Patents Examined by Ronald E. Delgizzi
  • Patent number: 6527406
    Abstract: A modular furniture system is provided having vertical members with internal conductors. The conductors are coupled to a source of low voltage electrical power such that adjacent vertical members are of differing electrical polarity. Support members for use in the modular furniture system are designed to make electrical contact with the internal conductors when engaged in a vertical member. An electrical device, such as a light fixture, may be coupled between a pair of brackets engaged in vertical members of opposite polarity, energizing the electrical device. Embodiments are provided for use in merchandising displays and office partition systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Powerwall, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Slesinger, Thomas L. Collom, Frank Neidhardt
  • Patent number: 6520664
    Abstract: A colored luminaire, in particular a colored signaling light for automobiles, fitted with a lamp and a luminaire cover in which the lamp has a bulb with a coating of a first layer comprising a pigment, which pigment is chosen from the group of perylene pigments, perinone pigments, isoindoline pigments, and thioindigo pigments, is remarkable for a long useful life. It is not attacked by UV radiation, moisture, and spraying salt and is resistant to temperatures of between 250 and 350° C. Colored luminaires with bulb coatings comprising these pigments alone or in combination with further pigments for color correction comply with the color standards for automobile luminaires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Thomas Amrein, Joachim Opitz, Stefan Gruhlke
  • Patent number: 6513950
    Abstract: A signal lamp and method of use are disclosed in which reflectors are provided for the lamp's LEDs so that light from the LEDs can be utilized and directed in an effective manner. The signal lamp permits the number of LEDs to be reduced, costs to be lowered, and the amount of heat output by the LEDs to also be reduced. Prismatic cuts in the lens are also relatively simple, and the lens can be made thin because light distribution can be carried out by the LEDs and reflectors provided in the vicinity of the LEDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Stanley Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Ono
  • Patent number: 6511201
    Abstract: An air blast tool having an air nozzle and integrated air powered electrical generator with electric lamp is disclosed. Compressed air supplied to the air blast tool is also supplied to the air powered generator within the tool to produce electricity. Light produced by the electric lamp is directed in the same direction as the air blast nozzle to enable the user to readily see machined surfaces and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventor: Dale K Elrod
  • Patent number: 6508567
    Abstract: A cover used in conjunction with a lightweight luminaire for a suspended ceiling to increase the fire rating of the luminaire. The fire-rated cover being made of the same or similar material as the fire-rated ceiling tile used in the suspended ceiling; thus, providing a fire rating for the covered luminaire that is equal to that of the rest of the ceiling system. In its simplest embodiment, the cover itself acts as the reflector of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Dale E. Fiene
  • Patent number: 6502961
    Abstract: A lighting module that modifies a light beam to affect the size and shape and color characteristics of the projected beam includes a light source and a reflector to direct the light along an optic path. The reflector is formed so that light is directed along a light path that is not parallel to a center line of the reflector. A primary lens element reduces the cross section of an effected light region as the light enters a modifying element area in the optic path. Light modifying elements are deployed in varying combinations and to varying degrees to produce the shape, size, and color of light beam desired by the user. The construction of the light modifying elements allows the elements to be physically positioned in the optic path but to have no effect on the light until the elements are rotated so that light modifying element segments align with lens segments of the primary optical element, and the light modifying element or elements change the light being projected from the lighting module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Brian Edward Richardson
  • Patent number: 6497497
    Abstract: A lighting fixture has a plurality of coaxial round or other shaped rings on which a string of miniature lights is mounted. The rings are spaced apart when the fixture is in an active position and are stacked relatively close together when collapsed into a storage position. Slide links or the like interconnect the rings and limit expansion of the fixture into its active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph M. Ahroni
  • Patent number: 6491414
    Abstract: A transparent film scanner having a light source with a diffuser and a reflector includes a light source for generating a primary light that is diffused by a diffuser to obtain a more uniform secondary light. The secondary light source is then reflected by a reflector to produce a tertiary light for illuminating the film. With a diffused secondary light, the distance between the reflector and the film can be reduced, thus reducing the size of the scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Jih-Yam Chen
  • Patent number: 6491418
    Abstract: An exhaust pipe with illuminating devices is formed by an inner pipe enclosed in an outer pipe. A gap is formed in between the two pipes. The gap comprises a light socket connected to at least one illuminating device. The light socket and the illuminating device are connected by means of an electric cord. The outer pipe comprises holes on its wall. When the illuminating devices are lighted, the light will shine from the tail end and the holes of the exhausting pipe either directly or reflectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventor: Kuo-Tai Chen
  • Patent number: 6491417
    Abstract: A night vision clearance light assembly includes a shell, an array of visible light emitting elements, and a night vision device. The visible light emitting elements are preferably LEDs mounted on a ring received in the shell. The night vision device is operatively connected to an associated night vision camera and sees through an opening in the ring and the lens. The assembly is easily mounted in a standard factory-cut clearance light housing in the exterior of a truck cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Craig S. Haen, Mark A. Matko
  • Patent number: 6491411
    Abstract: A sheet-like light source device comprising a plurality of bar-shaped light sources, a diffusing plate for diffusing light emitted from the light sources, and a reflecting plate capable of mirror reflecting the light emitted from the light sources to the diffusing plate side. The reflecting plate is provided in a position opposite to the diffusing plate with respect to the light sources. The reflecting plate has at least one convex portion formed in parallel with the light sources in a space between the two adjacent light sources. It is possible to decrease or remove shield printing which has conventionally carried out over the diffusing plate, thereby enabling manufacture of a back light having a high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Display Inc.
    Inventor: Atsushi Itoh
  • Patent number: 6481880
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a aiming apparatus to be interposed between a reflector and a housing to adjust direction of light reflected by the reflector; the aiming apparatus comprising an adjusting screw rotatably engaged at one end with the housing at a predetermined position; a pivot nut having at one end a nut portion capable of achieving thread engagement with the other end of the adjusting screw and at the other end a pivot portion, respectively; a pivot holder attached to a rear side of the reflector; and a nut receiver fixed on the front side of the housing at a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Aoyama Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Mizuno, Hisashi Ito, Yoichi Tatsumi
  • Patent number: 6481873
    Abstract: A convex lens for a warning light is provided with a plurality of prism-shaped prismatic elements projecting from the lens concave inner surface. The configuration and angular orientation of each prismatic element is selected to compensate for the curvature of the lens so that light refracted by each prismatic element emerges from the lens outer surface at substantially equivalent angles relative to an optical axis of the light. A preferred embodiment of the lens includes a matrix of prismatic elements that refract light incident on planar surfaces of the prismatic elements to an angle of 45° relative to an optical axis of the light. Each prismatic element also includes a convex radius at the convergence of the two refractive surfaces and concave radii at the junction of the planar surfaces with the inner surface of the lens. Light incident on these concave and convex surfaces is refracted along a range of angles to fill in the radiation pattern produced by the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6478445
    Abstract: A light column assembly including a hollow tube, a first endcap, a first optical lighting film, a second optical lighting film, and at least one light source is provided. The hollow tube includes a rear wall having an inner surface, a front wall extending opposite the rear wall, a first end, and a second end. The tube front wall also has an inner surface. The first endcap is coupled to the tube first end and includes a reflective inner surface. The first optical lighting film overlies the tube rear wall. The second optical lighting film overlies the tube front wall. The light source is coupled to the tube second end and positioned to direct a light beam having a predetermined beam spread angle toward the first endcap such that the light source light is substantially evenly emitted from the tube through the tube front wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott W. Lange, Sooraj Puthiyaveetil
  • Patent number: 6478454
    Abstract: A luminaire reflector for light sources is provided having a reflective metal housing to be positioned around a light source, the housing being provided with a translucent or transparent upper section through which light from the light source can exit in an upward direction while light from the reflective metal housing is directed primarily downwardly through an open bottom end of the housing, an internal reflector disk is positioned around the stem area of the light source above the major light emitting portion of the light source and is held in position by spring clips which permit the disk to be held at varied positions within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Genlyte Thomas Group LLC
    Inventors: Andy A. Jaffari, Brad Waycaster
  • Patent number: 6474858
    Abstract: A versatile illuminating device. The device includes one outer tube housing a transparent inner tube and a pedestal to support the outer tube and center rod. The pedestal has a light source element. The outside appearance of the outer tube may be formed in various desired shapes. The center rod has its periphery embossed with bulged and dented patterns and coated with different colors. The light source element may project light on the patterns of the center rod to generate illumination of different colors on the patterns, thus forming an adornment having a light source. The adornment also may be made to be handheld.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Ching-Shin Liao
  • Patent number: 6471376
    Abstract: A light source comprising a light generating element and a reflector, said reflector comprised of a generally parabolic shaped body including an at least substantially closed end and an open end, the light source disposed generally adjacent said closed end, said reflector including a light reflecting coating on both an internal and an external surface of said body, wherein a portion of said external surface of said body adjacent the closed end of the reflector is substantially devoid of said coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles D. Tschetter, Rajasingh Israel, Carl Gunter
  • Patent number: 6472802
    Abstract: A triode-type field emission device includes an insulating substrate; a cathode formed on the insulating substrate; a field emitter aligned on the cathode, wherein the field emitter includes a plurality of emitter tips and each emitter tip has the diameter of nanometers; an insulating layer positioned around the field emitter for electrically isolating the field emitter; and a gate electrode formed on the insulating layer, wherein the gate electrode is closed to an upper portion of the field emitter. Therefore, the triode-type field emission device may be operable in a low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sung-Yool Choi, Mun-Cheol Paek, Kyoung-Ik Cho, Jeen Hur, Gi-Pyung Han
  • Patent number: 6471382
    Abstract: A lighting device for motor vehicles, having at least one light output element to produce a given light distribution, having at least one light source arranged at a distance from the light output element, having at least one optical fiber for connecting the light source to the light output element, where a plurality of light output elements are provided, and a light function selector is connected upstream for optional selection of the light output elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hella KG Hueck & Co.
    Inventor: Karsten Eichhorn
  • Patent number: 6471366
    Abstract: An underwater light includes a sealed housing defined by a rigid portion and a flexible portion. The rigid portion incorporates a light transmission window. A light source is mounted in the housing to direct its light through the housing's window. Also mounted in the housing are a power source and an open electrical circuit coupling the power source to the light source. The open electrical circuit includes spaced-apart terminals that prevent electrical power from being delivered to the light source. One of the terminals is coupled to the flexible portion of the housing and is aligned with another of terminals. Flexing of the housing's flexible portion into the housing causes the terminals to contact one another so that electrical power can be delivered to the light source. For depth compensation, a non-compressible dielectric fluid fills the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Wes Hughson, Bill Olstad