Patent US3721818A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3721818A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ceiling mounted luminaire and light-transmitting enclosure therefor
Assignee: K S H INC US
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Filing: 1970-05-18
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Granted: 1973-03-20
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Expires: 1990-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A light transmitting enclosure for a ceiling mounted lighting fixture provides novel lighting patterns heretofore obtainable, if at all, only with reflectors and baffles. In the preferred embodiments, the light distribution pattern is a batwing pattern which reduces both direct and reflected glare. In a preferred embodiment, a lenticular pattern on the lower face of a horizontal reach of the enclosure enlarges a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions having light reducing upper surfaces which form a light reducing pattern on the upper surface of the reach directly above the lenticules, to reduce luminance at viewing angles near the nadir; the lenticular pattern also cuts off high angle luminance to complete the batwing pattern. In other embodiments the light reducing pattern is provided directly on a flat upper face of the reach. In other embodiments the pattern is positioned relative to the lenticules to provide different lighting patterns. In still other embodiments the upwardly convergent protrusions provide the principal or sole means for reducing luminance at low viewing angles.
Inventors
- 👤 L Stahlhut
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 19:42
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V5/00; F21V11/00; F21V13/00; F21V13/02; F21V5/02; F21V13/10; F21Y; F21Y2103/00; F21Y2113/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
In a luminaire having means for mounting said luminaire on a ceiling stRucture, means for supporting a fixed light source in said luminaire, a light transmitting enclosure having a broad horizontal reach, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, and means for supporting said light transmitting enclosure with said horizontal reach in a generally horizontal position beneath the light source, the improvement comprising means for reducing luminance at small viewing angles from the nadir, said means comprising a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of said reach of said enclosure, said protrusions being isosceles trapezoids in cross section, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, the side walls of said protrusions sloping about 10*-30* from the normal to the plane of the reach.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
In a luminaire having means for mounting said luminaire on a ceiling stRucture, means for supporting a fixed light source in said luminaire, a light transmitting enclosure having a broad horizontal reach, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, and means for supporting said light transmitting enclosure with said horizontal reach in a generally horizontal position beneath the light source, the improvement comprising means for reducing luminance at small viewing angles from the nadir, said means comprising a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of said reach of said enclosure, said protrusions being isosceles trapezoids in cross section, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, the side walls of said protrusions sloping about 10*-30* from the normal to the plane of the reach.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 1 including a light controlling pattern on the lower surface of said reach of said enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein the light controlling pattern comprises means for reducing luminance at high viewing angles from the nadir.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improvement of claim 3 wherein said means for reducing luminance at high viewing angles from the nadir comprises a pattern of lenticules, the centers of said lenticules being positioned directly below said light reducing upper surfaces of said protrusions, the pattern of lenticules further enhancing said reduction of luminance at said small viewing angles from the nadir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a light transmitting enclosure having a broad reach with an upper surface and a lower surface, the improvement comprising means for reducing luminance at small viewing angles from the normal below the enclosure, said means comprising a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of said reach of said enclosure, said protrusions being isosceles trapezoids in cross section, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, the side walls of said protrusions sloping about 10*-30* from the normal to the plane of the reach, said light reducing upper surfaces forming a light reducing pattern, said protrusions covering at least thirty percent of said reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
116 words
In a light transmitting enclosure having a broad reach with an upper surface and a lower surface, the improvement comprising means for reducing luminance at small viewing angles from the normal below the enclosure, said means comprising a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of said reach of said enclosure, said protrusions being isosceles trapezoids in cross section, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, the side walls of said protrusions sloping about 10*-30* from the normal to the plane of the reach, said light reducing upper surfaces forming a light reducing pattern, said protrusions covering at least thirty percent of said reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said light reducing pattern comprises an opaque paint on said upper surfaces of said protrusions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 5 including a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface of said reach, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said light reducing pattern.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement of claim 5 including a pattern of lenticules on the lower surface of said reach, the centers of said lenticules being positioned directly below said light reducing upper surfaces of said protrusions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The improvement of claim 8 wherein said protrusions are linear ribs and the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are cylindrical.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement of claim 9 wherein the upper surfaces of said protrusions are coated with an opaque paint, said paint covering at least about 20 percent of said upper surface of said reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A light transmitting enclosure for use in a luminaire having a light source, said enclosure including a broad reach positionable below said light source, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, a lenticular pattern on the lower surface and a cooperating light reducing pattern on the upper surface, and a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said light reducing pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A light transmitting enclosure for use in a luminaire having a light source, said enclosure including a broad reach positionable below said light source, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, a lenticular pattern on the lower surface and a cooperating light reducing pattern on the upper surface, and a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said light reducing pattern.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a luminaire having means for mounting said luminaire on a ceiling structure, means for supporting a fixed light source in said luminaire, a light transmitting enclosure having a broad horizontal reach, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, and means for supporting said light transmitting enclosure with said horizontal reach in a generally horizontal position beneath the light souRce, the improvement comprising means for producing a batwing lighting pattern below said fixture, said means comprising a lenticular pattern on the lower face of said reach of said enclosure and a cooperating light reducing pattern on the upper face of said reach of said enclosure, said light reducing pattern being arranged over the centers of the individual lenticules of said lenticular pattern, said light reducing pattern being positioned substantially closer to the lenticular pattern than the nominal focal length of the lenticules of said lenticular pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
In a luminaire having means for mounting said luminaire on a ceiling structure, means for supporting a fixed light source in said luminaire, a light transmitting enclosure having a broad horizontal reach, said reach having an upper surface and a lower surface, and means for supporting said light transmitting enclosure with said horizontal reach in a generally horizontal position beneath the light souRce, the improvement comprising means for producing a batwing lighting pattern below said fixture, said means comprising a lenticular pattern on the lower face of said reach of said enclosure and a cooperating light reducing pattern on the upper face of said reach of said enclosure, said light reducing pattern being arranged over the centers of the individual lenticules of said lenticular pattern, said light reducing pattern being positioned substantially closer to the lenticular pattern than the nominal focal length of the lenticules of said lenticular pattern.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein said reach is proportioned to permit most light to pass through said reach at viewing angles between about 25* and 55* from the nadir.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 12 wherein the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are circular in cross-section.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 14 wherein the light reducing pattern is positioned closer to the lenticular pattern than twice the radius of curvature of said lenticules.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 12 including light diffusing means on said upper surface of said reach, said light diffusing means and said light reducing pattern covering substantially all of the upper surface of the reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement of claim 16 wherein the light diffusing means comprises a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface of said reach, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said light reducing pattern.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement of claim 12 including a pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on said upper surface of said reach, said light reducing pattern being provided on an upper surface of said protrusions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 18 including a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface of said reach, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said protrusions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement of claim 18 wherein the protrusions have side walls which slope about 1030* from the vertical.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 20 wherein said protrusions cover at least about 30 percent of said upper surface of said reach.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 18 wherein the protrusions are ribs and the light reducing pattern is painted on the upper surfaces of the ribs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a light transmitting enclosure having a broad reach with an upper surface and a lower surface, the improvement comprising light control means on the reach for producing a batwing lighting pattern, said light control means comprising a lenticular pattern on the lower surface of the reach and a cooperating pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of the reach, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, said light reducing upper surfaces forming a light reducing pattern directly above the centers of individual lenticules of said lenticular pattern, said light reducing pattern being positioned substantially closer to the lenticular pattern than the nominal focal length of the lenticules of said lenticular pattern.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
119 words
In a light transmitting enclosure having a broad reach with an upper surface and a lower surface, the improvement comprising light control means on the reach for producing a batwing lighting pattern, said light control means comprising a lenticular pattern on the lower surface of the reach and a cooperating pattern of upwardly convergent protrusions on the upper surface of the reach, said protrusions having light transmitting side walls and light reducing upper surfaces, said light reducing upper surfaces forming a light reducing pattern directly above the centers of individual lenticules of said lenticular pattern, said light reducing pattern being positioned substantially closer to the lenticular pattern than the nominal focal length of the lenticules of said lenticular pattern.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein said light reducing pattern comprises an opaque paint on said upper surfaces of said protrusions.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement of claim 24 including light diffusing means on said upper surface of said reach, said light diffusing means and said light reducing pattern covering substantially all of the upper surface of the reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein the side walls of said protrusions slope about 10*-30* from the normal to the plane of the reach.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 26 wherein said reach is proportioned to permit most light to pass through said reach at viewing angles between about 25* and 55* from the nadir.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 26 wherein the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are cylindrical, the protrusions are ribs and the ligHt reducing surfaces are stripes, said stripes covering at least about 20 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 28 wherein the ribs cover at least about 50 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan and said stripes cover between about 20 and 35 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are cylindrical, the protrusions are ribs and the light reducing surfaces are stripes.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 30 wherein said stripes cover at least about 20 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 31 wherein the ribs cover at least about 50 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan and said stripes cover between about 20 and 35 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement of claim 30 including transverse ridges on the lower surface of the reach.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are spherical, the protrusions are frustums and the light reducing surfaces are dots.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 34 wherein the frustums cover at least about 25 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan and said dots cover between about 4 and 12 percent of the upper surface when viewed in top plan.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein said protrusions cover at least 30 percent of said reach when viewed in top plan.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improvement of claim 23 including a diffusing sheet overlying said upper surface of said reach, spaced therefrom intermediate said light reducing pattern by said light reducing pattern.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The improvement of claim 23 wherein the lenticules of said lenticular pattern are circular in cross-section.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement of claim 38 wherein the light reducing pattern is positioned closer to the lenticular pattern than twice the radius of curvature of said lenticules.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-19 | 1976-09-18 | 1977-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-19 | 1980-09-18 | 1981-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-19 | 1984-09-18 | 1985-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |