Patent Application
20130148358
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In view of the foregoing, this patent application provides for a Detachable Cover Apparatus for Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Light Bulbs that serves to alter the illumination properties of the light source.
The use or fluorescent lighting over traditional incandescent lighting sources has increased over time due to several factors. In general, fluorescent lighting systems utilize less energy, create less heat, and last substantially longer than incandescent light bulbs. However, fluorescent lighting has some disadvantages when compared to other light sources including providing an illumination that many consider more harsh than incandescent light bulbs. The Detachable Cover Apparatus for CFL light bulbs described in this application provides multiple alternatives to control the illumination characteristics including harshness.
More specifically, the CFL cover, being manufactured of highly heat resistant material, can be slipped over the CFL bulb and not only fastened to the base of the bulb but also held in place using a pressure applying framework that both provides structure to the Detachable CFL Cover as well to provide additional stability by being pressure-mounted and applying light pressure onto the exterior surface of the CFL light bulb itself.
Once in place, the Detachable CFL Cover can diffuse or soften the quality of light provided for by the CFI cover, or alternately change the hue or color of the emitted light by creating a multitude of illumination improvements for many diverse applications. Some examples of this include but are not limited to creating less harsh and softer lighting conditions for both residential and commercial applications, improving detailed personal lighting applications such as reading or makeup application, and for creating ambient lighting conditions in the photography and videography markets.
In addition, in many applications, CFL bulbs are larger in size to provide for increased illumination, but in these circumstances the physical size of the CFL bulbs results in the bulbs being placed in light sockets without fixtures, creating an aesthetically displeasing effect. This is often also true for smaller CFL bulbs placed in fixtures due to the shape and spiral nature of the fluorescent tubing. In both of these situations the CFL cover apparatus described. in this application enables users to cover the CFL bulb to counter and remove this displeasing effect.
As mentioned, the Detachable Cover Apparatus for CFL Light Bulbs is comprised of a cover material that must be heat resistant. One such example of the material that could be used is tough spun, a heat resistant pliable material commonly used for light diffusion in conjunction with photographic purposes. Early versions of tough spun were manufactured from a fiberglass based weave material, more recent versions have been plastics-based.
In this invention, the cover material is attached to a rigid frame structure, which in the case of a cover made of a pliable material, provides stability and a fixed form to the CFL cover. This rigid frame structure is also attached to a set of additional mountings, most often but not necessarily limited to three, that are used to mount the CFL cover to the CFL bulb by applying pressure directly to the exterior portions of the fluorescent tubing to hold the cover in place. This mounting mechanism provides for the core of this application.
In one embodiment of the Detachable Cover Apparatus for CFL light bulbs, the cover material is comprised of a material that provides for a diffusion or softness of the fluorescent light source. The degree of diffusion or softness provided will be proportional to the opaqueness or transparency of the material used as well as the tightness of its weave. In this embodiment the light emanating from the fluorescent light is both bouncing off the interior surface of the cover as well as being dispersed as it travels through the weave of the material, causing the diffusion or softness to occur.
In another embodiment of the Detachable Cover Apparatus for the CFL light bulbs, the cover material is comprised of a material that serves to change the color of the emitted illumination. As the light travels through the color changing CFL cover, the white light emitted by the phosphor in the interior of the fluorescent tubing acquires the color characteristics of the CFL cover itself.
In another embodiment of the Detachable Cover Apparatus for the CFL light bulbs, the cover material is comprised of a material that effectively serves to reflect the illumination from the fluorescent light source in specific direction. In one variation of this embodiment one half of the interior surface of the CFL cover could be made of a light reflective material, causing the reflection of the light source to travel in the direction opposite to the reflective material surface. In another variation of this embodiment, the reflective material could be attached to the supporting rigid structure of the Detachable Cover Apparatus for the CFL, but be attached perpendicular to the axis of the fluorescent tubing, thereby reflecting the light directly away from the surface of said reflective material.
Using the various embodiments documented above, it can be seen that the Detachable Cover Apparatus for CFL bulbs invention will serve to alter the lighting conditions of a compact fluorescent light source by altering its softness, its color, or the beam direction.
The Detachable Cover Apparatus For Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs described in this application therefore provides a unique ability to provide varying light treatments to a compact fluorescent light source in a single frame apparatus that fits snugly over the fluorescent tubes of the CFL using a unique pressure mounting mechanism. The outside cover or casing material dictates the nature of treatment that is effected on the fluorescent light source, and can be manufactured using either a pliable or non-pliable material so long as it provides heat resistant properties sufficient to withstand the minimal heat released from the compact fluorescent light bulb.
Finally,
