Fluorescent light reflector

• US 6,257,735 B1
• Filed: 02/19/2000
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Orion Energy Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smartlite, Inc.
• Inventors: Baar, Raymond P.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/507,444
• Time in Patent Office: 507 Days
• Field of Search: 362/217, 362/298, 362/301, 362/341, 362/360, 362/296, 362/241
• US Class Current: 362/260
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/09 with a combination of different curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes

Abstract

An elongated light fixture configured to create patterns of light saturation which is free of shadows and spots and provides a more uniform light distribution while effecting a substantial saving in energy costs when a plurality thereof are disposed at prescribed locations and elevations. In addition, such a plurality of light fixtures will produce a higher ratio of vertical to horizontal illuminance where vertical surfaces are needed to be amply lighted. The elongated fixture is characterized by its U-shaped cross-sectional configuration which has an interior light-reflective surface comprised of a plurality of elongated parallel panels which are interconnected and extend at a prescribed angle to each other. The fixtures are also claimed in combination with a hybrid magnetic-electronic ballast to provide the above advantages.

Claims

1. A reflector for fluorescent lights comprised of an elongated channel member which is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and having an inner surface which has light-reflecting qualities:

(a) said channel member being further comprised of an elongated centrally-disposed flat reflector panel located at the base of said U-shaped member and extending longitudinally of said member and having spaced opposite parallel side edges;

(b) a pair of additional flat, elongated reflector panels each adjacent and connected to one of said opposite side edges of said centrally disposed reflector panel and extending outwardly and downwardly thereof at an angle of approximately 22°

-32°

;

(c) a second pair of flat elongated reflector panels, each having opposite parallel sides one of which is adjacent and connected to one side of one of said first mentioned pair of reflector panels and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom at an angle of approximately 22°

-32°

to the plane of said flat elongated panel to which it is so attached;

(d) a third pair of flat elongated reflector panels, each having opposite parallel sides one of which is adjacent and connected to the other side of one of said second pair of flat elongated reflector panels and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom at an angle of approximately 22°

-32°

;

(e) a fourth pair of flat elongated reflector panels each having opposite parallel sides adjacent and connected to one side of one of said third pair panel sides and extending outwardly and downwardly therefrom at an angle of approximately 13°

-20°

;

(f) each of said reflector panels having a light-reflecting surface facing outwardly and downwardly from said U-shaped member; and

(g) means for mounting a fluorescent lamp within the confines of said U-shaped member.

2. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second and third pair of said panels extends at an angle of about 22°

to at least one of its adjacent panels.

3. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second pairs of reflector panels extends at an angle of about 22°

to each of its adjacent panels.

4. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein each of said first, second, and third pairs of reflector panels extends at an angle of about 22°

relative to at least one of their adjacent panels.

5. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein said base located reflector panel is about one inch in width.

6. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein said panels comprising said first, second and third pair of panels are of substantially equal width.

7. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein said panels of said first, second and third pairs of panels are of substantially equal width and said base panel is wider than the panels of each.

8. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein said panels of said first, second and third pairs of panels are of substantially equal width and are each lesser in width than said panels of said fourth pair.

9. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said fourth pair of reflector panels terminates at its extreme outer end in an angulated hanger element extending along its length.

10. The reflector member defined in claim 1, wherein each of said fourth pair of reflector panels terminates at its extreme outer end in an angulated, hanger element extending along substantially its entire length.

11. The reflector member defined in claim 10, wherein each of said hanger elements extends outwardly relative to the remainder of said channel member.

12. The reflector member defined in claim 9 and a plurality of additional reflector members of the same construction as described in claim 1 associated therewith in side by side relationship, said reflectors being interconnected by said hanger elements to constitute a bank of individual reflectors.

13. The reflector member defined in claim 1, and (h) a 55 watt fluorescent lamp mounted within said lamp mounting means;

and (i) ballast means electrically connected to said lamp in illuminating relation while providing about 41 watts of electrical power to said lamp.

14. The reflector member defined in claim 13, wherein said ballast means includes a magnetic ballast component therein.

15. The reflector member defined in claim 13, wherein said ballast means includes a transformer electrically connected therewithin.

16. The reflector member defined in claim 13, and (h) a plurality of 55 watt fluorescent lamps mounted within said lamp mounting means;

and (i) ballast means electrically connected to said lamps in illuminating relation.

17. The reflector member defined in claim 16, wherein said ballast means includes a magnetic ballast component electrically connected therein.

18. The reflector member defined in claim 16, wherein said ballast means includes an electrical transformer as an essential element thereof.

19. The combination of:

(a) a reflector for fluorescent lights comprised of an elongated channel member which is of generally inverted U-shape in cross-sectional configuration and has an inner surface which has light-reflecting qualities, said channel member being further comprised of;

(1) a plurality of adjacent, elongated and interconnected flat reflector panels facing downwardly and cooperatively defining generally said U-shaped configuration by extending at an angle to each other of approximately 22-32°

; and

(2) each of said reflector panels having a light-reflecting surface facing outwardly and downwardly from said inverted U-shaped member;

(b) means for mounting a 55 watt fluorescent lamp within the confines of said inverted U-shaped channel member; and

(c) a hybrid magnetic-electronic ballast electrically connected to said lamp to uniformly provide same with about 41 watts of electric power to illuminate same while running cooler and to cause said lamp to run for a longer life-term while providing more uniform light.

20. The combination defined in claim 19, wherein the magnetic aspect of said ballast is provided by a transformer.

21. The combination defined in claim 19, wherein at least some of said reflector panels extend relative to each other at an angle of about 22°

.

22. A lighting installation for providing a relatively uniform source of light for more adequately lighting both vertical and horizontal mediums of a defined area below said installation, at a lesser expense, said installation comprising:

(a) a plurality of banks of fluorescent lamp reflectors mounted in an elevated position above said defined area in horizontally spaced relation to each other at about twenty (20) foot center-to-center positions, and at heights of about thirty (30) feet;

(b) each of said banks of reflectors being comprised of a plurality of downwardly-facing elongated channel members, each of which is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and having an inner surface which has light-reflecting capacities and being further comprised of a plurality of adjacent elongated, centrally-disposed interconnected flat reflector panels facing downwardly and at an angle to each other;

(c) a major portion of said reflector panels being positioned adjacent the base of its U-shaped member and facing downwardly while extending at an angle of 22°

-32°

toward each adjacent panel;

(d) a fluorescent lamp mounted within each of said U-shaped members, each of said lamps having a single 55 watt filament; and

(e) ballast means electrically connected to each of said banks of reflectors and providing a uniform supply of electricity of about 41 watts to each of said lamps, to cause said lamps to burn uniformly.

23. The lighting installation defined in claim 22, and a transformer incorporated electrically within said ballast means and causing each of said lamps, to burn cooler and more uniformly.

24. The lighting installation defined in claim 22, wherein at least a majority of said banks of reflectors is comprised of five (5) of said reflectors, with at least one of said lamps being disposed within each of said reflectors.