The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 15, 1997
John Rickfelder, Grand Haven, MI (US);
Rick Mousseau, Holland, MI (US);
Michael J Sweers, Williamson, MI (US);
Donnelly Corporation, Holland, MI (US);
Toyota Motor Corporation, , JP;
Abstract
The invention relates to a light pipe which includes a more effective light collector which transmits a larger amount of illumination to a lens located adjacent the light pipe. A lamp assembly includes a housing having walls defining a chamber and an open front. A lamp is mounted in the housing as well as a lens which covers the open front of the housing. The lens has a portion which extends laterally of the housing chamber. A light pipe is mounted to the housing adjacent the lens for collecting and distributing the light from the lamp along the laterally-extending portion of the lens. For more effective transmission of the light in a light distribution portion of the light pipe, the light-distributing portion can be provided with grooves along a surface distal from the lens to direct light from the light-collecting portion toward the lens. A light-collecting portion of the light pipe can be provided with a parabolic collecting surface facing the lamp to increase the light collection capabilities of the light-collecting portion of the light pipe.