A panel illumination light source positioning and holding mechanism and method of operation and installation is disclosed for a light panel comprising a panel having on a front side thereof a front film forming an illumination surface, and an insertion hole through the panel to the film, the positio
A panel illumination light source positioning and holding mechanism and method of operation and installation is disclosed for a light panel comprising a panel having on a front side thereof a front film forming an illumination surface, and an insertion hole through the panel to the film, the positioning and holding mechanism may comprise a hollow insertion portion extending into the insertion hole, the hollow insertion portion receiving an LED assembly; a locking mechanism locking the insertion portion in place after insertion into the insertion hole; a light pipe reception and holding mechanism, with a light pipe inserted into the light pipe reception and holding mechanism. The positioning and holding mechanism may also comprise a parallel extending portion holding the LED.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus, comprising: a hollow front end tube dimensioned to extend into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side, the hollow front end tube comprising a light pipe opening havin
1. An apparatus, comprising: a hollow front end tube dimensioned to extend into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side, the hollow front end tube comprising a light pipe opening having a beveled countersunk edge;a first back end tube coupled to the hollow front end tube and dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the first back end tube comprising a locking mechanism to lock the first back end tube in place by physical interference with a material in an interior region of the panel after insertion of the first back end tube into the insertion hole;a second back end tube coupled to the first back end tube and having an aperture dimensioned to receive a light source, wherein the second back end tube includes a plurality of protrusions each having a hex nut receptor face, and wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions; anda positioning flange disposed between the first back end tube and the second back end tube, wherein the positioning flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the hollow front end tube. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow front end tube comprises colored plastic. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of flexible fins adapted to flex in a direction opposite to a direction of insertion of the first back end tube into the insertion hole, and wherein the flexible fins are configured to penetrate the panel in response to an attempt to remove the hollow front end tube from the panel. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hollow front end tube, the first back end tube, the second back end tube, and the positioning flange are a single piece of molded plastic. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the locking mechanism comprises at least one of a national pipe thread for threaded engagement of an insertion mechanism with the insertion hole or an inclined fin to enter the material of the panel upon rotation of the insertion mechanism. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a light pipe configured to couple to the light pipe opening, wherein the light pipe has a diameter which selectively positions the light pipe in a proper position relative to the front film and the light source. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein insertion of a light pipe into the light pipe opening forces debris proximate the light pipe opening into a cavity formed by the beveled countersunk edge. 8. An apparatus, comprising: a light pipe alignment and positioning housing which extends into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side;a locking mechanism to lock the light pipe alignment and positioning housing in place in the insertion hole by physical interference with a material of the panel;an insertion stopping flange formed on the light pipe alignment and positioning housing, wherein the insertion stopping flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the light pipe alignment and positioning housing;a plurality of protrusions formed on the light pipe alignment and positioning housing, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions having a hex nut receptor face, wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions;a light emitting diode (LED) holder to hold an LED in an orientation that is approximately parallel to the illumination surface, wherein the LED holder and the light pipe alignment and positioning housing are integrally formed from a single piece of material; andan optical light redirecting element positioned within the LED holder to redirect light from the LED into the light pipe alignment and positioning housing. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the insertion hole comprises a beveled opening aligned with a light pipe opening in the front film. 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the LED holder is configured to be used as a wrench arm to facilitate insertion of the light pipe alignment and positioning housing. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a plurality of flexible fins, wherein the plurality of flexible fins are tapered to a knife edge and shaped with a generally flat upper surface and a slight curved lower surface such that the plurality of fins bend toward the insertion stopping flange when the light pipe alignment and positioning housing is inserted into the insertion hole in the panel and penetrate panel material surrounding the insertion hole when the light pipe alignment and positioning housing is urged out of the insertion hole. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a flexibly expanding tube comprising a locking arm with a locking fin for driving into panel material upon insertion of the light pipe alignment and positioning housing into the flexibly expanding tube positioned within the insertion hole. 13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a national pipe thread (NPT) for threaded engagement of an insertion mechanism with the insertion hole. 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an inclined fin for entering panel material upon rotation of an insertion mechanism. 15. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plurality of flexible fins are tapered to a knife edge and shaped with a generally flat upper surface and a slight curved lower surface such that the plurality of fins bend toward the second back end tube when first back end tube is inserted into the insertion hole in the panel and penetrate the material of the panel surrounding the insertion hole when the first back end tube is urged out of the insertion hole. 16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the light pipe alignment and positioning housing, the locking mechanism, the insertion stopping flange, and the LED holder are formed of a single piece of molded plastic. 17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the optical light redirecting element comprises a prism positioned to redirect the light by total internal reflection. 18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the optical light redirecting element is a light pipe, wherein the light pipe alignment and positioning housing forms a molded hole, and wherein the molded hole bends the light pipe to approximately 90 degrees. 19. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the light pipe alignment and positioning housing and the LED holder are snap fit together. 20. A method comprising: inserting a light source holder into an insertion hole in a panel, the panel having a front film forming an illumination surface on a front side and the panel having a rear film on a back side, the light source holder comprising: a hollow front end tube dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the hollow front end tube comprising a light pipe opening having a beveled countersunk edge,a first back end tube coupled to the hollow front end tube and dimensioned to extend into the insertion hole, the first back end tube comprising a locking mechanism to lock the first back end tube in place by physical interference with a material in an interior region of the panel after insertion of the first back end tube into the insertion hole,a second back end tube coupled to the first back end tube and having an aperture dimensioned to receive a light source, wherein the second back end tube includes a plurality of protrusions each having a hex nut receptor face, and wherein the hex nut receptor faces are separated by intermediate openings between protrusions of the plurality of protrusions, anda positioning flange disposed between the first back end tube and the second back end tube, wherein the positioning flange engages with the rear film to limit insertion of the hollow front end tube; andinserting the light source into the second back end tube.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (16)
Johnsen Roger T. ; Urry Robin M. ; Bush Matthew T., Apparatus for showing light at a distance from a light source.
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