Louvered lighting system

• US 5,879,070 A
• Filed: 10/12/1995
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anthony Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Anthony Manufacturing Corporation.
• Inventors: Severloh, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/541,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 362/125, 362/92, 362/133, 362/224, 362/223, 362/260, 362/290, 362/291, 362/292, 362/351, 362/354, 321/223.5
• US Class Current: 362/125
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 11/10 Arrangements of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 11/02 using parallel laminae or strips, e.g. of Venetian-blind type F21V11/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

A light fixture is disclosed including a receptacle for receiving a light source and a support for the receptacle. At least one baffle supported adjacent the light source inhibits passage of light from the light source past the at least one baffle. An enclosure surrounds the light sources and engages the support in such a way that airflow from outside the enclosure to the light source is substantially prevented. A display case is also disclosed having a product support within a frame for supporting the product to be displayed within the display case and a light fixture for receiving and supporting a light source. At least one baffle element is positioned adjacent to light fixture and between the fixture and the product support for reducing the amount of light from the light source that passes from the light source outside of the display case.

Claims

1. A lighted display case comprising:

a base element;

a frame supported by the base element and defining an enclosure;

at least one product support within the frame for supporting product to be displayed within the display case;

a light fixture supported by the base for receiving and supporting a light source for producing an amount of light; and

at least one baffle element positioned adjacent the light fixture and between the fixture and the product support and oriented so as to reduce the amount of light from the light source that passes from the light source in a direction away from the product support toward the outside of the display case.

2. The display case of claim 1 wherein the at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles.

3. The display case of claim 2 wherein the plurality of baffles are positioned at an angle relative to the light fixture.

4. The display case of claim 3 wherein the plurality of baffles are oriented parallel relative to each other.

5. The display case of claim 2 wherein at least one of the baffles has a matted surface.

6. The display case of claim 5 wherein at least one of the baffles has a relatively shiny surface.

7. The display case of claim 2 wherein the light fixture includes a light source having a longitudinal axis and wherein at least one baffle of the plurality of baffles defines a plane wherein the plane does not intersect the longitudinal axis of the light source.

8. The display case of claim 2 wherein the light fixture includes a light source and wherein at least one of the baffles in the plurality of baffles defines a plane spaced apart from the light source.

9. The display case of claim 2 wherein at least one of the baffles in the plurality of baffles is positioned so as to define a plane which intersects the at least one product support within the frame.

10. The display case of claim 1 further including a reflector adjacent the light source when the light source is supported by the light fixture.

11. The display case of claim 10 wherein the reflector includes a single angle.

12. The display case of claim 11 wherein the reflector has only two facets.

13. The display case of claim 1 further comprising a housing enclosing a substantial portion of the light fixture.

14. The display case of claim 13 wherein the housing includes a plurality of baffles.

15. The display case of claim 13 further comprising a longitudinally extending support supported by the base for supporting the light fixture, and wherein the housing includes longitudinally extending engagement members for engaging the light fixture support.

16. The display case of claim 15 wherein the engagement members include converging elements for engaging the light fixture support.

17. The display case of claim 13 wherein the light fixture support includes at least one groove for engaging the converging engagement members on the housing.

18. The display case of claim 17 wherein the at least one groove includes at least two longitudinally extending ridges on each side of the groove for engaging the converging engagement members on the housing.

19. The display case of claim 18 wherein the light fixture support includes a plurality of grooves, and wherein each groove includes a plurality of ridges for engaging the converging engagement members on the housing.

20. The display case of claim 13 wherein the light fixture support comprises a mullion and wherein the mullion includes a mullion cover having a living hinge connecting a longitudinally extending groove element to the mullion cover wherein the longitudinally extending groove element engages a portion of the housing.

21. The display case of claim 1 wherein the at least one product support includes a shelf having a substantially straight front edge, and further including a housing over the light fixture and wherein a light source engaging the light fixture defines a first axis and wherein the shelf has a shelf center such that a line between the shelf center and the first axis defines an optical axis and wherein at least one baffle is positioned and extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis.

22. A lighted display case comprising:

a base element;

a frame supported by the base element and defining an enclosure;

at least one product support within the frame for supporting product to be displayed within the display case;

a light fixture supported by the base for receiving and supporting a light source for producing an amount of light; and

a plurality of baffles positioned adjacent the light fixture and between the fixture and the product support for reducing the amount of light from the light source that passes from the light source outside of the display case, wherein at least two of the plurality of baffles have different lengths.

23. The display case of claim 22 wherein three adjacent baffles are progressively shorter.

24. A lighted display case comprising:

a base element;

a frame supported by the base element and defining an enclosure;

at least one shelf within the frame for supporting product to be displayed within the display case;

a door supported by the frame for permitting viewing of product on the shelf;

a light fixture supported by the base for receiving and supporting a light source for producing an amount of light;

a housing enclosing a portion of the light fixture and the light source; and

at least one baffle element positioned on the housing and adjacent the light fixture and oriented so as to reduce the amount of light from the light source that passes from the light source through the display case door outside of the display case.

25. The display case of claim 24 wherein the housing includes a plurality of baffles, at least two of which are positioned on the housing so as to be oriented parallel to each other defining respective planes which intersect the shelf.

26. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle element includes a plurality of baffles and at least some of the baffles are positioned on the housing and define respective planes which intersect the light source.

27. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle element is positioned at an angle relative to the housing.

28. The display case of claim 27 further comprising a plurality of baffles oriented parallel relative to each other.

29. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle element includes a plurality of adjacent baffles, which are progressively shorter.

30. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle element has a matted surface.

31. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle element has a relatively shiny surface.

32. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle is entirely opaque.

33. The display case of claim 32 wherein the opaque baffle has first and second sides and wherein a first side is reflective and a second side is at least partly non-reflective.

34. The display case of claim 32 wherein the at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles that are opaque.

35. The display case of claim 24 wherein the at least one baffle includes a plurality of baffles having different lengths.

36. A lighted display case comprising:

a base element;

a frame defining an enclosure;

at least one shelf within the frame for supporting product to be displayed within this display case;

a door supported by the frame for permitting viewing of product on the shelf and movable to permit access to the product;

a light fixture supported by the base for receiving and supporting a light source for producing an amount of light;

a housing enclosing at least part of the light source; and

at least one opaque baffle element supported by the housing and positioned adjacent the light fixture such that the amount of light from the light source that passes from the light source out of the display case door is reduced relative to the amount of light that would pass without the at least one baffle element.