Step lighting

• US 5,810,468 A
• Filed: 06/02/1997
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Shimada Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Shimada Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Shimada, Takehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/867,100
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/146, 362/236, 362/240, 362/241, 362/244, 362/245, 362/247, 362/249
• US Class Current: 362/146
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/166 with means for fixing a separate edging strip
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 2011/1048 with lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/032 the surface being a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/006 General building constructions or finishing work for buildings, e.g. roofs, gutters, stairs or floors; Garden equipment; Sunshades or parasols
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/027 for indicating kerbs, steps or stairs
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a step lighting fixture including an extrusion having a single channel for receiving a light directing member which directs light from a single lighting string both upwardly and downwardly with respect to a stair edge or stair nose. This enables the edge of a stair and the riser thereof or next lower step to be readily seen by one either descending or ascending the stair or stairway. The light directing member can include a pair of reflectors for reflecting light upwardly and downwardly. Alternatively, it can include a single reflector for reflecting light upwardly, and another section, either clear, segmented or both clear and segmented, for directing light downwardly.

Claims

1. A step lighting fixture comprising

an extrusion having a channel for receiving a light directing member and lighting string holder, the extrusion having first and second sections substantially at a right angle to each other for mating with a step edge,

a light directing member disposed in the channel of the extrusion and being configured to slide into the channel and be retained therein, the light directing member having a first reflector area for reflecting light upwardly through the extrusion to direct light upwardly from the step lighting fixture capable of being viewed by one walking down a step, and the light directing member further including a second area for enabling light to be directed downwardly toward a riser and/or a step below, and including a holder section for holding and supporting a lighting strip member, and

a lighting strip member including a plurality of light sources disposed in the holder section of the light directing member for thereby providing a fixture for directing light from the lighting strip member both upwardly and downwardly from a single lighting strip member.

2. A step lighting fixture as in claim 1 wherein the extrusion is formed of extruded PVC and with a lens section in the first section thereof through which light reflected from the reflector area of the light directing member can pass through.

3. A step lighting fixture as in claim 2 wherein the lens section is translucent.

4. A step lighting fixture as in claim 1 including a second reflector area for reflecting light to enhance the light directed downwardly toward the step below.

5. A step lighting fixture as in claim 1 wherein the light directing member has a segmented section for directing light downwardly toward a riser below.

6. A step lighting fixture as in claim 5 wherein the segmented area is a prism type section.

7. A step lighting fixture as in claim 1 wherein the light directing member includes a substantially clear section for allowing light from the lighting strip member to impinge downwardly toward the step below.

8. A step lighting fixture as in claim 7 wherein the light directing member also includes a segmented section for directing light toward a riser below.

9. A step lighting fixture as in claim 1 wherein the light directing member has first and second edges for mounting with interior areas of a channel of the extrusion for supporting and securing the light directing member within the extrusion, and wherein the light strip member comprises a plurality of LED'"'"'s disposed in a spaced apart relationship from one end to the other of the light directing member.

10. A step lighting fixture as in claim 9 wherein the light directing member includes a holder section for receiving and holding the lighting strip member.

11. A step lighting fixture as in claim 10 wherein the light directing member includes a clear lens section for directing light toward a step below and a segmented section for directing light toward a riser below.

12. A method of providing low level illumination at a stair edge via a step lighting fixture having a plurality of light sources extending substantially across the vicinity of a stair edge comprising reflecting light from the light sources upwardly from an upper stair edge, and directing light from the light sources downwardly toward a next lower stair, all with a single string of light sources providing the upwardly and downwardly directed illumination.

13. A method as in claim 12 comprising the step of further reflecting light from the light sources to enhance the downwardly directed illumination.

14. A method as in claim 12 further including refracting light from the light sources downwardly.

15. A method as in claim 12 including transmitting light downwardly toward a step below and refracting light downwardly toward a riser below.