Abstract:
A nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light has two nonlinear optical halves obtained by symmetrically dividing the nonlinear optical assembly along an optical reference plane wherein each optical half has a base, which takes a nonlinear and curved form with one side thereof corresponding to the optical reference plane and having a junction surface, a light entrance portion and a light exit portion are on two opposite sides of the optical reference plane, and the two optical halves are assembled to form the nonlinear optical assembly with the junction surfaces therebetween. Given the light exit portions of the optical halves, each light entrance portion corresponds to multiple bulged portions for the nonlinear optical assembly to provide uniform lighting effect. The nonlinear optical assembly reduces molding and manufacturing requirements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/060,425, filed on Dec. 22, 2013, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to an optical assembly, and, more particularly, to a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    As having the advantages of being compact in size, low-power-consuming, and durable, light-emitting diodes (LED) have gradually replaced conventional light bulbs to become one of the major lighting sources, and have been extensively applied to all sorts of lighting applications and alert lights. 
         [0006]    As far as the composition of a conventional LED alert light is concerned, the conventional LED alert light includes an LED module and an optical lens module. Depending on the number of LED in the LED module, the optical lens module is integrally formed with multiple lens units. The lens units are sequentially aligned in the form of a straight line. A light entrance end of each lens unit corresponds to an LED of the LED module to thereby constitute an LED alert light. 
         [0007]    Although the conventional LED alert light can be applied to products with alert features, the optical lens module of the conventional LED alert light employs multiple integrally-formed lens units, and under the constraint of forming technique, each lens unit of the optical lens module takes the form of a cone with a cone apex angle approximately at 120 degrees. The conical shape of the lens units makes the integrally-formed optical lens module inflexible for significant changes and hard to adapt to the requirements of different forms of light projection. As a result, conventional alert lights can be designed to provide single-side straight-line light projection but fail to provide arced, wavy or annular light projection in response to the demand of diversified alert lights. 
         [0008]    In spite of attempts of manufacturers in the related field to integrally form arcuate, wavy or annular optical assemblies, forming those nonlinear optical assemblies is a tough job to tackle. Thus, the molding and manufacturing requirements of the optical assemblies are rather high, rendering light projected therefrom non-uniform. 
         [0009]    Moreover, concerns of light entering and exiting the nonlinear optical assemblies differ from those of linear optical assemblies. In view of different curvatures for nonlinear and linear optical assemblies, uniform light projected by the light exit portions of the nonlinear optical assemblies should be prioritized. However, corresponding in-depth development on conventional nonlinear optical assemblies is not available and the resulting uniformity of light exiting therefrom is not satisfactory. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,712,931, US 2006/0082999, and US 2011/0194279 involve linear optical assemblies. The present invention differs from the foregoing citations and further explores more different embodiments in continuation with the development of the nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    An objective of the present invention is to provide a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light for solving the problems of conventional alert lights, that is, optical lens elements are hard to adapt to different light form variations, such as arcuate, annular and wavy forms, because of their integrally-formed structure. 
         [0012]    To achieve the foregoing objective, the nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light has two nonlinear optical halves obtained by symmetrically dividing the nonlinear optical assembly along an optical reference plane. Each nonlinear optical half has a base, a light entrance portion, and a light exit portion. 
         [0013]    One side of the base corresponds to the optical reference plane and has a junction surface. The two nonlinear optical halves are assembled to form the nonlinear optical assembly with the junction surfaces of the two nonlinear optical halves attached to each other. 
         [0014]    The light entrance portion is formed on one side of the base and adjoins the junction surface. 
         [0015]    The light exit portion is formed on another side of the base and adjoins the junction surface. 
         [0016]    Given the structure of the foregoing nonlinear optical assembly of alert light, the nonlinear optical assembly can be symmetrically divided into two separate optical halves along an optical reference plane. The divided optical halves are structurally simplified and therefore facilitate the molding thereof in production and the quality of the finished product. After reducing limitations upon molding specific optical halves, light form, light projection angle or product shape can be varied according to desired alert feature to make structural changes to the nonlinear optical assembly on its entirety. Additionally, because of the symmetrical shapes of the two optical halves, light emitted from an alert light having the nonlinear optical assembly passes through a center line of the light exit portion, thereby generating a uniform light effect. 
         [0017]    Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the nonlinear optical assembly in  FIG. 2 , shown combined; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the combined nonlinear optical assembly in  FIG. 2  applied to an alert light; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the combined nonlinear optical assembly taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of two combined optical assemblies in  FIG. 2  applied to an alert light; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the nonlinear optical assembly in  FIG. 7 , shown combined; 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the combined nonlinear optical assembly in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of two combined optical assemblies in  FIG. 7  applied to an alert light; 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  is an exploded perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  is another exploded perspective view of the nonlinear optical assembly in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  is a side view of four combined optical assemblies in  FIG. 11  applied to an alert light; 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of four combined optical assemblies in  FIG. 11  applied to an alert light; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of two combined optical assemblies in  FIG. 14 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0033]    With reference to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7  and  11 , four embodiments of a nonlinear optical assembly of an alert light in accordance with the present invention are shown and have common features as follows. Each of the embodiments of the nonlinear optical assembly  1  of an alert light has two separate nonlinear optical halves  10 A,  10 B. Each embodiment of the nonlinear optical assembly has a specific form. The nonlinear optical halves  10 A,  10 B are obtained by symmetrically dividing the nonlinear optical assembly  1  along an optical reference plane ‘P’ as shown in  FIG. 3 . The optical reference plane corresponds to a virtual plane defined by center points of multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in an LED module of the alert light. Each nonlinear optical half  10 A,  10 B has a base  11 , a light entrance portion  12 , and a light exit portion  13 . The base  11  takes a nonlinear and curved form and is integrally formed. One side of the base  11  corresponding to the optical reference plane has a junction surface  112 . The light entrance portion  12  is formed on one side of the base  11  and adjoins the junction surface  112 . The light exit portion  13  is formed on another side of the base  11 , adjoins the junction surface  112 , and is opposite to the light entrance portion  12 . The two optical halves  10 A,  10 B are made of a transparent material, which may be glass, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), and the like. The optical halves  10 A,  10 B respectively have at least one first jointing member  14  and at least one second jointing member  15  respectively formed on at least one position on the base  11  of the optical halve  10 A and on at least one position on the base  11  of the other optical half  10 B. The first jointing member  14  and the second jointing member  15  are respectively a raised portion and a recessed portion matching each other. The two optical halves  10 A,  10 B are assembled together by correspondingly engaging the at least one first jointing member  14  and the at least one second jointing member  15  with the junction surfaces  112  of the two optical halves  10 A,  10 B attached to each other for forming the nonlinear optical assembly  1 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly  1  in accordance with the present invention takes a wavy and elongated form and has two nonlinear optical halves  10 A,  10 B. The base  11  has multiple light entry recesses  121  formed in the light entrance portion  12  and spaced apart from each other by gaps. Each light entry recess  121  takes the form of a semi-cylindrical hole, and has a semicircular opening  123  and a quadra-spherical lens portion  122 . The semicircular opening  123  corresponds to an inner opening of the light entry recess  121 . The quadra-spherical lens portion  122  is formed on an inner wall of the light entry recess  121  opposite to the semicircular opening  123 . The light exit portion  13  has multiple bumps  132  juxtaposedly formed on the light exit portion  13  in a wavy manner, and each bump  132  has an arcuate profile, protrudes outwards from the light exit portion  13 , and is aligned with one of the multiple light entry recesses  121 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a second embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly  1  of an alert light in accordance with the present invention is shown. The base  11  of each optical half  10 A,  10 B takes an annular form. The light entrance portion  12  of the base  11  corresponds to an inner circumferential end surface of the base  11 , and has multiple light entry recesses  121 . The multiple light entry recesses  121  are annularly formed in the light entrance portion  12  and are mutually spaced apart by gaps. Each light entry recess  121  takes the form of an arcuate indentation. The light exit portion  13  of the base  11  corresponds to an outer circumferential end surface of the base  11 , and has an outer raised portion  133 . The outer raised portion  133  is annularly formed around a portion of the light exit portion  13  and is adjacent to the junction surface  112  of the base  11 . The base  11  further has an outer flange  113  and an inner bevel wall  114 . The outer flange  113  is annularly formed on and protrudes outwards from the outer raised portion  133  in a direction vertical to and away from the junction surface  112 . The inner bevel wall  114  is annularly formed on and protrudes inwards from an inner wall of the outer flange  113 , and reduces in thickness in a direction from the outer flange  113  to the light entry recesses  121 . The outer flange  113  can function as a light-exiting portion of the light exit portion  13 , and an inner end of the inner bevel wall  114  can function as a light entry portion of the light entrance portion  12 . 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the two nonlinear optical halves  10 A,  10 B of a nonlinear optical assembly in the present embodiment respectively have a lateral pin  16  and a lateral hole  17  respectively formed on and formed in two outer edges of the outer flanges  113  of the optical halves  10 A,  10 B that are opposite to the junction surface  112 . The lateral pin  16  and the lateral hole  17  are used for assembling the nonlinear optical assembly and a lamp holder  2  of the alert light together. With reference to  FIG. 6 , when multiple nonlinear optical assemblies  1  are mounted inside the lamp holder  2  of an alert light in a juxtaposed manner, the lateral pins  16  and the lateral holes  17  of the bases  11  of the nonlinear optical assemblies  1  can be used to assemble the nonlinear optical assemblies  1  and the lamp holder  2  together. 
         [0037]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , detailed description about assembly and operation of the nonlinear optical assembly in the present embodiment applied to an alert light is introduced as follows. The nonlinear optical assembly that is combined by assembling the two nonlinear optical halves  10 A,  10 B together is mounted inside the lamp holder  2 . The light exit portion  13  of the nonlinear optical assembly is exposed to an ambient environment. An LED module  3  is mounted inside the lamp holder  2  and is located inside the nonlinear optical assembly. Each LED  30  of the LED module  3  corresponds to the light entrance portions  12  of the two corresponding optical halves  10 A,  10 B. An annular alert light can be thus assembled. With reference to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the LED module  3  is connected to a power source and the LEDs  30  are lighted up, light emitted from each LED  30  propagates through corresponding light entry recesses  121  and the bases  11  of the two optical halves  10 A,  10 B and is scattered out through the light exit portions  13  of the bases  11 , so that the alert light demonstrates the light effect of an annular alert light. 
         [0038]    With reference to  FIGS. 7 to 10 , a third embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly  1  of an alert light in accordance with the present invention differs from the second embodiment in that instead of the outer raised portion  133  in the second embodiment, the present embodiment has multiple bulged projection portions  131  juxtaposedly formed around the light exit portion  13 . Each bulged projection portion  131  has an arcuate profile. Each light entry recess  121  corresponds to a number of bulged projection portions  131  adjacent to the light entry recess  121 , such that light that is emitted from each LED  30  and propagates through the nonlinear optical assembly  1  will pass through corresponding bulged projection portions  131 . Due to the arcuate profile of each bulged projection portion  131 , light passing through the bulged projection portions  131  is projected to different directions. Accordingly, luminance of light projected through the entire light exit portion  13  of the nonlinear optical assembly  1  can be substantially the same and uniform luminance of the alert light can be ensured. 
         [0039]    With reference to  FIGS. 11 to 15 , a fourth embodiment of a nonlinear optical assembly  1  of an alert light in accordance with the present invention takes an arcuate and elongated form. The base  11  is integrally formed and has multiple half LED cases  111 . The half LED cases  111  are juxtaposedly arranged along an arc on the light entrance portion  12 . Each half LED case  111  is formed in the light entrance portion  12 , and takes the form of a semicircular cone with diameters of cross sections of the half LED case  111  perpendicular to the junction surface  112  progressively increasing in a direction from the light entrance portion  12  to the light exit portion  13 . Each half LED case  111  has a light entry recess  121  formed in a portion of the light entrance portion  12  corresponding to the half LED case  111 . The light exit portion  13  has multiple bulged projection portions  131  juxtaposedly and arcuately formed on the light exit portion  13 . Each bulged projection portion  131  has an arcuate profile. Each light entry recess  121  corresponds to a number of bulged projection portions  131  adjacent to the light entry recess  121 , such that light that is emitted from each LED  30  and propagates through the nonlinear optical assembly  1  will pass through corresponding bulged projection portions  131 . Due to the arcuate profile of each bulged projection portion  131 , light passing through the bulged projection portions  131  is projected to different directions. Accordingly, luminance of light projected through the entire light exit portion  13  of the nonlinear optical assembly  1  can be substantially the same and uniform luminance of the alert light can be ensured. With further reference to  FIGS. 13 to 15 , multiple nonlinear optical assemblies in the present embodiment are applied to an alert light. 
         [0040]    Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.