An illumination device, comprising: a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface; an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said rod-like member at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and a housing for said elongated light source, said housing including opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that said housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said rod-like member so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern. view more

An illumination device, comprising: an essentially solid, leaky waveguide rod having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface; an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said waveguide rod at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and opposing and substantially parallel side walls positioned on either side of said light source, each having internally light reflecting surfaces that serve to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said waveguide rod, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said waveguide rod so as to exit the curved light emitting surface in a substantially uniform light intensity pattern. view more

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising: a rod-like member having a predetermined length and a curved light emitting surface; an elongated light source extending substantially along the predetermined length of said rod-like member at a fixed distance from said light emitting surface; and a housing for said elongated light source, said housing including opposing and substantially parallel side walls with internally light reflecting surfaces, such that said housing serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said rod-like member, with such light then passing through and being scattered by said rod-like member into a light intensity pattern that is perceived as being substantially uniform over the curved light emitting surface irrespective of viewing angle so as to simulate neon lighting. view more

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising: an essentially solid, leaky waveguide rod having a predetermined length with a lateral light receiving surface and a lateral light emitting surface; an elongated light source extending substantially along said predetermined length of and positioned adjacent to said light receiving surface for emitting a portion of light emitted by said light source directly into said light receiving surface; and a housing positioned externally and adjacent to said waveguide rod and defining a volume that encompasses said elongated light source, whereby said housing includes side walls having internally light reflecting surfaces and serves to collect and direct light emitted by said light source into said lateral light receiving surface such that light is preferentially directed along the predetermined length of the leaky waveguide rod, exiting said light emitting surface in an elongated light intensity pattern that has a major axis extending along the length of said waveguide rod. view more

The illumination device of claim 1, in which said side walls have externally light absorbing surfaces.

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:</claim-text> a substantially rod-like member having a predetermined length with a lateral light receiving surface and a lateral curved light emitting surface having a predetermined mferential width, said member being comprised of a material that has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties tat preferentially scatters light entering said light receiving surface into an elongated light intensity pattern on said light emitting surface with a major axis extending along said predetermined length; an elongated light source extending along and positioned adjacent said light receiving surface and spaced from said light emitting surface a sufficient distance to allow said light intensity pattern on said emitting surface to have a minor axis extending substantially the entire circumferential width of said light emitting surface; a housing in which said light source is positioned, said housing extending along said light receiving surface and having a pair of side walls, each with an interior light reflecting surface and an exterior light absorbing surface; and an electric connecting member positioned within said housing and adapted to connect said light source to a remote power source. view more

An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising:</claim-text> a light transmitting member of a predetermined length having a substantially curved front surface and a light receiving lateral surface, said member being comprised of a ial tat has both optical waveguide and light scattering properties that preferentially scatters light entering said light receiving surface into an elongated light intensity pattern on said light emitting surface with a major axis extending along said predetermined length; a housing having spaced side walls abutting said light receiving lateral surface and defining a volume extending along said predetermined length of said light transmitting member, said side walls having light reflecting interior surfaces and a light absorbing exterior surfaces; and a multiplicity of spaced point light sources housed within said volume and extending along said predetermined length, said spaced point light sources positioned a distance from said curved front surface sufficient to allow a light intensity pattern from each of said point light sources to overlap neighboring light intensity patterns so that the light intensity pattern collectively emitted from said front surface appears uniform. view more