Light glare reducing device

• US 5,526,179 A
• Filed: 07/22/1994
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles A. Keech
• Original Assignee: Charles A. Keech
• Inventors: Keech, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dzierzynski, Paul M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US08/279,487
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 359/601, 359/602, 359/603, 359/604, 359/605, 359/613, 359/227, 359/228, 359/229, 359/885, 359/886, 359/887, 359/614, 359/611, 359/599, 359/608, 362/18, 362/61, 362/187, 362/101, 362/290, 362/342, 362/354
• US Class Current: 359/601
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/04 the devices being headlights
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape

Abstract

A sealed compartment of compartments being all or partially constructed of light transmitting materials with light reflecting surfaces in different designs. The compartments are substantially filled with a diffusing light transmitting medium. When the filled compartments are placed over lighting sources they reduce the high glare and blinding effects of the light sources. Increasing the light output of lighting sources when used with compartments can maintain the lighting level while reducing glare. When used for automotive usage alternative automotive headlights are used. The combined usage of the alternative headlights and the compartments provides roadway and side of the roadway lighting without high glare to oncoming vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians and animals. The existing automotive headlight system can be maintained so that the high beam headlights can be used if necessary or desirable.

Claims

1. A light glare reducing device for use in conjunction with a light source for reducing glare and blinding effects of the light source, the device comprising:

a. a first diffusive light transmitting medium;

b. a first compartment with a plurality of light transmitting surfaces adapted to be placed in a path of light emitted from the light source;

c. said first compartment being substantially filled with said first light transmitting medium such that the first light transmitting medium is disposed between said light transmitting surfaces of the first compartment;

d. a second diffusive light transmitting medium;

e. a second compartment with a plurality of light transmitting surfaces adapted to be placed in a path of light emitted from the light source;

f. said second compartment being substantially filled with said second light transmitting medium such that the second light transmitting medium is disposed between said light transmitting surfaces of the second compartment;

g. said first and second compartments being disposed adjacent to each other, and said first compartment having a different diffusivity than said second compartment.

2. The glare reducing device of claim 1, wherein the first light transmitting medium comprises a liquid.

3. The glare reducing device of claim 1, wherein the first light transmitting medium comprises a mixture of liquid and solid particles.

4. The glare reducing device of claim 3, wherein the first light transmitting medium comprises a mixture of liquid and gas.

5. A lighting system for providing light with a reduced glare, comprising:

a light source; and

a light glare reducing device, the light glare reducing device comprising an inner compartment and an outer compartment, the inner compartment being disposed at least partially within the outer compartment;

the inner compartment having a first light transmitting surface adjacent to the light source and a second light transmitting surface spaced from the first light transmitting surface in a direction away from the light source;

the outer compartment having a third light transmitting surface adjacent to the light source and a fourth light transmitting surface spaced from the third light transmitting surface in a direction away from the light source;

a first diffusive light transmitting medium disposed within and substantially filling the inner compartment; and

a second diffusive light transmitting medium disposed within and substantially filling the outer compartment.

6. A lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the first light transmitting surface is spaced from the second light transmitting surface a first distance, the third light transmitting surface is spaced from the fourth light transmitting surface a second distance, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

7. A lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the first and third light transmitting surfaces are generally coplanar.

8. The lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the inner compartment is generally coaxial with the outer compartment.

9. The lighting system according to claim 8, wherein the inner compartment is cylindrical-shaped.

10. The lighting system according to claim 9, wherein the outer compartment is cylindrical-shaped.

11. The lighting system according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of elongated subcompartments defined within the inner compartment, each subcompartment extending in a direction allowing light to pass therethrough from the first light transmitting surface to the second light transmitting surface.

12. The lighting system according to claim 11, wherein the first diffusive light transmitting material is disposed within said subcompartments.

13. A vehicular lighting system, comprising:

a headlight; and

a glare reducing device positioned in front of the headlight, the glare reducing device comprising a first compartment, the first compartment having a first light transmitting surface disposed adjacent to the headlight and a second light transmitting surface spaced from the first light transmitting surface in a direction away from the headlight, the first compartment being substantially filled with a diffusive light transmitting medium such that the light transmitting medium is disposed between the first and second light transmitting surfaces;

wherein the glare reducing device further comprises a second compartment, the second compartment having a third light transmitting surface disposed adjacent to the headlight and a fourth light transmitting surface spaced from the third light transmitting surface in a direction away from the headlight, the second compartment being substantially filled with a diffusive light transmitting medium such that the light transmitting medium is disposed between the first and second light transmitting surfaces, said first and second compartments being disposed adjacent to each other.

14. The vehicular lighting system of claim 13, wherein said first compartment has a different diffusivity than said second compartment.

15. The vehicular lighting system of claim 14, wherein said first compartment is disposed partially within said second compartment.

16. The vehicular lighting system claim 14, wherein the first light transmitting surface is spaced from the second light transmitting surface a first distance, the third light transmitting surface is spaced from the fourth light transmitting surface a second distance, and the first distance is greater than the second distance.

17. A lighting system according to claim 16, wherein the first and third light transmitting surfaces are generally coplanar.

18. The lighting system according to claim 17, wherein the first and second compartments are cylindrical-shaped and are generally coaxial with each other.

19. The lighting system according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of elongated subcompartments defined within the first compartment, each subcompartment extending in a direction allowing light to pass therethrough from the first light transmitting surface to the second light transmitting surface, the first diffusive light transmitting material being disposed within said subcompartments.