Luminaire

• US 4,280,170 A
• Filed: 09/26/1979
• Issued: 07/21/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Baldwin, Samuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/078,964
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 362/224, 362/308, 362/309, 362/368
• US Class Current: 362/224
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/02 using parallel laminae or strips, e.g. of Venetian-blind type F21V11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/10 the elements being reflectors and screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/02 Wall, ceiling, or floor bases; Fixing pendants or arms to the bases F21V21/08 takes precedence; bases for movable standing lamps F21V21/06
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40

Abstract

Indoor lighting fixture provides semi-indirect symmetrical light distribution. The fixture comprises a central support tube attached to the ceiling at its upper end and having a high intensity gaseous discharge lamp at its lower end projecting into a box-like housing having a semi-transparent variable transmission lens on its bottom and an interior reflector extending around the lamp for reflecting light rays upwardly toward the ceiling. Vertically spaced louvers arranged encircling the upper portion of the lamp serve to shield the lamp from direct view of the room occupants to avoid glare.

Claims

1. A luminaire adapted to be suspended from a ceiling or the like for semi-indirect illumination of a work area below the ceiling comprising, in combination, an elongated support member adapted to be secured at its upper end to the ceiling, a housing suspended from said support member and arranged below the lower end thereof, said housing having a side wall defining an open top and having a bottom comprising semi-transparent lens means, elongated lamp means removably attached to the lower end of said support member and extending with its lower portion into said housing, said housing having reflector means within its side wall extending around the lower portion of said lamp means, said reflector means reflecting direct light rays from said lamp means upwardly and outwardly from said housing toward the ceiling principally in paths between said lamp means and said side walls, said semi-transparent lens means reflecting upwardly toward the ceiling a portion of the direct light rays incident thereon and transmitting downwardly therethrough substantially the remainder of said incident light rays, said reflector means comprising an annular opaque reflector arranged closely adjacent and substantially co-extensive with said housing side wall.

2. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said reflector being formed of facets arranged at an angle to one another for reflecting light rays from said lamp means away from said lamp means.

3. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, including light shielding means arranged extending around said lamp means between the bottom of said support member and the top of said housing.

4. A luminaire as defined in claim 3, said light shielding means comprising a plurality of superposed spaced louver members.

5. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said lamp comprising a light source and a transparent envelope enclosing said light source.

6. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said lens means having variable light transmission means on its surface for transmitting increasing amounts of light from its center toward its periphery.

7. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said elongated support member being tubular, said lamp means comprising a high intensity gaseous discharge lamp, socket means arranged within the lower portion of said tubular support member for removably holding said gaseous discharge lamp, ballast housing means arranged at the top of said tubular support member, and electrical conductor means extending through said tubular support member between said socket means and said ballast housing.

8. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said housing formed of a substantially circular opaque side wall, said reflector means being annular and arranged coaxial with said side wall.

9. A luminaire as defined in claim 8, said reflector means being substantially circular in vertical and horizontal section.

10. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, said housing side wall being rectangular, said reflector means comprising radially stepped surface portions arranged closely adjacent said rectangular housing side wall.

11. A luminaire as defined in claim 10, said reflector surface portions being elliptical in horizontal and vertical section.