Light fixture unit for open plan office

• US 4,300,185 A
• Filed: 12/07/1979
• Issued: 11/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: C W COLE & Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C W COLE & Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Wakamatsu, Jack K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lechert, Jr., Stephen J.
• Application Number:
  US06/101,224
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 362/33, 362/223, 362/225, 362/147, 362/308, 362/309
• US Class Current: 362/33
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• 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: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources

Abstract

A light fixture unit is provided for use at a work station of an open plan office design. The light fixture unit combines in a single framework a downwardly facing light chamber for directing light onto a task work surface and an upwardly facing light chamber for directing light over a wide area for reflection off the ceiling of the office area to provide ambient indirect light.

Claims

1. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office, the combination comprising:

a horizontal work surface;

an elongated light fixture supported above said work surface at a height higher than the eye height of a person seated adjacent the front edge of the work surface but not at a height substantially higher than the eye height of a person standing adjacent thereto;

said light fixture including an elongated light source having a longitudinal axis located substantially directly above and aligned with the front edge of the work surface; and

said light fixture including a reflector and a control lens for directing the light from said light source over the work surface downwardly and rearwardly of the front edge thereof thereby preventing the formation of veiling reflections from the work surface towards a person seated adjacent the front edge of the work surface and facing to view a task thereon.

2. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office, the combination comprising:

a horizontally disposed work surface;

an elongated light fixture supported above said work surface at a height higher than the eye height of a person seated adjacent the front edge of the work surface but not at a height substantially higher than the eye height of a person standing adjacent thereto;

said light fixture including a downwardly facing task light chamber having mounted therein an elongated light source and an elongated reflector, and having mounted on the bottom thereof an elongated refractor plate;

said light source having a horizontal axis located near the front end of said elongated reflector and extending parallel to and substantially directly above the front edge of the work surface;

said refractor plate having formed on one of the surfaces thereof linear prismatic elements oriented parallel to the horizontal axis of said light source; and

said reflector providing for reflecting light from the light source downwardly and rearwardly over the surface of the refractor plate such that the linear prismatic elements thereon redirect and distribute the light rays over the work surface such that they reflect therefrom in a direction away from a person seated adjacent the front edge thereof to view a task thereon.

3. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office as defined in claim 2 wherein said refractor plate includes a diffusing portion along the front longitudinal edge portion thereof disposed below the light source.

4. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office as defined in claim 3 wherein the depths of said linear prismatic elements starting adjacent said diffusing portion gradually decrease until they are almost absent and then gradually increase toward the rear end thereof.

5. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office as defined in claim 2 wherein said light fixture includes a baffle means on the front end thereof for preventing light emitted from said light source from being directed downwardly along a path at an angle toward the front of a vertical plane extending substantially through the horizontal axis thereof.

6. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office as defined in claim 2 wherein said light fixture includes a rectangular frame and said frame is mounted with its front wall substantially flush with the front edge of the work surface.

7. A lighting arrangement for a work surface in an open plan office as defined in claim 2 wherein said light fixture further includes on the rear half portion thereof an upwardly facing ambient light chamber having mounted therein a second elongated light source and a second elongated reflector, and having mounted on the top thereof a second elongated refractor plate;

and

said second reflector and said second refractor plate provide for directing the light from the second light source upwardly and outwardly to provide ambient light for the area.

8. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office, the combination comprising:

a pair of spaced upright side panels;

an upright rear panel interconnecting said side panels;

a horizontal work surface supported above the floor in the opening defined by said panels;

an elongated light fixture mounted across said side panels at a height above the eye height of a person seated adjacent the front edge of the work surface but not at a height substantially above the eye height of a person standing adjacent thereto;

said light fixture including an elongated light source having a horizontal axis, an elongated reflector, and an elongated refractor plate;

said light source disposed with its horizontal axis positioned substantially directly above the front edge of the work surface;

said refractor plate having its front edge disposed below said light source and extending rearwardly thereof, and having formed on one of the surfaces thereof linear prismatic elements oriented parallel to the horizontal axis of said light source; and

said reflector providing for reflecting light from the light source downwardly and rearwardly over the surface of the refractor plate whereby said linear prismatic elements redirect the light rays and distribute them over the surface of the work surface such that they reflect therefrom in a direction away from a person seated adjacent the front edge of the work surface to view a task thereon.

9. A lighting arrangement for a work station in an open plan office as defined in claim 8 wherein hanger means are provided on either end of said light fixture for mounting it across the side panels of said work station.