Skylight tube with reflective structured surface

Abstract

A skylight shaft substrate is rendered internally reflected in several ways. To limit the formation of focal points that can lead to hot spots as light travels down the shaft, the shaft substrate is formed with dimples or longitudinal corrugations.

1 . A skylight assembly, comprising:
 a transparent dome; and   at least one skylight shaft substrate extending away from the dome to convey light entering the dome through the shaft substrate;   at least one surface irregularity being formed on the shaft substrate, the surface irregularity being selected from the group consisting of dimples and longitudinal corrugations.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft substrate is metal, the shaft substrate being polished to provide a reflective surface without any reflective film incorporated into the assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft substrate is metal, a reflective metal being deposited directly on the inside surface of the shaft substrate to render the assembly internally reflective without incorporating an adhesive into the assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft substrate is a reflective film, a metallic substance being vapor-deposited onto the film. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft substrate is a reflective film, the film including a reflective multi-layer polymer composite. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , comprising plural surface irregularities established by longitudinal corrugations, each corrugation defining a midline and opposed edges, a first angle being formed between tangents to edges of first corrugations, a second angle being formed between tangents to edges of second corrugations, the first angle being different than the second angle. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein first corrugations alternate with second corrugations around the circumference of the shaft substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the corrugations are V-shaped in transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the corrugations are U-shaped in transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , comprising plural surface irregularities established by plural dimples, each dimple defining a center and a periphery, a tangent to the periphery establishing an angle with respect to a tangent to the center of no more than two degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A skylight assembly, comprising:
 a transparent dome; and   at least one skylight shaft substrate extending away from the dome to convey light entering the dome through the shaft substrate;   plural surface irregularities being formed on the shaft substrate, wherein the shaft substrate is metal, a reflective metal being deposited directly on the inside surface of the shaft substrate to render the assembly internally reflective without incorporating an adhesive into the assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the surface irregularities are selected from the group consisting of dimples and longitudinal corrugations. 
     
     
         13 . A skylight assembly, comprising:
 a transparent dome; and   at least one skylight shaft substrate extending away from the dome to convey light entering the dome through the shaft substrate;   plural surface irregularities being formed on the shaft substrate, wherein the shaft substrate is metal, the shaft substrate being polished to provide a reflective surface without any reflective film incorporated into the assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the surface irregularities are selected from the group consisting of dimples and longitudinal corrugations. 
     
     
         15 . A skylight assembly, comprising:
 a transparent dome; and   at least one skylight shaft substrate extending away from the dome to convey light entering the dome through the shaft substrate;   plural surface irregularities being formed on the shaft substrate, wherein the shaft substrate is a reflective film, a metallic substance being vapor-deposited onto the film.   
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the surface irregularities are selected from the group consisting of dimples and longitudinal corrugations. 
     
     
         17 . A skylight assembly, comprising:
 a transparent dome; and   at least one skylight shaft substrate extending away from the dome to convey light entering the dome through the shaft substrate;   plural surface irregularities being formed on the shaft substrate, wherein the shaft substrate is a reflective film, the film including a reflective multi-layer polymer composite.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the surface irregularities are selected from the group consisting of dimples and longitudinal corrugations.