Light guide with protective outer sleeve

摘要

An illumination device including a light guide 22 surrounded by a protective sleeve 24. The light guide 22 is hollow and includes a cylindrical wall 26 having a structured outer surface 28 and a smooth inner surface 30. Light release structures are provided to reflect or refract light through the cylindrical wall 26 of the light guide 22. In certain embodiments, the protective sleeve is bonded to the light guide. Rigid fixtures can be used to retain the light guide in elastically deformed, non-cylindrical cross-sectional shapes.