Abstract: Illuminators include transparent light emitting members having a pattern of rounded shallow notches or grooves in one or more surfaces of the members for causing internally reflected light to be emitted from the members. The notches or grooves may be cut using a circular cutting tool. The relative speed of the cutting tool and feed rate of the cutting tool relative to the members may be controlled to produce a roughened surface on the notches or grooves.

Abstract: Illuminators include transparent light emitting members having a pattern of rounded shallow notches or grooves in one or more surfaces of the members for causing internally reflected light to be emitted from the members. The notches or grooves may be cut using a circular cutting tool. The relative speed of the cutting tool and feed rate of the cutting tool relative to the members may be controlled to produce a roughened surface on the notches or grooves.

Abstract: Illuminators include transparent light emitting members having a pattern of rounded shallow notches or grooves in one or more surfaces of the members for causing internally reflected light to be emitted from the members. The notches or grooves may be cut using a circular cutting tool. The relative speed of the cutting tool and feed rate of the cutting tool relative to the members may be controlled to produce a roughened surface on the notches or grooves.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for marring a surface of a fiber optic substrate by sandblasting one or more sides of the substrate during movement of the substrate past one or more sandblasting nozzles to produce a specific illumination pattern. The nozzles may be operated intermittently to produce intermittent light emitting areas along the length of the substrate. Alternatively, the substrate may be moved past the nozzles at a variable speed, or the pressure of the nozzles or spacing of the nozzles from the surface of the substrate may be regulated during movement of the substrate past the nozzles in order to produce a specific illumination pattern. Also, a perforated plate may be placed between the nozzles and substrate in order to produce a specific illumination pattern. After the sandblasting operation, the substrate may be cleaned and cut to desired lengths, and permanently heat formed into any desired shape.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for marring a surface of a fiber optic substrate by sandblasting one or more sides of the substrate during movement of the substrate past one or more sandblasting nozzles to produce a specific illumination pattern. The nozzles may be operated intermittently to produce intermittent light emitting areas along the length of the substrate. Alternatively, the substrate may be moved past the nozzles at a variable speed, or the pressure of the nozzles or spacing of the nozzles from the surface of the substrate may be regulated during movement of the substrate past the nozzles in order to produce a specific illumination pattern. Also, a perforated plate may be placed between the nozzles and substrate in order to produce a specific illumination pattern. After the sandblasting operation, the substrate may be cleaned and cut to desired lengths, and permanently heat formed into any desired shape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marring the surface of a fiber optic substrate by feeding the substrate between a pair of rotating rollers. One of the rollers is coated with an abrasive. The second roller may be hard or have a deformable cover. Alternatively, one or both rollers may be serrated to produce a ripple pattern in the substrate. A hydraulic, pneumatic or other device is used for either manually and/or automatically adjusting the gap between the rollers. One or both rollers may also be heated to further enhance the marring action. A cam mechanism may also be used to adjust the pressure in the nip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for marring the surface of a fiber optic substrate by feeding the substrate between a pair of rotating rollers. One of the rollers is coated with an abrasive. The second roller may be hard or have a deformable cover. Alternatively, one or both rollers may be serrated to produce a ripple pattern in the substrate. A hydraulic, pneumatic or other device is used for either manually and/or automatically adjusting the gap between the rollers. One or both rollers may also be heated to further enhance the marring action. A cam mechanism may also be used to adjust the pressure in the nip.

Abstract: Fiber optic backlighting substrates having a predetermined shape are manufactured by a special rotating fixture having a deep, narrow peripheral groove in which several windings of the fiber may be stacked on top of one another, to provide a closely packed spiral array having a thickness on the order of one fiber diameter and a radial extent equal to several times the diameter of a single fiber thick and several fibers wide. At least one wall of the groove is preferably hinged or otherwise removable, to provide convenient access to the spiral and to permit it to be removed from the fixture, whereupon the spiral may be cut radially to form a fiber optic substrate comprising a flat array of closely packed curved fibers, from which extends one or more bundles of loose fibers. By providing a cam-shaped groove having a non-constant depth relative to the rotational axis of the fixture, fiber arrays having segments of varying radii may be fabricated.

Abstract: A walking aid which includes a shaft formed of nested telescoping sections which can be readily secured and locked in the adjusted position and which has connected to one end thereof a foot pad having an arcuate sole portion simulating an anatomical foot and a handle portion connected to the other end whereby the handle is constructed so that when grasped the bearing weight of the user is on the hypothermar eminence of the hand which is the anatomically weight bearing surface of the hand. The aid may be provided with one of several distinct handle arrangements which may function as a hand guard, provide illumination and/or arrange to be disposed relative to the foot pad to define and arc of a circle. The foot pad and connected shaft and handle are balanced so that the aid is naturally maintained in an upright position.

Abstract: A pipe coupler for releasably connecting two flanged pipes together in end-to-end manner, and with a means for positively disconnecting the pipes when the cpupler's grip thereof is released. A plurality of the couplers are mounted on and spaced around one of the pipe flanges, and each coupler has an arm with a jaw for gripping the opposing pipe flange and a stem slip-fitted into a housing so as to be rotatable and translatable relative thereto for effecting clamping and unclamping movement. A drawbolt is threaded into a bore in the stem to move the stem forward or backward with respect to the housing. A radially extending finger connected to the stem applies force against the opposing pipe flange to push the two flanges apart and positively separate the pipes as the stem moves outward from the housing.