1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to emergency lighting fixtures. In particular, the present invention provides for an improved reflector for use in emergency lighting fixtures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typically, emergency lighting fixtures 10 include two lamps, each of which can be adjusted to a desired direction, as shown in FIG. 11. The end users then adjust the lamps 10 as best they can to obtain uniform illumination on the floor. However, the resulting illumination is often inconsistent and the light pattern 12 of these units is incompatible with typical paths of egress 14.
Alternative solutions, which include emergency lights with a reflector specifically dedicated for corridors or hallways, have been developed. Some emergency lighting fixtures, found in the prior art, use an adjustable system with two (2) lamps and two (2) optical cavities, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,348 to Heaton et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Other fixtures develop systems that combine very efficient lenses (refraction) with inefficient reflectors, while the use of refraction in the lens results in the loss of light. Some fixtures, in an effort to meet the requirements of the specification, include an inefficient reflector/refractor with more lamps which results in a larger unit with lower efficiency.
In the automotive industry, for example, headlight designers must develop two (2)-lamp reflectors that generate the same type of light patterns. Such lamps are in independent cavities, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,336 to Scenzi; U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,504 to Cheney et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,814 to Kanzaki et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, resulting in larger reflectors. Some of these fixtures have control in only one direction, usually in the vertical, but rarely in both the vertical and horizontal directions.