US4306769A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interior illumination apparatus using sunlight
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1980-04-09
•
Granted: 1981-12-22
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Expires: 2000-04-09
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for collecting sunlight and directing the collected sunlight into the interior of the building to provide illumination, so that the energy used for artificial illumination can be conserved, includes a collector, a light pipe, and a diffuser. The collector includes an immovable flared trumpet-like hollow tube having a highly reflective interior surface and having its larger aperture oriented to maximize the sunlight received at a particular time of day. The larger aperture is closed by a transparent cap which supports a secondary reflector that extends forward of the larger aperture. The secondary reflector serves to reflect into the hollow tube light travelling at a low angle of incidence with respect to the larger aperture to compensate for the reduced efficiency of the larger aperture to low-angle light. The apparatus also includes a sprinkler for washing dust and other deposits from the transparent cap, and further includes a servo-controlled light valve for maintaining, to the extent possible, a constant level of illumination at a work station within the building.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael E. Martinet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 00:13
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S11/00; E; E04; E04D; E04D13/00; E04D13/03; F21S19/00; F21S19/005; E04D2013/034; E04D2013/0345
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for collecting sunlight and transmitting the collected light to the interior of a building or similar structure to reduce the need for artificial lighting, the improvement comprising: a collector including a flared trumpet-like hollow tube having a larger rim defining a larger aperture for receiving direct sunlight, having a smaller rim defining a smaller aperture through which light received by the larger aperture is transmitted to the interior of the building, and having a highly-reflective inside surface, said hollow tube immovably mounted on the building with the larger rim inclined to a horizontal plane and with the larger aperture oriented in a preselected fixed direction to substantially maximize the flow of direct sunlight through the larger aperture during a particular part of the day.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for collecting sunlight and transmitting the collected light to the interior of a building or similar structure to reduce the need for artificial lighting, the improvement comprising: a collector including a flared trumpet-like hollow tube having a larger rim defining a larger aperture for receiving direct sunlight, having a smaller rim defining a smaller aperture through which light received by the larger aperture is transmitted to the interior of the building, and having a highly-reflective inside surface, said hollow tube immovably mounted on the building with the larger rim inclined to a horizontal plane and with the larger aperture oriented in a preselected fixed direction to substantially maximize the flow of direct sunlight through the larger aperture during a particular part of the day.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said collector further comprises a secondary reflector having a reflecting surface positioned at least partially in front of the larger aperture and generally facing the larger aperture to reflect into said hollow tube light incident at a larger angle with respect to the predetermined fixed direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 2 further comprising a cap of a rigid material substantially transparent to sunlight covering the larger aperture of said collector and supporting said secondary reflector in front of the larger aperture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a sprinkler mounted adjacent said cap to apply under control of an operator a spray of fluid to said cap to flush dust and other deposits from said cap.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser covering the smaller aperture to diffuse the light passing through the smaller aperture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The improvement of claim 1 further comprising a light pipe extending toward the interior of the building from the smaller rim of the hollow tube of said collector, said light pipe including highly reflective walls defining a duct through which uncollimated light is conducted and diffused by multiple reflections from said highly reflected cylindrical walls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The improvement of claim 6 further comprising a diffuser covering the end of said light pipe farthest from said collector, to further diffuse the light that has been conducted through said light pipe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement of claim 1 further comprising a cap of material substantially transparent to sunlight covering the larger aperture of said collector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for collecting sunlight and transmitting the collected light to the interior of a building or similar structure to reduce the need for artificial lighting, said apparatus comprising: a collector including a flared trumpet-like hollow tube having a larger rim defining a larger aperture for receiving direct sunlight, having a smaller rim defining a smaller aperture through which light received by the larger aperture is transmitted to the interior of the building, and having a highly reflective inside surface, said hollow tube immovably mounted on the building with the larger rim inclined to a horizontal plane and with the larger aperture oriented in a preselected fixed direction to substantially maximize the flow of direct sunlight through the larger aperture during a particular part of the day; and, a secondary reflector having a reflecting surface positioned at least partially in front of the larger aperture and generally facing the larger aperture to reflect into said hollow tube light incident at a large angle with respect to the predetermined fixed direction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for collecting sunlight and transmitting the collected light to the interior of a building or similar structure to reduce the need for artificial lighting, said apparatus comprising: a collector including a flared trumpet-like hollow tube having a larger rim defining a larger aperture for receiving direct sunlight, having a smaller rim defining a smaller aperture through which light received by the larger aperture is transmitted to the interior of the building, and having a highly reflective inside surface, said hollow tube immovably mounted on the building with the larger rim inclined to a horizontal plane and with the larger aperture oriented in a preselected fixed direction to substantially maximize the flow of direct sunlight through the larger aperture during a particular part of the day; and, a secondary reflector having a reflecting surface positioned at least partially in front of the larger aperture and generally facing the larger aperture to reflect into said hollow tube light incident at a large angle with respect to the predetermined fixed direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a cap of a rigid material substantially transparent to sunlight covering the larger aperture of said collector and supporting said secondary reflector in front of the larger aperture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a sprinkler mounted adjacent said cap to apply under control of an operator a spray of fluid to said cap to flush dust and other deposits from said cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a diffuser covering the smaller aperture to diffuse the light passing through the smaller aperture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a light pipe extending toward the interior of the building from the smaller rim of the hollow tube of said collector, said light pipe including highly reflective cylindrical walls defining a duct through which uncollimated light is conducted and diffused by multiple reflections from said highly reflective cylindrical walls.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a diffuser covering the end of said light pipe farthest from said collector, to diffuse the light that has been conducted through said light pipe.
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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) | 1984-12-21 | 1985-06-22 | 1985-12-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-21 | 1989-06-22 | 1989-12-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-21 | 1993-06-22 | 1993-12-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |