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Step lighting

a lighting and step technology, applied in the direction of lighting support devices, lighting and heating apparatus, and ways, can solve the problems of relatively complicated lighting systems, and achieve the effect of improving downward illumination

Inactive Publication Date: 2001-03-27
SHIMADA ENTERPRISES
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved step lighting system for the stair edge or nose, and wherein a single lighting string provides both the upward and downward illumination. In one embodiment, a combined lens and reflector is provided to allow light from a string of lights to be reflected upwardly and light from that string to impinge through the lens downwardly toward the riser and / or step below. In another embodiment, the extrusion houses a prism-type lens assembly for directing light both upwardly and downwardly. In another embodiment, the extrusion houses a dual reflector system for reflecting light from a light string both upwardly and downwardly. In a still further and preferred embodiment, the extension houses a lens and prism-type lens assembly for directing light both upwardly and downwardly but with improved downward illumination. In each instance, the extrusion may include slots at either end thereof for receiving the ends of carpet, such as carpet on the step and carpet on the riser.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting system.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide an improved step nose lighting system.

Problems solved by technology

Generally, these lighting systems are relatively complicated to because of the dual lighting systems involved.

Method used

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first embodiment

Turning now to FIG. 2, the present invention is illustrated. This Figure is a cross-section view of a stair nose extrusion as well as of a light directing member, along with a lighting strip. For discussion purposes, the extrusion shown in FIG. 2 is considered to be that of the top step, namely extrusion 18 of FIG. 1. It includes top 18d and riser 18e sections at a substantially right angle or L-shaped cross-section to mate and be secured to the top and front edges of a step (not shown in FIG. 2). It further includes a channel 24 for receiving a light directing member 26 and a lighting strip 28. In this embodiment, light from the strip 28 is reflected by a reflector 30 of the member 26 upwardly, and the strip 28 is positioned to direct light downwardly from the strip 28 through a clear or translucent section 32 of the member 26. The light reflected upwardly passes through the clear or frosted lens 18a of the extrusion 18 thereby emanating from the top of the stair nose, and the ligh...

third embodiment

a light directing member 80 is shown in FIG. 4 and is like that of FIG. 2 but uses an additional reflector. It is used with the same type nose extrusion 18 (not shown in FIG. 4). A first reflector 82 (like 30 of FIG. 2 and 62 of FIG. 3) is used and an additional reflector 84, along with a clear lens section 86 for the light directing member 80. The extrusion for the member 80 is the same as in FIG. 2 with the exception of the added reflector 84, and the lighting string 28 is the same. The reflectors 84 and 82 are provided by the silver polyester tape as in the previous embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a light directing member 90, and which is similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 and combines the best features of both. It has been found that in some applications the prism 64 arrangement of FIG. 3 may not provide as much light as is desired on the step below. In the embodiment of FIG. 5 the overall lens section 92 has both a clear lens section 94 and a prism-type l...

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Abstract

There is disclosed herein a step lighting fixture including an extrusion having a single channel for receiving a light directing member which directs light from a single lighting string both upwardly and downwardly with respect to a stair edge or stair nose. This enables the edge of a stair and the riser thereof or next lower step to be readily seen by one either descending or ascending the stair or stairway. The light directing member can include a pair of reflectors for reflecting light upwardly and downwardly. Alternatively, it can include a single reflector for reflecting light upwardly, and another section, either clear, segmented or both clear and segmented, for directing light downwardly.

Description

The present invention relates to lighting systems, and more particularly to step lighting for stairway steps for providing light directed upwardly and downwardly from a single lighting system.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVarious forms of lighting systems have been devised for lighting aisles, stairs, floors, ceilings, and the like. Typically, low voltage string lighting systems are used which incorporate an incandescent or LED lighting strip having a number of spaced light bulbs or light sources.In the case of steps and stairs, typically one or more stair "nosing" strips are provided at the edge or "nose" of each stair. For a number of years these devices have been provided for illuminating either upwardly from the forward edge of the stair or downwardly onto the riser and / or the next lower step so that the edge of each stair is illuminated whether one is walking up or down the stairway. Lighting systems of this nature are particularly desirable and useful in environments where the li...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): E04F11/16E04F11/02F21V33/00F21S4/00
CPCE04F2011/1048F21S8/032F21V33/006F21W2111/027E04F11/166F21S4/28F21Y2115/10
Inventor SHIMADA, TAKEHIKO
Owner SHIMADA ENTERPRISES