The invention relates to a device for lighting or heating which is multipurpose and versatile.

It is known from US-A-4388678 to provide a reading lamp in which a light source is mounted near the base of an upright cylinder, open at both ends, and in which a rotatable convex mirror is mounted above the cylinder whereby the light rays from the light source are collimated and can be reflected in the desired direction. The cylinder forms a shield around the light rays and provides a degree of heat dispersion by a chimney effect.

It is also known from DE-U-8813406 to provide a light source disposed in the bottom of a cylinder with a mirror disposed within the cylinder.

The present invention provides an improvement of this general type.

Accordingly the invention provides a multipurpose lighting or heating device comprising a rotatable reflector and a cylinder open at one end, ray transmitting means located in the cylinder, the reflector being connected by a bracket to the cylinder and located at a position spaced from the open end of the cylinder arranged to receive rays from the ray transmitting means, means being present to allow rotation of the reflector, thereby to change the angle of light dispersion and direction of light. characterised in that the other end of the cylinder is closed and a portion of the cylinder tapers towards the closed end, ventilation holes being present in the tapering portion for entry of air to flow past the ray transmitting means towards the open end of the cylinder.

Preferably the ventilation holes are radially spaced about the tapering portion of the cylinder.

The ray transmitting means may take a variety of forms, e.g. light lamp, a heat raylamp or the like providing visible light and/or infrared radiation.

Preferably the bracket is connected to the outside of the cylinder. In other embodiments the bracket is connected to a carrying handle for the device. In one embodiment, the bracket includes means to receive a plate to be located in the path of the rays, e.g.s to illuminate a film or magnify an object, the plate being transparent.

Preferably, mounting means are present at or near the closed end of the cylinder for mounting the device horizontally or on a vertical surface. The device may be connected to a vertical stand.

Exemplary purposes of the invention are as follows:

• 1. To make it possible to read books while lying down.
• 2. To provide an easily removable light spot without a moving lamp.
• 3. To provide an easy change in a spot area without a moving lamp.
• 4. To provide an easy change in light intensity without a changing switch.
• 5. To provide a device usable as a make-up mirror.
• 6. To provide a device usable as a shaving mirror.
• 7. To provide a non-glare light.
• 8. To provide a lighting device which does not reflect light from a reading surface.
• 9. To provide a lighting device which does not warm a person's head while reading by having the heat escape upwardly.
• 10. To provide a lighting device which is good for brain activity because the brain is not heated.
• 11. To provide a lighting device requiring a smaller electric power because of superior lighting efficiency.
• 12. To provide longer life for a bulb because of cooling by a chimney effect.
• 13. To provide a small, compact, and collapsible to 1/2 lighting device for storage and transportation convenience.
• 14. To provide a lighting device which can be placed anywhere without a clamp and which is usable as a photo copy light.
• 15. To provide a lighting device having a low centre of gravity which makes it stable so that it does not fall down.
• 16. To provide a lighting device which does not result in a hanging head.
• 17. To provide a lighting device which is attachable to a wall.
• 18. To provide a lighting device having no moving parts and which is trouble-free.
• 19. To provide a mirror for health purposes.
• 20. To provide a device which changes room atmosphere such as by providing shade on the ceiling, and to make the ceiling look higher and the room look wider by directing the light to the ceiling.
• 21. To provide a lighting device usable with various adapters such as for infrared heaters, photo negative film viewer, etc.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is an elevation of one device of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof;
• Figures 3 to 8 illustrate different uses of the device of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figures 9 to 12 illustrate modifications of the device of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 13 is an elevation of the device of Figures 1 and 2 showing measurement points for the data of Tables 1 and 2;
• Figure 14 is an elevation of a modified device;
• Figures 15 and 16 each show one use of the device when housing a heat lamp;
• Figure 17 is an elevation of a device containing a silver or black lamp;
• Figures 18 to 20 show other uses of the device of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 21 shows a tall device of the invention;
• Figures 22 and 23 each show a device adapted for easy carrying;
• Figure 24 shows a device including a strobe.

The same reference numerals are used wherever possible in describing the different embodiments.

The embodiment of Figure 1 comprises a metal cylinder 1 closed at its lower end and mounted secure on a stand 2. A lamp 3 is mounted in the lower portion of the cylinder 1 and a wire 4 leads from the lamp 3 through the wall of the cylinder 1 to a plug 5. The wire includes a switch 6. A row of air holes 7 is present in the tapered wall 8 at the lower end of the cylinder 1 and opens into the annular clearance 9 between the cylinder 1 and the lamp 3. A cranked arm 10 is mounted by bolts 11 passing through holes 12 in the wall of cylinder 1 adjacent the cylinder mouth 18 and nuts 13 are present at the end of the bolts 11. A reflector 14 is present at the free end of the arm 10 and comprises a plane mirror 15 on one side and a concave mirror 16 on the other. In use a stream of hot air 17 rises from the lamp 3 through the open mouth 18 of the cylinder 1 while the light is directed by the reflector surface according to the side and inclination selected.

As shown in Figure 2, the arm 10 ends in a C-shaped frame 19 having pivot pins 20 received in holes 21 in the edge of the reflector 14. The axis of inclination of the reflector lies substantially in the centre of the light radiation even when the reflector is rotated. The centre of gravity of the reflector coincides with the rotating axis so that fingertip control or pressure is all that is needed to move the mirror. The cranked arm 10 includes a corner 22 for carrying purposes and the crank is shaped so that it is not heated by the stream 17 of hot air.

Different uses of the device of Figure 1 are shown in Figures 3 to 8. As shown in Figure 3, the light can be reflected by the concave mirror 16 on to the open surface of a book 23 to be read by a reader. As shown in Figure 4, a man can use the concave mirror 16 to view his beard for shaving. As shown in Figure 5, a woman may use the plane mirror 15 for making up her face. As shown in Figure 6, the plane mirror 15 may be used to concentrate the light on a book surface or by a different inclination on a part thereof.

Figure 7 illustrates the use of device of Figures 1 and 2 placed adjacent a wall 24. Light from lamp 3 is reflected by the plane mirror 15 off the wall surface 24 and shines indirectly on the human face so that the eye can view the beard in the concave mirror 16 for shaving.

Figure 8 shows the use of the device of Figures 1 and 2 wherein the light is collected at the beard by the concave mirror 16 to brightly illuminate the beard. The eye can view the illuminated beard without glare, since the light shining on the beard is not directed toward the eye.

Figure 9 shows the use of the device Figures 1 and 2 as an image lighting apparatus. An opaque milky white glass plate 25 is placed across the cylinder mouth and a photographic film 26 is placed on the plate. Light from the lamp 3 passes through the film and is reflected by the reflector 14 and the image of the film reflected on the mirror (or enlarged by the concave mirror 16) can be seen in detail by the eye.

Figure 10 shows the use of the device wherein a liquid crystal television set 27 is viewed on a mounting plate 28 pivotally attached to the arm 10. It is possible to see the reflected television image on the mirror 14 and view in detail the image enlarged on the concave mirror 16.

The plate 28 of the device of Figure 11 is pivotally mounted on the arm 10 and when overlying the cylinder mouth 18 is to mount a photo slide 29. Light from the lamp 3 passes through the photo slide 29 and is reflected by the mirror to be projected onto a screen 30 via lens 31. Figure 12 shows the device of Figure 11 wherein, upon pivoting the plate upwardly, light from the lamp 3 reflects directly on the mirror and can be used as lighting apparatus with lens 31.

As described above, a single device can be used as a slide viewer, a liquid crystal television, a slide projector, an illuminating light, etc. The device has the advantage of miniaturized size and multiple utilities and is economical and convenient and it has no idle functions, inasmuch as it is usually used as electric light stand. There is no heat exposed to one's face by reflection on mirror even if a high power lamp is used.

Table 1 shows the temperatures measured at the position 32 of the apparatus of Figure 13, whose dimensions are referred to in Table 2, compared with standard temperatures. This data shows that, in spite of the use of a high temperature minikryton-ref 50W bulb in the cylinder 1, the parts are efficiently cooled by the chimney effect of the air drawn through and the temperature is significantly reduced.

The device prolongs lamp life, is safe to handle with no fear of burning and does not cause painted film peeling by heat but withstands lengthy usage due to the cooling produced by the chimney effect as described above.

The cooling mouth of this apparatus produces and cools the air stream flowing from the vents 7 to the open mouth 18 of the cylindrical body 1 by a chimney effect. The tapered wall surface 8 is so wide that it is possible to enlarge the hole size or increase the number and disposition of holes 7 to substantially accelerate cooling by the chimney effect.

It is difficult for dust to enter the cylinder 1 through holes 7, and easy for it to escape from the cylinder. If the taper were not present, there would be a reduced chimney effect, poor appearance by increasing size and number of holes, and dust could enter the holes and accumulate inside of the lamp. If the cylinder were straight with holes on a flat bottom fixed to the base plate 2, the support is decreased and the bottom area is relatively less compared with the sloped face of the invention, resulting in a poor chimney effect.

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein a number of transverse louvres 41 of long, narrow and thin plates are mounted vertically and in parallel with one another in the open mouth 18 of the cylindrical body 1. The louvres prevent an observer looking down from being dazzled but light can pass through the louvre 41 and be reflected on the mirror to become illuminating light. The louvres may take a variety of shapes and sizes.

The base 2 may be provided with means to be mounted on a vertical wall, e.g a hook receiving keyhole slot. The lamp 3 may be a small halogen lamp of high efficiency and mirror 14 a dichroic mirror which reflects visible light and filters about 80% of the evolved heat. This provides a soft visible light for reading, etc.

Figures 15 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the lamp is a heat lamp by which it is possible to send heat from the lamp in various directions to various areas, e.g to heat a sitters body or a face or feet, according to the orientation of the mirror. Figure 16 shows the arrangement wherein heat can be directed to upper or lower directions; at position A of the mirror heat is directed downward, at position B it is directed obliquely upward, and at position C it is directed straight up. This feature is not possible with conventional heating apparatus.

Figure 17 shows a device wherein light from a high pressure silver lamp or black light 3 is reflected by the mirror and objects 42 such as diamond or dust placed in the path of reflected light can be inspected. It is possible in this arrangement to fully observe tested subjects with no heat of the lamp on one's hand.

Figures 18 to 20 show devices wherein the arm 10 is mounted inside the cylinder 1 and it is possible to switch the light of a light spot 43 by concave mirror 16 to different positions 43A, 43B and 43C and to spread light by plane mirror 15 by rotating the mirror.

Figure 20 shows the arrangement of the invention wherein reflected light from the plane mirror 15, with the mirror set at a horizontal position, forms a mood light. The lamp can also illuminate a picture on a wall or ceiling.

Figure 21 shows an embodiment of the invention wherein the lighting device is set on the upper portion of a pole 44 mounted on a floor stand 2, to be above the eye level of a sitting person. Light from the lamp 3 projects upward, e.g above the eye, reflecting on the mirror 14 to become irradiating light changing its lighting direction (A) downwardly. When rotatable mirror 14 is moved to the second position, the light changes to lighting direction (B). The lighting area can be changed by using either the plane face or the concave face of the mirror. For instance, the plane mirror may be used to illuminate a wide area and the concave mirror a narrow one.

The invention, as just described, when compared with conventional combinations of lamps and stands, does not require a large shade, etc above the stand but has stable feeling because of the use of a small mirror. It can prolong the lamp life by inhibiting dust from entering the lamp by the mirror covering lighting device, since heat of the lamp is well spread by the chimney effect of the air stream rising up from the vent within the cylinder to cool the lighting device. In addition, the invention has no wasteful flow-out of light but can work with lower electric consumption. The invention also provides remarkable features, not provided in conventional floor stands, such as no dazzling, since the light shines from a higher position than the eye when a person is sitting.

The light may be used as a lantern by shining it on a lower portion than the plane mirror by setting the mirror at a horizontal position. The light may be directed upwardly to the ceiling of a room by setting the mirror at a vertical position.

In a still further embodiment of the invention a carrying handle may be mounted to the cylinder, for example, by screws or bolts. One side of the cylinder 1 may be shaped in the form of a spout, if desired, for ornamental purposes. It is thus apparent that the cylindrical body 1 may have other ornamental shapes, as desired. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 22, the handle 54 is held to the outside of the cylinder 1 by, for example, screws (not shown) and the arm 10 is threaded into the top of the handle 54. Figure 23 shows another version wherein an arm 10 has a U-shaped configuration with two leg portions, one 10A of the leg portions being mounted on the cylinder 1 and the other leg portion 10B extending upwardly for pivotably mounting the mirror 14. The two portions are screwed together, as shown. In this embodiment, the arm functions to support the mirror and also as a handle.

Lamps according to Figure 1 and according to Figure 23 were placed in a room which was at 25°C room temperature. The temperatures of the handles were measured and the temperature of the handle in the embodiment of Figure 23 was 30°C, which is less than the temperature specified by Laboratories (UL) which requires that the temperature of a handle should be less than 50°C. The arm 10 of Figure 23 is bent once which has the advantage that it can be produced at a lower cost.

A shade hood in the form of a half sphere, may be attached to the upper end of the arm above the mirror. The shade hood has a diameter preferably slightly greater than that of the mirror, the shade hood covering the top of the mirror. This shade hood inhibits dust from falling onto the mirror, as well as inside of the cylindrical body.

Figure 24 shows a device wherein frame 65 supports rotating mirror 14 about axis 66. The frame can be collapsed to position 65B for storage. The device includes a strobe battery 67 and an infrared lamp 68 for auto focusing distance measurement.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown. In addition to the variations already specified, arms 10 of different heights may be present on opposite sides of the cylinder 1 to provide two reflectors 14. The base 2 may have mounting means, e.g. to be connected to a vertical wall or to stand on a separate pole support having a top dish to receive, preferably engage, the base.