Light apparatus

• US 7,726,860 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Nelson, Cory J., Demarest, Scott W., Harrity, Kevin, Michaels, Kenneth W., Carlson, David R., Johnson, Mark E., Dubin, Matthew B.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US11/542,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20070091633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/560, 362/558, 362/569, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A light apparatus includes one or more light pipes and/or diffusers to transfer and/or diffuse light from a few point light sources to a broader area and to other points. A hollow light pipe includes a light transmissive sidewall that encompasses an interior space, which receives and hides control circuitry for the light sources therein. A bottom end surface of the hollow light pipe is disposed adjacent to one or more light sources and transmits the light therefrom over a relatively large, uniform area. A solid core light pipe has a light receiving end and a light dispersion end having a reflective facet therein. The reflective facet includes a depression forming a reflective surface angularly displaced from a longitudinal axis of the solid core light pipe. A light diffuser surrounding a point source of light is adapted to cause the point source to look like a flame. A light apparatus including the hollow light pipe and the solid core light pipe and/or the light diffuser is adapted to provide a plurality of different light effects, including a multi-color light show through the hollow light pipe and a flame flicker effect through the solid core light pipe.

Claims

1. A light apparatus comprising:

a light pipe having a substantially smooth longitudinal exterior surface surrounding a substantially solid core comprising a light transmissive material extending between a first end and a second end;

a light source disposed at the first end; and

a facet comprising a depression in the second end, the facet defining a reflective surface that is angularly disposed from a longitudinal axis of the light pipe between approximately twenty degrees and approximately seventy degrees;

wherein light emitted from the light source is transmitted through the light pipe from the light source and dispersed radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis by the facet and transmitted longitudinally through the facet.

2. The light apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cavity defined in the first end and a peripheral base portion surrounding the cavity, wherein the light source is disposed within the cavity, and wherein the core is substantially straight.

3. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reflecting surface is angularly disposed from the longitudinal axis at approximately forty five degrees.

4. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the facet comprises a frustoconical depression longitudinally displaced from a conical depression, the frustoconical depression surrounding an outer periphery of the conical depression, wherein at least one of the frustoconical depression and the conical depression forms a reflecting surface angularly disposed from the longitudinal axis at approximately forty-five degrees.

5. The light apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light pipe further comprises a first portion having a first width dimension and a second portion having a second width dimension, wherein the second width dimension is larger than the first width dimension, and wherein the exterior surface defines a transition section between the first portion and the second portion.

6. A light pipe comprising:

a substantially solid light transmissive pipe having a longitudinal axis extending between a first end and a second end, the pipe having a substantially smooth longitudinal exterior surface;

a cavity defined in the first end, the cavity adapted to receive at least one light source therein; and

a recessed facet disposed at the second end, wherein the facet is angularly disposed from the longitudinal axis of the light pipe such that light transmitted from the cavity is reflected laterally outwardly from the pipe at the facet and is transmitted longitudinally through the second end;

wherein the light transmissive pipe has a substantially solid core extending along the longitudinal axis completely between the recessed facet and the cavity.

7. The light pipe of claim 6, wherein the facet comprises a conical depression extending substantially across the second end, the conical depression defining a reflective surface angularly disposed from the longitudinal axis at approximately forty-five degrees.

8. The light pipe of claim 6, wherein the facet comprises a central conical depression and a peripheral frustoconical depression surrounding a periphery of the conical depression, the central conical depression longitudinally displaced beyond an end of the frustoconical depression, wherein at least one of the conical depression and the frustoconical depression defines a reflective surface angularly disposed from the longitudinal axis at approximately forty-five degrees.

9. The light pipe of claim 6, wherein the longitudinal axis is substantially straight.

10. The light pipe of claim 9, wherein the exterior surface is tapered from the first end to the second end.

11. The light pipe of claim 9, wherein the exterior surface is cylindrical.

12. The light pipe of claim 9, wherein the light transmissive pipe further comprises a first portion adjacent the first end having a first width dimension and a second portion adjacent the second end having a second width dimension, wherein the second width dimension is larger than the first width dimension, and wherein the exterior surface defines a transition section between the first portion and the second portion.

13. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a light source comprising power circuitry; and

a first light pipe comprising a light transmissive sidewall defining an interior space and a bottom end;

wherein the bottom end is disposed immediately opposite the light source and the power circuitry is disposed at least partly in the interior space; and

a second light pipe comprising a substantially solid light transmissive longitudinal section having a reflective facet disposed at a first end thereof; and

a second light source disposed at a second end of the second light pipe opposite the first end thereof;

wherein the second light source is disposed in the interior space and the reflective facet is disposed on an exterior side of the first light pipe.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first light pipe includes a top wall over the interior space extending from a top end of the sidewall and a curved transition between the sidewall and the top wall, wherein the curved transition has an inner radius larger than twice a thickness of an adjacent portion of the sidewall, and wherein the curved transition has an outer radius at least as large as a sum of the inner radius and the thickness of the sidewall.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first light pipe further includes a wall portion covering a top end opposite the bottom end and an opening in the wall portion, wherein the second light pipe extends through the opening.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first light source and the second light source comprise one or more light emitting diodes, and wherein the first light source comprises a first light effect and the second light source comprises a second light effect different than the first light effect.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first light effect comprises a multi-color light show and the second light effect comprises a flame flicker light effect.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein the power circuitry is adapted to switch between a plurality of different light effects and an off state.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one recess is defined in the bottom end of the second light pipe, and the light source is disposed in the recess.

20. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a light source comprising power circuitry; and

a light pipe comprising a light transmissive sidewall defining an interior space and a bottom end;

wherein the bottom end is disposed immediately opposite the light source and the power circuitry is disposed at least partly in the interior space, and

wherein at least one recess is defined in the bottom end of the light pipe, and the light source is disposed in the recess; and

a light diffuser disposed at least partly in the interior space and a second light source disposed in the interior space, wherein the diffuser comprises a translucent material having a bore extending partly therethrough and the second light source is disposed inside the bore, wherein the light pipe further comprises a top wall defining an opening therethrough, and wherein the light diffuser extends at least partly through the opening.

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 20, wherein the light diffuser further comprises a frustoconical portion surrounding the bore and a top portion disposed above the frustoconical portion, wherein the frustoconical portion is disposed in the interior space and the top portion is disposed in the opening.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 20, wherein the light diffuser has a top dome portion and a bottom flange portion at opposite ends of the bore, wherein the bottom flange is disposed inside the interior space and the top dome extends through the opening.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a light barrier disposed in the opening between the light pipe and the light diffuser.