Abstract:
A skylight shaft is coated with a highly reflective film to maximize the amount of light transmitted from the top of the skylight to a room below the skylight. Surface irregularities are formed in the shaft or adhesive that holds the film onto the shaft to diffuse the light and thereby prevent the formation of focal “hot spots” in the room below.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to skylights.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,896,713 and 6,035,593, both of which are owned by the same assignee as is the present invention and both of which are incorporated herein by reference, tubular skylights are disclosed. Both of the skylights can use the skylight dome disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,712 also owned by the same assignee as is the present invention and also incorporated herein by reference. These inventions represent advances over the prior art and one or more of them has found commercial success.  
           [0003]    Briefly, a tubular skylight such as those mentioned above includes a tube assembly mounted between the roof and ceiling of a building. The top end of the tube assembly is covered by a roof-mounted dome or cover, such as the one disclosed in the above-mentioned &#39;712 patent, while the bottom end of the tube assembly is covered by a ceiling-mounted diffuser plate. With this combination, natural light external to the building is directed through the tube assembly into the interior of the building to illuminate the interior.  
           [0004]    The present invention has recognized that to optimize the light transmission into the building, the internal cylindrical surface of the tube assembly should be highly reflective. As understood by the present invention, one way to render a skylight tube assembly internally reflective is to laminate a reflective film onto the inside of the tube assembly or polish the inside of the assembly. With such a surface, the amount of light entering the dome that reflects off the tube walls as it propagates to the diffuser plate is maximized.  
           [0005]    As understood herein, as the light is reflected through the tube assembly, focal points can form in the downwardly reflected light exiting the tube assembly. As further recognized by the present invention, the reflected light can become so intensely focused that it can damage the diffuser. Moreover, the diffuser is, at certain times, unable to diffuse all of the focal points in the reflected light exiting the tube assembly. These un-diffused focal points result in “hot spots” in the room sought to be lighted, i.e., bright spots, that appear on the walls, floor, etc. of the room in which the tubular skylight is installed. The present invention recognizes, however, that the light can be diffused within the tube assembly prior to reaching the diffuser so that the focal points are reduced.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    A skylight assembly includes a skylight shaft having a layer of reflective film on the inside of the shaft A layer of adhesive holds the film to the shaft The skylight assembly further includes a surface irregularity formed in the adhesive, the reflective film, or the shaft.  
           [0007]    In a preferred embodiment, a skylight dome covers the top end of the shaft. Moreover, a diffuser plate covers the bottom end of the shaft. The film can include plural layers and can have a specular reflectance of 50% or more. Most preferably, the film is greater than ninety-nine percent (99%) reflective. The surface irregularity can be formed in the adhesive as the adhesive is deposited on the inside of the shaft, or it can be patterned into the film or substrate.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the skylight assembly includes plural surface irregularities that establish a pattern, although the irregularities can be randomly distributed if desired. In a preferred embodiment, each surface irregularity includes an upper face and a lower face. The upper face establishes a first angle with respect to a long axis of the shaft. The lower face establishes a second angle with respect to the long axis of the shaft, and the first angle is more acute than the second angle.  
           [0009]    In another aspect of the present invention, a skylight assembly includes a skylight shaft having a layer of reflective film on the inside of the shaft. A layer of adhesive holds the film to the shaft. Means for diffusing light as it is reflected through the length of the shaft are also provided.  
           [0010]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for making a skylight shaft includes providing a flat substrate, and forming surface irregularities in the substrate. Then, the flat substrate is rendered reflective. In this aspect, a shaft is formed out of the substrate.  
           [0011]    In still another aspect of the present invention, a method for making a skylight shaft includes providing a flat substrate, forming surface irregularities in the substrate, and applying adhesive to the substrate. A reflective film is applied to the adhesive. A shaft is formed out of the substrate.  
           [0012]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method for making a skylight shaft includes providing a flat substrate. Adhesive is applied to the substrate. In this aspect, surface irregularities are formed in the adhesive. A reflective film is applied to the adhesive. Then, a shaft is formed out of the substrate.  
           [0013]    In still another aspect of the present invention, a skylight assembly includes a skylight shaft. This aspect further includes means for reflecting light through the shaft. Also, the skylight assembly includes means for diffusing light as it is reflected through the shaft.  
           [0014]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, a skylight assembly includes a shaft. Also, the skylight assembly includes a reflective film having an otherwise smooth inner cylindrical surface except for at least one light diffusing anomaly.  
           [0015]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side view in partial cross-section of the tubular skylight of the present invention;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a cross-section view of a shaft, showing plural surface irregularities formed on the interior surface of the shaft;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 a  is a detail view of one type of surface irregularity, shown by circle  3  in FIG. 2;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 b  is a detail view of another type of surface irregularity;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 c  is a detail view of yet another type of surface irregularity;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 3 d  is a detail view of still another type of surface irregularity;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is flow chart of a method for forming the surface irregularities;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a first alternative embodiment of the method for forming the surface irregularities;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a second alternative embodiment of the method for forming the surface irregularities by deforming the adhesive layer;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a third alternative embodiment of the method for forming the surface irregularities by deforming the substrate and reflective film system;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 8 is a flow chart of another alternative embodiment of the method for is forming the surface irregularities; and  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 9 is a flow chart of another alternative embodiment of the method for forming the surface irregularities. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0028]    Referring initially to FIG. 1, a tubular skylight made in accordance with the present invention is shown, generally designated  10 , for lighting, with natural sunlight, an interior room  12  having a ceiling dry wall  14  in a building, generally designated  16 . FIG. 1 shows that the building  16  has a roof  18  and one or more joists  20  that support the roof  18  and ceiling dry wall  14 .  
         [0029]    As shown in FIG. 1, the skylight  10  includes a rigid hard plastic or glass roof-mounted cover  21 . The cover  21  is optically transmissive and preferably is transparent. In one embodiment, the cover  21  can be the cover disclosed in the above-mentioned &#39;712 patent. Or, the cover  21  can be other suitable covers, such as the covers marketed under the trade name “Solatube” by the present assignee.  
         [0030]    The cover  21  is mounted to the roof  18  by means of a ring-like metal flashing  22  that is attached to the roof  18  by means well-known in the art. The metal flashing  22  can be angled as appropriate for the cant of the roof  18  to engage and hold the cover  21  in the generally vertically upright orientation shown.  
         [0031]    As further shown in FIG. 1, an internally reflective hollow metal shaft assembly, generally designated  24 , is connected to the flashing  22 . The cross-section of the assembly  24  can be cylindrical, rectangular, triangular, etc. Accordingly, while the word “tube” is used from time to time herein, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention are not to be limited to a tube per se.  
         [0032]    The shaft assembly  24  extends to the ceiling  14  of the interior room  12 . Per the present invention, the shaft assembly  24  directs light that enters the shaft assembly  24  downwardly to a light diffuser assembly, generally designated  26 , that is disposed in the room  12  and that is mounted to the ceiling  14  or to a joist  20  as described in the above-mentioned &#39;593 patent.  
         [0033]    The shaft assembly  24  can be made of a metal such as an alloy of aluminum or steel, or the shaft assembly  24  can be made of plastic or other appropriate material. The interior of the shaft assembly  24  is rendered reflective by means of, e.g., electroplating, anodizing, metalized plastic film coating, or other suitable means. In one preferred embodiment, the shaft assembly  24  is rendered internally reflective by laminating the inside surface of the shaft assembly with a multi-ply polymeric film made by Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M). A single ply of such film is transparent, but when hundreds of layers are positioned flush together and then thermally laminated to the interior surface of the shaft assembly  24 , the combination is specularly reflective, preferably, over fifty percent (50%) specular reflective. By fifty percent (50%) specular reflective, it is meant that fifty percent (50%) of an incident beam is reflected back off the film for each reflection.  
         [0034]    In one preferred embodiment, the shaft assembly  24  is established by a single shaft. However, as shown in FIG. 1, if desired, the shaft assembly  24  can include multiple segments, each one of which is internally reflective in accordance with present principles. Specifically, the shaft assembly  24  can include an upper shaft  28  that is engaged with the flashing  22  and that is covered by the cover  21 . Also, the shaft assembly  24  can include an upper intermediate shaft  30  that is contiguous to the upper shaft  28  and that can be angled relative thereto at an elbow  31  if desired. Moreover, the shaft assembly  24  can include a lower intermediate shaft  32  that is slidably engaged with the upper intermediate shaft  30  for absorbing thermal stresses in the shaft assembly  24 . And, a lower shaft  34  can be contiguous to the lower intermediate shaft  32  and join the lower intermediate shaft  32  at an elbow  35 , with the bottom of the lower shaft  34  being covered by the diffuser assembly  26 . The elbow  35  is angled as appropriate for the building  16  such that the shaft assembly  24  connects the roof-mounted cover  21  to the ceiling-mounted diffuser assembly  26 . It is to be understood that where appropriate, certain joints between shafts can be mechanically fastened and covered with tape in accordance with principles known in the art.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 2 and disclosed in further detail below, each segment of the shaft assembly  24  (or the sole segment of a single-shaft assembly  24 ) is internally coated and configured as follows. Taking the lower shaft  34  as illustration, to provide a means by which light reflected through the shaft is diffused before reaching the diffuser assembly  26 , plural surface irregularities  38  are formed on the interior surface  36  of the lower shaft  34 . When a first ray of light, represented by line  40 , is reflected by a surface irregularity  38 , it is reflected at an angle with the interior surface  36  that is different from the reflection angle of a second ray of light, represented by line  42 , that is reflected by a different portion of the interior surface  36 . As shown, this continues as the light  40 ,  42  is reflected through the length of the shaft  34 . Each time, the first ray of light  40  is reflected by a surface irregularity  38  or a smooth portion of the interior surface  36  at an angle different from the second ray of light  42 . Thus, as sunlight, including the first ray  40  and second ray  42 , is reflected through the shaft  34 , it is diffused by the surface irregularities  38 , and the likelihood of any focal points forming in the reflected light is eliminated. It is to be appreciated that the surface irregularities  38  can be formed at random or in a discernable pattern, as shown.  
         [0036]    Referring to FIG. 3 a,  details concerning the configuration of a non-limiting example of a surface irregularity  38  is shown. FIG. 3 shows that a surface irregularity  38  can include an upper-oriented surface  44  and a lower-oriented surface  46 . As shown, the upper surface  44  is formed at an angle α with respect to the longitudinal axis L. The angle α is such that it will alter the path of a ray of light striking it without causing the light to be reflected back up the shaft toward the skylight dome  21 , e.g., α&lt;ninety degrees (90°). It is to be understood that the angle α can be altered if the shaft  34  is angled with respect to vertical in order to prevent light from being reflected up the shaft  34 . The angle β is chosen so that it is less acute than the angle α, or otherwise established to ensure that the length of the lower-oriented surface  46  is less than the length of the upper-oriented surface  44 , to prevent downward-propagating light from being reflected back up the shaft  34  toward the dome  21 . It is to be appreciated that the surface irregularities  38  can be nearly any shape and size, as long as they alter the reflection angle of light traveling through the shaft  34 , but do not reflect light back up the shaft  34 . It is also to be appreciated that each of the shafts  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  which can make up a multi-segment shaft assembly  24  can be formed with the surface irregularities  38  so as to diffuse the light along the entire length of the shaft assembly  24 .  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 3 a  shows that the surface irregularity  38  can be formed in the shaft  34 . The shaft  34  acts as a substrate to which a reflective film  47  is attached using an adhesive  48 . As described in detail below, the adhesive  48  is disposed on the substrate and then the film  47  is laid over the adhesive  48 . FIG. 3 b  shows that a surface irregularity  38   a  can be formed in an adhesive  48   a  instead of a substrate, i.e., a shaft  34   a.  Then, as described in detail below, a film  47   a  can be laid over the adhesive  48   a.  In either case, whether formed in the substrate or the adhesive  48 ,  48   a,  since the film  47 ,  47   a  conforms to the adhesive  48 ,  48   a  and the substrate, the irregularity introduces a surface anomaly in an otherwise smooth cylindrical film surface for diffusing light.  
         [0038]    Still further, as shown in FIG. 3 c  plural radial grooves  38   c  can completely or partially circumscribe a shaft  24   c  to establish the present surface irregularity. Each groove  38   c  can have an upper segment  39   c  and a lower segment  39   d,  with the length “x” of each upper segment  39   c  being one-half the length “y” of the lower segment  40   c.    
         [0039]    As yet another example, FIG. 3 d  shows that plural longitudinal grooves  38   d  that run part way or completely the vertical length of a skylight shaft  24   d  can establish the present surface irregularities. Or, surface irregularities can be formed randomly, without any pattern at all.  
         [0040]    Referring now to FIG. 4, a method for forming the surface irregularities  38  is shown. Commencing at block  50 , a flat substrate, e.g., a sheet of aluminum or steel, is provided. At block  52 , the surface irregularities  38  are formed in the substrate. The surface irregularities can, e.g., be formed by moving the substrate through appropriately formed rollers, rolling an appropriately formed roller across the substrate, or pressing the substrate with an appropriately formed press. Returning to the logic, at block  54  adhesive is applied to the substrate. Thereafter, a reflective film is applied to the substrate on the adhesive. At block  58 , a shaft, having the surface irregularities on the inside, can be formed by bending the flat substrate into a cylinder.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 5 shows a first alternative method for forming the surface irregularities of the present invention. Commencing at block  60 , a flat substrate is provided. At block  62 , adhesive is applied to the substrate. Moving to block  64 , the surface irregularities are formed in the adhesive by, e.g., rolling the adhesive using a roller having a pattern in the desired configuration, so that portions of the adhesive are thicker than other portions, establishing the irregularities. Thereafter, at block  66 , a reflective film is applied to the substrate over the adhesive formed with the surface irregularities. Continuing to block  68 , a shaft is formed from the substrate.  
         [0042]    Referring to FIG. 6 a second alternative method for forming the surface irregularities is shown and commences at block  70  wherein a flat substrate is provided. Then, at block  72  an adhesive is applied to the substrate. Proceeding to block  74 , a reflective film is applied to the substrate on the adhesive. At block  76 , the surface irregularities are formed by, e.g., rolling a roller across the film, to alter the thickness of the adhesive between the film and the substrate in the appropriate places. Thereafter, at block  78 , a shaft can be formed with the surface irregularities located in the interior of the shaft.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 7 shows a third alternative embodiment for forming the present surface irregularities. Commencing at block  80 , a flat substrate is provided. Continuing to block  82  an adhesive is applied to the substrate. Then, at block  84  a reflective film is applied to the substrate over the adhesive. Moving to block  86 , the surface irregularities are formed in the substrate such that they protrude through the reflective film. The surface irregularities can be formed, e.g., by moving the substrate with the film glued, or otherwise attached thereto, through appropriately formed rollers. Thereafter, a shaft can be formed that has the surface irregularities formed therein.  
         [0044]    It is to be understood that each tubular component of the shaft assembly  24  can be formed with the surface irregularities  38  described above. Moreover, it can be appreciated that the surface irregularities  38  effectively diffuse sunlight entering the shaft assembly  24  such that focal points are reduced at the diffuser. Moreover, hot spots within the light exiting the shaft assembly  24  are eliminated.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 8 shows another way of forming the surface irregularities. Commencing at block  88  the substrate is provided, and at block  90  the film is provided. At block  92  the adhesive is applied to the film to establish the desired surface irregularities. The film is then applied to the substrate at block  94 , and the substrate then formed into the shaft, tubular or otherwise, at block  96 .  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 9 shows yet another way of forming the surface irregularities. Commencing at block  98  the substrate is provided, and at block  100  the film is provided. The adhesive is applied to the film at block  102  in a thin, uniform layer. In contrast, at block  104  a random or repeatable surface irregularity pattern is applied to or formed in the substrate, either before or after applying the adhesive to the film at block  102 . The film is then adhered to the substrate at block  106 , and the substrate then formed into the shaft, tubular or otherwise, at block  108 .  
         [0047]    While the particular SKYLIGHT TUBE WITH REFLECTIVE MATERIAL SURFACE AND SURFACE IRREGULARITIES as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described objects of the invention, it is to be understood that it is the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention and is thus representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention, that the scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the present invention is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more”. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, it is not necessary for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be solved by the present invention, for it to be encompassed by the present claims.