Illuminating system

• US 5,219,217 A
• Filed: 05/08/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Luminator Holding, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gulton Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Aikens, Wallace R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US07/697,306
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/293, 362/319, 362/340, 362/247, 362/812, 362/23, 362/26, 362/27, 362/30, 362/235, 362/242, 362/243, 362/372, 362/427, 362/277, 362/282, 362/284, 362/322 , 362/324, 362/74, 362/151, 40/546, 40/547, 40/581, 40/431, 350/167, 350/286, 350/96.10, 350/311
• US Class Current: 362/560
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/43 General lighting
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/64 for a single lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/40 with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

An arrangement and method for providing an elongated light source, such as for illuminating a sign or the interior of a mass transit vehicle or other display, which includes emitting light from a light source into an elongated tubular member having a portion lined with a high reflectance film formed with longitudinal prismatic lenses, the tubular member having a light-transmissive opening along its length, with a diffusing medium substantially diametrically opposite such opening, and optionally a reflector or a second light source at one end of the tubular member. The emitted light propagates in the inner tubular member by reflecting from the high reflectance lining and the reflector to impinge on the diffusing medium and thereby transmit light outwardly through the light-transmissive opening so as to project light against a sign or advertising card or like object. Several units may be placed end-to-end to provide a longer illuminating arrangement. A single light source may be used to illuminate two adjoining units.

Claims

1. A lighting fixture for a mass transit vehicle having an elongated passenger compartment adapted to contain a series of lighting fixtures arranged end-to-end in said compartment, said fixture comprising:

a. a panel having a substantially uniform cross-section with a concave profile adapted to hold an advertising card, one edge of said panel being adapted to be secured to an inner substantially vertical wall of said compartment; and

b. illuminating means for illuminating said card and providing general illumination in said compartment,

said illuminating means comprising;

(i) an elongated longitudinally extending tubular member arranged adjacent and parallel to a second edge of said panel,

(ii) said tubular member having a light-transmissible portion extending longitudinally of said tubular member, said light transmissible portion partially facing and adapted to pass light toward said panel to illuminate a card on the panel,

(iii) said tubular member also having a reflective inner surface for propagating light along the axis of the tubular member,

(iv) a light source arranged so as to expose the interior of said tubular member to light from said light source for reflection by said tubular member inner surface, and

(v) a diffusing medium arranged in said tubular member substantially diametrically opposite said light-transmissible portion to diffuse light striking said diffusing medium both directly and by reflection from said reflective inner surface, whereby light from the diffusing medium passes through said light-transmissible portion and is adapted to illuminate said panel.

2. An arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising a reflector at an end of said tubular member for reflecting light striking said reflector back into the interior of said tubular member, whereby the light exiting said light-transmissible portion is distributed over the length of said tubular member.

3. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner surface comprises a transparent sheet having longitudinally extending prisms formed therein.

4. The arrangement as defined in claim 3, wherein said tubular member has a surface facing said transparent sheet which is formed to return light transmitted through said sheet back into said interior of said tubular member.

5. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said light source projects light at an angle to said tubular member, and further comprising:

a reflector arranged between said light source and said elongated tubular member, said reflector being arranged to reflect the light from said light source into and substantially along said tubular member.

6. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissible portion is formed as a longitudinal opening in said elongated tubular member.

7. The arrangement as in claim 6 further including a light-transmissible element extending across said opening.

8. An arrangement as in claim 6 further comprising a lens arrangement in said opening for distributing light over a predetermined region.

9. The arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said lens has a plurality of sections of different thicknesses for selectively spreading light over different regions.

10. The arrangement as in claim 9 wherein said lens is of the Fresnel type having longitudinal prismatic elements.

11. The arrangement as defined in claim 9, having two said lens sections, wherein said lens sections are arranged so that an imaginary plane separates said sections, each of said sections being formed with a surface sloping away from said imaginary plane at a respective angle.

12. The arrangement as defined in claim 8, wherein said lens is linear, prismatic, and clear.

13. The arrangement as in claim 6 further comprising an elongated translucent element covering said opening.

14. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said diffusing medium is formed to pass scattered light through the light-transmissible portion with substantially uniform intensity along said elongated tubular member.

15. The arrangement as defined in claim 14, wherein said diffusing medium has a varying width, which width increases progressively away from the point of entry of said light in said tubular member so as to assist in uniformly illuminating along the length of said tubular member.

16. The arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said diffusing medium has a curved surface projecting convexly inwardly of said tubular member, said curved surface having varying arcuate width along the length of said diffusing source.

17. An arrangement as in claim 1 further including a second light source arranged to emit light into said elongated tubular member at the end thereof opposite said first light

18. An arrangement as in claim 1 or 17, wherein each of said light sources is pivotally mounted to permit rotation thereof through substantially 90 degrees whereby said light sources may be readily replaced.

19. An arrangement as in claim 1, wherein:

said panel has a first card-retaining structure adjacent said first panel edge and a second card-retaining structure spaced from said second panel edge, by a longitudinally extending panel area,

said panel having a series of openings along its length;

whereby upon utilizing said panel as a wall of an air duct above said panel, air flow in said duct may be distributed through said panel into and along said passenger compartment.

20. A lighting fixture for a mass transit vehicle having an elongated passenger compartment adapted to contain a series of lighting fixtures arranged end-to-end in said compartment, said fixture comprising:

a panel having a substantially uniform cross-section with a concave profile adapted to hold an advertising card, one edge of said panel being adapted to be secured to an inner substantially vertical wall of said compartment,

said panel having a first card-retaining structure adjacent said one panel edge and a second card-retaining structure spaced from a second edge of said panel by a longitudinally extending panel area,

an elongated longitudinally extending lighting arrangement arranged adjacent and parallel to said second edge of said panel and adapted to illuminate said card when on said panel,

said panel having a series of openings along its length, in said area between said second card-retaining structure and said illuminating means,

whereby upon utilizing said panel as a wall of an air duct above said panel, air flow in said duct may be distributed through said panel into and along said passenger compartment.

21. An elongated illuminating arrangement comprising

an elongated tubular member having a hollow interior,

said tubular member having a transreflective lining for conveying light within and substantially along the axis of the tubular member,

a light reflecting and diffusing surface between said lining and the wall of said tubular member,

a lamp socket at each end of said tubular member adapted to hold a light bulb substantially axially of said tubular member, and

a light reflector surrounding each socket and adapted to reflect light along said tubular member.

22. An arrangement as in claim 21 wherein a portion of the wall of said tubular member is light-transmissible.

23. A method for illuminating an advertising card in a cornice of a mass transit vehicle passenger compartment, comprising the steps of:

exposing to light the interior of an elongated tubular member which has a reflective inner surface extending along said tubular member;

propagating the light within the interior of the tubular member by reflecting the light from said reflective surface of the tubular member;

providing a diffusing medium in a portion of the tubular member and extending along the length of the tubular member to diffuse and scatter said reflected light impinging thereon; and

directing the diffused and scattered light from said medium transversely outwardly of said tubular member through a light-transmissible section extending longitudinally of said tubular member and facing said card.

24. A method as in claim 23:

wherein said diffusing medium extends partially around the inner periphery of the tubular member to diffuse and scatter said reflected light impinging thereon; and

directing the diffused and scattered light from said medium transversely outwardly of said tubular member along a substantial part of the length of said tubular member.

25. A lighting arrangement for a passenger compartment of a mass transmit vehicle comprising:

a series of elongated longitudinally extending tubular members, arranged end-to-end along said compartment,

each tubular member having a reflective inner surface for propagating light along the axis of the tubular member, and having a light transmissible wall portion extending longitudinally of the tubular member,

each adjoining pair of tubular members having a single light source external thereof and adapted to project light into said pair of tubular members,

further comprising;

a diffusing medium arranged in each said tubular member substantially diametrically opposite said light-transmissible wall portion to diffuse light striking said diffusing medium both directly and by reflection from said reflective inner surface,

whereby light from the diffusing medium passes through said light-transmissible wall portion for illumination within said compartment.

26. A lighting arrangement comprising:

a pair of elongated longitudinally extending tubular members, arranged end-to-end,

each tubular member having a reflective inner surface for propagating light along the axis of the tubular member, and having a light transmissible wall portion extending longitudinally of the tubular member, and

a light source external to said adjoining pair of tubular members and adapted to project light into said pair of tubular members in opposite directions

further comprising;

a diffusing medium arranged in each tubular member substantially diametrically opposite said light-transmissible wall portion to diffuse light striking said diffusing medium both directly and by reflection from said reflective inner surface,

whereby light from the diffusing medium passes through said light-transmissible wall portion for illumination external of said tubular members.