source  30 , another unique lighting effect is achieved. 
         [0024]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.