Apparatus, method and article of manufacture for a light pipe and lamp assembly
AssigneeTyco Electronics Canada, Ltd.
InventorsKazuhiro Goto, Andras Gyimes, Ronald Charles Du Pont, Dragos Luca
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A light pipe having one or more exterior protrusions that function as a secondary light source and an alignment component. The one or more exterior protrusions may provide a secondary light source by reflecting light from a primary light source. The one or more exterior protrusions also may function to align the light pipe with a lamp assembly or an object on which the light pipe is mounted. Further, a lamp assembly having a light pipe receiving portion, with one or more slits to allow an opening to expand upon insertion of the light pipe, and to provide a retention force upon contraction.
Claims39
A light pipe comprising:
- a primary light source;
- and,
- one or more exterior protrusions, wherein at least one of the one or more exterior protrusions functions as a secondary light source, and wherein at least one of the one or more exterior protrusions is also an alignment component.
An apparatus comprising:
- at least one lamp assembly;
- and
- at least one light pipe including a primary light source and one or more exterior protrusions, wherein at least one of the one or more exterior protrusions functions as a secondary light source, the at least one light pipe further comprising:
- one or more light pipe lips, wherein when the at least one light pipe is inserted into the lamp assembly, the lamp assembly expands to allow at least one of the one or more light pipe lips to pass at least one of one or more lamp assembly lips, so that the lamp assembly at least partially contracts, thereby securing at least one light pipe lip behind at least one lamp assembly lip.
A lighting assembly comprising:
- a light pipe including a primary light source and having an exterior protrusion wherein the protrusion functions as a secondary light source;
- and
- a lamp assembly comprising:
- an opening to accommodate the light pipe;
- and
- one or more slits to allow expansion of the opening;
- wherein at least one interior dimension of the opening is smaller than at least one exterior dimension of the light pipe;
- and
- wherein insertion of the light pipe into the lamp assembly causes the opening to expand sufficiently to accommodate the light pipe and provide a retention force on the light pipe.
A lamp assembly for use with a light pipe having one or more lips for securing the light pipe in said lamp assembly, the lamp assembly comprising:
- a receiving portion having one or more lips;
- wherein when the light pipe is inserted into the lamp assembly receiving portion, the lamp assembly receiving portion expands to allow at least one of the one or more light pipe lips to pass at least one of the one or more lamp assembly lips, so that the lamp assembly at least partially contracts, thereby securing at least one light pipe lip behind at least one lamp assembly lip.
A lighting assembly comprising:
- a light pipe including a primary light source and having an exterior protrusion wherein the protrusion functions as a secondary light source;
- and
- a lamp assembly comprising:
- a receiving portion having one or more lips;
- wherein when the light pipe is inserted into the lamp assembly receiving portion, the lamp assembly receiving portion expands to allow at least one of the one or more light pipe lips to pass at least one of the one or more lamp assembly lips, so that the lamp assembly at least partially contracts, thereby securing at least one light pipe lip behind at least one lamp assembly lip.
A method of manufacturing a light pipe wherein the light pipe has a light pipe section and exterior protrusion, such that the exterior protrusion functions as both a secondary light source and an alignment component the method comprising:
- co-extruding the light pipe section and the exterior protrusion.
A lamp assembly for use with a light pipe, the lamp assembly comprising:
- an opening to accommodate the light pipe;
- and
- one or more slits to allow expansion of the opening;
- wherein at least one interior dimension of the opening is smaller than at least one exterior dimension of the light pipe;
- wherein insertion of the light pipe into the lamp assembly causes the opening to expand sufficiently to accommodate the light pipe and provide a retention force on the light pipe;
- and
- wherein the retention force on the light pipe retains the light pipe in the lamp assembly while allowing the light pipe to be rotated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.