Illuminated rock garden

• US 4,758,934 A
• Filed: 08/10/1987
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry Von Kohorn
• Original Assignee: Henry Von Kohorn
• Inventors: von Kohorn, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Myhre, Charles J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Okonsky, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/083,733
• Time in Patent Office: 344 Days
• Field of Search: 362/97, 362/122, 362/123, 362/145, 362/154, 362/253, 362/311, 362/805, 362/806, 47/39, 47/44, 47/47, 248/27.8
• US Class Current: 362/145
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 7/045 with electric lighting
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/249 Lighting means with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/14 Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

Glare-free illumination of three-dimensional objects in a rock garden setting is disclosed. Artificial light is generated in a void space in a man-made rock, below and in close proximity to the object to be illuminated, shielding the eyes of observers from a direct view of the light source. Light shines upwardly in the shape of an inverted light cone enveloping the object and is only indirectly visible by its reflections from the illuminated objects, such as plants, trees and sculptures. The minimal light path reduces scattering of light, power consumption and lamp size. Suspension and support systems are disclosed, ensuring the horizontal position of the supports for the objects placed thereon and ensuring the vertical position of the illuminated objects, irrespective of surface configuration of the simulated rock garden or the angle of the ground upon which such rock garden may be placed.

Claims

1. A ground-based system for the glare-free illumination of three-dimensional objects, comprising:

a rigid sheet structure,

comprising material selected from the group which includes sculptured, molded and cast concrete, fiber glass-reinforced concrete, polymeric substances and fiber glass-reinforced polymeric substances,

having an upper convex shape,

having the appearance and configuration of a natural rock,

having an upper opening capable of accommodating the lower part of an object to be illuminated,

having lower edges supported by the ground and forming a bottom opening,

void space below the surface of said structure,

an illuminating device disposed in said void space below the upper opening in said structure, said device comprising;

a receptacle having an upper opening,

a light source disposed in said receptacle,

a watertight lid covering the opening in said receptacle, adapted to support an object to be illuminated, said lid having transparent portions horizontally extending substantially around the lower part of said object,

support means for said receptacle, said support means resting on the ground, having a lower member adapted to conform to the contour of the ground and an upper member adapted to support said receptacle in horizontal position below the opening in said sheet structure, and

a three-dimensional object to be illuminated, having an upper part to be illuminated and a lower part capable of passing through the upper opening in said structure so that the lower part of said object supported by said lid is supported in said void space below said upper opening and the upper part of the object to be illuminated protrudes above said upper opening, and

wherein, irrespective of the configuration of the upper surface of said structure surrounding said upper opening, said support means maintains said receptacle and lid in a substantially horizontal position in said void space,

wherein light from said light source shines upwardly through the transparent portions of said lid, so as to envelop the upper part of said object from substantially all sides, said light not being directly visible to observers and being indirectly visible without glare by its reflections from said object, and

wherein water falling on said object runs along the surface of the watertight lid and drains downwardly without contacting electrical components of the light source.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said receptacle for the light source has a reflective inside surface.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said lid has a downwardly reflective portion disposed central to said transparent portions.

4. The system according to claim 1, having water drainage means disposed below said illuminating device.

5. The system according to claim 1, having support means for said receptacle which are vertically adjustable.

6. A ground-based illuminated rock garden comprising:

a rigid sheet panel,

comprising material selected from the group which includes sculptured, molded and cast concrete, fiber glass-reinforced concrete, polymeric substances and fiber glass-reinforced polymeric sustances,

having an upper surface with an appearance and configuration of a plurality of grouped rocks,

shaped so as to contain a void space below its surface, having a plurality of openings in its surface, each opening being capable of accommodating the lower part of at least one object to be illuminated, said sheet panel having peripheral portions extending downwardly at an angle from portions of said upper surface, so as to form an inverted box open at the bottom and wherein at least some of the edges of said peripheral portions are supported by the ground and upper surface portions of said panel are raised above the ground,

a plurality of illuminating devices disposed in said void space below said openings, each such device comprising;

a receptacle having an upper opening,

a light source disposed in said receptacle,

a watertight lid covering the opening in said receptacle, adapted to support an object to be illuminated, said lid having transparent portions horizontally extending substantially around the lower part of said object,

support means for said receptacles, said support means resting on the ground, having lower elements conforming to the contour of the ground and having upper elements adapted to support said receptacles in horizontal position below the corresponding openings in said panel,

a plurality of objects to be illuminated, each object having an upper part to be illuminated and a lower part capable of passing through one of said openings,

so that the lower part of said object resting on said lid is supported in said void space below its corresponding opening in said panel and the upper part of the object protrudes above said opening, and

wherein, irrespective of the configuration of the upper surface of said panel surrounding such opening, said support means maintain said receptacle and lid in a substantially horizontal position in said void space,

wherein light from said light source shines upwardly through the transparent portions of said lid, so as to envelop the upper part of said object from substantially all sides, said light not being directly visible to observers and being indirectly visible without glare by its reflections from said object, and

wherein water falling on said objects runs along the surface of the watertight lid and drains downwardly without contacting electrical components of the light source.

7. The rock garden according to claim 6, wherein peripheral portions of said sheet panel are adapted to rest on an incline.

8. The rock garden according to claim 6, wherein said rigid sheet panel has lower peripheral portions adapted to rest on the ground and upper peripheral portions adapted to rest against a wall above the ground.

9. The rock garden according to claim 6, wherein said rigid sheet panel forms a free-standing three-dimensional structure positioned on the ground, so that all of its rock-resembling surfaces are centripetally visible.

10. The rock garden according to claim 6, having water draining means disposed below said illuminating device.

11. The rock garden according to claim 6 comprising a plurality of rigid sheet panels.

12. The rock garden according to claim 6, having support means for said receptacle, which are individually vertically adjustable.

13. The rock garden according to claim 6, wherein said illuminating devices are connected to an electric power source by means of waterproof wiring disposed in said void space and not visible to observers.