Fiber optic sculptural art and method of making same

Abstract

A flexible, self-supporting fiber optic cable. The inventive cable includes a plurality of optical fibers and a plurality of strands of metallic wire coextensive with the optical fiber along the longitudinal axes thereof. The cable is particularly well-suited for aesthetic sculptural illuminated applications including fiber optic trees. The fiber optic trees include a self-supporting fiber optic cable including multiple strands of optic fiber which is twisted along the length thereof. The twist is effective to: 1) cause light to escape from the fiber along the length thereof and 2) create the appearance of a branch or other supporting member of a plant or tree. The optical fibers are supported by strands of wire coextensive therewith. When light is input to the fibers, an aesthetically pleasing illuminated optical sculpture in the shape of a tree is created.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.