Reflector for multiple source lighting fixture

• US 4,617,619 A
• Filed: 10/02/1985
• Issued: 10/14/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Gehly, Joel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Carl Stuart
• Application Number:
  US06/783,379
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 362/804, 362/240, 362/241, 362/242, 362/282, 362/277, 362/346, 362/347, 362/302, 362/303, 362/235, 362/350, 362/243, 362/245, 362/246, 362/247, 362/248, 362/293
• US Class Current: 362/302
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres

Abstract

An improvement suitable for incorporation into a lighting fixture having a plurality of light source means for emitting light rays and at least one reflector wherein the one reflector superposes the light source means in a partially circumscribing, radially spaced relationship about the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture to receive light rays and to project them onto a work surface. The improvement is a second reflector in axial alignment with, and rotatably mounted about, the axis of symmetry. The second reflector is positioned beneath the light source means and has a plurality of distinct surface sections, each of the surface sections being associated with one of the light source means for receiving the light rays emitted therefrom and projecting the light rays onto the one reflector. Each surface section has two radially adjacent portions. One portion has a textured finish for diffusing the light rays and the other portion has a specular finish for intensifying the light rays. The second reflector can be rotated to selectively position either the textured portion or the specular portion beneath each light source means to permit selective adjustment of the pattern and intensity of light rays projected from the lighting fixture.

Claims

1. In a lighting fixture having a plurality of light source means for emitting light rays and at least one reflector, said one reflector superposing said plurality of light source means in a partially circumscribing radially spaced relationship about the axis of symmetry of said lighting fixture to receive light rays and to project light rays, an improvement comprising:

a second reflector in axial alignment with the axis of symmetry of said lighting fixture, said second reflector being positioned beneath said plurality of light source means and being superposed and partially circumscribed by said one reflector;

said second reflector having a plurality of distinct surface sections, each said surface section being associated with a different one of said light source means for receiving light rays emitted from the one said light source means with which said surface section is associated and projecting light rays onto said one reflector, each said surface section having at least two radially adjacent portions, one said portion having a surface finished for diffusing the light rays projected therefrom and the other said portion having a surface finished for intensifying the light rays projected therefrom; and

said second reflector being mounted for rotation about the axis of symmetry of said lighting fixture to selectively position either said diffusing portion or said intensifying portion of said surface sections beneath each said light source means to permit selective adjustment of the pattern and intensity of light rays projected from said lighting fixture.

2. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein said diffusing portion has a textured finish and said intensifying portion has a specular finish.

3. The improvement recited in claim 2 wherein there are more than two said portions in each said surface section and said radially adjacent portions within each said surface section progress gradually from said textured finish to at least one less textured finish to said specular finish.

4. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein the surface area of said diffusing portion is equal to or greater than the surface area of said intensifying portion.

5. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein there are eight light source means arranged circumferentially about the axis of symmetry of said lighting fixture and eight surface sections arranged radially about said second reflector.

6. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein each said light source means is superposed and partially circumscribed by a source reflector, each said source reflector being positioned to receive light rays emitted from the one of said light source means which such source reflector superposes and to reflect the light rays so received onto said second reflector.

7. The improvement recited in claim 6 further comprising:

a plurality of filters, each said filter being so positioned beneath a one said source reflector that the reflected light rays from the one said source reflector pass through said filter before impinging said second reflector.

8. The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein said second reflector has an annular upwardly concave curve.

9. A lighting fixure to illumination an underlying work surface comprising:

a plurality of light source means for emitting light rays, said plurality of light source means being arranged circumferentially around the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixure;

a reflector system for folding and mixing the emitted light rays to so project the light rays that the light rays converge at an acute angle relative to the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture, such converging light rays providing a pattern of illumination on the work surface;

said reflector system including a plurality of first source reflectors, each said source reflector being operatively associated with one of said light source means and at least partially circumscribing the one of said light source means with which such source reflector is associated to receive light rays directly from the one said light source means and to reflect such light rays so that the reflected light rays have a major directional component generally parallel to the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture;

a second reflector in axial alignment with the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture, said second reflector being positioned beneath said plurality of source reflectors and configured to so receive the reflected light rays that the reflected light rays from each said source reflector partially overlap the adjacent reflected light rays from each said adjacent source reflector, and said second reflector being contoured to disperse such overlapping reflected light rays outwardly from the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture;

said second reflector having a plurality of distinct surface sections, each of said surface section being associated with a different one of said light source means for receiving light rays emitted from the one of said light source means with which said surface section is associated, each said surface section having at least two radially adjacent portions, one said portion having a surface finished for diffusing the light rays and the other said portion having a surface finished for intensifying the light rays, said second reflector being mounted for rotation about the axis of symmetry to selectively position either said diffusing portions or said intensifying portions beneath each said light source means to permit selective adjustment of the pattern and intensity of the light rays projected from the lighting fixture; and

a third reflector radially spaced from said first and second reflectors in axial alignment with the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture, said third reflector at least partially circumscribing said plurality of first reflectors and said second reflector so that said third reflector receives the dispersed light rays from said second reflector and projects the dispersed light rays so that the dispersed light rays converge at said acute angle relative to the axis of symmetry of the lighting fixture to provide said pattern of illumination.

10. A lighting fixture as recited in claim 9 wherein said reflector includes a first curved surface and a second curved surface, said second curved surface having a greater diameter than said first curved surface.

11. A lighting fixture as recited in claim 10 wherein said first curved surface is an annular, generally upwardly concave surface having a lower edge from which said second curved surface radially extends in a generally outward and downward direction.