DESCRIPTION

The Related Art

The present invention relates to an egg-crate mesh louver system, blocking image from 3 directions while maintaining the total open area (+97%), developed for use in all fields of application of LED and general lighting fixtures, heating-cooling-ventilation outlet applications, in-vehicle ventilation and air conditioner outlets in automotive sector, various fields of building and construction sector (partition walls, skylights, metal suspended ceiling systems, etc.), furniture and decoration systems.

The Prior Art

Nowadays, plastic and metal egg-crate louvers (honeycomb structures) with various features are used especially in ventilation outlets and some conventional lighting applications.

There is currently no use of any type of egg-crate mesh louvers used in LED lighting industry. In the two currently used common systems in LED lighting (edge light and back light), problems present in light distribution control and glare control fields have not been solved yet., For solving the glare problem especially, opal diffusers with low light transmission are being used, which would significantly compromise on efficiency. Therefore, there is an inevitable necessity for making a choice between efficiency and glare control in existing LED lighting systems and fixtures. In terms of light distribution control, except the spot reflectors and lenses which have significantly limited performance and applicability, no effectively applicable and efficient industrial solutions have been presented yet.

Plastic or metal egg-crate systems are commonly used in ventilation grilles. Although they have the same functions with the right angled flat wall metal mesh louvers in this application, plastic egg-crates have significant fire risks due to their high flammability / flame conduction characteristics.

Ventilation openings/grilles and grids have been problematic points in buildings and public transport vehicles in terms of technical and aesthetical aspects. In most current applications, the grid systems used in ventilation openings negatively affect the decoration integrity in terms of visual/aesthetical features. In the prior art grid/egg-crate systems used in ventilation and/or conventional lighting applications, the grid structure is achieved by mounting the lengthwise and transverse strips / profiles / lamellas at 90 degree right angled intersections with each other . Although these conventional egg-crate mesh louver systems allow transmission of light, air, heat, or image properly , they bring about 2 main functional deficiencies , which are eliminated by this 45 degree interlaced "sight block louver" system , having lamellas of high efficient and multifunctional light reflection and distribution properties :

a. When viewed from various angles, all of the installation behind the egg-crate system can be seen at a great extent. In cases where the background view is quite problematic, either perforated sheet metal grids with smaller holes are used or sponge structured barrier nets are placed behind the egg-crate for blocking the undesired view. In both cases, the flow of air is significantly reduced.

b. The usage of egg-crate louvers in lighting industry is not common and only aluminium metalized flat-wall or parabolic plastic egg-crate louvers mainly for decorative purposes or rarely 90 degree interlocking metal egg-crates used in ventilation grills are used in front of traditional light sourced (fluorescent lamps) lighting fixtures . Either one of these currently available 2 types of egg-crate louvers do not have any of the brightness, glare, colour temperature, and light distribution control functions aimed with our invention. Thus far, there is no known application in this field (LED lighting) with egg- crate louver systems.

As a result, an innovative solution which can eliminate the above explained drawbacks, comprising a sight-block modular egg-crate louver system formed by 30° to 70° angled- interlaced longitudinal and transverse lamellas , allowing heat , light , air transmission and at the same time blocking the direct lamp and background image from 3 directions , is apparently required by the industry.

Definition of the Invention

The present invention is an egg-crate mesh louver system that blocks image from 3 directions and overcomes the above explained drawbacks, and it is characterized in that; it is a system of concealed egg-crate grid structure formed by interlocking of longitudinal and transverse lamellas to each other in 30° to 70° angles, and th us concealing / blocking the background image from 3 directions without obstructing the transmission of heat, light, and air, and allowing , at the same time , industrial serial production with applications in various lighting fields having relatively low-cost and easy-assembly characteristics when the provided functions and additional benefits were taken into consideration.

The purpose of the invention is to transfer the main part of the generated light ( ± 80% of total light source out-put ) into desired zone by providing glare and direction/distribution control (in

2 or 3 directions according to version) , with 2 + 2 = total ± 4% loss ( other fixture losses and multi-reflection part of the generated light not taken into consideration / the mere diffuser loss varies between 30-40% in opal diffuser applications) without reducing the efficiency via two reflecting surfaces each with +98 total reflectivity . System can easily be adapted to almost all kinds of lighting types, applications and requirements (offices - corridors - market & shops - hospitals, educational institutions - galleries and museums - parks and gardens etc.).

Maximum efficiency or low brightness options can be obtained without changing the construction and only by changing the surface texture (bright - matt - semi-matt ... ) of the 30° to 70° crosswise parallel inserted main reflection lamellas. Regardless of the light source colour temperature, just by changing the colour of one or both of the crosswise reflection lamella surfaces, the colour temperature of the light to be transmitted to the desired zone can also be changed without any need for expensive special lamps / bulbs ( special product and area lighting ) .

Another application facility provided by the invention is to allow solving ventilation, suspended ceiling, and illumination functions with a single module. By means of a simple LED PCB panel fixed at the inner back wall surface of the ventilation culvert so as not to prevent air-flow , both a ventilation outlet grid function with background concealed from 3 directions and also a wall washer lighting function could be obtained at the side walls directed towards the floor or ceiling. When the whole ceiling is covered with the product: "sight block- concealed egg-crate louver" using one of the present suspended ceiling systems :

a. metal suspended ceiling concealing the background, ventilation system and other construction structures behind .

b. outlet grids for air-conditioning system of the building

c. lighting through the LED PCB panels to be mounted on certain modules or onto whole ceiling surface

3 main building functions (air-conditioning outlets - suspended ceiling - lighting ) would be obtained by a single module

One of the purposes of the invention is to save ventilation outlets from being " technically compulsory but unpleasant " parts of buildings and to present modules that are both functionally efficient (maximum airflow) and providing aesthetic contributions to the decoration as well . Simple interlocking and fixing of the parts resulting with short assembly time makes the invention a low cost product. Moreover, the invention has a sound structure. The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all of its advantages shall be understood better with the drawings and the detailed description given below in reference to the figures.

Description of the Figures

The invention will be further described with reference to the annexed drawings so that the characteristics of the invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated, but the purpose of the explanatory drawings is not to limit the invention within specific forms and embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may be included within the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims. In the details shown in the annexed drawings, the simplest possible form of the invention is considered / exhibited. It is therefore needed to be understood that these embodiments are provided merely for purpose of illustration of the present invention and for describing the preferred embodiments thereof in order to explain the benefits obtained by the invention and are provided to both form the methods as well as to provide the most convenient and understandable description of the principles and conceptual characteristics of the invention. When different functions and solutions are aimed in suspended ceiling, ventilation and lighting applications in line with changing architectural, aesthetical or technical requirements of the buildings, the interlocking angles of the lamellas with each other can be changed and/or the lengths / forms of the one or both of the lamellas can be changed, provided that the angled interlocking egg-crate louver structure is protected. In these figures:

Figure 1 is a perspectival view of the system.

Figure 2 is a perspectival view of mounted lamellas

Figure 3 is a front view of the second ( right angle blanked-cross inserted ) lamella.

Figure 4 is a front view of the first ( cross blanked - perpendicular inserted ) lamella.

Figure 5 is a perspectival view of the first lamella.

Figure 6 is a perspectival view of the second lamella.

Figure 7 is a view of the operating principle of the system.

Figure 8 is a view of the diffuse reflection from matt surface.

Figure 9 is a view of the light colour temperature variation function.

Figure 10 is a view of the function of the system concealing the rear area from three directions.

Figure 1 1 various / possible modifications / variation illustrations for different light distribution etc. purposes, provided that the basic angled egg-crate structure of the system remains unchanged.

Figures for better understanding of the present invention are numbered as indicated in the accompanying illustrations and are given below along with their names.

Description of References

1 . First lamella

1.1 Angled (cross) blank

2. Second lamella

2.1 Perpendicular blank

Description of the Invention

The invention comprises a number of ( more than one ) second lamellas (2) having certain number blanks perpendicular to sides (2.1 ) and a number of ( more than one ) first lamellas (1 ) again having certain number of cross blanks (1 .1 ) , 30°to 70° angled to sides according to the intended source concealment and light distribution angles , corresponding to the second lamella perpendicular blanks to form the interlocked mesh structure , (Figurel ,Figure2).

The invention comprises a second lamella (2) and a first lamella (1 ) which may be made of cardboard - paperboard - sheet iron - stainless steel sheet - wooden sheets and panels - aluminium - all sheet metals - hard textile products - all plastics etc. (Figure 4). As the main components of the invention , cross and vertical lamella surfaces, independent from each other and depending on the intended efficiency, glare level, distribution of light and function (rear side vision blocking or light transmission via multi reflections) , may physically have matt , semi-specular , bright ( mirror ) or painted surface finishes and could chemically be raw , anodized or PVD (Positive Vapour Deposition) pure aluminium coated (providing +95% total reflectance in visible spectrum ) / pure silver coated ( providing +98% total reflectance in visible spectrum ) .

The invention comprises the second lamella (2) and the first lamella (1 ) which are linked with each other by means of interlocking of corresponding perpendicular (2.1 ) and angled blanks (1.1 ) to form the mesh egg-crate louver structure (Figures 1 -2) . The invention comprises a first lamella (1 ) that is fixed to the second lamella (2) with an angle of between 30°to 70° and thus prevents the image of the rear side from the observer in three directions without obstructing the transmission of heat, light, and air. By means of changing the surface characteristics on the same construction, it transmits light to the target zone in desired qualities (bright-diffused-colour/temperature changed).

Detailed Description of the Invention

The parts forming the invention are basically the first lamella (1 ) and the second lamella (2) (Figure 2). The part named the "first lamella" (1 ) of the invention is formed of a single piece (Figure 5) having more than one angled (cross) blanks (1 .1 ). The angled blanks (1 .1 ) are formed with an angle of between 30°to 70° (Figure 4). The part named the "second lamella" (2) of the invention is formed of a single piece (Figure 6). On this piece, more than one perpendicular blanks (2.1 ) are found (Figure 6). The blanks (2.1 ) are formed so as each to make 90 degree angles with the with the long sides of the lamella strips (Figure 3).

The way of mounting of the invention is as follows; the second lamella (2) is inserted and fixed by it's perpendicular blanks (2.1 ) , with an inclination of 30°to 70°through the angled blanks (1.1 ) found on the first lamella (1 ) (Figure 2, Figure 4). In this way, the possibility of concealing the rear area / light source in three directions is constituted. The lamella surface properties to be used are not of importance in metal suspended ceiling or ventilation outlet grid cover applications. A material that is suitable with the environment (metal, plastic, or wood sheets / plates) can be used in their natural form or after being painted in a colour suitable with the environment. In lighting applications, in order to transmit the light from its source with minimum loss / maximum efficiency, preferably PVD (Positive Vapour Deposition) metal surfaces that ensure +98% total reflection in visible spectrum (400 - 700 nm) is needed to be chosen.

The fundamental operating scheme of the product subject to the invention is given in Figure 7. In a series of second lamellas (2) positioned with 30°to 70°angle in parallel to each other, the lower ending point of one of the lamellas and the upper starting point of the subsequent lamella are found on the same line that is perpendicular to the plane of observation. This characteristic allows complete blocking of the image of the rear area for the observer positioned opposite to / below / in parallel to the grids at angles over 45°. In the angular egg-crate louver system formed for the purpose of LED lighting as shown in Figure 8, LED light first hits the specular PVD surface that has 30°to 70° inclination (+98% t otal reflection => 93% bright - 7% diffused - a significant portion of the diffused portion of the reflecting light is also directed to the intended/target area, but a small portion thereof will be reflected back and then re-directed back to the bright PVD surface with about 25% loss); and then it is re-directed to the opposite parallel matt PVD surface according to the principle of specular / mirror reflection.

The matt PVD surface (total reflection = +97% - diffuse reflection 95%, specular reflection 28%) which is the rear surface of the parallel opposite second lamella (2), scatters the light beams coming from the first mirror PVD surface into hundreds of weaker light beams and thus reduces its intensity / brightness that causes glare, and thus re-directs the light to the desired zone. The ± 25% part of the total light emitted from the LED source will spread directly to the environment from the open side without hitting any surface of the louver. In Figure 9, a light distribution based on the same principles as in Figure 8 is viewed; but this time, the second lamella (2) (only the secondary or both reflection) surface(s) which is/are coloured according to the targeted colour temperature will change the colour temperature of the light before it is spread into the environment. In Figure 10, in contrast to Figures 8 and 9, the light / image will not make mirror reflection, since both lamellas have matt surfaces, and therefore will not transfer the background image to the front surface.

In the 4 different egg-crate louver constructions shown in Figure 1 1 , each aiming at different light distributions by :

interlocking of the second lamella (2) in angles that are smaller than 45 degrees, - interlocking of the second lamella (2) in angles that are bigger than 45 degrees,

extending the length of the second lamella (2),

extending the length and parabolically bending of the second reflection lamella (2), part of the possible louver construction variations are exemplified.