Optical fiber display

Claim 2

A decorative light display, comprising: a tank for holding a liquid and having walls defining its outer bounds; a plurality of optical fibers having light emitting ends and light receiving ends; a first housing within said tank below the desired level of said liquid enclosing and carrying said light receiving fiber ends; a light source for said optical fibers, including a light bulb and electrical connection therefor separated from said liquid; a second housing enclosing and carrying said light source; means for effecting light communication between said light bulb and said light receiving fiber ends.

Claim 3

The invention according to claim 1 in which a wall of said tank defines an opening, said first housing being disposed in said opening and said separating means comprises means for effecting a liquid-tight closure of said first housing with said wall.

Claim 4

The invention according to claim 2 in which said second housing is coupled to said first housing to effect said light communication and extends exteriorly of said tank, said second housing defining a vent opening exteriorly of said tank.

Claim 5

The invention according to claim 1 in which a wall portion is transparent or translucent and said first housing has a forward portion carrying said light receiving fiber ends and a rear portion, and including means for securing the rear portion of said first housing to said wall portion internalLy of said tank, and means for securing said second housing to said wall portion exteriorly of said tank with said light bulb in communication internally with said first housing to illuminate said light receiving fiber ends.

Claim 6

The invention according to claim 1 including means for disposing said second housing exteriorly of said tank, said means for effecting light communication including an optical light conductor comprising at least one connecting optical fiber having end faces between said light bulb and the light receiving ends of said first mentioned optical fibers, and first means for disposing one end face of said connecting optical fiber in said first housing adjacent said light receiving fiber ends and second means for disposing the opposite end face thereof in said second housing adjacent said light bulb to conduct light from said light bulb to said light receiving fiber ends.

Claim 7

The invention according to claim 5 in which said first housing comprises a sleeve bundling the light receiving ends of said first mentioned fibers and said opposite end face.

Claim 8

The invention according to claim 1 including means for effecting liquid-tight integral joinder of said first and second housings.

Claim 9

A decorative light display, comprising: a sheet-like member; a plurality of flexible optical fibers having light emitting ends and light receiving ends; means for bundling said light receiving fiber ends; a first housing enclosing and carrying said bundled light receiving fiber ends on one side of said sheet-like member and having a width dimension in the plane of said sheet-like member; a light source for said optical fibers, including a light bulb and electrical connection therefor; a second housing enclosing and carrying said light source on the opposite side of said sheet-like member and having a width dimension in the plane of said sheet-like member; and means for securing said housings on opposite sides of said sheet-like member and effecting light communication between said light bulb and said light-receiving fiber ends; said sheet-like member having an extent substantially greater than the width dimensions of said housings and extending beyond the peripheries thereof.

Claim 10

A decorative light display, comprising: a sheet-like member; a plurality of flexible optical fibers having light emitting ends and light receiving ends; means for bundling said light receiving fiber ends; a first housing enclosing and carrying said bundled light receiving fiber ends on one side of said sheet-like member and having a width dimension in the plane of said sheet-like member; a light source for said optical fibers, including a light bulb and electrical connection therefor; a second housing enclosing and carrying said light source on the opposite side of said sheet-like member and having a width dimension in the plane of said sheet-like member; and means for securing said housings on opposite sides of said sheet-like member and effecting light communication between said light bulb and said light-receiving fiber ends; said sheet-like member having an extent substantially greater than the width dimensions of said housings and extending beyond the peripheries thereof.

Claim 11

The invention according to claim 8 in which said sheet-like member defines an opening, one of said housings is disposed in said opening and said securing means comprises means for effecting a closure of said one housing with said wall.

Claim 12

The invention according to claim 9 in which said housings are formed for mating engagement one to the other.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 8 in which at least a transmission portion of said sheet-like member is transparent or translucent, and said first housing has a forward portion carrying said light receiving fiber ends and a rear portion, and including means for securing the rear portion of said first housing to said transmission portion on one side of said sheet-like member, and means for securing said second housing to said transmission portion on the other side of said sheet-like member with said light bulb in communication internally with said first housing to illuminate said light receiving fiber ends.