Arrangement for illuminating non-planar surfaces

Claim 2

An arrangement for illuminating a non-planar surface, comprising: a light source; a planar optical wedge ahead of the non-planar surface and disposed so that thE large end of the wedge is adjacent the light source, with light from the source being transmitted through the wedge to the small end; an optical prism arranged between the wedge and the non-planar surface adjacent the small end of the wedge for directing the light at the small end toward the non-planar surface; the optical prism having a horizontally extending member and a vertically extending member; the end of the horizontally extending member adjacent the small end of the wedge; and the vertically extending member extending so that its outer edge makes a substantially acute angle with the horizontally extending member, and which outer edge faces the non-planar surface.

Claim 3

An arrangement for illuminating a non-planar surface used as an aircraft attitude indicator including an elongated casing having a viewing end, a bezel and a vertically disposed viewing window supported therein for closing the viewing end and the non-planar surface supported within the casing for displacement about an axis, the illuminating arrangement comprising: a light source supported at the top of the bezel; a vertically disposed light transmitting member supported by the bezel behind the viewing member and arranged with the light source for transmitting light from the top to the bottom of the bezel; a light directing member supported by the bezel and casing between the light transmitting member and the non-planar surface for directing the light at the bottom of the bezel toward the non-planar surface; the light transmitting member being an optical wedge having its large end at the top of the bezel for receiving light from the light source and its small end at the bottom of the bezel; the light directing member being an optical prism having a substantially J-shaped section with a horizontally extending member and a vertically extending member; the horizontally extending member being adjacent the small end of the wedge for receiving the light transmitted from the top to the bottom of the bezel; and the vertical member directing the transmitted light toward the non-planar surface.

Claim 4

An arrangement for illuminating a non-planar surface used as an aircraft attitude indicator including an elongated casing having a viewing end, a bezel and a vertically disposed viewing window supported therein for closing the viewing end and the non-planar surface supported within the casing for displacement about an axis, the illuminating arrangement comprising: a light source supported at the top of the bezel; a vertically disposed light transmitting member supported by the bezel behind the viewing member and arranged with the light source for transmitting light from the top to the bottom of the bezel; a light directing member supported by the bezel and casing between the light transmitting member and the non-planar surface for directing the light at the bottom of the bezel toward the non-planar surface; the light transmitting member being an optical wedge having its large end at the top of the bezel for receiving light from the light source and its small end at the bottom of the bezel; the light directing member being an optical prism having a substantially J-shaped section with a horizontally extending member and a vertically extending member; the horizontally extending member being adjacent the small end of the wedge for receiving the light transmitted from the top to the bottom of the bezel; and the vertical member directing the transmitted light toward the non-planar surface.

Claim 5

An arrangement as described by claim 2, wherein: the non-planar surface is a sphere; and the light directing member directs light toward the bottom of the sphere.