Transilluminated pyramidal-shaped superstructure

Claim 2

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, and high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means; said panels including flanges along their opposite side edges, and said panels being arranged sideby-side with a said flange on one panel being adjacent a said flange on an adjacent panel, and said means supporting said panels including means holding pairs of said adjacent flanges together.

Claim 3

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, and high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means, including a plurality of plate-like prismatic means interposed between said light source means and said plenum means for refracting the light generally towards said interior surfaces of said plenum means; including frame means supporting said prismatic means with the lower edges thereof spaced above said reflective surface to establish a lower opening for cooler air to enter to be heated by said light source means and with the upper edges thereof being spaced apart to establish an upper opening for the heated air to leave so that a circulation of air is provided.

Claim 4

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, and high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means, including a plurality of plate-like prismatic means interposed between said light source means and said plenum means for refracting the light generally towards said interior surfaces of said plenum means; including frame means supporting said prismatic means with the lower edges thereof spaced above said reflective surface to establish a lower opening for cooler air to enter to be heated by said light source means and with the upper edges thereof being spaced apart to establish an upper opening for the heated air to leave so that a circulation of air is provided.

Claim 5

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface with portions of said enclosure being substantially spaced above said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface in substantial spaced relationship relative to said enclosure and substantially closer to said reflective surface than to said enclosure for providing light to said plenum means, a cupola disposed at the top of said superstructure having traNslucent walls and opening downwardly into the interior of said enclosure, an upper luminaire means including a high intensity discharge lamp located in the upper part of said enclosure, and diffuser-reflector means around an upper portion of said lamp for directing a portion of the light from said lamp into said cupola and a portion into said enclosure.

Claim 6

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface with portions of said enclosure being substantially spaced above said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface in substantial spaced relationship relative to said enclosure and substantially closer to said reflective surface than to said enclosure for providing light to said plenum means, a cupola disposed at the top of said superstructure having traNslucent walls and opening downwardly into the interior of said enclosure, an upper luminaire means including a high intensity discharge lamp located in the upper part of said enclosure, and diffuser-reflector means around an upper portion of said lamp for directing a portion of the light from said lamp into said cupola and a portion into said enclosure.

Claim 7

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising a floor having a high light ray reflectance, means for mounting said floor in spaced relationship on top of said building, open frame means converging upwardly from adjacent the outer edges of said floor, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said floor, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, said panels including flanges along their opposite side edges and being arranged side-by-side with a said flange on one panel being adjacent a said flange on an adjacent panel, said means supporting said panels including means holding adjacent pairs of said flanges together, a group of upstanding high intensity vapor lamps mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means.

Claim 8

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising a floor having a high light ray reflectance, means for mounting said floor in spaced relationship on top of said building, open frame means converging upwardly from adjacent the outer edges of said floor, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said floor, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, said panels including flanges along their opposite side edges and being arranged side-by-side with a said flange on one panel being adjacent a said flange on an adjacent panel, said means supporting said panels including means holding adjacent pairs of said flanges together, a group of upstanding high intensity vapor lamps mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means.

Claim 9

The superstructure of claim 4 in which said panels are in two groups with one of said groups having greater light transmitting characteristics than the other of said groups, and with said panels in said one group being alternated with said panels in said other group.

Claim 10

The superstructure of claim 5 in which is included a plurality of plate-like prismatic means interposed between said light source means and said plenum means for refracting the light generally towards said interior surfaces of said plenum means and in which is included frame means supporting said prismatic means with the lower edges thereof spaced above said reflective surface to establish a lower opening for cooler air to enter to be heated by said light source means and with the upper edges thereof being spaced apart to establish an upper opening for the heated air to leave so that a circulation of air is provided.

Claim 11

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means, said panels including flanges along their opposite side edges, said panels being arranged with a flange on one panel being adjacent a said flange on an adjacent panel, and said means supporting said panel including means holding pairs of said adjacent flanges together.

Claim 12

A transilluminated superstructure for a building comprising means providing an upwardly facing reflective surface, open frame means disposed above said reflective surface, a plurality of translucent panels, means supporting said panels from said frame means with said panels establishing a large enclosure over said reflective surface, said enclosure having a plurality of sloping sides with the interior surfaces thereof defining plenum means for redirecting a portion of the light striking said interior surfaces and passing the remaining portion through said sides, high intensity discharge type light source means mounted in said enclosure centrally of said reflective surface for providing light to said plenum means, said panels including flanges along their opposite side edges, said panels being arranged with a flange on one panel being adjacent a said flange on an adjacent panel, and said means supporting said panel including means holding pairs of said adjacent flanges together.