GB2331799A - Lamp which induces an air flow in which an object may float - Google Patents

Abstract

A lighting apparatus having: a lamp head (2) mounting a fan (24 fig 3) and a lamp (31 fig 3); an object (12) for floating above the lamp head; and a stand (3 fig 1) for supporting the lamp head. Air flow induced by the fan (24 fig 3) is constrained to flow through a conduit (16 fig 3) which way contain uni-directional fins (26 fig 3), whereby a substantially non-turbulent flow of air is provided which is discharged from the lamp head onto the object (12), causing the object to be captively retained in a floating position above the lamp head (2). The lamp (31 fig 3) and lamp head (2) are formed and arranged so that light emitted from the lamp is directed onto the floating object. The object (12) may be transparent or reflective and the lamp may be arranged to project a visual image onto the object (12).

Description

---17-7. ' 2331799 LIGHTING APPLIANCE The present invention relates to

lamps and lighting appliances. In particular, the invention is concerned with a novel lamp assembly intended principally for domestic use. More specifically, the invention relates to a lamp incorporating a floating object.

According to the present invention we provide a lighting apparatus comprising: a body mounting air flow inducer means and lamp means; an object for floating above said body; and support means.for supporting the body; wherein said air flow inducer means is formed and arranged to induce a substantially non-turbulent flow of air, said air flow inducer means and said object being formed and arranged so that a substantially non-turbulent air flow discharge is produced in which said object is substantially captively retained in a floating position above said hollow body, in use of the apparatus, wherein said lamp means is formed and arranged so that light emitted from the apparatus, in use thereof, is directed onto the floating object.

Depending on the air flow rate, and the surface finish and configuration of the object, a wide range of novel and interesting lighting effects may be obtained. Thus, for example, in the case of a spherical object i.e. a ball then the illumination of the underside of the ball will be relatively strong at its lowermost portion and progressively decrease upwardly around the underside of the ball. Given an at least partly reflective surface, then a correspondingly graduated intensity pool of light will be reflected down off the ball around the apparatus. By varying the air flow rate and hence the height at which the ball is suspended above the body, then the size of this pool of light may be correspondingly varied. Where a transparent or translucent ball is used then some light may be transmitted through the interior of the ball and dispersed thereby so as to produce lighting effects above the ball. In yet another embodiment, reflectors and/or other light dispersing means may be provided inside the ball for manipulating the light path through the object in other interesting ways. Furthermore as the suspended ball will generally be more or less randomly spinning then additional effects may be produced by the use of variegated or faceted, and preferably reflective, surfaces so that a more or less rapidly changing image of the ball and/or reflected light pattern may be obtained. Where a streamlined object with rotational symmetry about only one axis e.g. a torpedo-like object is used then the object will tend to spin only about that axis thereby correspondingly restricting the type and form of lighting effect obtained.

On the other hand where it is desired to minimise spinning of the object then this may be provided with longitudinally extending fin means or the like (provided on the object) whereby a static message e.g. an advertising text on the side of the object may be read more or less easily.

Alternatively though, if the lamp means itself is formed and arranged to project a visual image which may contain text and/or graphic matter, then this may be readable even when the object itself is spinning rapidly. Nevertheless the lamp means may be formed and arranged so that any projected visual image from the lamp means may itself be more or less rapidly changing thereby providing an even greater range of lighting effects.

In addition, by providing small air conduits through and/or around the object which do not substantially disrupt the non-turbulent air-flow, then it is also possible to supplement the lighting effects with audio effects e.g. a tone or whistle.

Said object may have one or more outer surfaces. At least one said outer surface may be coated in a reflective material. This enhances the lighting effect produced by the lamp by extending the range over which light is thrown by the lamp. Novel light reflection effects may also be achieved in this manner. For example, the object may have a multiplicity of reflective outer surfaces.

The floating object is preferably a ball. The ball is preferably relatively light in weight. This minimises the power required to be supplied to the air flow inducer means in order to induce a sufficiently powerful flow of air to support the object. A variety of other shapes of object may also be possible, although it will be appreciated that a spherical shape is generally the most aerodynamically stable shape in that it is most easily and reliably retained captive within the induced non-turbulent air-flow discharge supplied thereto, whilst objects of other shapes having distinct edges or corners tend to float for only a short time before they begin to protrude from, and ultimately fall out of, the induced air flow.

The support means may comprise a base means on which the body of the apparatus may rest on a generally horizontal surface, for example a floor or a table. Alternatively, the support means may comprise a wall mounting bracket or the like for mounting the body to a wall. The body may be rotationally and/or pivotally mounted in said support means. In one preferred embodiment, the body is of generally spherical shape and the support means comprises a generally vertically extending stand having an upper portion formed and arranged so that the generally spherical body may rest thereon and so that the generally spherical body may be swiveled in said upper portion so as to change the direction in which said substantially non-turbulent air flow discharge is supplied, relative to a generally vertical axis of the stand. It will be appreciated that this allows the position of the floating object, relative to said axis of the stand, to be varied. In this manner, the floating ball may, for example, be disposed not only vertically above the body if desired, but also at an angle to said axis of the stand.

The air flow inducer means preferably comprises fan means for inducing a flow of air and air flow constraining means formed and arranged for substantially removing turbulence from said induced flow of air. Preferably, the air flow constraining means comprises conduit means formed and arranged so that the air flow induced by the fan means is directed therethrough, and multi-channel flow passage means disposed substantially within said conduit means. The fan means is preferably mounted in said conduit means which conveniently has an inlet at one end thereof via which air may be drawn into the body by said fan means and an outlet at an opposing end thereof via which the air flow discharge passes to said object. The conduit means may be of a substantially straight, open- ended cylindrical form, said inlet and outlet being provided by the open ends thereof. Preferably, the conduit means is defined in said body of the lighting apparatus.

The multi-channel flow passage means may conveniently comprise fin means housed substantially within said conduit means. The fin means preferably comprises a plurality of stationary, uni-directional fins mounted in front of the fan means, whereby, in use, air is drawn into the conduit means by said fan means and is directed through said fin means so as to create a substantially non-turbulent flow of air within which said floating object is held. The conduit means also tends to reduce turbulence and assists in producing a substantially uni-directional flow of air.

Said plurality of uni-directional fins are preferably planar and may conveniently be angularly spaced around a hollow hub of endless cylindrical form, the planes of the fins being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical hub. Advantageously, the diameter of the fin means (i.e. from the axis of the hub to the outer circumference of the fins) is equal to the diameter of conduit means.

Alternatively, instead of fin means the multi-channel flow passage means may comprise a generally honeycomb-like structure disposed in the conduit means. The honeycomb structure provides a multiplicity of parallel channels through which the induced air is constrained to flow. The length and diameter of these channels may be chosen so as to control the amount of turbulence in the air flow discharge.

The fan means may conveniently comprise a rotating blade, electrically powered fan, in which case the apparatus includes electrical power inlet means, conveniently an electric cable, for connecting said fan means and the lamp means (which is conveniently electrically powered) to an electric power supply such as an electricity mains point in the home. The apparatus may further include air flow control means for controlling the distance between the body and the floating object. The air flow control means may conveniently be in the form of a rheostat mounted on, or housed within, said body of the apparatus, for controlling the strength of the induced air flow. In this manner, the height at which the ball floats above the body may be controlled by using the rheostat to increase or decrease the power supplied to the fan, thereby controlling the rotational speed of the fan, which in turn controls the intensity of the non-turbulent air flow supplied to the floating object. The stronger the flow of air, the higher the object will float above the body.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a perspective side view of a lamp assembly according to one embodiment of the invention; Fig.2 is a part cross-sectional view of a lamp head portion of the assembly of Fig.1, taken along the line A-A 1 in Fig.1 showing a ball floating directly thereabove; Fig.3 is a perspective view of some of the inner components of the lamp head of Fig.2; and Fig.4 is a perspective side view of a portion of the lamp assembly of Fig.1, showing the direction of a flow of air suspending the ball directly above the lamp head.

Fig.1 shows a lamp assembly 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The assembly comprises a lamp head 2 in the form of a generally spherical body housing an electric light source therein. The lamp head 2 is supported on an elongate stand 3, made from metal or a strong, rigid plastics material, having a base portion 4 of circular loop form which supports two elongate legs 5,6 which extend up to an upper portion 7 also of circular loop form in which the spherical lamp head 2 rests. The lamp head is powered via an electric power cable 9 plugged into an electrical mains outlet 10 in a building in which the lamp assembly is situated. A hollow, polystyrene ball 12 "floats" generally above the lamp head 2, in use thereof, as shown. The ball is freely suspended in a flow of substantially nonturbulent air induced within the lamp head 2 as described hereinbelow. Light L, indicated by arrows on Fig. 1, is directed onto the ball 12 from the light source inside the lamp head 2, and is reflected, to at least some extent, therefrom into the surrounding environment. The lamp head 2 may be rotated in the upper circular loop portion 7 of the stand 3 so as to change the position of the ball 12 relative to the longitudinal axis of the stand 3.

Fig.2 is a part cross-sectional view of the lamp head 2 of Fig.1, showing the ball 12 freely suspended or "floating" directly above the lamp head 2. The lamp head 2 comprises a body 14 (shown in cross-section along the line A-A 1 of Fig.1) made of a rigid plastics material, or metal, defining an air conduit 16 therein, of open- ended cylindrical form, the two open ends of the conduit 16 functioning as an air inlet 18 and an air outlet 20 respectively. A wire mesh 22 may be fitted over the air inlet 18, as shown. An electric fan 24 is mounted in the air conduit 16. A plurality of fixed, uni-directional fins 26 are mounted in the air conduit, between the fan 24 and the air outlet 20. In use, the fan is driven by an electric motor (not shown) ho used within a solid outer portion 15 of the hollow body 14 of the lamp head. A transformer 28 electrically connected between the mains outlet 10 and the fan 24 is also mounted in the outer solid portion 15 of the hollow body 14, as well as a rheostat 29, both indicated to schematically in block-form in Fig.2.

The fan 24 is of the rotating blade type, the blades 25 of the fan being clearly visible in Fig.2 and Fig.3. Fig. 3 shows in detail perspective view the components of the apparatus which are mounted in the air conduit 16. The stationary fins 26 mounted above the fan are generally planar and are equi-angularly spaced around a hub 27 of open-ended cylindrical form to which the inner edges of the fins 26 are attached. The planes of the fins 26 are uni- directional in that they are all parallel with the axis X of the cylindrical air conduit 16. The outer edges of the fins are in substantially sealing contact with the inner surface 17 of the body 14 defining the air conduit 16. The hub 27 is partially cut away in Fig.3 to show an electric lamp 30 which is mounted inside the hub, so that light emitted from the lamp 30 is directed along the axis of the air conduit 16 towards the air outlet 20, which also functions as the main light outlet of the lamp assembly 1. The electric lamp incorporates a 12Volt, halogen spotlight- type bulb 31 which produces diffuse, so-called "white" light, in use. A frusto-conical reflector 33 is disposed around the bulb 31 so as to reflect light upwardly out of the air outlet 20.

When the fan 24 is on, air is drawn in through wire mesh 18 (which prevents unwanted debris being drawn into the lamp head) on the inlet end 18 of the air conduit, by the rotating fan blades, and is blown towards the outlet 20.

The turbulent air flow induced by the fan is directed towards the stationary fins 26 mounted above the fan 24, and through the spaces between the fins 26. By constraining the induced air flow to pass between these stationary fins, in the air conduit 16, a substantially nonturbulent flow of air is obtained which exits the outlet end 20 as an approximately uni- directional, or approximately collimated, stream A of air, indicated by the arrows A in Fig. 2.

If the ball is resting on the outlet 20 of the lamp head 2 prior to commencement of operation of the fan 24, then when the fan is switched on and the substantially non-turbulent flow is induced, the ball is moved up in the air under the action of the air flow A supplied thereto from the outlet 20, and tends to be held within the non-turbulent flow, the pattern of air flow therearound being indicated in hatched lines in Fig.4. It has been found that not only can the ball 12 be freely suspended substantially vertically above the lamp head outlet 2, with the axis X of the air conduit 16 substantially aligned with the axis of the elongate 1 stand 3, as shown in Fig.4, but by swiveling the lamp head 2 in the stand 3 the ball can be made to move with the lamp head 2, away from the axis of the elongate stand 3. The ball 12 is held generally within the flow of air A the direction of which (relative to the stand 3) is changed by rotating the lamp head 2. The light from the lamp 30 illuminates the ball floating thereabove.

The electrical arrangement of the lamp and the fan may be designed so that the lamp 30 is always lit when the fan 24 is on. Alternatively, the fan 24 and lamp 30 may be separately wired so that the lamp may be switched on and off independently of the fan.

A manual control switch (not shown), linked to the rheostat 29, is provided on the outer surface of the lamp head 2 (or on the power cable 9) via which a user may increase or decrease the power supplied to the fan 24, which in turn controls the height at which the ball 12 may be suspended 20 above the lamp head.

It will be appreciated that the angular spacing of the f ins and the number of fins is chosen so as to achieve a substantially non-turbulent air flow discharge from the lamp head. In the described embodiment seven fins 26 are used in a conduit 16 of a diameter 10cm, with a hub 27 diameter of 4cm and a fan 24 operating on 12Volts with maximum wattage of 39.6Watts.

It will further be appreciated that various modifications to the abovedescribed embodiment are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, although a hollow polystyrene ball 12 is described above, it will be appreciated that the ball could be made of other materials, especially other lightweight plastics materials. Moreover, the ball does not have to be hollow, although it will be appreciated that the lighter the ball 12 is in weight, generally the greater the height it will be able to be suspended at by the maximum available strength of air flow (achieved with the fan operating at maximum power). In the described embodiment the outer surface of the ball is white. However, in other possible embodiments the outer surface of the ball may be of a different colour and/or may be translucent, opaque or generally reflective e.g. the ball may be coated with a metallic paint or metallic foil. Additionally, or alternatively, printed matter in the form of drawings, words, text etc. could be applied to the surface of the ball.

Furthermore, other shapes of objects could be made to float as abovedescribed, not just a ball. For example, any three-dimensional object having a suitable shape to enable it to be held within the flow of air induced by the fan could be used. The most successful objects, in terms of the stability of the object in the air flow and the length of time for which the object is maintained floating in the air, will generally be objects having one or more axes of rotational symmetry and generally smooth outer surfaces.

Furthermore, the electric lamp 30 may produce coloured light rather than "white" light.

It will be appreciated that various modifications to the above-described apparatus are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the air conduit 16 could be provided separately to, and mounted on, the body 2, rather than being defined therein.

Additionally, instead of being supported in a stand, the body 2 may be attached to, or integrally formed with, a base or other support means for enabling the lamp assembly to rest on a surface, or for attaching the lamp assembly to a wall.

Moreover, instead of the fins 26 mounted on hub 27, a length of a structure having a honeycomb-like end crosssection could be used. It will though be appreciated that any structure having a multiplicity of suitably configured parallel air flow channels defined therein could be used instead of the fins 26.

Claims (25)

1. A lighting apparatus comprising: a body mounting air flow inducer means and lamp means; an object for floating above said body; and support means for supporting the body; wherein said air flow inducer means is formed and arranged to induce a substantially non-turbulent flow of air, said air flow inducer means and said object being formed and arranged so that a substantially non-turbulent air flow discharge is produced in which said object is substantially captively retained in a floating position above said body, in use of the apparatus, and wherein said lamp means is formed and arranged so that light emitted from the apparatus, in use thereof, is directed onto the floating 15 object.

2. A lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said object is a ball.

3. A lighting apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said object has at least one reflective surface.

4. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said object is transparent.

5. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said object is provided with longitudinally extending fin means or the like.

6. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said lamp means is formed and arranged to project a visual image onto said floating object.

7. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said object is provided with small air conduits formed and arranged for producing an audio effect, said small air conduits being formed and arranged so as not to 10 substantially disrupt the non-turbulent air-flow.

8. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said support means comprises a base means on which the body of the apparatus may rest on a generally 15 horizontal surface.

9. A lighting apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said support means comprises a wall mounting bracket or the like for mounting said body to a wall.

10. A lighting apparatus according to any of claims 1 to wherein said body is of generally spherical shape and the support means comprises a generally vertically extending stand having an upper portion formed and arranged so that the generally spherical body may rest thereon and so that the generally spherical body may be swiveled in said upper portion so as to change the direction in which said substantially non-turbulent air flow discharge is supplied, relative to a generally vertical axis of the stand.

7,

11. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said air flow inducer means comprises fan means for inducing a f low of air and air flow constraining means formed and arranged for substantially removing turbulence from said induced flow of air.

12. A lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said air flow constraining means comprises conduit means formed and arranged so that the air flow induced by the fan means is directed therethrough, and multi-channel flow passage means disposed substantially within said conduit means.

13. A lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said fan means is mounted in said conduit means which has an inlet at one end thereof via which air is drawn into the body by said fan means and an outlet at an opposing end thereof via which the air flow discharge passes to said 20 object.

14. A lighting apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said conduit means is of a substantially straight, openended cylindrical form, said inlet and outlet being 25 provided by the open ends thereof.

15. A lighting apparatus according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein said conduit means is defined in said body of the lighting apparatus.

16. A lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said multichannel flow passage means comprises fin means housed substantially within said conduit means.

17. A lighting apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said fin means comprises a plurality of stationary, unidirectional fins mounted in front of the fan means, whereby, in use, air is drawn into the conduit means by said fan means and is directed through said fin means so as to create a substantially non-turbulent flow of air within which said floating object is held.

18. A lighting apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said plurality of uni-directional fins are planar and are angularly spaced around a hollow hub of endless cylindrical form, the planes of the fins being disposed substantially parallel to the axis of the cylindrical hub.

19. A lighting apparatus according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the diameter of the fin means is equal to the diameter of the conduit means.

20. A lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said multi-channel flow passage means comprises a generally honeycomb- like structure disposed in the conduit means, providing a multiplicity of parallel channels through which the induced air is constrained to flow.

21. A lighting apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fan means comprises a rotating blade, electrically powered fan, and the apparatus includes electrical power inlet means for connecting said fan means and the lamp 5 means to an electrical power supply.

22. A lighting apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus further includes air flow control means for controlling the distance between the body and the 10 floating object.

23. A lighting apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said air flow control means is in the form of a rheostat mounted on, or housed within, said body of the apparatus, for controlling the strength of the induced air flow.

24. A lighting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said ball is made of polystyrene.

25. A lighting apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4.