Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination fiber optic (20) or an assembly including illumination fiber optics contained in a first polymeric layer (26) or in a channel and the first layer or channel including intumescent or other fire retardant material, and further contained within a second outer layer (28) or jacket made of a polymeric material which has the property of containing the combination sufficient to hinder the propagation of the fire and eventually extinguishing the flame. The fiber optic may be side light emitting, with the core, layer, channel and fire retardant materials being transparent or translucent, or may be end light emitting with the fiber optic being a layer core fiber optic and the outer layer being opaque.

Abstract: A large core polymeric optical fiber having improved light transmitting characteristics includes a cladding filled with a light transmitting core. The core is formed during a polymerization reaction within the cladding in which the pressure internal to the cladding is greater than the pressure external to the cladding to form a pressure differential supported by the cladding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fiber optic conduit having a light diverting outer layer that reflects and/or refracts ambient light directed towards the conduit. The fiber optic conduit includes a light transmitting core, cladded with a fluoropolymer cladding and subsequently jacketed with a polymeric finish jacket. A light diverting layer either inserted between the cladding and the jacket or surrounding the jacket is included in the fiber optic conduit. The light diverting layer preferably has the property of allowing light to be transmitted from the fiber optic surface out of the conduit in one direction and reflecting ambient light directed towards the conduit. When reflecting ambient light, the fiber optic conduit appears in the form of chrome trim.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a heat shrink clad core optical conduit and to an optical conduit having either a thermoplastic, thermoset or liquid, light transmitting core surrounded by, preferably a fluoropolymer cladding which is in turn surrounded by a tight-fitting, finish polymer jacket which may be either transparent or translucent, and is preferably made of a polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, acrylic or silicone material. Numerous fillers and inserts may be used in the finish jacket polymer and the finish jacket polymer may be formed into various shapes. Bondable jacket materials may be used. The preferred method of forming the manufacturing jacket around a heat shrinkable fluoropolymer cladding is by extruding a low extrusion temperature polymer over a heat shrink clad in its expanded form into which an increased interior pressure is maintained to prevent shrinkage during the extrusion process.