Patent Application
20150330600
This disclosure relates to a reflector and to a light fixture that includes the reflector.
Briefly, the present disclosure provides a reflector having a reflecting surface having a shape which closely approximates a determined surface which is series of ellipsoidal section segments, wherein each ellipsoidal section segment has a first focus A and a second focus B, wherein first focus A is the same point for each ellipsoidal section segment, and wherein, for successive ellipsoidal section segments, focus B is at a successive location along a line. In some embodiments, the line is a straight line; in some, a curved line; in some, a curved line curving in a single direction; and in some a curved line curving successively in alternating directions. In some embodiments the reflecting surface has a shape which closely approximates the determined surface in that it varies by less than +/−10% from the determined surface; in some by less than +/−5%. Additional embodiments of the reflector of the present disclosure are described below under “Selected Embodiments.”
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a light fixture comprising the reflector according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the light fixture additionally comprises a light source, typically located at focus A. In some embodiments, the light source is a lambertian light source. In some embodiments, the light source is an LED. In some embodiments, the light fixture is adapted to be mounted on a planar surface, such that when mounted said line will fall in the plane of the planar surface. In some embodiments, the planar surface is a wall of a building; in some embodiments an exterior wall and in some embodiments an interior wall. In some embodiments, the light fixture when mounted has a depth, the depth measured orthogonal to the planar surface, wherein the depth is not more than 15 cm; in some embodiments not more than 12 cm; in some embodiments not more than 10 cm; and in some embodiments not more than 9 cm. In some embodiments the depth is not more than 10% of the length of the line, as measured from the light fixture; in other embodiments not more than 6% of the length of the line.
The present disclosure enables the projection of a visually striking, linearly extended pattern of light on a wall from a fixture mounted on that same wall, where the fixture may furthermore have very little depth, i.e., orthogonal extension outward from that wall.
In this application:
“closely approximates” means varies by less than +/−20%, and when so specified may mean one of the following: varies by less than +/−15%, varies by less than +/−10%, varies by less than +/−5%, varies by less than +/−3%, or varies by less than +/−1%.
All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein and are not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”, “comprising” or the like are used in their open ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to.” It will be understood that the terms “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” are subsumed in the term “comprising,” and the like.
Briefly, the present disclosure provides a reflector having a reflecting surface having a shape which closely approximates a determined surface. As used herein, “reflecting surface” refers to the actual surface of the physical reflector item and “determined surface” is the theoretical design intended for the reflecting surface. The determined surface is series of ellipsoidal section segments. Each ellipsoidal section segment has a first focus A and a second focus B, where first focus A is the same point for each ellipsoidal section segment, and where, for successive ellipsoidal section segments, focus B is at a successive location along a line. In various embodiments, the line can be a straight line, a curved line, a curved line curving in a single direction (“C”-curve), or a curved line curving successively in alternating directions (“S”-curve).
In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a light fixture comprising the reflector according to the present disclosure. In some embodiments the light fixture comprises a light source, which is typically located at or near to focus A, typically within a millimeter of focus A. In some embodiments the light source is a lambertian light source. In some embodiments the light source is an LED.
In some embodiments, the light fixture is adapted to be mounted on a planar surface, such that when mounted the line will fall in the plane of the planar surface. The planar surface is typically an architectural surface such as an interior or exterior wall of a building. In some embodiments, the light fixture is adapted to be mounted on a planar surface by the provision of mounting points, brackets, or the like.
In some embodiments, the light fixture is adapted to be mounted on a planar surface, such that it can cast a line of light for a relatively long distance, yet the light fixture extends from the wall to a relatively little distance. In some embodiments, the light fixture has a depth (i.e., the dimension of the light fixture orthogonal to the planar surface when it is mounted to a planar surface) which is not more than 15 cm, in some embodiments not more than 12 cm, in some embodiments not more than 10 cm, in some embodiments not more than 10 cm, and in some embodiments not more than 9 cm. In some embodiments, the light fixture depth is not more than 10% of the length of the line cast by the fixture, measured from the light fixture; in some embodiments not more than 8%, and in some embodiments not more than 6%.
Objects and advantages of this disclosure are further illustrated by the following embodiment, but the particular materials and amounts thereof recited in these embodiments, as well as other conditions and details, should not be construed to unduly limit this disclosure.
With reference to the embodiment depicted in
The following embodiments, designated by letter and number, are intended to further illustrate the present disclosure but should not be construed to unduly limit this disclosure.
1. A reflector having a reflecting surface having a shape which closely approximates a determined surface which is series of ellipsoidal section segments, wherein each ellipsoidal section segment has a first focus A and a second focus B, wherein first focus A is the same point for each ellipsoidal section segment, and wherein, for successive ellipsoidal section segments, focus B is at a successive location along a line.
2. The reflector according to embodiment 1 wherein the line is a straight line.
3. The reflector according to embodiment 1 wherein the line is a curved line.
4. The reflector according to embodiment 1 wherein the line is a curved line curving in a single direction.
5. The reflector according to embodiment 1 wherein the line is a curved line curving successively in alternating directions.
6. A light fixture comprising the reflector according to any of the preceding embodiments.
7. The light fixture according to embodiment 6 additionally comprising a light source.
8. The light fixture according to embodiment 6 additionally comprising a light source located at focus A.
9. The light fixture according to embodiment 7 or 8 wherein the light source is a lambertian light source.
10. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 7-9 wherein the light source is an LED.
11. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 6-10 wherein the reflecting surface has a shape which closely approximates the determined surface in that it varies by less than +/−10% from the determined surface.
12. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 6-10 wherein the reflecting surface has a shape which closely approximates the determined surface in that it varies by less than +/−5% from the determined surface.
13. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 6-12 which is adapted to be mounted on a planar surface, such that when mounted said line will fall in the plane of the planar surface.
14. The light fixture according to embodiment 13 wherein the planar surface is a wall of a building.
15. The light fixture according to embodiment 13 or 14 having a depth, such that when mounted the depth is measured orthogonal to the planar surface, wherein the depth is not more than 15 cm.
16. The light fixture according to embodiment 15, wherein the depth is not more than 12 cm.
17. The light fixture according to embodiment 15, wherein the depth is not more than 10 cm.
18. The light fixture according to embodiment 15, wherein the depth is not more than 9 cm.
19. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 15-18, wherein the depth is not more than 10% of the length of the line measured from the light fixture.
20. The light fixture according to any of embodiments 15-18, wherein the depth is not more than 6% of the length of the line measured from the light fixture.
21. The reflector according to any of embodiments 1-5 wherein the reflecting surface has a shape which closely approximates the determined surface in that it varies by less than +/−10% from the determined surface.
22. The reflector according to any of embodiments 1-5 wherein the reflecting surface has a shape which closely approximates the determined surface in that it varies by less than +/−5% from the determined surface.
Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principles of this disclosure, and it should be understood that this disclosure is not to be unduly limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth hereinabove.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61992704 | May 2014 | US |
