Fiberoptically illuminated table

• US 4,807,095 A
• Filed: 04/11/1988
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gerald Bell
• Original Assignee: Gerald Bell
• Inventors: Bell, Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/180,127
• Time in Patent Office: 316 Days
• Field of Search: 362/31, 362/32, 362/33, 362/97, 362/145, 362/127, 362/134, 362/253, 362/806, 108/23
• US Class Current: 362/127
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A table with a planar surface which is wholly or partially transparent lighted by a light remote from the surface, the light being carried from the light to the surface by optical fibers, is disclosed.

Claims

1. A counter comprising, in combination:

a generally planar top which comprises one or more transparent portions;

a light source;

a multiplicity of optical fibers;

means for coupling light from the light source to a proximal end of the optical fibers; and

means optically coupling light from the distal end of the optical fibers to the transparent portions for lighting said transparent portion.

2. The counter of claim 1 wherein the means for coupling light from the light source to the proximal end of the optical fibers comprises means for transmitting variable wavelength light to said optical fibers.

3. The counter of claim 2 wherein the transparent portion of the top is constructed and arranged along the periphery of the top for lighting the edge of the counter.

4. The counter of claim 2 wherein the transparent portion of the top forms alphanumeric indicia and wherein the means coupling light to the transparent portion directs the light from the optical fibers to emphasize said indicia.

5. The counter of claim 1 wherein the transparent portion of the top is constructed and arranged along the periphery of the top for lighting the edge of the counter.

6. The counter of claim 1 wherein the transparent portion of the top forms alphanumeric indicia and wherein the means coupling light to the transparent portion directs the light from the optical fibers to emphasize said indicia.

7. The counter of claim 6 wherein the means for coupling light from the light source to the proximal end of the optical fibers comprises means for transmitting variable wavelength light to said optical fibers.