US4471412A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-12-30
•
Granted: 1984-09-11
•
Expires: 2002-12-30
Abstract
Abstract An illumination element having a transparent flexible tube and a fine flexible light conducting member accommodated in the tube. The light conducting member is provided with a number of light outlet sections at spaced locations along its length. Light is incident on at least one end of the light conducting member and caused to break through the light outlet sections while propagating through the light conducting member. The light is available for ornamental lighting or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Kei Mori
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:47
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21S; F21S11/00; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; F21W; F21W2121/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising light diffusing members securely carried on the outer periphery of the light conducting member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising light diffusing members securely carried on the outer periphery of the light conducting member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
111 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source, said light conducting member comprising an optical fiber having a core and a clad layer; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising cut-out portions of the clad layer and light diffusing members securely carried on the core at the respective cut-out portions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source, said light conducting member comprising an optical fiber having a core and a clad layer; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising cut-out portions of the clad layer and light diffusing members securely carried on the core at the respective cut-out portions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source, said light conducting member comprising an optical fiber having a core and a clad layer; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising cut-out portions of the clad layer and notches formed in the core in register with said cutout portions of the clad layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source, said light conducting member comprising an optical fiber having a core and a clad layer; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, said light outlet means comprising cut-out portions of the clad layer and notches formed in the core in register with said cutout portions of the clad layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
An illumination element as claimed in claim 3 in which a plurality of the light conducting members extend in parallel through the sheath, one of said light conducting members being supplied with light at one end thereof and the other at one end thereof which is opposite to said one end of said one light conducting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the spacing between the light outlet means being progressively decreased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the spacing between the light outlet means being progressively decreased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the effective area of the light outlet means being progressively increased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the effective area of the light outlet means being progressively increased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the thickness of the light outlet means being progressively decreased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member, the thickness of the light outlet means being progressively decreased along the direction of light conduction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a mirror for reflecting light which is located at the other end of the light conducting member; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
88 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with an external light source; a mirror for reflecting light which is located at the other end of the light conducting member; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with the sun as an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
74 words
An illumination element comprising: at least one light conducting member for conducting light therethrough which is incident on at least one end thereof with the sun as an external light source; a tubular transparent sheath for accommodating said light conducting member thereinside; and light outlet means for causing the light to stream to the outside of the light conducting member at a plurality of spaced locations along the length of the light conducting member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2713629A
Cited
US3641333A
Cited
US3714414A
Cited
US3755663A
Cited
US4107767A
Cited
US4177503A
Cited
US4263640A
Cited
US4249231A
Cited
US4271458A
Cited
US4376966A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-11 | 1988-03-12 | 1988-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-11 | 1992-03-12 | 1992-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-11 | 1996-03-12 | 1996-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |