Claims
- 1. A fiber optic lighting system comprising:
a light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite said upper surface, and a thickness extending between said upper and lower surfaces; an elongated slot extending through said thickness of said lampsupport panel and extending longitudinally along said length of said lamp-support panel between two slot ends; an elongated side-fire light pipe having a light pipe length extending between two light pipe ends, said light pipe disposed adjacent and generally parallel to said lamp-support panel lower surface; and an elongated mounting fin comprising an elongated stem integrally extending from along said light pipe length between said light pipe ends, said elongated stem disposed within and along said longitudinal slot in said lampsupport panel, said mounting fin additionally comprising a first engagement surface disposed adjacent said stem, said first engagement surface engaging said light fixture upper surface to suspend said light pipe below said lamp-support panel without blocking light emitted from said light pipe in a direction away from said lamp-support panel.
- 2. A lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting fin and said light pipe are a single unitary piece.
- 3. A lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said fin includes a second engagement surface extending laterally outward from said stem in a direction generally opposite to that of said first engagement surface.
- 4. A lighting system as defined in claim 3 wherein said first and second engagement surfaces are elongated and extend from along said length of said stem and parallel to said light pipe.
- 5. In a mass-transit vehicle having a passenger compartment with side windows, an aisle extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a passenger seating area on one side of the aisle, a lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area and ziniizig the illumination of the aisle and side windows, said lighting system comprising:
a light fixture including an elongated lamp housing longitudinally disposed in the passenger compartment above the seating area for preferentially directing light into the seating area; a light source mounted in the vehicle adjacent said passenger compartment; an elongated light pipe having an input end optically coupled to said light source to receive light therefrom, said light pipe extending from said light source into the passenger compartment and longitudinally extending above the seating area adjacent said lamp housing, said light pipe being adapted to conduct light along its length while laterally emitting light from along its length into the passenger compartment; and an elongated mounting fin integrally and laterally extending from along said length of said light pipe to an elongated fin upper edge, said mounting fin adapted to engage said light fixture and support said light pipe without blocking light emitted from said light pipe into said seating area.
- 6. A lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting fin and said light pipe are a single unitary piece.
- 7. A lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting fin has a uniform cross section along its length and includes:
an elongated stem extending laterally outward from along said length of said light pipe, said stem having a uniform width extending between first and second parallel opposite side walls; and first and second elongated fin engagement surfaces extending perpendicularly outward from along said respective first and second stem side walls and running longitudinally parallel to and facing said light pipe; and where said light fixture includes:
first and second elongated panel engagement surfaces disposed in a coplanar spaced-apart parallel relationship to form an elongated slot longitudinally disposed along said lamp housing, said slot having a uniform slot width slightly greater than said stem width, said panel engagement surfaces facing away from said light pipe and engaging said fin engagement surfaces in a parallel and fush disposition along their respective lengths.
- 8. A lighting system as defined in claim 7 wherein said fin includes:
an elongated apex defining said fin upper edge; and a pair of elongated ramp surfaces tapering outward and downward from along said apex to an outer edge of each of said fin engagement surfaces to form a pair of elongated barbs.
- 9. A lighting system as defined in claim 8 wherein said fin includes a plurality of said elongated barbs.
- 10. A lighting system as defined in claim 1 wherein said elongated light pipe comprises a solid-core semi-rigid side-light fiber optic.
- 11. A lighting system as defined in claim 10 wherein said light pipe includes angled cuts spaced along its length and where said cuts have depths, angles & spacing optimized for even light distribution from along its length.
- 12. In a mass-transit vehicle having a passenger compartment with a ceiling, side walls, cornice areas, side windows, an aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a passenger seating area on one side of the aisle, a lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area and minimizing the illumination of the aisle and side windows, said lighting system comprising:
a lighting fixture mounted in the cornice area above the seating area, said fixture comprising a face panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, said upper edge adapted to be supported by the vehicle ceiling; said fixture additionally comprising an air duct extension panel adapted to mount between the vehicle side wall and said face panel to space the face panel from the side wall, said air duct extension panel having an inner edge connected to said face panel lower edge, and an outer edge connected to the vehicle side wall; and an elongated lamp housing fixed to said air duct extension panel in a position adjacent and generally parallel to said air duct extension panel inner edge, said face panel being detachably connected to said duct extension panel inner edge along said face panel lower edge to allow said face panel to be removed without removing said lamp housing.
- 13. A lighting system as defined in claim 12 wherein said lighting fixture includes an upper advertising card holder disposed adjacent said face panel upper edge and a lower advertising card holder disposed adjacent said face panel lower edge.
- 14. A lighting system as defined in claim 13 wherein said light fixture includes a seam formed between said face panel lower edge and said duct extension panel inner edge and where said seam is disposed between said upper and lower advertising card holders.
- 15. A lighting system as defined in claim 12 wherein said lamp housing includes an elongated concave portion opening in the direction that the fixture will provide light.
- 16. A lighting system as defined in claim 12 wherein said face panel and duct extension panel are each pultruded as unitary members so as to have elongated shapes with uniform cross sections along their respective lengths.
- 17. A lighting system as defined in claim 16 wherein said face panel includes a male pivotal connector flange disposed along said bottom edge, said male pivotal connector flange adapted to pivotally connect said face panel to said air duct extension panel; and where said duct extension panel includes a female pivotal connector flange disposed along said inner edge, said female pivotal connector flange adapted to receive said male pivotal connector flange in a “roll-in”-type engagement.
- 18. A lighting system as defined in claim 16 wherein said fixture includes a suspension member having a lower end connected to said duct extension panel adjacent said inner edge, said suspension member having an upper end adapted to connect to the vehicle ceiling.
- 19. A lighting system as defined in claim 16 wherein said light fixture includes an elongated lens supported between said lamp housing and the seating area.
- 20. A lighting system as defined in claim 16 wherein said face panel includes a top mounting flange formed adjacent said top edge, and said duct extension panel includes an outer edge mounting flange formed adjacent said outer edge.
- 21. A lighting system as defined in claim 16 wherein said light fixture encloses and defines an elongated air duct.
- 22. In a mass-transit vehicle having a passenger compartment with a ceiling, side walls, cornice areas, side windows, an aisle extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a passenger seating area on one side of the aisle, a lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area and minimizing the illumination of the aisle and side windows, said lighting system comprising:
a lighting fixture mounted in the cornice area above the seating area, said fixture comprising a face panel having an upper edge and a lower edge, said upper edge adapted to be supported by the vehicle ceiling; said fixture additionally comprising an air duct extension panel adapted to mount between the vehicle side wall and said face panel to space the face panel from the side wall, said air duct extension panel having an inner edge connected to said face panel lower edge, and an outer edge connected to the vehicle side wall; and an elongated lamp housing fixed to said air duct extension panel in a position adjacent and generally parallel to said air duct extension panel inner edge, said face panel being pivotally connected to said duct extension panel inner edge along said face panel lower edge to allow said face panel to be rotated downward to open said light fixture without removing said lamp housing.
- 23. A lighting system as defined in claim 22 wherein said lighting fixture includes an upper advertising card holder disposed adjacent said face panel upper edge and a lower advertising card holder disposed adjacent said face panel lower edge.
- 24. A lighting system as defined in claim 23 wherein said light fixture includes a seam formed between said face panel lower edge and said duct extension panel inner edge and where said seam is disposed between said upper and lower advertising card holders.
- 25. A method for installing a light pipe in a light fixture, the light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces, an elongated slot extending through the thickness of the lamp-support panel and extending longitudinally along the length of the lamp-support panel between two slot ends, an elongated side-fire light pipe having a light pipe length extending between two light pipe ends, an elongated mounting fin comprising an elongated stem integrally extending from along the light pipe length between the light pipe ends, the mounting fin additionally comprising a first engagement surface disposed adjacent the stem; said method including the steps of:
longitudinally inserting the fin stem into one end of the slot; and sliding the mounting fin longitudinally into an installed position where the fin stem is disposed whit in and along the length of the slot, the first engagement surface of the fin engages the light fixture upper surface and the light pipe is suspended below the lampsupport panel.
- 26. A method for installing a light pipe in a light fixture, the light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces, an elongated slot extending through the thickness of the lamp-support panel and extending longitudinally along the length of the lamp-support panel between two slot ends; an elongated side-fire light pipe having a light pipe length extending between two light pipe ends, an elongated mounting fin comprising an elongated stem integrally extending from along the light pipe length between the light pipe ends, the mounting fin further including an elongated apex defining a fin upper edge and a pair of elongated ramp surfaces tapering outward and downward from along the apex to an outer edge of each of two fin engagement surfaces to form elongated barbs; said method including the steps of:
laterally inserting the fin upper edge into the slot along the length of the slot with the elongated fin ramp surfaces engaging the lower surface of the lamp support panel; and forcing the light pipe mounting fin into the elongated slot so that the elongated barbs first compress inward against the elongated stem and then snap back outward after passing through the slot to retain the light pipe in an installed position with the fin stem disposed in the slot with the barbs spread-out over and above the slot and the light pipe suspended below the slot.
- 27. A light pipe hanger device for suspending a light pipe from a supporting structure in, for example, a light fixture; the device comprising:
a band comprising resilient material including a lower hoop configured to wrap around the light pipe to be suspended; a connector attached to the lower hoop and configured to fasten the hanger device to the supporting structure; and the improvement comprising:
the connector comprising an upper probe portion integrally extending from the lower hoop and configured to engage an opening in the supporting structure to suspend the hanger device and the light pipe from the supporting structure.
- 28. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the lower hoop and the upper probe portion are a single unitary piece.
- 29. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the device includes a resilient portion configured to allow the upper probe portion to compress sufficiently to pass upward through the opening and to spring back toward a relaxed shape that allows the probe portion to engage a rim defining the opening in the supporting structure and to resist being pulled back downward through the opening.
- 30. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the lower hoop is a band of the resilient material.
- 31. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 28 in which the device comprises a length of spring metal bent to form the lower hoop and upper probe portions.
- 32. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the device comprises a plastic material.
- 33. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 32 in which the device comprises a plastic material that is at least translucent.
- 34. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 28 in which the upper probe portion comprises an arcuate lobe, the arcuate lobe and lower hoop together forming a closed arcuate band having the general shape of a pair of opposing lobes integrally merging at a pinched region, the arcuate lobe being broader than the opening in the supporting structure, the arcuate lobe being laterally compressible to fit through the opening when pushed upward through the opening.
- 35. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the lower hoop includes a circumferential gap configured to receive the light pipe in snap-in engagement
- 36. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 27 in which the upper probe portion comprises a mounting fin that includes a stem extending integrally upward from the lower hoop of the light pipe hanger, the stem being disposable within the opening in the supporting structure, the mounting fin additionally including a first engagement surface disposed adjacent the stem, the first engagement surface configured to engage the supporting structure once the mounting fin has been pushed through the opening.
- 37. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 36 in which the fin includes a second engagement surface disposed adjacent the stem, the first and second engagement surfaces disposed on laterally opposite sides of the stem, the second engagement surface configured to engage the supporting structure once the mounting fin has been pushed through the opening.
- 38. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 37 in which:
the fin includes an apex defining a fin upper edge; and a pair of ramp surfaces, each ramp surface tapering outward and downward from the apex to an outer edge of each of the fin engagement surfaces to form a pair of barbs.
- 39. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 38 in which the stem is sufficiently narrower than the opening to allow the barbs to fit through the opening with the stem by folding against the stem.
- 40. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 28 in which opposite ends of the band are drawn together and crossed forming the lower hoop, the upper probe portion comprising opposite terminal lengths of the band extending diagonally upward and outward from a cross point where the two terminal lengths cross, each terminal length additionally including an engagement surface configured to engage the supporting structure when the upper probe portion has been moved through the opening in the supporting structure.
- 41. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 40 in which the band has a relaxed state in which the terminal lengths are crossed, the distance between the crossed ends of the band being greater than a distance across the opening.
- 42. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 41 in which the lower hoop in its relaxed state has a diameter less than a diameter of a light pipe to be suspended in the hoop.
- 43. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 40 in which each terminal length extends diagonally upward and outward from the cross point then forms a detent configured to engage opposite edges of the opening when the upper probe portion has been moved partially through the opening, the terminal lengths being inwardly compressible to a compressed position that allows the terminal lengths to pass through the opening in the supporting structure.
- 44. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 43 in which each detent comprises a generally vertical section of one of the terminal lengths that integrally extends in a generally vertically upward direction from an upper end of the diagonally extending portion of that terminal length.
- 45. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 44 in which the generally vertical section of each terminal length includes a generally arcuate intermediate portion, the intermediate portions of each hanger device having respective generally convex surfaces that face inward toward each other, the intermediate portions having respective generally concave surfaces that face outward and are configured to engage the opposite edges of the opening when the upper probe portion has been moved partially through the opening.
- 46. A light pipe hanger device as defined in claim 45 in which each terminal length of the band includes a diagonally inwardly and upwardly extending upper ramp that integrally extends from an upper end of the intermediate portion of the terminal length, each upper ramp having an engagement surface configured to aid in guiding the upper probe portion into the opening.
- 47. A fiber optic lighting system comprising:
a light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces; an opening extending through the thickness of the lamp-support panel; an elongated light pipe having a light pipe length extending between two light pipe ends, the light pipe disposed adjacent and generally parallel to the lamp-support panel lower surface; and a light pipe hanger device comprising a band of resilient material including a lower hoop configured to wrap around the light pipe and an upper probe portion integrally extending from the lower hoop and configured to engage the opening in the lamp-support panel.
- 48. A method for installing a light pipe in a light fixture, the light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces, an opening extending through the thickness of the lamp-support panel and a light pipe hanger comprising a lower hoop having a gap configured to receive the light pipe in snapin engagement and an upper probe in the form of a fin configured to engage the opening through insertion into the opening; the method including the steps of:
inserting the fin upper edge upward into the opening in the lampsupport panel with the fin ramp surfaces engaging a rim defining the opening in the lamp support panel; forcing the fin through the opening such that contact with the rim causes the elongated barbs to first compress inward against the elongated stem and to then spring back outward after passing through the opening with the barbs spread-out across the opening; and snapping a light pipe into the lower hoop by pushing the light pipe sideways through the gap in the lower hoop.
- 49. A method for installing a light pipe in a light fixture, the light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces, an opening extending through the thickness of the lampsupport panel and a light pipe hanger comprising a lower hoop configured to wrap around the light pipe and an upper probe including a pair of prongs configured to engage the opening through insertion into the opening; the method including the steps of:
expanding the lower hoop of the hanger such that the upper ends of the probe prongs move close enough together to pass through the opening in the lamp-support panel; inserting the upper ends of the probe prongs through the opening; releasing the lower hoop to allow the hoop to contract back toward a pre-expanded/relaxed position in which the upper ends of the probe prongs are spread far enough apart to engage opposing sides of a rim defining the opening and suspending the hanger from the lampsupport panel; inserting the light pipe axially through the lower hoop.
- 50. A method for installing a light pipe in a light fixture, the light fixture including an elongated lamp-support panel having a length, an upper surface, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a thickness extending between the upper and lower surfaces, an opening extending through the thickness of the lamp-support panel and a light pipe hanger comprising a lower hoop configured to wrap around the light pipe and an upper probe including a pair of prongs configured to engage the opening through insertion into the opening; the method including the steps of:
placing the prongs in contact with opposing sides of a rim defining the opening in the lamp-support panel; pushing the hanger device upward until the prongs engage opposing the sides of the rim and the lower hoop is expanded sufficiently to receive the light pipe; inserting the light pipe axially through the expanded lower hoop of the hanger device; and pushing the hanger device farther upward until the prongs disengage from the rim, move upward through the opening and splay upward and outward over the lamp-support panel as the lower hoop closes inward around the light pipe.
- 51. The method of claim 50 in which:
the step of placing the prongs in contact with opposing sides of the rim includes the additional step of placing an upper engagement surface of a ramp portion of each prong in contact with opposing sides of the rim; and the step of pushing the hanger device farther upward includes the additional step of pushing the hanger device upward until detent portions of the prongs disengage from the rim.
- 52. In a mass-transit vehicle having a passenger compartment with side windows, an aisle extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a passenger seating area on one side of the aisle, a lighting system for preferentially illuminating the seating area and minimizing the illumination of the aisle and side windows, said lighting system comprising:
a light fixture including an elongated lamp housing longitudinally disposed in the passenger compartment above the seating area for preferentially directing light into the seating area; a dual-port light source mounted in the vehicle; first and second elongated light pipes, each having an input end optically coupled to said light source to receive light therefrom, said light pipes extending from said light source in generally opposite directions above the seating area adjacent said lamp housing, said light pipes being adapted to conduct light along their respective lengths while laterally emitting light from along their respective lengths into the passenger compartment.
- 53. A lighting system as defined in claim 52 further including an elongated mounting fin integrally and laterally extending from along said length of said light pipe to an elongated fin upper edge, said mounting fin adapted to engage said light fixture and support said light pipe without blocking light emitted from said light pipe into said seating area.
- 54. A lighting system as defined in claim 53 wherein said mounting fin and said light pipe are a single unitary piece.
- 55. A lighting system as defined in claim 53 wherein said fin includes a second engagement surface extending laterally outward from said stem in a direction generally opposite to that of said first engagement surface.
- 56. A lighting system as defined in claim 55 wherein said first and second engagement surfaces are elongated and extend from along said length of said stem and parallel to said light pipe.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 08/767,969 filed on Dec. 17, 1996.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09210286 |
Dec 1998 |
US |
Child |
09834971 |
Apr 2001 |
US |
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08767969 |
Dec 1996 |
US |
Child |
09210286 |
Dec 1998 |
US |