Abstract:
A wall-washer lighting fixture is installed flush with a ceiling surface and directs light horizontally and vertically along adjacent wall surfaces, closely adjacent to the intersection between the ceiling and the wall surfaces in order to reduce to a minimum any shaded area along wall surfaces adjacent the intersection. The lighting fixture includes first lens elements oriented, located and configured for directing light toward first areas of the wall surface, spaced vertically downwardly from the intersection, and a second lens element located vertically lower than the first lens elements and oriented and configured for directing light toward second areas of the wall surface, located between the first areas and the intersection between the ceiling surface and the wall surface, so as to illuminate the wall surface more uniformly while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection. A method places the first and second lens elements so as to accomplish the aforesaid illumination of the wall surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to lighting fixtures and lighting methods and pertains, more specifically, to wall-wash lighting methods and wall-washer lighting fixtures for installation in a ceiling to light an adjacent wall along a wall area extending essentially to the intersection between the wall and the ceiling. 
   Wall-washer lighting fixtures usually are ceiling-mounted fixtures used to direct light to an adjacent wall for spreading light along the wall surface. The most desirable ceiling fixtures currently in demand are those which are recessed within the ceiling so as not protrude below the level of the ceiling surface. However, such desired flush mounting of lighting fixtures presents a problem for wall-washer lighting fixtures in that currently-available recessed wall-washer fixtures are not capable of lighting a wall all the way up to the intersection between the wall and the ceiling. Even the best of these current wall-washers will leave a very discernable, sharply defined shaded area between the lighted portion of the wall and the ceiling. 
   The present invention provides a unique, flush-mounted ceiling wall-washer lighting fixture and a method capable of directing light to an adjacent wall so as to illuminate the wall essentially all the way up to the intersection with the ceiling. There is no discernable, sharp shaded area since sufficient light is directed close enough to the intersection of the wall and the ceiling to avoid the undesired shading. 
   OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
   As such, the present invention attains several objects and advantages, some of which are summarized as follows: Allows the desired flush mounting of a ceiling wall-washer lighting fixture which accomplishes the illumination of an adjacent wall essentially all the way up to the intersection between the wall and the ceiling; provides an effective, unobtrusive ceiling-mounted wall-washer for casting light along an adjacent wall, without an undesirable shaded area near the intersection between the wall and the ceiling; incorporates a light-directing arrangement in a recessed ceiling-mounted wall-washer lighting fixture and method for enabling the illumination of a wall essentially all the way up to the intersection of the wall with the ceiling; extends the useful range of installations of wall-washer lighting fixtures by virtue of enabling essentially complete and more uniform illumination of a wall by a flush-mounted wall-washer; attains aesthetically appealing lighting effects with less complex lighting fixture installations; provides effective and desirable illumination with increased ease and economy of installation for widespread adoption and use. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The above objects and advantages, as well as further objects and advantages, are attained by the present invention which may be described briefly as a wall-washer lighting fixture for placement in a ceiling at an installation site located relative to a generally horizontal ceiling surface placed at a predetermined vertical level, the installation site further being located adjacent an intersection between the ceiling surface and a generally vertical wall surface, with the lighting fixture essentially flush with the ceiling surface and directing light horizontally and vertically along the wall surface closely adjacent to the intersection in order to illuminate the wall surface while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection, the lighting fixture comprising: a light source for location vertically above the ceiling surface when the lighting fixture is at the installation site; a plurality of lens elements for placement between the light source and the predetermined vertical level of the ceiling surface when the lighting fixture is at the installation site, to receive light from the light source and direct such received light toward the wall surface, the plurality of lens elements including first lens elements oriented, located and configured for directing light received from the light source toward first areas of the wall surface spaced vertically downwardly from the intersection, and a second lens element located vertically lower than the first lens elements and oriented and configured for directing light received from the light source toward second areas of the wall surface, between the first areas and the intersection between the ceiling surface and the wall surface, so as to illuminate the wall surface while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection. 
   In addition, the present invention includes a method for lighting a generally vertical wall surface with a lighting fixture placed in a ceiling at an installation site located relative to a generally horizontal ceiling surface located at a predetermined vertical level, the installation site further being located adjacent an intersection between the ceiling surface and the generally vertical wall surface, with the lighting fixture essentially flush with the ceiling surface and directing light from a light source horizontally and vertically along the wall surface closely adjacent to the intersection in order to illuminate the wall surface while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection, the method comprising: placing a plurality of lens elements between the light source and the predetermined vertical level of the ceiling surface to receive light from the light source and direct such received light toward the wall surface, the placement of the plurality of lens elements including placing first lens elements so as to direct light received from the light source toward first areas of the wall surface spaced vertically downwardly from the intersection; and placing a second lens element vertically lower than the first lens elements so as to direct light received from the light source toward second areas of the wall surface, between the first areas and the intersection between the ceiling surface and the wall surface, so as to illuminate the wall surface while reducing to a minimum any shaded area along the wall surface adjacent the intersection. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention will be understood more fully, while still further objects and advantages will become apparent, in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a wall-washer lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention and installed within a ceiling, spaced from an adjacent wall for illumination of the wall in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a lens member of the lighting fixture; 
       FIG. 3  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a lateral cross-sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the lens member; 
       FIG. 6  is a bottom perspective view of the lens member; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-sectional view, somewhat similar to  FIG. 1 , and showing paths of light directed by the lighting fixture toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , and showing further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 9  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , and showing still further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 7 , and showing yet further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 10A  is an enlarged fragmentary, largely diagrammatic view of portions of  FIGS. 7 through 10 , showing paths of light as directed by the lens member; 
       FIGS. 11 through 15  are similar to  FIGS. 2 through 6 , and show an alternate lens member; 
       FIG. 16  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another wall-washer lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention and installed within a ceiling, spaced from an adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 17  is a top plan view of a lens member of the lighting fixture; 
       FIG. 18  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line  18 — 18  of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 19  is a lateral cross-sectional view taken alone line  19 — 19  of  FIG. 17 ; 
       FIG. 20  is a top perspective view of the lens member; 
       FIG. 21  is a bottom perspective view of the lens member; 
       FIG. 22  is a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-sectional view, somewhat similar to  FIG. 1 , and showing paths of light directed by the lighting fixture of  FIG. 14  toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 23  is a view similar to  FIG. 22 , and showing further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall; 
       FIG. 24  is a view similar to  FIG. 22 , and showing still further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall; and 
       FIG. 25  is a view similar to  FIG. 22 , and showing yet further paths of light directed toward the adjacent wall. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawing, and especially to  FIG. 1  thereof, a wall-washer lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at  20  and is seen to include a housing  22  within which there is mounted a light source in the form of a lamp  24 . Lamp  24  may be any one of a variety of lamps, chosen from currently available incandescent, fluorescent or high-intensity discharge lamps, as well as light-emitting diodes. A reflector system  26  is interposed between the lamp  24  and housing  22  in a manner well-known in the construction of lighting fixtures. A lens member  30  is affixed within housing  22  by a support structure  32  of the housing  22  and is held at an acute angle  34  to the horizontal direction  36 . 
   Lighting fixture  20  is shown installed within a ceiling  40 , recessed so as to be essentially flush with generally horizontal surface  42  of the ceiling  40 , the generally horizontal ceiling surface  42  being placed at a predetermined vertical level L; that is, lighting fixture  20  does not protrude below ceiling  40  to a degree which would disturb the aesthetic effect of a continuous, uninterrupted generally planar ceiling surface  42 . Lighting fixture  20  is constructed so as to illuminate an adjacent generally vertical wall  50 , as well to provide illumination to a floor  52  beneath the lighting fixture  20 , and is installed at an installation site  54  spaced from wall  50  in a direction perpendicular to the wall  50 . As a wall-washer of the present invention, lighting fixture  20  is constructed so as to provide illumination to wall  50  essentially all along wall  50  between floor  52  and ceiling  40 , and so closely adjacent the intersection  56  between wall  50  and ceiling  40  as to reduce to a minimum and essentially eliminate any discernable, undesired shading which ordinarily can be present with conventional wall-washers. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 2 through 6 , lens member  30  is generally planer and has a polygonal perimetric configuration, illustrated as a trapezoidal configuration, which includes a perimetric forward edge  60 , a perimetric rearward edge  62  and perimetric side edges  64 . A plurality of lens elements  70  include first lens elements in the form of lateral lens elements  72  extending along upper surface  74  of the lens member  30 , between side edges  64 , longitudinal lens elements  76  extending along upper surface  74  between rearward edge  62  and the lateral lens elements  72 , and lateral lens elements  78  extending along lower surface  80  of lens member  30 , between side edges  64 . Lens elements  70  further include a second lens element  90  which extends along rearward edge  62 , between side edges  64 . Lens member  30  is transparent and preferably is constructed of glass. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 7 through 10 , viewed in conjunction with  FIG. 10A , as seen in  FIGS. 7 and 10A , lighting fixture  20  is installed at installation site  54  such that rearward edge  62 , and consequently second lens element  90 , is spaced farther from wall  50  than forward edge  60 , and consequently lens elements  72 ,  76  and  78  and, by virtue of angle  34 , lens element  90  is placed vertically lower than first lens elements  72 ,  76  and  78 . Lens element  90  is oriented essentially horizontally, generally parallel to wall  50  and light emanating from lamp  24 , located vertically above ceiling surface  42 , and falling upon upper face  92  of lens element  90  is refracted and is directed, by total internal reflection at surface  94  of lens element  90 , by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens element  90 , through lower face  96  to be refracted and directed along directions depicted by rays  100  to illuminate an area of wall  50 , spread vertically along a wall surface portion  102  extending closely adjacent to intersection  56  between wall  50  and ceiling  40 . Rays  100  are almost parallel to the surface  42  of ceiling  40  and are directed so close to intersection  56  as to provide sufficient illumination to avoid any discernable shading in the vicinity of intersection  56 . Thus, wall surface  102  is illuminated essentially up to the intersection  56 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , viewed along with  FIG. 10A , light emanating from lamp  24  and directed to a lower reflector portion  110  of reflector system  26  is reflected, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lower reflector portion  110 , to enter lens element  90  at a rear face  112  and, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens element  90 , is spread by lens element  90 , as depicted by rays  114 , to illuminate a further area of wall  50  along a wall surface portion  116  immediate below wall surface portion  102 . 
   As seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10A , light emanating from lamp  24  and directed to an upper reflector portion  118  of reflector system  26  is reflected, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of upper reflector portion  118 , so as to enter longitudinal lens elements  76  at upper surface  74  of lens member  30 , pass through lens member  30  to lateral lens elements  78  extending along lower surface  80  of lens member  30  and be directed to still further areas of wall  50  along a wall surface portion  120  immediately below wall surface portion  116 , as depicted by rays  122 . By virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens elements  76  and  78 , rays  122  are spread horizontally along wall surface portion  120  by longitudinal lens elements  76  oriented essentially horizontally, generally perpendicular to wall  50  while, at the same time, being spread vertically along wall surface portion  120  by lateral lens elements  78  oriented essentially horizontally, generally parallel to wall  50 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 10A , light emanating from lamp  24  and directed to upper surface  74  of lens member  30  is further directed, by virtue of the location and configuration of first lens elements  72  and  78 , oriented essentially horizontally, generally parallel to wall  50 , and lens elements  76 , oriented essentially horizontally, generally perpendicular to wall  50 , to yet further areas of wall  50  along a wall surface portion  124 , and toward floor  52 , as illustrated by rays  126 , to complete an overall more uniform pattern of illumination. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 11 through 15 , an alternate lens member  130  also has a polygonal perimetric configuration, illustrated as a trapezoidal configuration, which includes a perimetric forward edge  132 , a perimetric rearward edge  134  and perimetric side edges  136 . A plurality of lens elements  140  include first lens elements in the form of longitudinal lens elements  142  extending along upper surface  144  of the lens member  130 , between forward edge  132  and rearward edge  134 , and lateral lens elements  146  extending along lower surface  148  of lens member  130 , between side edges  136 . Lens elements  140  further include a second lens element  150  which extends along rearward edge  134 , between side edges  136 . As described in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 through 6 , light falling upon lens member  130 , from a light source, is spread horizontally by longitudinal lens elements  142  and vertically by lateral lens elements  146 , by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens elements  142  and  146 , such that acting in concert with second lens element  150 , an overall comprehensive pattern of illumination is completed, as described above. 
   Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 16 through 25 . Turning first to  FIG. 16 , another wall-washer lighting fixture constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown at  200  and is seen to include a housing  210  within which there is mounted a light source in the form of a lamp  212 . Lamp  212  is shown in the form of an incandescent lamp. A reflector  220  is interposed between the lamp  212  and housing  210  in a manner well-known in the construction of lighting fixtures. A lens member  230  is affixed within housing  210  by a support structure  232  of the housing  210  and is held at an acute angle  234  to the horizontal direction  236 . 
   Lighting fixture  200  is installed within a ceiling  240 , recessed so as to be essentially flush with surface  242  of the ceiling  240 , the generally horizontal ceiling surface  242  being placed at a predetermined vertical level LL; that is, lighting fixture  200  does not protrude below ceiling  240  to a degree which would disturb the aesthetic effect of a continuous, uninterrupted generally planar ceiling surface  242 . Lighting fixture  200  is constructed so as to illuminate an adjacent generally vertical wall  250 , as well to provide illumination to a floor  252  beneath the lighting fixture  200 , and is installed at an installation site  254  spaced from wall  250  in a direction perpendicular to the wall  250 . As a wall-washer of the present invention, lighting fixture  200  is constructed so as to provide illumination to wall  250  essentially all along wall  250  between floor  252  and ceiling  240 , and so closely adjacent the intersection  256  between wall  250  and ceiling  240  as to reduce to a minimum and essentially eliminate any discernable, undesired shading which ordinarily can be present with conventional wall-washers. 
   As best seen in  FIGS. 17 through 21 , lens member  230  is generally planar and has an elliptical perimetric configuration which includes a perimetric forward edge portion  260 , a perimetric rearward edge portion  262  and perimetric side edge portions  264 . A plurality of lens elements  270  include first lens elements in the form of longitudinal lens elements  272  extending along upper surface  274  of the lens member  230 , between rearward edge portion  262  and forward edge portion  260 , and lateral lens elements  278  extending along lower surface  280  of lens member  230 , between side edge portions  264 . Lens elements  270  further include a second lens element  290  which extends along rearward edge portion  262 , between side edge portions  264 . Lens member  230  is transparent and preferably is constructed of glass. 
   Turning now to  FIGS. 22 through 25 , as seen in  FIG. 22 , lighting fixture  200  is installed at installation site  254  such that rearward edge  262 , and consequently second lens element  290 , is spaced farther from wall  250  than forward edge  260 , and consequently first lens elements  272 ,  276  and  278 , and by virtue of angle  234 , lens element  290  is placed vertically lower than first lens elements  272 ,  276  and  278 . Lens element  290  is oriented essentially horizontally, generally parallel to wall  250  and light emanating from lamp  212  and falling upon upper face  292  of lens element  290  is refracted and is directed, by total internal reflection at surface  294  of lens element  290 , by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens element  290 , through lower face  296  to be refracted and further directed along directions depicted by rays  300  to illuminate an area of wall  250 , spread vertically along a wall surface portion  302  extending closely adjacent to intersection  256  between wall  250  and ceiling  240 . Rays  300  are almost parallel to the surface  242  of ceiling  240  and are directed so close to intersection  256  as to provide sufficient illumination to avoid any discernable shading in the vicinity of intersection  256 . Thus, wall surface  302  is illuminated essentially up to the intersection  256 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 23 , light emanating from lamp  212  and directed to a lower reflector portion  310  of reflector  220  is reflected, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lower reflector portion  310 , to enter lens element  290  at a rear face  312  and, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens element  290 , is spread by lens element  290 , as depicted by rays  314 , to illuminate a further area of wall  250  along a wall surface portion  316  immediate below wall surface portion  302 . An alternate light source is shown in dashed lines in the form of an alternate lamp  317 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 24 , light emanating from lamp  212  and directed to an upper reflector portion  318  of reflector  220  is reflected, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of upper reflector portion  318 , to enter longitudinal lens elements  272  at upper surface  274  of lens member  230  to pass through lens member  230  to lateral lens elements  278  extending along lower surface  280  of lens member  230  and be directed to still further areas of wall  250  along a wall surface portion  320  immediately below wall surface portion  316 , as depicted by rays  322 . By virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of lens elements  272  and  278 , rays  322  are spread horizontally along wall surface portion  320  by longitudinal lens elements  272 , oriented essentially horizontally, generally perpendicular to wall  250 , while, at the same time, being spread vertically along wall surface portion  320  by lateral lens elements  278  oriented essentially horizontally, generally parallel to wall  250 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 25 , light emanating from lamp  212  and directed to upper surface  274  of lens member  230  is directed, by virtue of the orientation, location and configuration of first lens elements  272  and  278 , to yet further areas of wall  250  along wall surface portions located vertically below portion  320 , and toward floor  252  to complete an overall more uniform pattern of illumination. 
   It will be seen that the present invention attains all of the objects and advantages summarized above, namely: Allows the desired flush mounting of a ceiling wall-washer lighting fixture which accomplishes the illumination of an adjacent wall essentially all the way up to the intersection between the wall and the ceiling; provides an effective, unobtrusive ceiling-mounted wall-washer for casting light along an adjacent wall, without an undesirable shaded area near the intersection between the wall and the ceiling; incorporates a light-directing arrangement in a recessed ceiling-mounted wall-washer lighting fixture and method for enabling the illumination of a wall essentially all the way up to the intersection of the wall with the ceiling; extends the useful range of installations of wall-washer lighting fixtures by virtue of enabling essentially complete and more uniform illumination of a wall by a flush-mounted wall-washer; attains aesthetically appealing lighting effects with less complex lighting fixture installations; provides effective and desirable illumination with increased ease and economy of installation for widespread adoption and use. 
   It is to be understood that the above detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention is provided by way of example only. Various details of design, construction and procedure may be modified without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.