[0001] The present invention relates to an illumination device particularly suitable for
illuminating vertical or flat surfaces such as the fronts of buildings, house entrances,
ceilings or walls of interiors in general as well as suitable for illuminating any
surface (of any spatial inclination) or area of open spaces such as gardens and the
like.
[0002] Various types of devices for the above-described function are already known.
[0003] To illuminate the fronts of buildings, for example, powerful reflectors or spotlights
are used, arranged at an appropriate distance from the building, which shine their
light beams onto the said fronts.
[0004] These spotlights generate a light flux which only partly strikes and illuminates
the front of the building on which they are positioned; a large part of thin flux
in fact dissipates into the space surrounding the building.
[0005] The obvious consequence of this is minimum use of the power of the spotlights and
a great waste of energy with consequently high illumination costs.
[0006] Furthermore, these spotlights generate a light beam (usually conical) which dazzles
those who find themselves within the beam itself such as the inhabitants of the building
who may look out of its windows or the inhabitants of the nearby buildings illuminated,
as stated, by the diffusion of the dissipated light.
[0007] Also known are spotlights used to illuminate particular areas of buildings such as
the exits.
[0008] These spotlights are arranged, on supports protruding from the front of the building,
at a short distance (at least about ten centimetres away) from the building and generate
a light beam which shines on the exit area, entrance or main door.
[0009] In this case too, as in the one previously described, the light used for illumination
is minimal, whilst the greater part of that generated by the spotlights is dissipated.
For these reasons, high-powered spotlights are used and this has a detrimental effect
on their cost and on the cost of actual illumination. Arrangement of these spotlights
close to the building is also sometimes problematical due to the presence of the above-mentioned
protruding supports.
[0010] The aim of the present invention is therefore to create an illumination device of
the above-mentioned type which has a high performance i.e. in which dissipation of
the light generated is very low, which thus enables the desired areas to be illuminated
in the optimum way and has very low operating costs as compared to those of similar
known devices.
[0011] Another aim is to offer a device of the said type which enables only particular desired
areas to be illuminated, such as the fronts, exits or main doors of buildings, without
illuminating the areas adjacent to them as well.
[0012] A further aim is to offer a device that enables essentially uniform illumination
of the desired areas without using high-powered light sources.
[0013] Another aim is to create a device which enables the illumination of the fronts, doors
or exits of buildings without requiring supports protruding from the said fronts and
without requiring supports placed at a distance from the said buildings.
[0014] Another aim is to create a device which may be used in an essentially similar way
both to illuminate walls, ceilings or floors of the interiors of buildings and to
illuminate areas outside such building.
[0015] These and other aims which will be obvious to the expert within the field are achieved
by a device of the above-mentioned type characterised in that it comprises at least
one light source arranged in association with at least one refractor element with
a single axis and projecting a light beam onto the latter, the said beam passing through
the said refractor and leaving it in the form of a light beam with an essentially
fan-shaped blade conformation.
[0016] According to another characteristic of the said device it comprises at least two
light sources set at an angle to each other so that the beams generated are superimposed
on at least one part of an illuminated surface, the said surface being longitudinal
to the light sources, the said light sources being arranged in association with the
refractor element, the combination of the said sources and said element generating
the essentially fan-shaped blade light beam.
[0017] For a better understanding of the present invention, the following drawings are attached,
purely by way of example and in no way limiting, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a section along Line II-II of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a section along Line III-III of Figure 2;
figure 4 is a section along Line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figures 5 and 6 are two different forms of embodiment of the invention;
Figures 7 and 8 are two different forms of embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 9 is a photometric curve of the device shown in Figures 1 to 5.
[0018] With particular reference to Figures 1 to 5, an illumination device (or appliance)
is shown generally by 1 and comprises at least one light source 2 (in the Figures
in question there are two such sources) and a refractor element 3 linked to a support
element or base 4. This refractor element and the said base form a box body within
the compartment 5 of which are arranged the light sources 2, the said refractor element
3 and the said base being linked together by means of at least one screw 6.
[0019] Between elements 3 and 4 is a standard sealing element 7. More particularly, refractor
element 3 is a single-axis transparent element, advantageously of a known "ribbed
glass", and has an essentially trapezoid cross section. This refractor element makes
it possible to generate, from a standard light beam produced by sources 2, an essentially
blade-shaped light beam arranged, in space, in a fan.
[0020] On each of the oblique sides 8 of the said refractor 3 is a light source 2 the axis
of which is essentially at right angles to that of the said side 8.
[0021] This enables a better illuminating effect of appliance 1 to be achieved and this
effect may be changed by varying the distance between each light source and refractor
element 3. The latter comprises a parabola 9, a standard bulb 10, advantageously a
low-powered halogen bulb partially shielded by a reflector element in 11 and a transverse
plate 12 arranged at right angles to the said bulb.
[0022] Each of the said light sources 2 is linked to a support 13 (bulb socket) and is advantageously
supplied by a transformer 14 supported by base 4. This transformer is clearly of a
suitable size for both of the said sources. Figures 2 and 3 also show, linked to the
said transformer, an electrical connection element (terminal board) 15 advantageously
fitted with a fuse (not shown) to provide electrical protection for device 1.
[0023] The presence of transformer 14, which is essential, enables bulbs 10 to be supplied
and allows their characteristics to be exploited to the full as well as prolonging
their lifetime. This transformer may be inserted in compartment 5 or placed upstream
of device 1.
[0024] According to another characteristic of device 1, light sources 2 are arranged at
an angle to each other: advantageously in relation to a common vertical axis (e.g.
coinciding with that of screw 6) these light sources are arranged at angles of between
35
o and 50
o.
[0025] Due to this arrangement and using bulbs 10 whose photometric solids of tight emission
have sections (usually elliptic) in which the ratio between the greater and smaller
axes is equal to or greater than ten, illumination over an arc of at least 120
o is achieved.
[0026] An example of thing shown In Figure 9, in which the section of the photometric solid
of two 50 Watt bulbs arranged at 80
o in relation to each other is between points K and W between which is an arc of about
160
o.
[0027] Advantageously, the distance and reciprocal angulation of the light sources may be
varied e.g. by linking each bulb with a rack (not shown) in the form of an arc of
a circle and co-operating with gearing which can be operated from the outside of device
1.
[0028] Apart from this possibility of varying the distance and reciprocal angulation between
the light sources, it is also possible to vary very precisely the angulation of the
longitudinal plane of the light beam so as to achieve a more uniform illumination
of the illuminated surface.
[0029] This may be achieved, for example, from the outside of device 1 by adjusting an appropriate
screw 20 which at one end 21, inside compartment 5 of device 1, has gearing 22 onto
which at least one threadlike element 23 can wind and unwind, the latter connecting
together two elastic plates 24 linked to each support 13 of parabolas 9.
[0030] More particularly, the said element 23 co-operates with a fixed pin 25 arranged in
front of each plate 24 and linked to base 4 to which the said plates are also linked.
This enables a more positive action of the said element 23 on such plates and allows
precise adjustment of the spatial inclination of the light sources in relation to
a longitudinal surface of illumination.
[0031] The device in question, illustrated in the Figures, enables a surface such as the
front of a building, a garden or suchlike to be illuminated by a usually fan-shaped
blade of light.
[0032] As stated, the said blade of light may be arranged at different angles in relation
to a set longitudinal surface; advantageously, in a device 1 with at least two light
sources 2, the latter generate light beams which superimpose upon each other on at
least part of the illuminated surface. Figures 5 and 6 show another two forms of embodiment
of the invention. These forms have, unlike the embodiment previously described, a
single light source or three light sources arranged at an angle in relation to each
other. As for the rest, the characteristics of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to
5 are the same as those of the embodiments shown in Figures 5 and 6 where parts corresponding
to those already described bear the same reference numbers.
[0033] Lastly, Figures 7 and 8 show illumination systems in which two of the devices described
and shown in Figures 1 to 6 are joined together in any known way.
[0034] This enables illumination, still achieved by means of a fan-shaped blade of light,
at different angles, up to 360
o . The said Figures 7 and 8 show parts (bearing the same reference numbers) corresponding
to those already described in the description of the previous Figures. No subsequent
reference is therefore made to these parts.
[0035] An illumination device according to the invention enables any surface such as the
fronts of buildings or their parts, gardens or suchlike to be illuminated in an optimum
way by a fan-shaped blade of light.
[0036] This illumination is achieved by using low-powered bulbs and with the minimum possible
dissipation of the light beam generated. This enables maximum results with minimum
illumination costs.
[0037] Furthermore, a device created according to the invention is compact, light and easy
to install; it enables simple replacement of bulbs in the event of failure and easy
arrangement in association with the surfaces to be illuminated.
[0038] Clearly, different forms of embodiment of the invention may be envisaged (e.g. wherein
each light source is linked to its own refractor element) without, however, going
beyond the scope of this patent.
1. An illumination device particularly suitable for illuminating vertical or flat surfaces
such as the fronts of buildings, house entrances, ceilings or walls of interiors in
general as well as suitable for illuminating any surface of any angulation or area
of open spaces such as gardens and the like, characterised in that it comprises at
least one light source (2) arranged in association with at least one refractor element
(3) with a single axis and projecting a light beam onto the latter, the said beam
passing through the said refractor and leaving it in the form of a light beam with
an essentially fan-shaped blade conformation.
2. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least two light
sources (2) set at an angle to each other so that the beams generated are superimposed
on at least one part of an illuminated surface, the said surface being longitudinal
to the light sources, the said light sources (2) being arranged in association with
the refractor element (3), the combination of the said sources (2) and said element
(3) generating the essentially fan-shaped blade light beam.
3. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the ratio between the greater
and smaller axes of a section of the photometric solid of light emission of each light
source (2) is equal to or greater than ten.
4. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that each light source (2) comprises
a bulb (10), advantageously of the type having a built-in reflector element (in 11).
5. A device according to the previous Claims, characterised in that each light source
(2) comprises a parabola (9), a bulb (10) and a transverse plate (12) arranged at
right angles to the said bulb (10), the latter being connected to an electrical supply
advantageously by means of a transformer (14).
6. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it has means (20, 23, 24)
for the fine adjustment of the spatial angulation of the longitudinal plane of a fan
of light, it being possible to operate the said means from the outside of the device.
7. A device according to Claims 5 and 6, characterised in that such means of adjustment
are a screw (20) operationally connected by a threadlike element to an elastic element
(24) linked to a support (13) of the parabola (9) of each light source (2).
8. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it has means that may be
operated from the outside of the device capable of enabling the distance between light
sources (2) to be varied.
9. A device according to Claim 8, characterised in that the means are racks carrying
light sources (2) and at least one gearing mechanism which may be operated by means
of a screw from the outside of device (1).
10. A device according to Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the plane defined by refractor
element (3) or one its parts (8) is at right angles to the axis of light source (2).
11. A device according to Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises three light sources
(2) arranged at an angle in relation to each other and in association with the refractor
element.
12. A system for the illumination of fronts of buildings or their parts, surfaces at any
angle, gardens, walls of rooms or portions thereof, comprising at least one device
according to Claims 1 or 2 or 11 or a combination of such devices.