Abstract: An evenly-lit instrument assembly adapted to be front-mounted in an opening in a vehicle's dashboard is provided. The mounting of the instrument assembly is concealed. The instrument assembly includes a housing and a circuit assembly fitted inside the housing. The circuit assembly controls a pointer. A dial is located above the circuit assembly, and is secured inside of the housing. A light pipe is further included inside the housing and positioned just above the circuit assembly for evenly disbursing light provided by a light-emitting source across the dial.

Abstract: A light guide panel and liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal cell array, a light guide panel or plate disposed on a rear surface of the liquid crystal cell array, and a light source disposed at a lateral side of the light guide panel or plate. The light guide panel or plate has a light incident surface on which light rays emitted from the light source are incident, a light-transmissive surface through which the incident light rays exit the light guide panel or plate toward the liquid crystal cell array, and a plurality of reflecting slant portions for directing the incident light rays toward the light-transmissive surface, wherein the reflecting slant portions are constituted by convexes or concaves which are substantially rectangular in plan view and substantially trapezoidal in sectional view.

Abstract: A device for adjusting an automotive headlamp reflector to a desired position and indicating a variance in the actual position of the headlamp reflector from the desired zero position. The device includes a directing member which can be operatively engaged with the reflector. An input shaft is provided in operative communication with the directing member, and the shaft, when rotated, can move the directing member in order to move the reflector to the desired position. A rotatable platform is disposed about the shaft. A planetary gear arrangement is provided which engages a gear on the shaft and includes an outer ring gear. Indicia is provided for indicating a position of the ring gear with relation to a position of the platform in order to indicate variance in the actual position of the headlamp reflector from the desired position.

Abstract: A preformed or preassembled bowl/plate assembly, including a bowl, a plate secured with respect to the bowl and defining with the bowl a chamber, the plate having a number of openings, each configured to receive a chandelier arm in a predetermined array. The chamber houses a plurality of wires with one pair of wires extending through each of the openings in the plate from the chamber. A plate/arm arrangement is provided to permit attachment of chandelier arms to the plate while only having access to the upwardly-facing surface of the plate. The chandelier arms may be both structurally attached to the chandelier framework and electrically attached to the central wiring of the chandelier after preassembly of the bowl/plate arrangement. The chandelier arms are preferably formed in an arcuate shape with a light socket attached to a first end and a sleeve attached to a second end and a pair of wires electrically attached to the light socket.

Abstract: Protective headwear having at least a hard-shell outer layer and a protective shock absorbing layer includes at least one LED illumination arrangement fitted into recesses in the protective layer and visible through an at least partially transparent area of the hardtop shell in any desired pattern or combination of lighting elements, the illumination arrangement including an optical member which serves to optically increase the viewing angle and at the same time deflect or distribute the force of impacts away from the LED and thereby decrease possible of LED penetration through the helmet and into the head of the wearer.

Abstract: A slide focus flashlight has a container with an aperture therein, a lamp disposed within the container, a reflector disposed within the container, and an actuator disposed in the opening of the container for sliding therein and having a first angled surface. A conductive shaft is disposed within the container, and a slide interface is coupled to the conductive shaft. The slide interface has a second angled surface for sliding against the first angled surface of the actuator. A power switch is provided for selectively energizing the lamp. The slide interface, actuator and power switch allow for single-handed focusing and energizing of the flashlight.

Abstract: A headlight for vehicles has a headlight housing, a light source arranged in the headlight housing, an electrical supply unit provided for the light source and arranged on the headlight housing, the headlight housing in the region of at least a part of the supply unit being provided with an opening, a metallic cooling body closing the opening of the headlight housing, and a cooling body being formed so that the at least a part of the supply unit is arranged inside the headlight housing on the cooling body.

Abstract: A lamp with improved safety features to avoid fire and burn hazards. The lamp includes an electrical circuit having a thermostat connected in series with the bulb of the lamp. The thermostat is mounted in close proximity to the lamp's bulb and, upon the ambient air temperature in the vicinity of the thermostat reaching a predetermined temperature, the thermostat effectively opens the electrical circuit, shutting the lamp off. Once power is turned off for a period of time, the thermostat resets and the lamp may be operated again. A protective guard is positioned over at least a portion of the bulb of the lamp to prevent accidental burning.

Abstract: A phantom color light mirror including a mirror, a plurality of colored light sources, and a central control device. The mirror is composed of a transparent sheet having a reflective layer affixed to a rear surface thereof. A plurality of lines of a sufficient width are used to engrave the reflective layer with a graphic design visible from the front side of the transparent sheet. The operation of the colored light sources are controlled by the central control device. The mirror, the light sources and the central control device may be accommodated in a cabinet. A refracting device may further be disposed behind the mirror to provide enhanced visual effects.

Abstract: A resilient mount for rotating warning light systems includes a mounting base having a plurality of mounting feet, each of which includes a special grommet mounted within an aperture formed therein. The grommets are selectively shaped so as to absorb and dissipate substantially all shock loads which would ordinarily be delivered to the rotating warning light system, and particularly, to the fragile bulb itself. The resiliently mount further prevents noise from being transmitted from the rotating light back into the vehicle to which the mounting base is connected.

Abstract: A light glare reducing device being all or partially constructed of light transmitting materials with light reflecting surfaces in different designs. When the light glare reducing devices or lenses are placed over lighting sources they reduce the high glare and blinding effects of the light sources. Increasing the light output of lighting sources when used with lenses can maintain the lighting level while reducing glare. When used for automotive usage alternative automotive headlights are used. The combined usage of the alternative headlights and the lenses provides roadway and side of the roadway lighting without high glare to oncoming vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians and animals. The existing automotive headlight system can be maintained so that the high beam headlights can be used if necessary or desirable.

Abstract: A lighting system for an automotive vehicle includes a remote laser light source coupled with a light transmitting fiber optic light guide which illuminates a thin sheet optical element tail lamp having a manifold portion, a kicker portion adjacent and substantially parallel to the manifold portion, and a turning prism adjacent to and in optical communication with the manifold and kicker portions for receiving light from the manifold portion and internally reflecting and redirecting light to the kicker portion.

Abstract: A bidirectional lighting system includes a housing having a planar base and a stringer connected to end plates by a chassis. The chassis carries a bracket for light sockets and asymmetric reflectors. The edges of the base, the end plates and the stringer define a pair of windows. One light source and an associated asymmetric provide up light illumination through one of the windows and the other light source and its associated reflector provides wall wash illumination of an adjacent wall through the other window.

Abstract: An emergency fog lens device 10 for use with conventional clear headlights 101 of a vehicle 100. The device 10 includes an enlarged generally rectangular tinted lens member 20 provided with a plurality of spaced rows of apertures 22 dimensioned to receive a plurality of securing elements 40 which engage a like plurality of suction cup members 30 for releasably securing the lens member 20 to a vehicle headlight 101.

Abstract: A conveniently detachable lighted-magnifier accessory for use with a high-brightness, focusable-beam flashlight, that provides true coaxial illumination for shadow-free viewing of a wide variety of subject matter as well as to the bottom of small holes, is disclosed. Light from an attachable flashlight is reflected by a beamsplitter onto the subject matter. An observer views the illuminated subject matter through a beamsplitter through a magnifying lens or clear window.

Abstract: An integrally formed single piece light strip having no internal voids, comprising first and second bus elements spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance for operative connection to a power source. A substrate strip includes a top surface and a bottom surface having a printed circuit thereon. At least one light emitting diode (LED), including electrical contact prongs, is provided, with the LED being mounted on the top surface of the substrate strip, and with the electrical contact prongs contacting the printed circuit on the bottom surface of the substrate strip. The printed circuit is in electrical contact with the bus elements to conduct electricity thereon. An extruded plastic material completely encapsulates the first and second bus elements, with the substrate strip and the LED to thereby provide a protective barrier and thereby make the light strip impervious to moisture.

Abstract: A device for an automotive vehicle to signal braking, deceleration, turning of the vehicle or an emergency situation. The device has two bodies facing rearwardly, mounted near the top of the back or the highest point of the vehicle adjacent the sides of the vehicle. Each body has a base and a cover with translucent lenses. Light sources and reflectors are disposed on the base for illuminating the lenses to create the signaling as required. Lighting one or more lenses in the cover indicate braking while lighting an arrow shaped lens in the cover and a side lens facing out from the vehicle indicate intended turning. The light transmitted through the lenses in the cover is directed downwardly either by a downward tilt to the cover or by directional configurations formed on the lenses. The lenses signifying braking are formed from red material while the arrow shaped and side lenses signifying turning are formed from red or yellow material.

Abstract: A ball point pen having a pocket clip with a light source located within the clip. A self contained battery power source located in the pen's body is electrically connected to the light source through a button switch. Activation or deactivation of the button switch and its circuit for the light source is accomplished by depressing a rear mounted external button on the pen.

Abstract: A tricolor lighting system uses first and second dichroic filters or mirrors to separate light into different colors, primarily red, green, and blue. The light is directed into input ends of respective first, second, and third light guides for a desired end use at a remote location. Various embodiments use either paraboloid or ellipsoidal reflective surfaces associated with the light source and in selected embodiments, the first and second mirrors are disposed in a crossed relation to provide a compact system.

Abstract: The present invention describes a flashlight powered with an oblong power supply. The flashlight is designed to be compact and watertight. It is protected against the entrance of moisture with a single O-ring seal. The case of the flashlight can be injection molded and can be used without secondary fabrication such as gluing. The flashlight includes a light module which is held to prevent its rotation relative to the case to thereby maintain a desired polarity with the power supply permitting a variety of polarity responsive lamps or circuits to be incorporated into the design. Some configurations create light output color or intensity changes by reversing the batteries. On-Off switching is accomplished using a mechanism independent of the location of the power supply so that power supply movement will not cause inadvertent energizing of the lamp or hazardous sparks.