Patent ID: 7281825
Filing Date: 2007-10-16
Classification: F21V,F21Y

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising a retractable dimmer sleeve, wherein: the retractable dimmer sleeve comprises flexible fabric sleeve material formed into an elongated enclosed passage having at least one open end and an interior volume for receiving at least a portion of an elongated light source; the dimmer sleeve is arranged to enable, during oreration of the elongated light source while at least partly received within the dimmer sleeve, adjustment of a length of a selected portion of a light-emitting segment of the elongated light source that is occluded by the dimmer sleeve so that only a desired fraction of light emitted by the elongated light source escapes the dimmer sleeve for illuminating a space near the elongated light source; the dimmer sleeve is arranged so that sliding the open end of the dimmer sleeve in a first direction along the elongated light source and at least partly bunching the flexible fabric decreases the length of a selected portion of a light-emitting segment of the elongated light source that is occluded by the dimmer sleeve, thereby increasing the fraction of light emitted by the elongated light source that escapes the dimmer sleeve and illuminates the space near the elongated light source; and the dimmer sleeve is arranged so that sliding the open end of the dimmer sleeve in a second direction along the elongated light source opposite the first direction and at least partly unbunching the flexible fabric increases the length of a selected portion of a light-emitting segment of the elongated light source that is occluded by the dimmer sleeve, thereby decreasing the fraction of light emitted by the elongated light source that escapes the dimmer sleeve and illuminates the space near the elongated light source.