Method of and apparatus for emitting light in ice

• US 4,667,481 A
• Filed: 08/20/1985
• Issued: 05/26/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Toyoda, Naoki, Kumano, Toshio, Hiramoto, Michiaki, Watanabe, Koji, Watanabe, Mitsuo, Toyoda, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Wayner, William E.
• Application Number:
  US06/767,435
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 62/235, 62/264, 362/800, 362/92
• US Class Current: 62/235
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/00 Design or layout of playing courts, rinks, bowling greens or areas for water-skiing; Covers therefor golf courses A63B69/3691; water roundabouts A63G3/00; construction of surfaces of foundations E01C; roofs E04B7/00; buildings or groups of buildings for sports E04H3/10; swimming or splash baths or pools E04H4/00; coverings for baths E04H4/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 19/10 Ice-skating or roller-skating rinks; Slopes or trails for skiing, ski-jumping or tobogganing chutes A63G21/00; ski-lifts B61B11/00; making or maintaining surfaces of snow or ice suitable for traffic or sporting purposes E01H4/00; removing snow or ice E01H5/00; production of ice or snow F25C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 2203/14 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 13/105 of artificially refrigerated rinks or runs, e.g. cooled rink floors or swimming pools or tennis courts convertible into rinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/022 intended to be recessed in a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement or false floor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/227 Electroluminescent displays for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for emitting light in ice, to be applied to an ice skating rink and the like. With the apparatus for emitting light in ice according to the present invention, when light emission sources are light emitting diodes (LED), LED mounting blocks are used and laid on a concrete floor, so that mounting works can be facilitated. Additionally, LED are used as the light emission sources, so that a possibility of ice melting can be eliminated. Furthermore, with the apparatus for emitting light in ice according to the present invention, when miniature incandescent bulbs are used as the light emission sources, the miniature incandescent bulbs disposed in transparent vinyl chloride tubes are laid on the concrete floor, so that a special water-proof measure can be dispensed with. Furthermore, air is delivered into the tube, whereby heat in the tube is prevented from being stagnant in the tube, so that the ice melting is avoided.

Claims

1. A method of emitting light in ice, wherein light emission sources are provided in the ice and the surface of the ice is made luminant by the light emitted from said sources and transmitted through the ice, characterized in that a temperature of ice on the surface of ice is measured and an illumination intensity on the surface of ice and therearound is measured, whereby a brightness of said sources is controlled on the basis of the results of measuring of the temperature of ice and the illumination intensity.

2. An apparatus for emitting light in ice comprising:

light emission sources provided in said ice, for illuminating the surface of the ice by the light emitted from said sources and transmitted through the ice, said light emission sources being light emitting diodes;

cooling pipes provided in or on a concrete floor for cooling water sprayed on the surface of said concrete floor to produce ice;

mounting blocks, to which are secured a plurality of said light emitting diodes;

a metal screen laid on said concrete floor; and

guide rails secured to said metal screen and on each of which are provided said mounting blocks.

3. An apparatus for emitting light in ice as set forth in claim 2, wherein said mounting blocks are made of acrylic resin and formed at the central portion thereof with a cutaway opening.