Self-centering pull-out light tube assembly
View Patent ↗A pull-out light tube assembly is mounted in an equipment component such as a component that is mounted in an equipment rack. The light tube assembly includes a light tube received within a bushing. The light tube can be pulled out from the bushing and retracted into the bushing. The assembly includes a mechanism for self-centering the light tube within the bushing when the light tube is retracted into the bushing. A guide channel formed in the bushing receives and guides a guide pin formed in the light tube to a centered position. The guide channel may be a V-shaped groove with a receptacle and detent formed at an end thereof to secure the guide pin in a centered position. The mechanism for self-centering maintains a logo formed at a front end of the light tube in a properly oriented position when the light tube is retracted within the bushing.
1. A pull-out light tube assembly to be mounted in an equipment component, comprising:
a bushing;
a light tube received within the bushing, wherein the light tube can be pulled out from the bushing and retracted into the bushing; and
a mechanism for self-centering the light tube within the bushing when the light tube is retracted into the bushing.
2. A pull-out light tube assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mechanism for self-centering the light tube within the bushing comprises:
a guide pin formed in the light tube; and
a guide channel formed in the bushing that receives and guides the guide pin to a centered position.
3. A pull-out light tube assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the guide channel is a V-shaped groove.
4. A pull-out light tube assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the V-shaped groove includes a receptacle formed at an end thereof to receive and maintain the guide pin in the centered position.
5. A pull-out light tube assembly as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a detent is formed in the receptacle in order to secure the guide pin in the centered position.
6. A pull-out light tube assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a logo is formed at a front end of the light tube, and wherein the mechanism for self-centering operates to maintain the logo in a properly oriented position when the light tube is retracted within the bushing.
7. An audio or video component comprising the pull-out light tube assembly of claim 1 .
8. An equipment rack comprising the audio or video component of claim 7 .