Step-on lighting device and overwater walkway

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a lighting device that a person can safely step on. [Solution] A lighting device (100) is provided with a light source (20), a support tool (30) provided so as to form an installation space for the light source (20), and a lattice-shaped upper lid (50) provided on the support tool (30), the device being configured such that a person can step on the upper lid (50).

Description

Passenger lighting device and water walking path

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device that a person can ride on. In particular, the present invention relates to a passenger lighting device that can be used underwater. The present invention also relates to a water walking path formed by arranging a plurality of passenger lighting devices underwater.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an underground buried lighting device. This underground buried lighting device can be lit while being buried in the ground outdoors such as in a park or a sidewalk. The lighting device of Patent Document 1 includes a buried box buried in the ground, a lighting lamp disposed inside the buried box, and a light-transmitting portion attached to the upper part of the buried box.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-68101

[0004] By the way, it is said that the light-transmitting portion attached to the upper part of the buried box of the lighting device described in Patent Document 1 is made of a material such as glass. However, when the light-transmitting portion is composed of general glass, the light-transmitting portion has low strength against load. Therefore, when a person rides on the light-transmitting portion, the glass may be broken or damaged. Thus, it can be said that the lighting device described in Patent Document 1 is not assumed to have a person riding on the light-transmitting portion. On the other hand, if a person can ride on the lighting device, the uses of the lighting device can be expanded.

[0005] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device on which a person can safely ride.

[0006] As a result of earnestly studying means for solving the problems of the above conventional invention, the inventor of the present invention provided a support member so as to form an installation space for a light source, and supported a lattice-shaped upper lid by the support member, and obtained the finding that a person can safely ride on this upper lid. Then, the inventor of the present invention conceived that the problems of the conventional invention can be solved based on the above finding, and completed the present invention. Specifically described, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention relates to a lighting device 100. The lighting device 100 according to the present invention comprises a light source 20, a support 30, and a top cover 50. The support 30 is provided to form an installation space for the light source 20. The support 30 may be, for example, columnar in shape and installed in multiple locations surrounding the light source 20, or it may be a frame in shape installed to surround the light source 20. The top cover 50 is a grid-like structure provided on the support 30. A grid is a structure made by regularly combining plate-shaped or rod-shaped members, with vertically penetrating openings formed between each member. Light emitted from the light source 20 passes through these penetrating openings in the grid-like top cover 50. In this way, the lighting device 100 supports the grid-like top cover 50 with the support 30 installed around the light source 20. Because the top cover 50 is configured in a grid shape, it can transmit light from the light source 20 and has a structurally high load-bearing capacity. Therefore, by adopting the above configuration, a person can safely stand on the top cover 50. In particular, it is preferable that the light source 20 is placed in an installation space surrounded by the columnar support 30, and that the direction of its light irradiation is directed toward the top cover 50. As a result, the light is irradiated upward through the grid-like top cover 50, and a person or object standing on the lighting device 100 can be illuminated from the feet up.

[0008] The lighting device 100 according to the present invention preferably further comprises a light-diffusing member 40 disposed between the light source 20 and the top cover 50. It is preferable to further provide the light-diffusing member 40 on the lower side of the top cover 50. As the light-diffusing member 40, for example, a light-diffusing plate, a light-diffusing film, or a solid material such as glass or quartz that diffuses light can be used. In particular, it is preferable to use a plate-shaped member (light-diffusing plate) interposed between the support 30 and the top cover 50 as the light-diffusing member 40. By providing the light-diffusing member 40 in this way, the area around the feet of a person standing on the lighting device 100 can be illuminated overall.

[0009] The lighting device 100 according to the present invention may further include an exterior member 70. The exterior member 70 is formed in a frame shape so as to surround the periphery of the top cover 50, and at least a light source 20 and a support 30 are arranged inside it. By providing the exterior member 70 in this way, the light source 20 and the support 30 can be made less visible from the outside. Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer surface of the exterior member 70 is mirror-finished. By making the outer surface of the exterior member 70 mirror-finished in this way, the sides of the lighting device 100 become less conspicuous, and the light irradiated from the top side can be made more noticeable. In particular, when the lighting device 100 is installed underwater, by making the exterior member 70 mirror-finished, the exterior member 70 will visually blend into the water when the lighting device 100 is viewed from above the water. Furthermore, it is preferable that the outer layer member 70 is made of a light-opaque material that blocks light from the light source 20.

[0010] In the lighting device 100 according to the present invention, the support members 30 may be columnar and there may be multiple support members provided. In this case, it is preferable that the lighting device 100 further comprises a frame member 80 to which the multiple support members 30 are fixed. The multiple columnar support members 30 can be connected by this frame member 80. Furthermore, the light source 20 can be installed in the space defined by the frame member 80.

[0011] The lighting device 100 according to the present invention may further include a group of light-diffusing members 90, which consists of a plurality of light-diffusing members stacked on top of the light source 20. Each individual light-diffusing member may be small and stackable, for example, in the shape of a small piece, a sphere, or a block. In this way, the group of light-diffusing members 90 can be provided on or around the light source 20 to diffuse the light emitted from the light source 20.

[0012] In the lighting device 100 according to the present invention, the light source 20 is preferably a lighting fixture that can be used underwater. In this case, the lighting device 100 can be installed underwater. For example, by installing the lighting device 100 underwater so that the top cover 50 is located near the water surface (below the water surface or 0 to 20 cm above the water surface), a person can stand on the lighting device 100.

[0013] Furthermore, the use of the lighting device 100 according to the present invention is not limited to installation underwater. For example, the lighting device 100 according to the present invention may simply be installed on the ground or buried in the ground.

[0014] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a water walkway 200. The water walkway 200 according to the present invention includes a plurality of lighting devices 100 according to the first embodiment described above. Specifically, the water walkway 200 according to the present invention is formed by arranging a plurality of lighting devices 100 adjacent to each other or spaced apart in the water. In this way, by using the lighting device 100 according to the present invention, it is possible to create a path (walkway) on the water for people to walk on.

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting device that people can ride on safely.

[0016] Figure 1 is an external perspective view showing an example of a lighting device installed underwater. Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the internal structure of a lighting device according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of a lighting device according to the first embodiment. Figure 4 is a plan view showing an example of a water-based walkway formed using multiple lighting devices. Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the internal structure of a lighting device according to the second embodiment.

[0017] The following describes embodiments for carrying out the present invention with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, but also includes modifications made to the embodiments described below within the scope that would be obvious to those skilled in the art.

[0018] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the lighting device 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Figure 1 schematically shows the ride-on lighting device 100 according to the first embodiment installed in water with a person on it. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting device 100 is designed to have a person on its translucent surface. For this reason, the lighting device 100 is designed to have structural strength capable of withstanding the load of, for example, 1 to 3 people (upper limit 100 to 300 kg). The lighting device 100 has a light source inside, and the light emitted from this light source is transmitted through the upper surface (translucent surface) on which a person stands and radiated to the outside. As a result, the upper surface of the lighting device 100 appears to be emitting light when viewed from the outside. In addition, in this embodiment, the lighting device 100 can be installed in water. The upper surface of the lighting device 100 may be above the water surface, or it may be submerged below the water surface. In this way, a person can stand on the lighting device 100 which is installed in water and emitting light.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, in this embodiment, the lighting device 100 is formed in a roughly rectangular prism shape, such as a cube or rectangular prism that forms a quadrilateral in plan view. However, the lighting device 100 is not limited to a rectangular prism shape; it can also be cylindrical, triangular, pentagonal, or other polygonal prism shapes. Below, the internal structure of a roughly rectangular prism-shaped lighting device 100 will be described in detail, using it as an example.

[0020] Figures 2 and 3 show the internal structure of a lighting device 100 according to one embodiment. As shown in these figures, the lighting device 100 includes, as its main components, a base 10, a light source 20, a support 30, a light diffusion member 40, a top cover 50, a fixing bracket 60, and an exterior member 70.

[0021] The base 10 is the foundation for the other components of the lighting device 100. The base 10 may be made of a cement-based material such as concrete or mortar, or a metal-based material such as iron or stainless steel. In particular, it is preferable to use a cement-based material that is less prone to corrosion when installed underwater. In this embodiment, the base 10 is formed in a rectangular shape, and stud bolts 11 are embedded vertically near each of its four corners. These stud bolts 11 are used to fix the support 30 onto the base 10.

[0022] The light source 20 is a lighting fixture that emits light from inside the lighting device 100 toward the outside. This light source 20 is fixed near the center on the base 10. At this time, the direction of illumination of the light source 20 should be upward, that is, the direction in which the light is directed toward the top cover 50. In particular, it is good to adjust the orientation and position of the light source 20 so that the optical axis (central axis) of the light source 20 passes through the top cover 50. As the light source 20, known lighting fixtures such as LED lamps, halogen lamps, sodium lamps, or fluorescent lamps can be used. Furthermore, the light source 20 may be one that can change its emitted color. In addition, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the lighting device 100 will be installed underwater. For this reason, the light source 20 is a lighting fixture that has waterproof performance so that it can withstand use underwater. As an underwater lighting fixture, a commercially available known one can be used. Specifically, as an underwater lighting fixture, it is good to use one that has a light source controlled by a moisture-proof electronic circuit inside a pressure-resistant waterproof housing equipped with sealing to prevent water intrusion. Furthermore, the light source 20 receives power via cable 21 and receives control signals related to on / off and emission color control. This cable 21 passes through the base 10 and is connected to an external power source (not shown) and control device (not shown).

[0023] The support members 30 serve as pillars for mounting the light diffusion member 40 and the top cover 50 above the base 10, while securing space for the installation of the light source 20. In this embodiment, four support members 30 are used, each fixed near a corner on the base 10. Specifically, each support member 30 includes a rectangular upper surface 31 and lower surface 32 facing each other, and two side surfaces 33 and 34 erected between these upper and lower surfaces 31 and 32. The two side surfaces 33 and 34 are positioned adjacent to each other at right angles, and the cross-section of the two side surfaces 33 and 34 is L-shaped. A bolt 35 is also fixed vertically to the upper surface 31 of each support member 30. This bolt 35 is used to fix the light diffusion member 40 and the top cover 50 on the support member 30. A bolt hole 36 is also formed in the lower surface 32 of each support member 30. A stud bolt 11 embedded in the base 10 is inserted into this bolt hole 36 of the support member 30. Then, with the stud bolt 11 inserted into the bolt hole 36 of the support member 30, the nut 37 is attached to the tip of the stud bolt 11, thereby fastening the base 10 and the support member 30. This bolt and nut fastening is performed for each support member 30. As will be described later, the light diffusion member 40 and the top cover 50 are fixed to the top of each support member 30, but because the support member 30 acts as a support column, sufficient space is maintained between the base 10 and the light diffusion member 40 for installing the light source 20.

[0024] The light-diffusing member 40 is a member for diffusing light irradiated from the light source 20. In this embodiment, a plate-shaped member with light-diffusing properties is used as the light-diffusing member 40. As such a light-diffusing plate, for example, a structure that scatters light passing through the plate in various directions may be adopted, by including fine particles inside the plate or by having fine irregularities on the surface of the plate. The light-diffusing plate may use a transparent material such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass as a base material, and either include light-diffusing particles inside the base material or have an irregularity treatment applied to the surface of the base material. Examples of light-diffusing particles are fine particles of titanium dioxide, silica, and PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate). Examples of irregularity treatments are etching, sandblasting, and texture processing. In addition, as a light-diffusing plate, a member that controls light scattering by stacking layers with different refractive indices may be adopted. In this embodiment, the light-diffusing member 40 is a rectangular plate-shaped member with bolt holes 41 formed at the four corners. The bolts 35 of the support member 30, as described above, are inserted into each of these bolt holes 41.

[0025] The top cover 50 is a component that transmits light from the light source 20 while forming a stepping surface on which a person stands. The top cover 50 is constructed in a grid pattern by combining multiple plate-like members, and multiple rectangular openings 51 are formed between the plate-like members. More specifically, the grid-like top cover 50 is constructed by combining multiple parallel horizontal members and multiple parallel vertical members in an orthogonal manner. This grid pattern improves the strength of the top cover 50. Such a grid-like top cover 50 is also called a grating. The top cover 50 needs to have a thickness sufficient to withstand the weight of a person. For example, the thickness of the top cover 50 is preferably 20 mm or more, 30 mm or more, or 40 mm or more. There is no particular upper limit to the thickness of the top cover 50, but for example, it should be 150 mm or less or 100 mm or less. In addition, screw holes 52 are formed at multiple locations on the side surface of the top cover 50. Screws 72 are inserted into the screw holes 52 of the top cover 50 when attaching the exterior member 70 to the top cover 50.

[0026] Furthermore, the material forming the top cover 50 may be a metal material such as stainless steel, iron, or aluminum, or a reinforced plastic material such as glass fiber reinforced plastic, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, or aramid fiber reinforced plastic. The plastic used for the reinforced plastic may be at least one selected from thermosetting resins or thermoplastic resins such as epoxy resin, unsaturated polyester resin, vinyl ester resin, phenolic resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, polypropylene resin, polycarbonate resin, or acrylic resin. These plastic materials may be used individually or in combination of two or more. In particular, it is preferable to use a transparent or translucent reinforced plastic material for the top cover 50. By making the top cover 50 transparent or translucent, it is possible to easily transmit light emitted from the light source 20.

[0027] The fixing bracket 60 is a component used to fix the light-diffusing member 40 and the grid-shaped top cover 50 to the support 30. In this embodiment, the fixing bracket 60 has a contact surface 61 that contacts the upper surface of the light-diffusing member 40, and a locking portion 62 that extends vertically upward from the contact surface 61 and has an inverted U-shaped hook portion at its top. A bolt hole 63 is also formed in the contact surface 61 of the fixing bracket 60. As shown in Figure 2, a bolt 35 provided on the upper part of the support 30 is inserted into the bolt hole 41 of the light-diffusing member 40 and the bolt hole 63 of the fixing bracket 60. At the same time, the locking portion 62 of the fixing bracket 60 is inserted into one of the openings 51 of the top cover 50, and the hook-shaped portion of the locking portion 62 presses down on the top cover 50 from above. In this state, by attaching the nut 64 from the tip side of the support 30, the support 30, the light diffusion member 40, and the fixing bracket 60 are fastened together, and at the same time, the top cover 50 can be fixed onto the light diffusion member 40 via the fixing bracket 60.

[0028] The exterior member 70 is a frame-shaped cover member that covers the main components described above, so that these components cannot be seen from the outside of the lighting device 100. In this embodiment, the exterior member 70 is configured in a rectangular tube shape, with an opening that penetrates vertically through its center. When installing the top cover 50 inside the exterior member 70, the positions are adjusted so that the top of the exterior member 70 and the top of the top cover 50 are aligned. Specifically, multiple screw holes 71 are provided on the side of the exterior member 70 near the top, and multiple screw holes 52 are also provided at corresponding positions on the side of the top cover 50 near the top. After aligning the screw holes 71 of the exterior member 70 and the screw holes 52 of the top cover 50, screws 72 are inserted into both screw holes 71 and 52. This fixes the exterior member 70 to the top cover 50 with the positions of the exterior member 70 and the top cover 50 adjusted. In this state, with the exterior member 70 fixed to the top cover 50, the base 10 (at least a portion of it), light source 20, support 30, light diffusion member 40, top cover 50, and fixing bracket 60 are located inside the exterior member 70.

[0029] Furthermore, it is preferable that at least the outer surface of the exterior member 70 is formed of a mirror-like material that reflects ambient light (specifically, visible light). As the mirror-like material, any known material can be used as appropriate, such as a polished type in which the surface of a metal such as stainless steel is mirror-polished, or a vapor-deposited type in which a highly reflective metal such as silver or aluminum is deposited on one side of a transparent plate such as glass or an acrylic plate. In addition, as the mirror-like material, in addition to a general mirror with a light reflectivity of 80 to 100%, a half-mirror with a light reflectivity of less than 80% and a light transmittance of 10 to 50% can also be used. Note that when the incident light is taken as 100%, the sum of the reflectivity, transmittance, and absorptiveness is 100%. A general half-mirror has a reflectivity of 20 to 40% and a transmittance of 20 to 40%, with the remainder being the absorptiveness. In this way, by forming at least the outer surface of the exterior member 70 with a mirror-like material, the exterior member 70 can be made less conspicuous from the outside. However, it is preferable that the exterior member 70 blocks the light emitted from the light source 20 inside it. In other words, the light emitted from the light source 20 does not pass through the exterior member 70 but passes through the top cover 50 located above it and is emitted to the outside. As a result, the exterior member 70, which can make only the upper side of the lighting device 100 light up, preferably has a transmittance of 10% or less of light emitted from the light source 20, and is particularly preferably 5% or less.

[0030] The lighting device 100, with the above-described components combined, is shown in the perspective view of Figure 1 and the cross-sectional view of Figure 3. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting device 100 is installed in water and is intended to accommodate 1 to 3 people. The lighting device 100 may be installed so that the top cover 50 is above the water surface, but it is preferable to install it so that the top cover 50 is below the water surface. In particular, it is preferable to install the lighting device 100 so that the top cover 50 is located 1 to 10 cm below the water surface.

[0031] Figure 4 shows an example in which the above-described lighting devices 100 are placed in multiple locations in the water to form a water walkway 200. This water walkway 200 is used for people to walk on the water surface. In the example shown in Figure 4(a), multiple lighting devices 100 are arranged in a stepping-stone pattern with intervals between them. However, the interval between the lighting devices 100 should be such that a person can step over them (30 to 70 cm). By arranging the lighting devices 100 in a stepping-stone pattern in this way, a sense of tension is created when walking on this water walkway 200, thus providing passersby with an attraction-like enjoyment.

[0032] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 4(b), multiple lighting devices 100 are arranged adjacent to each other without any gaps. However, although not shown in the illustration, connecting devices may be attached to connect adjacent lighting devices 100. In this case, a gap may be created between the lighting devices 100 by the amount of the connecting devices. Note that in the example shown in Figure 4(b), the lighting devices 100 are arranged in a single row, but it is also possible to arrange them in two or more rows. By arranging the lighting devices 100 adjacent to each other in this way, a sense of security can be given to pedestrians using the waterfront walkway 200.

[0033] [Second Embodiment] A second embodiment of the lighting device 100 according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, and detailed explanations will be omitted. The explanation will focus on components that differ from the first embodiment described above.

[0034] As shown in Figure 5, the lighting device 100 according to the second embodiment simplifies the configuration of the lighting device 100 according to the first embodiment, realizing a ride-on lighting device usable underwater with a minimal configuration. Specifically, in the second embodiment, the base 10 in the first embodiment is omitted, and a frame member 80 is adopted instead. Also, in the second embodiment, the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 40 in the first embodiment is omitted, and a group of light-diffusing members 90 is adopted instead. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the exterior member 70 in the first embodiment is omitted, exposing the internal structure of the lighting device 100.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, the frame member 80 is a member for connecting the four support members 30 on the bottom side. The frame member 80 is made by joining four plate-shaped metal fittings into a rectangular frame shape, and has a shape in which two parallel plate-shaped metal fittings (horizontal members) and two parallel plate-shaped metal fittings (vertical members) are combined perpendicularly. One support member 30 is fixed to each of the four corners of this frame member 80. A light source 20 can be placed within the frame of the frame member 80. Note that this light source 20 is not fixed to the frame member 80. In this way, the frame member 80 and the four support members 30 secure a space for placing the light source 20. Also, a grid-shaped top cover 50 is placed on top of the support members 30, similar to the first embodiment described above. The top cover 50 and each support member are fixed by fixing fittings 60, similar to the first embodiment described above.

[0036] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, in the second embodiment, the light emitted from the light source 20 is diffused by stacking a group of light-diffusing members 90 on or around the light source 20. The group of light-diffusing members 90 is formed by stacking multiple light-diffusing members, such as small pieces, spheres, or blocks. Transparent materials such as polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass are used as light-diffusing members, molded into small pieces or the like. The light-diffusing members used in the second embodiment can be small enough to be stacked in a group in this way, and the plate-shaped ones described in the first embodiment are excluded, for example. Also, in the second embodiment, the light source 20 can be hidden by the group of light-diffusing members 90, so the exterior member 70 described in the first embodiment can be omitted. In this way, it is possible to realize the lighting device 100 with a simple structure that reduces costs.

[0037] In this specification, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings in order to express the content of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and includes modifications and improvements that are obvious to those skilled in the art based on the matters described in this specification.

[0038] Furthermore, the configurations described in the first and second embodiments can be interchanged. For example, in the first embodiment, instead of the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 40, a group of light-diffusing members 90 may be arranged on and around the light source 20. Also, in the second embodiment, instead of the group of light-diffusing members 90, the plate-shaped light-diffusing member 40 may be arranged between the support 30 and the top cover 50. Also, in the first embodiment, a frame member 80 may be used instead of the base 10. Also, in the second embodiment, a base 10 may be used instead of the frame member 80. Moreover, in the first embodiment, the exterior member 70 may be omitted, or conversely, in the second embodiment, the exterior member 70 may be used.

[0039] 10...Base 11...Stud bolt 20...Light source 21...Cable 30...Support 31...Top surface 32...Bottom surface 33...Side surface 34...Side surface 35...Bolt 36...Bolt hole 37...Nut 40...Light diffusion member 41...Bolt hole 50...Top cover 51...Opening 52...Screw hole 60...Fixing bracket 61...Contact surface 62...Locking part 63...Bolt hole 64...Nut 70...Exterior member 71...Screw hole 80...Frame member 90...Light diffusion member group 72...Screw 100...Lighting device 200...Water walkway

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising a light source, a support provided to form a space for the installation of the light source, and a grid-like top cover provided on the support, wherein a person can stand on the top cover.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is placed within the installation space for the light source enclosed by the columnar support, and the direction of light irradiation is directed toward the upper cover.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusing member disposed between the light source and the upper cover.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the light diffusing member is a plate-shaped member interposed between the support and the upper cover.

5. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising an exterior member formed in a frame shape to surround the periphery of the upper cover, the exterior member having at least a light source and a support arranged inside.

6. The lighting device according to claim 5, wherein the exterior member has a mirrored outer surface.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the support members are columnar and a plurality of them are provided, and the device further comprises a frame member to which the plurality of support members are fixed.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a group of light-diffusing members consisting of a plurality of light-diffusing members stacked on the light source.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a lighting fixture usable underwater, and the lighting device is installed underwater.

10. A water walkway formed by arranging a plurality of lighting devices according to claim 9 adjacent to each other or spaced apart in the water.

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