# US 9,517,576 B2 · Method and apparatus for bending LED light guides

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- Number: US 9,517,576 B2
- Document ID: US9517576B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/053,024
- Filed: 2013-10-14
- Published: 2015-04-16
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-14
- Assignees: Kieffer & Co., Inc.
- Applicants: Kieffer & Co., Inc
- Inventors: Jeffrey M Fuhrmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517576B2

## CPC

- B29C 33/405: {Elastomers, e.g. rubber (B29C33/50 takes precedence)}
- B29C 33/00: Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
- B29C 53/083: {bending longitudinally, i.e. modifying the curvature of the tube axis}
- B29C 53/84: Heating or cooling
- B29K 2883/00: Use of polymers having silicon, with or without sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, or carbon only, in the main chain, as mould material
- B29L 2011/0075: {Light guides, optical cables}
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

An article of manufacture includes a jig including a flat surface with a curved groove therein; a light guide located within the curved groove, the light guide including an internal groove; and a bend-aid located in the internal groove of the light guide.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A kit for bending a light guide, comprising:
a jig including a flat surface with a curved groove therein;
the light guide located within the curved groove, the light guide including an internal groove; and
a bend-aid located in the internal groove of the light guide.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the light guide has a U-shape and the bend-aid is located between arms of the U-shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is made of plastic.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the bend-aid is made of silicone.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a radius of curvature of the curved groove is between 0.625 and 1.25 inches.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The kit according to claim 5, wherein the radius of curvature of the curved groove is 0.625 inches.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a length of the light guide is equal to a length of the curved groove.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a length of the light guide is equal to a length of the bend-aid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of bend-aids are located in the internal groove of the light guide.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the internal groove of the light guide faces a same direction as the groove of the jig.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the light guide opposite the internal groove is a curved surface.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the groove of the jig has a shape of a letter or number.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the groove of the jig has the shape of the letter or number with a height between 10 to 18 inches.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The kit according to claim 13, wherein the groove of the jig has the shape of the letter or number with the height of 10 inches.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the kit is inside a housing of an oven, the housing surrounding a heating cavity, the housing having a length more than 16 times a width of the housing and more than 16 times a height of the housing, and the oven including control circuitry configured to maintain the heating cavity at a fixed temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the bend-aid fills an entirety of the internal groove of the light guide.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The kit according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is located within the curved groove with an opening of the internal groove of the light guide facing an opening of the curved groove, so that the bend-aid is removable from the internal groove of the light guide while the light guide remains within the curved groove.