Wall-mountable lighting apparatus

Abstract

 A wall-mountable lighting apparatus comprises a casing (11), inside which at least one light source (12) is present, and is provided with a screen (15) set between the light source (12) and the wall (14), the screen (15) having a portion adjacent to the wall (14), provided with at least one area (16) designed to diffuse the light.

Description

[0001] The subject of the present invention is a wall-mountable lighting apparatus.

[0002] It is known that illuminating appliances or elements that are mounted against walls normally create unpleasant effects of "streaks of light" or "patches" on the illuminated wall that bother the observer.

[0003] These patches are often very evident in the vicinity of the illuminating element and create a series of clear transitions between light and dark, i.e., between the area that is illuminated and the dark area.

[0004] These areas are determined geometrically by the constructional characteristics of the apparatus used: the area of the wall that is hidden with respect to the lamp remains dark, whilst the free area is invaded by a considerable amount of light. A clear line is thus defined between the dark part and the illuminated part.

[0005] In addition, the illuminated area inevitably starts higher up with respect to the mouth of the illuminating apparatus, in such a way that the latter looks higher than it actually is; in other words, the virtual height of the lighting apparatus is decidedly greater than the actual height.

[0006] Normally, an attempt to solve this problem consists in setting, between the lighting apparatus and the wall, a plurality of refractive gratings which deflect the light towards the dark area.

[0007] However, this solution presents the problem that, in this way, undesirable streaks are formed on the wall.

[0008] A second known solution consists in mounting a screen in front of the lamp to limit the effect generated by the patches.

[0009] It should, however, be noted that this solution as a result also limits the total amount of light that is emitted by the apparatus.

[0010] A purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a lighting apparatus, of the wall-mountable type, which enables the elimination of sharp and anaesthetic discontinuities on the illuminated surfaces.

[0011] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus that enables the elimination of the difference between the virtual height and the actual height of the lighting element.

[0012] These and other purposes are achieved by a wall-mountable lighting device, according to Claim 1, to which the reader is referred for reasons of brevity.

[0013] Further characteristics of the invention are specified in the claims attached to the present application.

[0014] Further purposes and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing description and from the annexed drawings, which are provided purely to give an explanatory and non-limiting example, and in which:

• Figure 1 represents a schematic view of the wall-mountable lighting apparatus according to the invention; and
• Figure 2 represents a schematic view of a screen belonging to the lighting apparatus according to the invention.

[0015] With particular reference to the above-mentioned figures, the lighting apparatus according to the invention is designated as a whole by the reference number 10.

[0016] The lighting apparatus 10 is fixed, in a known way, for example by means of a bracket 18, to a wall 14, and comprises a casing 11, inside which a light source 12 is present.

[0017] A reflecting element 13, which may have a parabolic cross-section, is associated to the light source 12.

[0018] The lighting apparatus 10 is provided with a screen 15, which is set between the light source 12 and the wall 14.

[0019] The said screen 15 has an area designed to diffuse the light, for instance a satiny area 16, which, preferably, enables Lambert-type light emission.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the screen 15 has a transparent area 17 and a satiny area 16.

[0021] Consequently, in the part close to the wall 14, by means of the insertion of the screen 15 or possibly by adapting the existing screen, an area is created that modifies light emission from direct distribution to Lambert-type distribution.

[0022] In the remaining part of the mouth of the apparatus, an area 17 is created which has no effect on the said Lambert-type emission, the screen (or bowl) not being inserted in the said area.

[0023] Alternatively, the area 17 is made using a transparent screen so as not to limit and/or modify light emission.

[0024] The Lambert-type distribution that the light assumes in the vicinity of the wall consequently enables the sharp transition between "dark and light" and the creation of unpleasant "streaks of light" to be prevented.

[0025] The satiny area 16 moreover makes it possible to deflect the light in such a way as to illuminate the entire wall 14 as far as the top of the lighting apparatus 10, thus reducing to the utmost the virtual dimensions of the lighting apparatus itself and eliminating the difference between the virtual height and the actual height of the illuminating element.

[0026] This solution also enables the elimination of the patches of light that are formed on the wall.

[0027] The characteristics, as well as the advantages and operation, of the wall-mountable lighting apparatus that forms the subject of the present invention emerge clearly from the foregoing description.

[0028] Finally, it is clear that numerous variations may be made to wall-mountable lighting apparatus which forms the subject of the present invention without thereby departing from the principles of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, and likewise it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, the materials, shapes and sizes of the items illustrated may be any whatsoever according to the requirements, and the said items may be replaced with others that are technically equivalent.

Claims

1. A wall-mountable lighting apparatus (10) of the type comprising a casing (11), inside which at least one light source (12) is present, characterized in that it is provided with a screen (15) set between said light source (12) and said wall (14), the said screen (15) having a portion adjacent to said wall (14), provided with at least one area (16) designed to diffuse light.

2. A lighting apparatus (10) as per Claim 1, characterized in that said screen (15) has a transparent area (17) and an area (16) designed to diffuse light.

3. A lighting apparatus (10) as per Claim 1, characterized in that said light source (12) is associated to at least one reflecting element (13) .

4. A lighting apparatus (10) as per Claim 3, characterized in that said reflecting element (13) has a substantially parabolic cross section.

5. A lighting apparatus (10) as per Claim 1, characterized in that the said area (16) designed to diffuse light enables Lambert-type light emission.

Drawing