Flexible light pipe
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible lighted assembly, comprising:
- a light source comprising at least one LED;
a plurality of overlapping sheets of flexible light transmitting material, each sheet having first and second opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge surface extending between the first and second opposite side surfaces, wherein the sheets receive light from the light source and internally reflect the light to thereby guide the light through the sheets, the first and second side surfaces of each sheet including a reflective area that reflects a substantial majority of the light from the LED internally, wherein at least the first side surface includes a light emitting area that permits escape of light from within the sheet whereby the light emitting area can be illuminated by the LED.
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Abstract
A flexible light assembly includes a plurality of light guides that may be operably connected to one or more LED light sources. The light guides may include smooth surfaces that internally reflect light except at selected areas having irregular surface features that permit the escape of light to provide illuminated letters, numbers, designs, or the like. The light guides and LED light source may be disposed within a flexible housing.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A flexible lighted assembly, comprising:
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a light source comprising at least one LED; a plurality of overlapping sheets of flexible light transmitting material, each sheet having first and second opposite side surfaces and a peripheral edge surface extending between the first and second opposite side surfaces, wherein the sheets receive light from the light source and internally reflect the light to thereby guide the light through the sheets, the first and second side surfaces of each sheet including a reflective area that reflects a substantial majority of the light from the LED internally, wherein at least the first side surface includes a light emitting area that permits escape of light from within the sheet whereby the light emitting area can be illuminated by the LED. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of making a flexible lighted assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a light source; forming a plurality of light guides from thin sheets of light transmitting polymer material having first and second opposite side faces that are generally smooth and internally reflect light introduced at edges of the sheets; treating at least a portion of the first side face of each sheet to form light emitting surface features defining light emitting areas; overlapping portions of the light guides; operably connecting the light source to the light guides whereby light from the light source is transmitted through the light guides and illuminates the light emitting areas. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification