PERSISTENCE OF VISION, SUBLIMINAL SPOT LIGHT

• US 3,865,790 A
• Filed: 11/24/1972
• Issued: 02/11/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harold P Du Shane
• Original Assignee: Harold P Du Shane
• Inventors: Du Shane, Harold P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheer, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US05/309,600
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 240/49,41.1,41.2,41.35,41.35C,41.35D
• US Class Current: 362/272
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/06 flashing, e.g. with rotating reflector or light source signalling lighting devices mounted on vehicles B60Q1/26
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/15 specially adapted for power operation, e.g. by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/30 Pivoted housings or frames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting

Abstract

A spot light with a reflector, wherein both the reflector and the light filament, or just a reflector surrounding a stationary bulb rotate at speeds in excess of 600 revolutions per minute, thereby simultaneously concentrating and intensifying a beam of light and likewise dispersing the the beam horizontally a full 360*. By the phenonmenon of the approximate one-tenth of a second persistence of vision of the human eye, the entire circular area traversed by the rotating beam, when the motor exceeds 600 revolutions per minute, has the same apparent intensity of light and the same luminosity that any segment of the same circle would have that was lighted only by the arc cast by the same spot light in a stationary position. The threshold of discrimination of the human eye and the approximate one-tenth of a second after-image on the retina create an apparent, steady, intensified beam of light in an arc of 360*.

Claims

1. A self-contained spot light assembly comprising:

a. a housing having a transparent top section;

b. an electric lamp having a filament mounted within the transparent top section of said housing;

c. reflector means rotatably mounted about an axis centered through the filament in said lamp within the transparent top section of said housing for concentrating a beam of light emitted by said lamp into a strong narrow beam and projecting the beam through the transparent top section of said housing;

d. means mounted within said housing and secured to said reflector means for continuously rotating said reflector means at speeds of at least about 600 rpm to project a concentrated beam of light a full 360* through the transparent top section of said housing;

e. means within the transparent top section for adjusting said reflector means with respect to said rotating means for rotation about the axis centered through said lamp filament;

f. means within the transparent top section for adjusting the balance of said rotatably mounted reflector means with respect to said rotating means about the axis of rotation;

g. electric power source means within said housing for said lamp and said reflector rotating means; and

h. means mounted in said housing for varying the speed of rotation of said reflector rotating means.

2. The spot light assembly of claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said reflector means comprises means for concurrently rotating said lamp and reflector means.

3. The spot light assembly of claim 1 wherein said electric power means comprises batteries stored in said housing.

4. The spot light assembly of claim 1 comprising reflector means mounted on said housing outside the transparent top section thereof to intercept a portion of the concentrated beam of light projecting through the transparent top section of said housing and project in a reverse direction a concentrated beam of light of increased vertical direction.

5. The spot light assembly of claim 4 wherein the reflector means mounted on said housing comprises a reflector composed of two intersecting planar surfaces arranged to intercept light projecting through about 180* of said transparent top section and project in the reverse direction of about 180* a concentrated beam of light of increased vertical dimension.