Aisle light

• US 3,885,144 A
• Filed: 02/19/1974
• Issued: 05/20/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Seating Company
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Lewis, Robert S. Walworth
• Inventors: Lewis, Robert E., Walworth, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Braun, Fred L.
• Application Number:
  US05/443,420
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 240/1EL,2R,2B,7.3,8.26,46.45,151 52/28,182
• US Class Current: 362/632
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols

Abstract

A shatterproof light diffusion plate is mounted to the riser of a stair with the upper edge of the plate immediately adjacent the forward edge of the tread. A source of light illuminates the diffusion plate, and transmits light to the upper edge to also illuminate it, thereby providing a visible line marking the front edge of the tread for guiding traffic up and down the aisle and defining tread depth.

Claims

1. An aisle light for providing guidance illumination for a step having a tread and a riser comprising:

a light-piping shatterproof plastic faceplate panel extending substantially the entire height of said riser and having an upper edge immediately adjacent and parallel to the upper edge of said riser, the forward part of said panel edge being beveled, the outer surface of said faceplate being stippled;

means for securing said faceplate to said riser;

a source of light carried by said riser and radiating light into the body of said faceplate panel whereby said light travels through said panel and illuminates said upper edge thereof, said light source including a low-voltage, shockresistant, replaceable bulb; and

a metal cover strip having a height less than the height of said panel and extending across said panel and located directly in front of said bulb to shield the filament of said bulb from direct vision.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said faceplate panel comprises transparent rigid plastic material scored along horizontal lines on the rear surface and defines an aperture, said low-voltage bulb extending bodily into said aperture for facilitating radiation of light into the body of said faceplate panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said riser includes a hOrizontally elongated channel housing providing a continuous horizontal slot and wherein said source of light is removably secured to said riser and extends within said housing, said housing serving as an electrical conduit for feed wires to said source.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said securing means includes fastener means extending through said cover strip and said faceplate panel into said channel housing;

and plate means receiving said fastener means within said channel housing and reacting thereagainst to hold said cover plate and said faceplate panel to said riser.

5. In a telescopic seating system having a plurality of row sections adapted to be selectively moved between an expanded use position and a retracted storage position, said row sections providing an aisle for access, the improvement comprising:

an aisle light associated with each one of a plurality of risers in said aisle, said aisle light including a light-piping shatterproof plastic faceplate panel extending substantially the entire height of said riser having an upper edge immediately adjacent and parallel to the upper edge of said riser, the forward part of said panel edge being beveled;

means for securing said faceplate to said riser;

a source of light carried by said riser and radiating light into the body of said faceplate panel whereby said light travels through said panel and illuminates said upper edge thereof, said light source including a low-voltage, shock-resistant, replaceable bulb; and

a metal cover strip having a height less than the height of said panel and extending across said panel and located directly in front of said bulb to shield the filament of said bulb from direct vision;

said system further including a step-down transformer having its primary connected to a 60-hertz source of electricity;

a plurality of said row sections including a junction box mounted thereto;

wires coupling electricity from said junction box to the lights associated with that section; and

flexible conductor cord means connecting the junction box of its associated row section with the junction box of an adjacent row section.