Illumination fixture and louvers therefor

Aug. 4, 1953 d. j. biller 2,647,985

ILLUMINATION FIXTURE AND LOUVERS,THEREFOR

Filed Dec. 24. 1947 ₂ Sheets-Sheet 1

FIG. I.

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FIG. 2.

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Aug. 4, 1953

D. J. BILLER

2,647,985

Filed Dec. 24,

ILLUMINATION FIXTURE AND LOUVERS THEREFOR

1947

Sheets-Sheet 2

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HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953

2,647,985

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,647,985

ILLUMINATION FIXTURE AND LOUVERS THEREFOR ^Da'^{id J}; ^st* ^Louis&gt; Mo., assignor to DayBnte Lighting, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri

Application December 24,1947, Serial No. 793,592

Claims. (Cl.240-51.il)

This invention relates to illumination fixtures and louvers therefor and is more particularly directed to a louver construction to be associated with recessed ceiling fixtures to provide for a better diffusion of the light emanating from the lamp bulbs installed in the fixture.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a louver construction for a light fixture which will be strong and rigid and which will provide for a higher degree of diffusion of the light rays that originate in the fixture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lighting fixture providing for a combination of incandescent and fluorescent light fixtures

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective plan view of a light fixture embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the light fixture taken substantially along the line 2—2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows a bottom plan view of the louver, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the light fixture taken substantially along the line 4—4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the louver latching mechanism, ^B

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of light fixture; and

Fig. 7 is a view taken substantially along the line 7—7 of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally the housing for a light fixture thrt is to be installed in a ceiling or other suitaole location. Suitable holding means in the upper part of the housing are provided for the installation of sources of illumination, such as fiourescent lamp bulbs 2 and incandescent lamp Pulbs 3 as well as inverted trough reflectors 4 for he fiourescent bulb and glass reflectors 5 for each incandescent bulb. The use of a glass reflector for bulb 3 prevents interference with the transmission of light rays from the fluorescent uulb when the incandescent bulb is not in use and produces a smooth overall lighting effect. The upper part of housing I also contains suitable electrical circuits and equipment for the bulbs, all of which is well known in the art.

Figure 3 shows the arrangement of the incandescent bulbs in the fixture. These bulbs are preferably disposed directly above louver openings and are arranged on a square or other pattern and produce a smooth overall light effect. The fluorescent bulbs and their reflectors extend a_l the way across the fixture. The fixture presents a definite clear cut two-color pattern of light based upon bulb 3 layouts when all lamps are in operation. This color pattern may be varied by properly choosing the desired combination of incandescent and fiourescent bulbs and the color thereof, thereby altering the overall color effect.

The louver assembly is indicated at 6 and is mounted in the housing I. This assembly is pivotally supported in housing I by means of a plurality of hinges 7, a part of each hinge being secured to the housing and the other part being secured to the louver 6. The hinge is suitably secured to a reinforced part of the louver to provide a better assembly.

The louver 6 comprises a rectangular frame member 11 in which louver members 9 and 10 are installed. Each of these louver members is preferably formed by bending a piece of sheet material into a U shape so that the legs or walls thereof are connected together by a rounded portion. These U members are then suitably notched, one from the top and the other from the bottom at uniformly spaced intervals to enable them to interfit in a manner well known in egg crate filler constructions to thereby form a plurality of rectangular louver openings. The lines 9' and 10' indicate the base of the notches cut m each louver member. The ends of the members 9 and 10 are secured to the walls of the frame member 11 by tack welding or any other appropriate securing means. Louver 6 is latched in position m housing I by means of a screw 8 threaded into a bracket 1' secured to housing I the screw being threaded into a flange formed i on louver 6.

The outside surface of each of the U members is preferably provided with a white coating which may be a variety of enamel. The U -shaped louver structural members prevent glare by causing a greater diffusion of light rays. The sides and xounaed ends of the U members prevent direct rays from striking the work surface by reflectin’ them back and forth between the louver walls Sht^efixtme^{reaSinS the diffusing ability of th}e

Figures 6 and 7 show a modified form of light fixture 11 provided with a housing 12 organized generally along the lines of housing I in which the customary fluorescent tubes 13 and other electrical equipment are assembled. The louver 14 consists of two longitudinally extended U-shaped members 15 provided with a rounded lower edge and a plurality of transversely arranged single thickness louver members 6, these members being combined after the manner of egg crate fillers to form a plurality of rectangular or square louver openings. The light diffusing abflity of this louver is not as great as that shown in Fg ures 1 and 4 but for some installations it wil provide the necessary degree of diffusion.