Patent Publication Number: US-6213622-B1

Title: Step lighting for theaters and the like

Description:
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/036,286 filed Mar. 6, 1998 for a Theater Lighting System now U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,996. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to lighting systems, and more particularly to step lighting systems for illuminating stairway steps and aisles in theaters and the like for providing suitable illumination without creating obtrusive lighting. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various forms of lighting systems have been devised for theaters for lighting aisles, stairs and the like. Typically, low voltage string lighting systems are used which incorporate an incandescent or LED lighting strip having a number of spaced light bulbs or light sources. 
     In the case of steps and stairs, typically one or more stair “nosing” strips are provided at the edge or “nose” of each stair. For a number of years these devices have been provided for illuminating either upwardly from the forward edge of the stair or downwardly onto the riser and/or the next lower step so that the edge of each stair is illuminated and visible whether one is walking up or down the stairway. Lighting systems of this nature are particularly desirable and useful in environments where the lighting level is low, such as in motion picture theaters and the like. With the advent of “stadium” type seating in motion picture theaters, stairs are more common in these theaters today, thereby creating a further need for suitable stair edge nose lighting. 
     Various forms of extrusions either of metal, such as aluminum, vinyl or plastic have been devised for holding a string of spaced light sources on a stair nose for illumination either upwardly or downwardly, or both. Typical lighting systems of this nature for illuminating both upwardly and downwardly involve either an extrusion for containing two sets of lights, or plural extrusions which are joined together with each holding a set of lights, for providing the upward and downward lighting. Generally, these lighting systems are relatively complicated because of the dual lighting systems involved. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,468 assigned to the assignee of the present application, discloses an improved step lighting system for the stair edge or nose, and wherein a single lighting string in combination with an extrusion provides both the upward and downward illumination. In one embodiment, a combined lens and reflector is provided to allow light from a string of lights to be reflected upwardly and light from that string to impinge through the lens downwardly toward the riser and/or step below. In another embodiment, the extrusion houses a prism-type lens assembly for directing light both upwardly and downwardly. In another embodiment, the extrusion houses a dual reflector system for reflecting light from a light string both upwardly and downwardly. In a still further embodiment, the extension houses a lens and prism-type lens assembly for directing light both upwardly and downwardly but with improved downward illumination. In each instance, the extrusion may include slots at either end thereof for receiving the ends of carpet, such as carpet on the step and carpet on the riser. 
     Although the foregoing step lighting systems provide suitable lighting, they involve providing an extrusion for each stair edge or nose, as well as extrusions for providing wire ways to the various strings of light. 
     Application Serial No. 09/036,289 discloses several alternative and/or additional lighting systems for theater stairs, aisles, floors and the like, and which both provide suitable lighting for patrons walking along these areas and without generating light that may be obtrusive to those sitting in seats, viewing a motion picture, or the like, but further provide relatively simple lighting systems as compared to stair edge or nose installations. 
     In that application one embodiment comprises a strip lighting fixture having a series of lamps or LEDs adjacent a reflector located underneath the arm rest of a theater chair (or under an outer edge of the chair) to illuminate the adjacent steps or aisle. Another embodiment involves a small vertical strip light on one or both sides of the riser of each step of a stair. Other embodiments involve a hand rail having a series of lamps disposed therein or thereon, and strip lighting for use along an aisle or the like. The lamps in each embodiment preferably are LEDs. 
     Other examples of lighting system for use in theaters and other locations are found in patents which disclose lighting associated with theater chairs such as Kasual U.S. Pat. No. 1,575,690, Hiltman U.S. Pat. No. 2,635,681, Lewensohn U.S. Pat. No. 1,488,888, Irminger U.S. Pat. No. 1,879,273, Roth U.S. Pat. No. 1,420,059 and Machielse U.S. Pat. No. 2,865,438. Examples of stair lighting systems other than commonly used stair nose lighting systems are Willfurth U.S. Pat. No. 3,753,217 and Lowery U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,327. Examples of lights within a hand rail are found in Grenadier U.S. Pat. No. 3,057,991, Foulds U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,871, Elliott U.S.Pat. No. 4,161,769, Albris U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,372, Orlicki U.S. Pat. No. 2,310,593, and Conratt U.S. Pat. No. 3,740,541. None of these provide the relatively simple stair and aisle light systems as disclosed herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present application provides an improved form of stair lighting device and system over those previously disclosed, and in an exemplary embodiment comprises a simple lighting fixture which can be attached to a wire way of a stair riser on one or both sides of a stair to provide light preferably in three directions, namely toward (1) the riser, (2) the step below, and (3) the wire way on the step below. A light fixture can snap on to or be secured by a screw fastener on the riser wire way, and electrical wires for powering the lamps or LEDs of the fixture run within the wire way. This system eliminates the need for a bull nose on the edge of the stair, and simplifies installation and reduces cost. In an exemplary embodiment, the lighting fixture includes three LEDs which may, for example, be amber colored or any other suitable colors, and a lens or other translucent or clear cover or other color lens can be provided over the LEDs. The housing can be molded as one piece in a configuration to snap into the wire way base located on each side of each step and have an extruded lens. 
     Additionally, an improved form of lighting fixture for use on or under the arm rest of a theater chair for illuminating the adjacent stairs, aisle and/or floor is disclosed. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting system. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved step lighting system. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a single light fixture for holding several lights for directing light onto a stair, riser, aisle, floor or the like. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide a new form of lighting system for the risers of stairs. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a riser lighting system comprising a small vertically mounted light fixture on one or both sides of the riser of each step of a stair. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a new under arm lighting fixture for use under the arm rest of a theater chair for illuminating the adjacent stairs, aisle or floor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and features of the present invention will become better understood through a consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 a  is a perspective view of stairs and adjacent theater seats having riser light fixtures of the present invention, 
     FIG. 1 b  is an exploded view of a portion of a wire way and riser light fixture of the present invention, and 
     FIG. 1 c  is a cross-sectional view of a wire way; 
     FIG. 2 is a more detailed exploded perspective view of the riser and corner wire way, along with one embodiment of a riser light fixture according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the lamps or LEDs within the riser light fixture; 
     FIGS. 4 a  through  4   c  are illustrations of the riser light fixture of the present invention and further indicate the direction in which the lamps or LEDs thereof are aimed; 
     FIGS. 5 a  through  5   c  illustrate an alternative light fixture for use under the arm rest of a theater chair for illuminating the adjacent stairs, aisle or floor, and 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a mounting bracket for the fixture of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1 a,  the same is a perspective view of an exemplary theater stairway  10 , adjacent theater seats  12 , wire ways  14  and  15  on the sides of the stairs  10 , and light fixtures  18  attached to the wire ways  14  and  15  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The wire way  14  and fixture  18  is shown in an enlarged perspective view in FIG. 1 b,  and is shown and illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 1 c,  and  2  through  4 . Also illustrated in FIG. 1 b  is a lens or other form of transparent or translucent cover  18   a  which covers the lights of the fixture  18  as will be further discussed below. 
     It should be noted that in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 b,  the housing or fixture  18  includes upper and lower lips  20  and  21  which fit into the wire way riser section  14   d  in riser base  14   b  and corner  14   a  to facilitate installation. For example, the lower lip  21  can fit into a groove  24  in the wire way section  14   d  of base  14   b,  and the upper lip  20  can be covered and secured by the corner wire way  14   a  so as to secure the fixture  18  onto the wire way  14 . The riser wire way base  14   b  can be secured to the riser of the stairs  10  in any suitable manner, as by a screw fastener  19 . 
     Turning now to FIG. 2, the same is an enlarged perspective view of the wire way  14  and light fixture  18 . This embodiment is substantially identical to that shown in FIG. 1, except in this embodiment the light fixture  18  is secured to the wire way  14  by a screw fastener  24  rather than via the snap-in lips  20  and  21 . The fixture  18  includes a base section  26  and lamp section  28 , all preferably molded in one piece of suitable plastic such as impact grade ABS. The wire way is formed of rigid PVC, and comprises the base sections  14   b  and  14   c , cover section  14   a  and cover section  14   d.  FIG. 1 c  shows how the cover section  14   d  fits in the base section  14   b.    
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view similar to that of FIG. 2, but with the lens  18   a  of the fixture  18  removed. The lamp housing  28  includes three cavities  30 ,  32  and  34  which are molded in a particular manner so that light from each respective LED  36 ,  38  and  40  is directed in appropriate directions to properly illuminate the stair and riser. FIGS. 4 a  through  4   c  illustrate exemplary angles for the light beams of the respective LEDs, with FIG. 4 a  being a top view, FIG. 4 b  being a front or elevational view, and FIG. 4 c  being a side view looking at the light fixture  18  from the riser. The letters “A” and “B” in FIG. 4 c  illustrate exemplary dimensions for the height of the fixture  18  and length of the lens, “A” indicating the height and “B” indicating the length of the lens. An exemplary number for “A” is 1.65 inches and for “B” 1.19 inches. The letter “C” illustrates an exemplary distance (such as 0.585 inch) from the bottom of the corner piece  14   c  to the top of the fixture  18 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a new form of lighting fixture for use under the arm rest of a theater chair, and of the general type described in greater detail in said application Ser. No. 09/036,289, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. This fixture  50  preferably is molded as one piece of plastic and with a plurality of side cavities  52 - 55  and end cavities  56 - 57  for respective LEDs  62 - 65  and  66 - 67 . An upper surface  70  typically is mounted underneath the arm of a theater chair of the type illustrated at  72  in FIG. 1 a  so as to provide lighting toward an adjacent stairway such as stairway  10  in FIG. 1 a.  Alternatively, it can be mounted on the side of the chair below the arm. FIG. 6 shows a suitable mounting arrangement wherein the body  74  of the fixture  50  includes grooves  76  on each side thereof (only one of the grooves being seen in FIG. 6) into which edges  78   a  and  78   b  of a bracket  78  snap to hold the light fixture  50  under the arm rest. The bracket  78  itself is suitably secured underneath the arm rest as by screw fasteners (not shown). 
     FIG. 5 a  particularly illustrates the direction in which the cavities  52  through  57  are angled so that light from each of the respective LEDs  62  through  67  is directed as desired toward the stairway  10  (FIG. 1) and the risers and steps thereof. 
     While embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications and equivalents are intended to be covered.