US1160094A - Indirect-lighting fixture. - Google Patents

Description

H. C. ADAM.

INDIRECT LIGHTING FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. II. 1915.

1,160.,O9Q. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

W i F fljy HARRY C. ADAM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

INDIRECT-LIGHTING- FIXTURE. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

Application filed January 11, 1915. Serial N 0. 1,592.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY C. ADAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Indirect-Lighting Fixtures, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to lighting fixtures of the type in which the lighting unit is positioned between a top reflector and a bowlshaped member or shield arranged above and below the lighting unit, respectively.

One object of my present invention is to provide a lighting fixture of the general type described in my prior Patent No. 1,121,577, dated December 15, 1911, which is so constructed that the bowl-shaped shield can be arranged very near the top reflector without causing the major portion of the direct rays from the lighting unit to strike the bowl or the reflected rays to be thrown back into vthe bowl, the top reflector and shield being so arranged with relation to I each other that the rays will be spread laterally .Over a wide area and also thrown downwardly in such a manner that a strong light is produced directly beneath'the fix- 5 time Another object is to provide an, electric lighting fixture of the general type mentioned, in whichthe incandescent lamp bulb 'that constitutes a lighting unit projects upwardly through the top reflector and is car ried by a .supporting structure-that can be changed easily, so as to enable bulbs of different sizes to be used without varying the I relative position of the filament of the bulb and the top reflector and shield.

And still another object is to provide a ceiling lighting fixture that is inexpensive to manufacture, easyto'wire and install and which comprises an exceptionally strong and rigid supporting structure for the top reflector.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointedout.

Figure, 1. of the drawings is a vertical cross-sectlonal view of an indirect lighti'ng fixture constructed in accordance with my present invention. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig: 3 is adetail horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates a bowl or shield that is arranged under the source of light B, herein shown as an incandescent electric lamp bulb, said bowl A being of any preferred shape and formed from any suitable material. In the preferred form of my invention, as herein shown, the bowl A is opaque and is provided on its inner side with a reflecting surface 1, which can be conveniently formed of a sheet metal member provided with an enameled surface, the upper edge portion of the bowl being flared laterally, as shown in Fig. 1,-

so as to provide an inclined reflecting surface cz whose function will be hereinafter pointed out. The metal reflecting member 1 of the bowl herein shown isprovided on its underside with a covering formed of a composition so as to impart an ornamental appearance to the bowl, and if desired, the

bowl can be provided in its bottom with a shown is provided adjacent its outer edge with a reflecting surface wqwhich is inclined upwardly from the outer edge of the reflector, and said reflector is provided adjacent its center with an, oppositely inclined reflecting surface y that inclines'upwardly from the center opening 3 in the reflector. Intermediate the oppositely inclined reflecting surfaces :1; and y] is a horizontally disposed reflecting surface a. The top reflector C of the fixture herein shown is round and the oppositely-inclined reflecting surfaces :12 and y of same are straight or plain in transverse .cross section, but, if desired, said reflecting surfaces could be curved slightly in transverse cross section and the to reflector C could be of various other forms of outline without departing from the spirit of my invention. I have herein shown the top reflector C as being provided at its outer edge with my upwardly projecting flange 4, but this also is a detail that can be varied without departing from my invention. When the fixture is in use some of the direct rays from the lighting unit will pass upwardly.

' throug h flector, and thus illuminate the ceiling sufliciently to prevent a shadow from form ng thereon above the top reflector C. The direct lateral rays from the lighting unit that strike the inclined reflecting surface w adjacent the outer edge of the top reflector are prdjected downwardly directly beneath the fixture 'and also spread over an area of greater diameter than the top reflector, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 1. The direct rays from the horizontally-disposed reflecting surface a of the top reflector are spread laterally over a wide area or thrown toward the sides of the room, the chief function of the reflecting surface 2- and the reflecting surface y being to spread the light while the chief' function of the reflecting surface a: is to proect the reflected direct and secondary ray downwardly beneath the fixture.

. Certain of the direct rays from the lighting unit that strike the inclinedreflecting surface 3; at the center of the top reflector are thrownlaterally onto the oppositely inclined reflecting surface an adjacent the outer edge of the top reflector, which reflecting .surface .1: projects the rays downwardly, as

. downwardlv,

to be thrown indicated in Fig. 1.

By providing the top reflector C with a center opening 3 up .through which the lighting 7 unit B projects It is possible to arrange the bowl A very close to the top reflector without causing the major portion of the direct rays to strlke the bowl or the reflected rays in Fig. 1, most of the direct raysfrom the w, y and z ofthe top reflector at such angles that they are thrown laterally and downwardly without striking the bowl A. The

secondary ray s'from the lighting unit that strike the flared portion a of the reflecting surface 1 on the inner side of the bowl A are reflected upwardly onto the reflecting surfaces y and 2 of the top reflector, butsaid reflected rays strike said reflecting surfaces at such angles that they are thrown downwardly and laterallyat points outside of the bowl A. In other words, the incandescent lamp bulb B projects upwardly through the top reflector sufliciently to bring the filament of the bulb near enough to the .topreflector .to cause the major portion of the direct rays therefrom to be caught by one or the other reflecting surface on the top reflector withoutdepending on the bowl A to intercept said raysand throw them upwardly onto the top reflector. The principal function of the bowl A is to prevent the direct rays from the llghting unit from. being thrown directly and while said bowl is also used to reflect some of the rays upwardly onto the top reflector, the shape and arrangement of said bowl and reflector are such that the lighting unit that strike 1 struction and 1s ada back into the bowl. As shown the reflecting surfaces 11; The cap plate 10 the-light laterally toward the sides of the 1 room and spreads the light over a wide area, and it also illuminates the ceiling above the fixture and prevents the top reflector from casting a shadow on the ceiling. Furthermore, with a' fixture of this construction it is possible to use acomparatively small'top reflector or top reflector of small diameter and a shallow bowl without depending on the ceiling to reflect some of the light downwardly.

It is immaterial, so far as my broad idea is concerned, how the top reflector C and I bowl A are. supported, and while l have herein shown the top reflector C arranged comparatively close to the ceiling, this is not essential to the successful operation of my improved fixture, as said reflector could bearranged some distance below the ceiling and suspended by chains or other suitable devices. The means herein shown for supporting the top reflector C is of novel conted for general use, in any type of ceiling ture that comprises a top reflector. spider'or member I) of skeleton construction, which is preferably stamped from sheet metal and provided with a ring-shaped center portion 5 that is joined or connected to a ring-shaped'portion '6 by a plurality of radially-disposed arms 7, the top reflector C being connected to said the spider being connected to a sleeve or cylindrical-shaped member E by means of screws or other suitable fastening devices 9. The sleeve E is detachably connected to a cap plate 10 that can either be secured to the ceiling .of the roomor to an outlet box 11 that is embedded in Said 'mea'ns consists of a ringshaped portion 6 by bolts or other suitable fastening devices 8, and the center ring-shaped portion 5 of the ceiling, the cap plate v 10 of the fixture herein shown being detachably connected by means of screwspr' devices 12 to inon theoutlet box other suitable fastening weirdly-projecting lugs 11 vinvention-herein shown said socket is detachthe out-' is of'less width than that the supply concarried down ,alongone accomplished by ably connected by means of screws 14 to a pair of lugs 15 that depend from the cap plate 10. Various means may be employed for connecting the sleeve E and cap plate together, but I- prefer to connect said memberstogether by means of screws 16 that pass transversely through the sleeve E and are l tapered into the depending lugs 15 on the cap plate, the screws 16 preferably being long enough so that they will engage the screws 11 that retain the sccket 13 in position, and thus prevent the screws 14 from turning or working loose. The sleeve E is preferably provided at its upper edge with a notch 17 shown in Fig. 1 for receiving the electric supply conductors 11", thus enabling the sup- Dly conductors to be connected to the electric lamp socket before the sleeve E is arranged in operative position. If desired, the cap plate 10 can be provided at its center with a knock out 10 so as to permit the electric supply conductors to be drawn through the center of the cap plate instead ofbeing brought down alongone side of same, as illustrated in Fig. 2-. y l

A housing F is provided for inca sing the sleeve E and the cap plate 10st) asto impart a neat and' ornamental appearance to the fixture, said housing F being provided at its lower edge with an inwardly-projecting flange that bears against the laterally-projecting flange at the lower edge of the sleeve E, through which the fastening devices 9 pass, it, of course, being understood that the housing F is arranged in operative position before the spider .D is secured to the sleeve E. The bowl A is preferably suspended from the top reflector C by means of links or chains 18 secured to hooks or eye bolts that are fastened to the horizontally-disposed portion a of the top reflector, but, of course,

it will be understood that it is immaterial, so far as my present inventionis concerned, how said bowl A is supported.

A combined socket holder and reflectorsupporting means of the construction above de'scribedis exceptionally strong and rigid, owing to the fact that the spider D or portion that sustains the top reflector consists of a separate member that is preferably formed from a sheet metal stamping. Such a device is inexpensive to manufacture; and another desirable feature of same is that it enables the fixture to be wired and installed easily. The top plate'10 can be used with outlet boxes of various sizes; and still another very desirable feature of such a device is that the proper position of the top reflec-v example, if it is desired to use a short light bulb B, a-short sleeve E or sleeve of the proper length can be used so as to cause the bowl A and top reflector O to be posi I tioned properly with relation to the lighting unit. If it is desired to use a long bulb,-

a long sleeve E is substituted, the additional length of the sleeve compensating for the additional length of the lighting bulb, and thus causing the reflector and bowl to be posi- I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An electric lighting fixture, comprising a top reflector having a center opening up through which the upper portion of an incandescent'lamp bulb extends to such a degree that some of the rays therefrom will illuminate the space above the top reflector, a downwardlyinclined reflecting surface at the outer edge portion of said top reflector arranged in such a position with relation to the filament of the lamp bulb that the major portion of the direct lateral rays from the lamp will'strike said reflecting surface and be projected downwardly, an upwardly-inclined reflecting surface on said top reflec- .a bowl-shaped shield arranged under the lighting unit out of the path of said direct laterajl rays for causing some of the rays from 'the lighting unit to be thrown upwardly against the upwardly-inclined reflecting surface of the top reflector at such angles that they will be projected downwardly and laterally without striking said shield.

2. An electric 1i hting fixture, comprising a top reflector an a bowl-shaped shield arranged above and below the lighting unit, respectively, said top reflector being provided with angularly-disposed reflecting surfaces that are inclined in opposite directions to each other and also having a center opening'up through which the lighting unlt extends far enough to illuminate the space inclined reflecting surface on said shield which causes some of the rays from the lighting unit to be reflected upwardly onto the top reflector at such angles that said rays will be projected downwardly without striking said shield.

3. An electric lighting fixture, comprislng a top reflector having a center opening up through which an incandescent lamp bulb isv adapted to extend far enough so that some of the rays therefrom will illummate the space above the top reflector, av reflecting surface that inclines upwardly from said center opening, a downwardly-incllned reflect-. ing surface adjacent the outer edge of the top reflector, and a shallow, bowl-shaped shield arranged under the lamp bulb and provided with an upwardly-mclmed reflect- &

' ing that said rays will be projected downwardly without striking said shield.

at. A lighting fixture, comprising a top reflector provided with oppositely-inclined reflecting surfaces, a shallow, bowl-shaped shield arranged underneath same, and an electric lamp bulb arranged partly above and below said top reflector with its filament so positioned that the major portion of the direct rays therefrom will pass over the upper edge portion of said shield and strike the reflecting surfaces of the top reflector,

said shieldhaving aflared upper edge por-,

tion which causes some of the rays from the lighting unit to be reflected onto the top reflector at such angles that they are thereafted projected downwardly and laterally without striking the shield.

5.1m a lighting fixture, a standard top plate that is adapted to be connected to a ceiling or to an outlet box-and which can be used with fixtures of various sizes, a lamp socket carried by said top plate, a removable member detachably connected to said topplate and incasing said lamp socket, a top reflector, and a detachable supporting device of skeleton construction on said member, arranged above the top reflector and connected to-said top reflector at some distance from the center'of same.

6. A socket holder for lighting fixtures, comprising a top plate, that secure a lamp socket insulator to said top plate, a removable sleeve that surrounds said insulator, and fastening devices for securing said sleeve inposition and for locking the fastening sulator to the top plate.

7 An electric lighting a top reflector and a arranged above and below the lighting unit, respectively, a combined socket holder for the lighting unit and sustaining'means for the top reflector comprising a removable element that can be replaced by a similar element of different length when it is desired to use a difi'erent sized lighting unit without destroying the proper relation between the lighting unit and said reflector and bowlshaped member, said top reflector having a center opening up through which the lighting unit passes and said removable element being detachably connected to a-' skeletonlike supporting device for the top reflector that is arranged above same.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this eighth day of January 1915.

HARRY C. ADAM.

fixture, comprising Witnesses 1 J nssm CLARK,

GEORGE BAKEWELL.

fastening dBVlCBS' devices that secure the inbowl-shaped member

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