Apparatus for showing light at a distance from a light source

摘要

This invention is concerned with lightpipes and lightpipe arrays designed to redirect light from a mounted light source, such as a light-emitting diode (LED), or from an array of mounted light sources. The lightpipe and lightpipe array are advantageously designed to be mounted to a surface not directly in contact with the light source(s) or the surface on which the light source(s) is (are) attached and to redirect light such that light exits the lightpipe at an elevation between the elevation of the light-emitting end of the light source and the elevation of the surface mounting such light source after a plurality of light reflections within a lightpipe(s). Several methods for attachment of the lightpipes to a mounting panel are described. A preferred embodiment of the invention features attachment of the lightpipe or lightpipe array to a mounting panel using a bezel or bezels which substantially prevent interference from stray light sources and prevent light from mixing between lightpipes of an array. Another embodiment of the invention is in the form of an illuminated pushbutton end of a switchcap arrangement utilizing a vertically directed light source and an escutcheon to substantially prevent light from mixing between vertically adjacent switchcaps arrangement.