LED-fiber optic combination for simulating neon lit signage
View Patent ↗An improvement in LED lighting simulative of neon lighting comprises a light cable ( 3 ). A clamp ( 2 ) coupled to the cable ( 3 ) holds an end of the cable ( 3 ) in a predetermined bend, and an LED ( 14 ) is optically coupled to the cable ( 3 ). A support ( 11 ) is coupled to the clamp and includes a surface ( 34 ) adjacent to the cable ( 3 ) to reflect light incident on its surface, which is a diffuse reflector. A clip ( 4 ) retains the cable ( 3 ) on the support ( 11 ). The clamp ( 2 ) is at least partially opaque and shields an end of the cable ( 3 ) to simulate a neon tube. The LED light source ( 14 ) comprises a housing ( 12 ) to which the clamp ( 2 ) is coupled, and comprises an LED emitter and a reflector. The clamp ( 2 ) is mounted on a substrate ( 21 ) and at least one additional sign element mounted to the substrate, such as an LED backlit sign element.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a light cable;
a clamp coupled to the light cable for holding at least an end portion of the light cable in a predetermined bend; and
a light source optically coupled to the light cable
where the clamp comprises a reinforcing flange to provide strength and assist in defining a radius of bend of the clamp.
2. The improvement of claim 1 further comprising
a substrate to which the clamp is mounted and at least one additional sign element mounted to the substrate.
3. The improvement of claim 2 where the at least one additional sign element comprises a backlight sign element.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp holds the light cable in a bend with a radius equal to or greater than the minimum bend radius for the light cable.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a substrate, the clamp coupled to the substrate for supporting the light cable above the substrate.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a support coupled to the clamp for supporting the light cable.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 where the support includes a surface adjacent to the light cable to reflect light incident on the surface.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 where the surface is a diffuse reflector.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a clip to retain the light cable onto the support.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 where the clip is adapted to restrain movement of the light cable with respect to the support in all directions.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 where the clip is adapted to restrain movement of the light cable with respect to the support in only one direction.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp is adapted to bend the light cable through an angle of up to 90°.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp is adapted to bend the light cable through an angle of more than 90°.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp is adapted to bend the light cable through an angle of up to 180°.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp is at least partially opaque and where the clamp shields an end portion of the light cable.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 where the clamp comprises two clamp halves.
17. The apparatus of claim 1 where the light source comprises a housing to which the clamp is coupled.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 where the light source comprises an LED emitter and a reflector.