HK1114154A - Highly reflective lighting fixture visor - Google Patents

Description

Visor for highly reflective lighting fixture

Cross Reference to Related Applications

Priority of U.S. provisional application No.60/644636, filed on 18.1.2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is also a non-provisional application of the following U.S. provisional applications all filed on month 1, 18, 2005: no. 60/644639; no. 60/644536; no. 60/644747; no. 60/644534; no. 60/644720; no. 60/644688; no. 60/644517; no. 60/644609; no. 60/644516; no. 60/644546; no. 60/644547; no. 60/644638; no. 60/644537; no. 60/644637; no. 60/644719; no. 60/644784; no.60/644687, the entire contents of each application are incorporated herein by reference.

Is incorporated herein by reference

The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: no. 4816974; no. 4974303; no. 5161883; no. 5600537; no. 5816691; no. 5856721; no. 6036338.

I. Background of the invention

A. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to lighting fixtures that produce a high intensity controlled concentrated beam of light for relatively distant targets. In particular, the present invention relates to such lighting fixtures, methods of their use, and their use in systems wherein a plurality of such lighting fixtures are used in combination, typically elevated on a pole, to compositely energy-conservatively illuminate a target area while reducing glare and spill light, and with the ability to reduce capital and/or operating costs. One main example is stadium lighting.

B. Problems in the prior art

This general structure of the sports lighting fixture 2 has remained relatively unchanged over the years (see fig. 1A-F) because it is a relatively economical and durable structure. The fixture achieves a reasonable compromise between economically controlling the desire for high brightness light for distant targets and at the same time minimizing wind loads, which are a particularly important issue when the fixture is elevated outdoors to heights in excess of 100 feet while in the air. Larger reflectors may provide better control of the light. However, wind loading renders it inoperable. A significant portion of the cost of sports lighting systems relates to the manner in which the lighting fixtures are raised. The greater the wind load, the stiffer and thus more expensive the bar must be.

More recently, sports lighting must also address the problems of glare and spill light. Thus, the counter balancing of benefits and problems presents challenges to sports lighting designers. Some benefits and problems may conflict with each other. For example, there is a continuing need for more economical sports lighting. On the other hand, glare and spill light control may actually increase costs and/or reduce the amount of light that may be used to illuminate the field. The designer has to balance factors such as cost, durability, size, weight, wind load, life and maintenance issues. Attempts to improve this technology have focused primarily on individual aspects of sports lighting. For example, computer design of lighting systems tends to minimize hardware costs and system installation costs, but uses traditional lamp and lighting fixture technology, which is its weakness. In addition, lamps with greater luminous flux produce more light, but are used with conventional lighting fixture technology. Accordingly, a need still exists for improvements in sports lighting technology.

Current large area or large area lighting systems suffer from problems such as loss of electrical energy to light energy conversion; energy losses in the lighting fixture; and the loss of light emission into unwanted or unwanted areas. The present invention will solve these problems.

Disclosure of the invention

The present invention also provides the ability to select different configurations to meet different needs for lighting applications. For example, the structure of the lighting system may be selected to achieve a lower cost of the lighting system. Each configuration may be selected to reduce operating costs. The structures may be selected to reduce glare and spill light. The structures may be selected to increase the amount or quality of light at and over the target space and/or the performance of the system. The invention allows attention to only one of the above listed features or a combination thereof.

In one aspect of the invention, a lighting fixture includes a visor having a reflective surface with a very high total reflectance.

In another aspect, the shield includes an outer portion and is shaped to achieve improved effective projected area and aerodynamics.

A. Objects, features, or advantages of the invention

It is therefore a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a high intensity lighting fixture, method of use thereof, and use thereof in a lighting system that ameliorates or solves certain problems and deficiencies in the prior art.

Other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention include such an apparatus, method, or system that may implement one or more of the following:

a) the energy consumption is reduced;

b) increasing the amount of available light per lighting fixture for a fixed amount of energy;

c) more efficient use of the light generated by each lighting fixture for a target area;

d) whether outdoors or indoors, this type of high intensity lighting fixture is rugged and durable for most sports lighting or other typical applications;

e) glare and spill light with respect to a target space or area may be reduced;

f) the windage or Effective Projected Area (EPA) of individual or groups of lighting fixtures may be reduced, which may allow for smaller and/or less costly elevation of structures (e.g., poles), which in turn may reduce the cost of the lighting system from a material perspective.

B. Illustrative aspects of the invention

In one aspect of the invention, the additional reflective surface extends forwardly from the substantially surface of revolution of the main reflective surface and is made of a high reflectivity material. In contrast to conventional shields, which are primarily used to block light, the emitting surface not only serves to block light that may be glare or spill light, but also to redirect otherwise wasted light in an efficient and highly controllable manner to the target area. The frame supporting the additional reflective surface may be integrally connected to the frame for the main reflective surface, thereby minimizing wind resistance of the entire lighting fixture.

These and other objects, features, advantages and aspects of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims.

Description of the drawings

Fig. 1A to F show a conventional sports lighting system;

FIGS. 2A through E show views of one exemplary embodiment of an arc tube that may be used with the present invention;

FIGS. 3A and B are views of an arc lamp that may be used with the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and B are exploded views of an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5A and B are different views of the apparatus of fig. 4 with a first exemplary embodiment of a shield (sometimes referred to as a short shield) according to the present invention;

fig. 6A and B are views similar to fig. 5A and B with a second exemplary embodiment of a shield (sometimes referred to as a long shield) according to the present invention;

FIG. 7A is a side-by-side perspective view showing the two shields of FIGS. 5A and 6A connected to a lens ring mountable to a reflector frame and also showing an example of a high reflectivity reflector strip mounted on the underside of the shields;

fig. 7B is a partial perspective view showing the leftmost shield of fig. 7A;

FIGS. 8A and B are additional perspective views of the leftmost reflector of FIG. 7A;

FIGS. 9A and B are additional perspective views of the rightmost reflector of FIG. 7A;

fig. 10A and 11A-D are views of a shield reflective insert upper rail and a lower rail, respectively, mountable on the inner side of a shield to which a high reflectance reflective insert strip can be attached, as shown in fig. 7A-9A;

fig. 12A-D illustrate a shield transition clip that can be secured to the inside of a shield so that different sets of reflective inserts transition between different heights;

FIG. 13 is a top view of a shield base connectable to the lens frame of FIG. 23A;

fig. 14 is a top view of a shield extension that can be connected to the shield base of fig. 13 to form the short shield of fig. 5A and 7A;

fig. 15 is a top view of an alternative shield extension that can be connected to the shield base of fig. 13 to form the elongate shield of fig. 6A and 9A;

fig. 16A to B show an example of a longer shield insert;

fig. 17A-C are different views showing a specially configured end reflecting shield insert positionable on opposite lateral sides of the shield;

fig. 18A-B are alternative embodiments of a reflective shield insert;

fig. 19A-C are alternative embodiments of opposite end shield inserts that may be used with the reflective insert of fig. 18A;

fig. 20A-C are views of a shield insert support for the shield insert of fig. 16A and 17A;

fig. 21A-C are shield insert supports that may be used with the reflective insert of fig. 18A and 19A;

figures 22A-C illustrate a shield insert assembly alignment bracket;

fig. 23A to F show a lens frame used in the embodiment of the foregoing drawings.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

Embodiments of lighting fixtures will be described below with sports lighting for stadium lighting, sports lighting fixtures, and sports lighting systems as a background (e.g., as shown in fig. 1A-1C). In the description, a sports field is thus a target area or space.

A. Exemplary devices

1. Lighting fixture 10 overview

Fig. 4 illustrates the basic components of the sports lighting fixture 10 in exploded form. Fig. 5A and B show a combined perspective form thereof. The lighting fixture 10 has similar basic components as prior art sports lighting fixtures, but introduces a number of different structural components and content.

The reflector frame 30 (cast aluminum 413) is bolted to the lamp cone 40. A lens frame (fig. 23A) for a glass lens 32 is removably locked to the front of the reflection frame 30. Visor 70 may be mounted to the lens frame and, when in place, extends from the upper front of reflector frame 30. Shield 70 includes a high reflectivity strip 72 on the interior thereof.

By comparing fig. 5A with fig. 6A, shield 70 can take different shapes and forms. The first version of shield 70A (fig. 5A) is shorter and does not extend forward and downward as well as second shield version 70B (fig. 6A). Both have the same base (fig. 13) which initially extends from the reflector frame 30 at a low convergence angle. The distal extension is connected to the base and angles back inward toward the central axis of the reflector frame 30. Shorter shield 70A utilizes a shorter extension (fig. 14) than longer shield 70B (see extension of fig. 15). Visor 70B is useful, for example, when light fixture 10 is aimed at a more nearly horizontal angle. It will block and redirect more light than shield 70A that would otherwise exit the target area.

2. Shield 70

As shown in fig. 4, visor 70 may be connected to light fixture 10. A high total reflectivity material is mounted on the inside or downwardly facing side 22 thereof. Basically, the outside of visor 70 is a protective covering of the high reflectivity material it supports. Fig. 5A and 6A show two basic forms of shield 70.

Each version of visor 70 is actually larger in size than many existing visors and increases the overall size of light fixture 10. However, the shape and configuration of the visor has been designed to reduce the wind chime load by a factor of 40% compared to conventional lighting fixtures. The length, shape and edges of visor 70 are configured to improve the EPA of the entire lighting fixture 10. They are cost effective and have excellent reflection efficiency.

As shown in fig. 8A, a plurality of side-by-side, high reflectivity or reflectance reflective inserts (e.g., reflective inserts 252 of fig. 16A) are riveted or otherwise secured to the inside of base reflector 240 and connecting reflector 250. Alternatively, the upper and lower rails 254 and 256 may be connected to proximal and distal locations on the inside of the shield assembly 240/250, and the reflective shields installed into the slots 255 and 257, respectively, and then riveted or bolted in place (see the openings in rails 254 and 256). One or more radial support brackets 258 (see fig. 20A) may be connected back to the front side of the shield assemblies 240 and 250 to provide more rigidity to the upper shield reflective insert rail 254 and the lower shield reflective insert rail 256. Examples of high reflectivity inserts and materials are described in U.S. patent publication No. 6036338.

Shield 70 is shaped to perform a variety of functions. First, the shield supports the highly reflective insert in a manner that controls glare and spill light. Second, the shield supports the reflective insert in a manner that minimizes light loss and can add light to the target. Further, the shape of the shield minimizes the projected area of the shield and the lighting fixture to generally produce a low blocking coefficient. Finally, the shield accomplishes these functions in a relatively low cost yet efficient manner.

Even though the overall size of the lighting fixture 10 is larger than some conventional similar lighting fixtures, the wind resistance is reduced by orders of 40% or more. Glare and spill light (e.g., lower initial output intensity, side-to-side, re-reflective surface that highly control the direction of light) can also be controlled by other structures disclosed herein using shield 70, if used. This may allow the use of an inexpensive rod, which significantly reduces the overall cost of the lighting system. Less wind resistance means that the strength of the rod that raises the lighting fixture can be less.

Visor 70 may also be used if glare and spill light are not an issue due to the improved EPA of the lighting fixture, which may reduce the cost of the pole. The shield has excellent efficiency and relatively low cost. This is particularly advantageous for outdoor sports lighting.

3. Shield selection

Optionally, prismatic material may be used in the shield openings to achieve different illumination effects. An angled stepped prism reflector within reflector 70 may also be used. A black paint may be used on the opposite side of the reflective surface of the shield to control extreme glare and spill light.

The shield, or reflector/shield assembly, may be painted, finished or otherwise configured with team or genre colors. Because the reflector frame and shield exterior are molded and do not contain reflective surfaces, painting is a more viable option.

It should be apparent that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. The invention will include modifications apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is defined only by the claims and not by the specific examples herein.

For example, the method of attaching a reflective strip or other high reflectance surface to the underside of visor 70 may vary depending on the manner in which it is supported. Fig. 17A-C and 19A-C show reflective inserts that may be mounted on opposite sides of visor 70. The reflective insert has a shape that matches the side of shield 70.

The use of an insert allows for the addition of a precise, high reflectivity surface in a relatively easy manner. The change in shape of the insert can change the way the light is controlled so that the designer can select them as needed or desired.

The figures illustrate one way of establishing shield 70. A reflector based on an aluminum sheet is attached to the lens frame (fig. 13). A frame of aluminum or metal is built up (fig. 10A to D). Reflective embedded strips and components are mounted to the frame (fig. 11A-D). The frame with the attached reflective insert is attached to the base reflector (fig. 12A-D). The shield extension, short aluminum sheet member or long member (fig. 15) is then connected to the subassembly of fig. 12A-D.

Claims (10)

1. A high intensity lighting fixture for increasing useable light at a target area without increasing energy usage, comprising:

a. a reflector frame mountable to the lamp cone and comprising a bowl-shaped outer surface, an inner surface including mounting structure for a reflective surface, and a main opening to which a glass lens can be mounted;

b. a shield mountable on the top side of the reflector frame and extending outwardly therefrom, the shield having an outer side and an inner side;

c. a reflective surface having a very high total reflectance, the reflective surface mountable to an inner side of the visor and adapted to redirect incident light generally downwardly when the lighting fixture is in an operative position relative to a target area.

2. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the inner side of the visor is adapted to support a reflective surface having a high total reflectance extending outwardly from the reflector frame.

3. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the reflective surface of the visor extends outwardly from the lamp above the lamp when the lighting fixture is in the operating position.

4. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the reflecting surface of the visor extends more than 180 ° relative to or about the longitudinal axis of the lamp.

5. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the reflective surface of the visor has a different shape than a major portion of the reflective surface.

6. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the reflective surface of the visor redirects light generally downward toward the target area when the lighting fixture is in the operating position.

7. The lighting fixture of claim 1 wherein the visor comprises an outer portion that, in combination with the reflector frame, achieves relatively improved Effective Projected Area (EPA) and aerodynamic properties compared to conventional spun aluminum reflective lighting devices.

8. A method of high intensity lighting that increases the available light to a target area without increasing the amount of energy usage, the lighting being accomplished by one or more lighting fixtures that emit light from a light output side, the method comprising the steps of:

a. extending an extension structure outwardly from the lighting fixture at or near a light output side of the lighting fixture;

b. using a reflective surface on the extended structure with a very high total reflectance;

c. so that incident light on the reflective surface with a very high total reflectance can be redirected to the target to make more light available on the target.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising selecting between the type, size, and reflective characteristics of the very high total reflectance reflective surface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the extension structure is configured to minimize wind resistance and/or have a reduced effective projected area.