Skylight

Abstract

A skylight and method of constructing a skylight wherein the method comprises the steps of forming an opening in the roof and ceiling respectively of a housing having a cavity therebetween. A tubular skylight is then inserted into the opening. The tubular skylight has a transparent surface protruding throughout the ceiling and roof respectively to pass light therethrough. A reflector is located within the domed transparent surface protruding through the roof, and is angled such that it reflects light that would not have passed into the tubular skylight into same.

I claim: 
     
       1. A skylight system for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, the skylight system comprising: a tubular body .Iadd.having a longitudinal axis .Iaddend.for positioning in said cavity.Iadd., said tubular body .Iaddend.having a first end and a second end;   a .[.first.]. transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body.[., extending.]. .Iadd.and to extend .Iaddend.above the roof .[.and.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.forming a light-permeable chamber above the first end;   a .[.second transparent.]. .Iadd.light-transmitting .Iaddend.cover, attached to said second end of said body, .[.located.]. .Iadd.for location .Iaddend.at said ceiling; and   a reflector, located .Iadd.substantially laterally of said axis .Iaddend.within said light-permeable chamber .[.and extending.]. .Iadd.to extend .Iaddend.above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body .Iadd.that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend..   
     
     
       2. A skylight system according to claim 1 wherein said body is internally coated with a highly reflective material. 
     
     
       3. A skylight system according to claim 1 wherein said .[.first.]. .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.cover is substantially convex in shape and said reflector is attached to said .[.first.]. .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.cover. 
     
     
       4. A skylight system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of tabs provided on .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.outside of said body for abutting against said ceiling. 
     
     
       5. A skylight system according to claim 1 wherein.[., in use,.]. said body is .Iadd.adapted to be .Iaddend.secured to at least one cross member which is used to bridge between adjacent joints provided in the ceiling. 
     
     
       6. A skylight system according to claim 1 further comprising sealing means which seal said .[.first.]. .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.and .[.second.]. .Iadd.light-transmitting .Iaddend.covers to said body to provide an air tight enclosure. 
     
     
       7. A skylight system according to claim .[.11.]. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.further comprising a venting system communicating with said body for raising or lowering the temperature of the air in the skylight system. 
     
     
       8. A method of constructing a skylight system comprising the steps of: forming an opening in each of a roof and a ceiling of a building having a cavity between said roof and ceiling;   positioning a tubular body.Iadd., having a longitudinal axis .Iaddend.in said cavity; and   securing said body in position, said body having a first and a second end so that a .[.first.]. transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body, extends above the roof and forms a light-permeable chamber above said first end and a .[.second transparent.]. .Iadd.light transmitting .Iaddend.cover is attached to said second end so as to be located at said ceiling, .Iadd.and providing a reflector in .Iaddend.said light-permeable chamber .[.having a reflector located therein,.]. extending above said roof .Iadd.laterally of said axis.Iaddend., so as to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body .Iadd.that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend..   
     
     
       9. A method of constructing a skylight system according to claim 8 wherein the step of positioning said body includes abutting a plurality of tabs provided on .[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.outside of said body against the ceiling. 
     
     
       10. A method of constructing a skylight system according to claim .[.18.]. .Iadd.8 .Iaddend.wherein said body is secured to at least one cross member which is used to bridge between adjacent .[.joists.]. .Iadd.joints .Iaddend.provided in the ceiling. 
     
     
       11. A method of constructing a skylight system according to claim 8 further comprising the step of sealing said .[.first.]. .Iadd.transparent .Iaddend.and .[.second.]. .Iadd.light-transmitting .Iaddend.covers to said body to provide an air tight enclosure. 
     
     
       12. A method of constructing a skylight system according to claim 8 further comprising the step of coupling a venting system to said body for raising or lowering the temperature of the air in the skylight system. .Iadd. 
     
     
       13.  The skylight system of claim 1 wherein said light-transmitting cover is a diffuser.Iaddend.. .Iadd.14. The skylight system of claim 1 wherein said light-transmitting cover is adapted to protrude below the ceiling.Iaddend.. .Iadd.15. The method of claim 8 wherein said light-transmitting cover is a diffuser.Iaddend.. .Iadd.16. The method of claim 8 wherein said light-transmitting cover is positioned so as to protrude below said ceiling.Iaddend.. .Iadd.17. A skylight for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, said skylight comprising: a tubular body for positioning in said cavity, said tubular body, having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends;   a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body and to extend above the roof for forming a light-permeable chamber above said first end; and   a reflector, located substantially laterally of said axis of said body within said light-permeable chamber and to extend above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.18. A skylight as claimed in claim 17, wherein said light permeable chamber is surrounded by said transparent cover and said reflector projects within said transparent cover into the light permeable chamber to reflect incident light thereon traveling across and through the transparent cover.Iaddend.. .Iadd.19. A skylight system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light permeable chamber is surrounded by said transparent cover and said reflector projects within said transparent cover into the light permeable chamber to reflect incident light thereon traveling across and through the transparent cover.Iaddend.. .Iadd.20. A method as claimed in claim 8, comprising locating said reflector in said light permeable chamber above said roof and projecting within said transparent cover to reflect incident light thereon traveling across and through the transparent cover.Iaddend.. .Iadd.21. A skylight as claimed in claim 18, wherein said reflector projects beyond said first end of said body into said light permeable chamber.Iaddend.. .Iadd.22. A skylight as claimed in claim 19, wherein said reflector projects beyond said first end of said body into said light permeable chamber.Iaddend.. .Iadd.23. A method as claimed in claim 20, comprising locating said reflector to project beyond said first end of said tubular body into said light-permeable chamber.Iaddend.. .Iadd.24. The skylight system of claim 1, wherein said reflector is arcuate and extends angularly around said axis in radially spaced relation therefrom.Iaddend.. .Iadd.25. The skylight system of claim 17, wherein said reflector is arcuate and extends angularly around said axis in radially spaced relation therefrom.Iaddend.. .Iadd.26. The method of claim 8, wherein said reflector is arcuate and extends angularly around said axis in radially spaced relation therefrom.Iaddend.. .Iadd.27. The method of claim 11, wherein said reflector is arcuate and extends angularly around said axis in radially spaced relation therefrom.Iaddend.. .Iadd.28. The skylight system of claim 17, wherein said body is internally   
     
     
        coated with a highly reflective material.Iaddend.. .Iadd.29.  The method of claim 8, comprising providing a highly reflective material on an internal surface of said tubular body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.30. A skylight system for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, the skylight system comprising: a tubular body having a longitudinal axis for positioning in said cavity, said tubular body having a first end and a second end, and a constant radius along said axis;   a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body and to extend above the roof for forming a light-permeable chamber above said first end;   a light-transmitting cover, attached to said second end of said body, for location at said ceiling; and   a reflector, located substantially laterally of said axis within said light-permeable chamber to extend above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.31. A method of constructing a skylight system comprising the steps of:   forming an opening in each of a roof and a ceiling of a building having a cavity between said roof and ceiling;   positioning a tubular body, having a longitudinal axis and a constant radius along said axis, in said cavity; and   securing said body in position, said body having a first and a second end so that a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body, extends above the roof and forms a light-permeable chamber above said first end and a light transmitting cover is attached to said second end so as to be located at said ceiling, and providing a reflector in said light-permeable chamber extending above said roof laterally of said axis, so as to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend..   
     
     
        .Iadd.     A skylight for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, said skylight comprising: a tubular body for positioning in said cavity, said tubular body, having a longitudinal axis and a constant radius along said axis, and first and second ends;   a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body and to extend above the roof for forming a light-permeable chamber above said first end; and   a reflector, located substantially laterally of said axis of said body within said light-permeable chamber and to extend above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.33. A skylight system for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, the skylight system comprising:   a tubular body having a longitudinal axis for positioning in said cavity, said tubular body having a first end and a second end;   a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body and to extend above the roof for forming a light-permeable chamber above said first end wherein said transparent cover has an axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said tubular body;   a light-transmitting cover, attached to said second end of said body, or location at said ceiling; and   a reflector located substantially laterally of said axis within said light-permeable chamber to extend above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.34. A method of constructing a skylight system comprising the steps of:   forming an opening in each of a roof and a ceiling of a building having a cavity between said roof and ceiling;   positioning a tubular body, having a longitudinal axis in said cavity; and   securing said body in position, said body having a first and a second end so that a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body extends above the roof and forms a light-permeable chamber above said first end, wherein said transparent cover has an axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said tubular body, and a light transmitting cover is attached to said second end so as to be located at said ceiling providing a reflector in said light-permeable chamber extending above said roof laterally of said axis so as to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into   
     
     
        said body.Iaddend.. .Iadd.35.  A skylight for a building having a roof and a ceiling spaced from said roof with a cavity therebetween, said skylight comprising: a tubular body for positioning in said cavity, said tubular body having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends;   a transparent cover, attached to said first end of said body and to extend above the roof for forming a light-permeable chamber above said first end, wherein said transparent cover has an axis that is aligned with the longitudinal axis of said tubular body; and   a reflector located substantially laterally of said axis of said body wherein said light-permeable chamber and to extend above the roof, to reflect at least some light incident thereon into said body that would not otherwise enter said body while permitting light to pass downwardly through the transparent cover into said body.Iaddend..