Abstract:
A compound optical and electrical conductor includes a fiberoptic light transmitting element (multiple fibers or single solid rod) with at least one solar cell with LED therewith. The electrical conductor or conductors may be imbedded or otherwise secured within the optically conducting element or its surrounding jacket or sheath ( 20 ), or may be contained in a separate elongate retainer which may be provided to hold the optically conducting element in place as desired. The conductors may include a jacket or retainer ( 112 ) which is optically open along one side thereof, allowing the optical conductor ( 14 ) to emit light laterally therefrom subtending an angle defined by the optical gap in the jacket or retainer. One or more compound connectors may be provided, for linking two or more such compound conductors together as desired. The connectors provide for both the concentric alignment of the optical conductors, and also the electrical connection of the electrical conductors ( 16   a - 16   c ) of the compound devices. The connectors preferably each include one or more lighting elements to compensate for light attenuation along the lengths of the attached optical conductors.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to the field of fiberoptic light transmission, and more specifically to fiberoptic or acrylic cables or rods having electrically conductive elements included therewith. A means of electrically and optically connecting a series of individual lengths of such fiberoptic and electrically conductive elements is also disclosed herein.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
     Description of the Related Art  
       [0002]     Light transmission using light conductive means (cables, rods, etc.) has been known for some time. Conventionally, such devices generally comprise a generic or specially compounded acrylic plastic (e.g. Lucite,™) formed as single rods or multiple strands or fibers, which are coated for internal reflectivity and encased in an opaque jacket or casing. This system has been used in many applications for the transmittal of light from one end of the cable to the other, i.e. axial transmission of light.  
         [0003]     More recently, the inclusion of electrically conductive wiring or cables with fiberoptic cables, has been accomplished. Generally, such compound cables have included the electrically conductive elements within the core of the fiberoptic device, where it affects the light transmissivity of the cable or rod. Alternatively, the electrical conductors have been placed within the surrounding opaque jacket for the fiberoptic cable. In any event, these compound devices of the prior art have been intended for axial light and electrical transmission, and have not provided for radial light emission from the length of the fiberoptic core. Also, such devices have been constructed to have a predetermined length, for installation in certain specific environments (motor vehicles, etc.).  
         [0004]     Accordingly, a need will be seen for a compound optical and electrical conductor, which is capable of emitting light radially to serve as a continuous elongate lighting device, while simultaneously carrying electrical current axially through the electrical conductor(s) included therewith.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention comprises a compound optical or light transmitting and electrical conductor, with the optical conducting element composed of a plurality of optical fibers or strands or a single optically transmitting rod or the like. The conductor further includes at least one electrical conductor therewith, extending the length of the cable with the optically conducting element. One or more connectors may be used to secure two or more such conductors together, as desired.  
         [0006]     The present compound conductors provide lateral light emission and are adapted particularly for warning and/or marking lights installed along a large panel or the like. The present lighting system may be installed along the sides of trailers, boats, and ships, etc., as desired. Due to light attenuation along the length of such a fiberoptic device, additional light must be provided at various points therealong. The connectors include such supplemental lighting means, with the electrical of the devices supplying the electrical energy required for the supplemental lighting at each of the connectors. The light source is preferably an LED. The connectors may further include means for coloring or filtering the light emitted therefrom, in order to provide a specific color from the light emitting portions of the conductors. The connectors may also include self-powering means such as a battery recharge by solar power or similar means. A photosensing device for detecting nightfall or low light conditions may be provide for actuating the LED or other light source and a backup photosensing device may be used for detecting an LED light source turning on the other LEDs and their connectors simultaneously.  
         [0007]     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved compound optical and electrical conductor, including optical and electrical transmission means therein.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compound optical and electrical conductor, which electrical conducting elements may be installed within the optically conducting portion or which may be installed within a base or retaining component for the optically conducting element.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved compound optical electrical conductor including an opaque outer jacket with a longitudinal light transmissive opening, for emitting light laterally in a defined arc from the conductor.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved compound optical and electrical conductor including connector means therewith, for optically connecting two or more such compound conductor elements together as desired.  
         [0011]     An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved compound optical and electrical conductor, which connector means, includes additional lighting for compensating for light attenuation along the length of the optically conducting elements.  
         [0012]     Still another object of the invention is to provide a compound optical and electrical conductor, which connector means include means for providing different light colors to the attached optical conductor.  
         [0013]     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.  
         [0014]     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view in partial section, showing the various elements of a first embodiment of the present compound conductor invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is an end elevation view in section of the compound conductor of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of opposite ends of two conductors of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and a compound optical and electrical connector therewith.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view in section of the conductor and connector assembly of  FIG. 3  showing their assembly together, and further illustrating an end cap device.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view in partial section, showing the various elements of a second embodiment of the present compound conductor invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is an end elevation view in section of the compound conductor of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of opposite ends of two conductors of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , and a compound optical and electrical connector therewith.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view in section of the conductor and connector assembly of  FIG. 7  showing their assembly together.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view in partial section, showing the various elements of a third embodiment of the present compound conductor invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is an end elevation view in section of the compound conductor of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view in partial section, showing the various elements of a further embodiment of the present compound conductor invention having a solar cell and battery power source.  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a diagrammatic view of a chain of solar (“independent”) powered compound optical and electrical conductors and non-solar (“dependent”) powered compound optical and electrical conductors. 
     
    
       [0027]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     The present invention comprises various embodiments of compound optical and electrical conductors, and includes cooperating connectors permitting two or more such conductors to be linked together optically and electrically. The electrical conductors provide electrical power for lighting installed within each connector, with each connector thus providing an additional light source to compensate for attenuation along the length of the optical conductor. The present conductors emit light laterally (‘side lighting’), and thus are particularly well suited for use in lighting and marking large moving objects, e.g., tractor trailers, larger van type trucks, and even smaller pickup trucks and vans. It will be seen that their application may be carried over to boats, ships, and aircraft as well, and may be used to mark large stationary objects in close quarters (narrow alleyways, loading docks, etc.) and for advertising and display purposes as well.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention, comprising a compound optical and electrical conductor  10  and cooperating connector  12  (shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The larger mass and volume of the conductor  10  comprises a light transmitting element  14  (conventional fiberoptic cable formed of a plurality of individual fiberoptic strands, or one or more large diameter, solid core elements, as shown). The use of solid acrylic plastic material for the optical conductor element  14  precludes any requirement for ultraviolet protection, as necessary for other materials specially formulated for light transmission.  
         [0030]     One or more electrical conductors, e.g., conductors  16   a  through  16   c  of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , extend through a passage  18  formed in the opaque polymer outer jacket or protective sheath  20  of the conductor assembly  10 . It will be noted that only a single electrical conductor is required where all connector lighting is to be actuated simultaneously, and the assembly is electrically grounded to the vehicle structure. However, the present invention also provides for plural lights which may be selectively actuated as desired, to provide different colors of illumination for the optical conductors as desired. Such plural lights may be selectively operated by a corresponding electrical conductor and conventional switch apparatus (not shown).  
         [0031]     A reflective coating  22  (tape, paint, etc.) may also be applied around the majority of the circumference of the optical conductor  14 , to provide greater brightness for the optical element  14 . It will be noted that the outer sheath  20  and reflective coating  22  have an optically open side  24  extending arcuately about a portion of the optical conductor  14 , and extending the length of the optical conductor  14 . The light thus emitted from this optically open lateral passage  24  subtends an arc  26  defined by the width of the optically open passage  24 , for emitting light radially and laterally from the optical conductor  14 . In the event that a specially formed light transmitting material is used for the light conductor  14  (e.g., Lucite, ™), an ultraviolet protective barrier (not shown) may be applied to the material to preclude yellowing due to ultraviolet exposure, as is known to the art.  
         [0032]     A cooperating compound connector  12  for the above described conductors  10  is shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The connector  12  comprises a housing  28  having mutually concentric light passages  30  at opposite ends thereof. It will be seen that the connector may be formed to have more than two opposed light passages, e.g., a light passage formed in each face thereof, or may be formed in a shape other than a rectangular solid to provide additional light passages at other than rectilinear angles. A corresponding number of electrical connector receptacles  32  is also provided adjacent each light passage  30 , for accepting the connecting ends of the electrical conductors  16   a  through  16   c  (or other number of electrical conductors) and electrically connecting the electrical conductors to the light means housed within the connector housing  28 . It will be seen that the receptacles  32  are equipped with conventional multiple pin sockets, e.g., Molex ™ connectors, etc., in order to separate the electrical conductors  16   a  through  16   c  electrically from one another.  
         [0033]     The optical conductors  14  of two (or more) separate compound conductors  10  are inserted into the corresponding optical connector receptacles or light passages  30  of the housing  28 , with the axially offset electrical conductors  16   a  through  16   c  connecting with the electrical receptacles  32  which are in registry with the wiring  16   a  through  16   c . The connector ends of the wiring  16   a  through  16   c  are preferable sufficiently heavy and rigid to provide the compressive and bending strength necessary to ‘plug in’ to the corresponding receptacles  32 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 4  provides a cross sectional view of such an assembly, and the internal components of the connector  12 . The connector  12  includes some form of electrical lighting means therein, such as the electrically driven light source  34  shown, which receives electrical power from the corresponding electrical conductors  36   a ,  36   b  which communicate electrically with at least two of the conductors  16   a  through  16   c  of the compound conductors  10 . It will be understood that this light source  34  may comprise any practicable type desired, e.g., incandescent, halogen, bright light emitting diode, etc. Lenses  38   a ,  38   b  are provided to each side of the light means  34 , to focus the light from the light source(s)  34  to each optical conductor  14  extending from each side or end of the connector  12 , thereby serving to compensate for light attenuation through the optical conductors  14  extending to each side thereof.  
         [0035]     More than a single light source  34  may be provided within the connector, as illustrated in  FIG. 8  of the drawings and discussed in detail further below. These plural light sources may be colored differently from one another, with electrical power being selectively applied to each separately or collectively to provide different colored light emission form the connected optical conductors  14 . In the case of a motor vehicle or trailer, these different lights may be correspondingly colored and electrically connected to the overall lighting system, brake light and turn signal switches, etc., to actuate automatically when those systems are operated.  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  also illustrates a cross sectional view of an end cap assembly  40  which may be incorporated with the present compound conductor assembly  10 , and/or modified for use with other embodiments as desired. The end cap  40  includes a housing  42  which contains one or more light sources, e.g., bright light emitting diode  44 , etc. A single light passage  46  for accepting the end of an optical conductor  14  is formed in one side or end of the housing  42 , concentrically with the light source  44  and optical conductor  14  connected thereto. A corresponding single electrical receptacle  48  is also provided, aligned with the one or more electrical conductors  16   a  through  16   c  for electrically connecting those conductors to an electrical conductor(s)  50  supplying electrical energy to the light source  44 . The end cap assembly  40  thus essentially resembles one half of the connector assembly  12 , with one side or end of the end cap  40  comprising an opaque closure.  
         [0037]      FIGS. 5 through 8  illustrate another embodiment of the present compound conductor invention, essentially comprising a compound conductor  100  and cooperating compound connector  102  (shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The conductor  100  includes a light transmitting element  104  and one or more electrical conductors, e.g., conductors  106   a  through  106   d  of  FIGS. 5 through 8 . These electrical conductors may be grouped in a single cable or bundle, as in the conductors  16   a  through  16   c  of the first embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , or may be grouped in two or more runs each consisting of one or more conductors  106   a ,  106   b  and  106   c ,  106   d , as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8 .  
         [0038]     In  FIGS. 5 through 8 , a first group of electrical conductors  106   a ,  106   b , is installed in a channel  108  which is formed in the periphery of the optical conductor element  104 , with a second group of electrical conductors  106   c ,  106   d  installed in a passage  110  formed in the partially surrounding retainer  112  for the optical conductor element  104 . The electrical conductors  106   a ,  106   b  are preferably installed in the optical conductor channel  108  as an assembly with a reflective element  114  disposed immediately above, i.e., inwardly toward the center of the optical conductor  104 , relative to the electrical conductors or wires  106   a ,  106   b .  
         [0039]     This reflective element  114  may comprise a series of polished or brightly colored (white, etc.) laterally disposed facets along the length of the electrical conductor assembly, with the assembly comprising conductors  106   a ,  106   b , and reflective elements  114  snapping in place or being inserted from one end of the optical conductor channel  108 . The reflective element  114  adds considerable brilliance to the optical conductor element, and may be formed in various alternative ways, e.g., etching the surface to provide a ‘frosted’ appearance, etc., as desired.  
         [0040]     In a similar manner, the retainer  112  may include a series of laterally disposed facets  116  extending across the floor thereof, to provide greater reflectivity and brilliance for the overlying optical conductor  104  of the assembly. Alternatively, the floor of the retainer  112  may be coated with an outwardly reflective or phosphorescent tape or other coating  118 , as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings.  
         [0041]     It will be seen that the optical conductor  104  may be alternatively formed with a hollow core to have a toroidal cross section, with one or more electrical conductor(s) passing through the hollow center of the optical element  104 . Such a hollow core optical conductor is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,289 discussed in detail in the discussion of the related art further above the optical conductor  104  may also be formed with a series of laterally disposed reflective facets  120  formed in the upper or outer surface thereof if so desired, as shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8  of the drawings. Such material is manufactured by the 3M company and is know as ‘Extraction Fiber’™, and may be incorporated with the present invention, if so desired.  
         [0042]     The retainer or track  112  of the compound conductor embodiment  100  of  FIGS. 5 through 8  is configured somewhat like the jacket or cover  20  of the compound conductor of  FIGS. 1 through 4 , in that retainer  112  surrounds the majority of the optical conductor  104 , with a relatively narrow light emitting passage  122  formed longitudinally along one side thereof. This limits the light output to an arc defined by the optically open passage  122 , in a manner similar to that of the optically open passage  24  of the jacket  20  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Alternatively, the retainer  112  may be formed of a transparent or translucent material (plastic, etc.), as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, thus providing a wider arcuate light output therefrom. The arcuate light passage opening  122  of the retainer  112  also provides access for the installation of the optical conductor  104  therein.  
         [0043]     A cooperating compound connector  102  for the optical conductors  100  is illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings. The connector  102  of  FIGS. 7 and 8  is configured similarly to the first embodiment connector  12  of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , comprising a housing  124  with lighting means therein. The housing may have two or more light passages  126 , which serve as means for connecting a series (two or more) optical conductors  104  thereto.  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  provides a cross sectional view of such an assembly, and the internal components of the connector  102 . The connector  102  includes a plurality of lighting means therein (i.e., at least two lights  128   a  and  128   b ) which receive electrical power from the corresponding electrical conductors  130   a ,  130   b  which communicate electrically with at least two of the conductors  106   a ,  106   b  by means of a receptacle or connector  132 . The lights  128   a  and  128   b  may comprise any practicable electrical light type desired, e.g., incandescent, halogen, bright light emitting diode, etc. Preferably, each of the lights  128   a ,  128   b  comprises a plurality of electrically separate bright light emitting diodes (LEDs) of different colors (e.g., red, amber, etc.), which are known in the art. The multiple electrical conductors  106   a ,  106   b  may selectively provide electrical power to each LED as desired, to illuminate the corresponding optical conductor with the color of the illuminated LED. Further selectivity for additional LEDs may be provided by multiple ground connections through the electrical conductors  106   c ,  106   d  and corresponding connectors  134 , rather than the common ground indicated by the connector electrical conductor  136 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate yet another embodiment of the present compound optical and electrical conductor invention, wherein the compound conductor  200  includes an optical conductor element  202  having a semicircular of D-shaped cross section. This cross sectional shape is well suited for installation within a correspondingly shaped retainer or jacket  112 , identical to the generally D-shaped retainer or jacket  112  illustrated in  FIGS. 5 through 8  of the drawings for the second embodiment compound conductor  100 .  
         [0046]     However, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the first electrical conductors  204   a ,  204   b  are imbedded integrally within the body of the optical conductor  202 . This may be done at the time of manufacture of the optical conductor  202 , by casting or molding the wiring  204   a ,  204   b  in place simultaneously with the casting or molding of the optical conductor  202 . Preferably, the electrical conductors or wiring  204   a ,  204   b  are positioned well away from the optically exposed surface of the optical conductor  202 , in order to provide optimum light output from the device. The electrical conductors  204   a ,  204   b  may be wrapped or otherwise covered with a highly reflective or phosphorescent coating in order to provide greater reflectivity and light output, if so desired.  
         [0047]     In a similar manner, the electrical conductors  204   c ,  204   d  may be cast or molded integrally within the base or other area of the retainer  112  at the time of manufacture, if so desired, or run through a conduit or passage  110  formed in the retainer  112 , as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5 through 8  of the drawings.  
         [0048]     As in the cases of the other embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 through 8  and discussed further above, the retainer  112  surrounds the majority of the optical conductor  202 , with a relatively narrow light emitting passage  122  formed longitudinally along one side thereof. This limits the light output to an arc defined by the optically open passage  122 , in a manner similar to that of the optically open passage  24  of the jacket  20  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 through 4 . Alternatively, the retainer  112  may be formed of a transparent or translucent material (Plastic, etc.), as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, thus providing a wider arcuate light output therefrom. The arcuate light passage opening  122  of the retainer  112  also provides access for the installation of the optical conductor  202  therein. A sheet or coating  118  of highly reflective or phosphorescent material (tape, etc.) may be applied to the bottom or flat surface of the generally D-shaped retainer  112 , as in the embodiment of  FIG. 6  of the drawings. This adds further reflectivity and brightness to the assembly, for even greater efficiency.  
         [0049]     While no connector component is illustrated for the compound conductor embodiment of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , it will be seen that either of the connector embodiments  12  or  102 , respectively of  FIGS. 3, 4  and  7 ,  8  may be adapted to mate with such a D-shaped optical conductor element  202 . Similarly, the end cap element  40  illustrated in  FIG. 4  of the drawings may also be adapted for use with any of the other optical conductor elements of the present invention, as desired.  
         [0050]     In conclusion, the present compound conductor invention serves as an efficient means of providing a cautionary or warning illumination for a vast number of moving and stationary objects. It is well known that optical conductors (‘fiberoptics’) dissipate their illumination along their lengths, and until the development of the present invention, were not suitable for marking relatively long spans due to the light loss along the length thereof. The present invention, with its periodic lighting means installed at the connectors thereof and the additional electrical conductors providing electrical power for the lighting means, overcomes this problem to enable such fiberoptic type lighting to be used over spans of indefinite length as desired.  
         [0051]     While the compound optical conductors and connectors are preferably powered by a single power source,  FIG. 11  shows a further embodiment which is especially useful in remote locations or where power is at a premium or unavailable.  FIG. 11  show an compound optical and electrical conductor  510  having two solar cells  512 ,  514  which are preferably used as alternatives to each other rather than in conjunction with each other, though one skilled in the art would recognize that the solar cells can be used together.  
         [0052]     A first, external solar cell  512  power source converts solar energy into electrical energy. Since the lights will typically be powered when sun light is unavailable (i.e., at night), the electricity generated by the solar cell should be stored in a battery  518  or similar device. Appropriate circuitry well known to those skilled in the art may be provided to correct the amperage, voltage, etc. of the power delivered to or from the battery on the solar cell. The battery can then be connected to at least one of the electrical conductors  516  on the compound optical and electrical conductor to power some or all of the light sources  534  contained therein to cause the lights to illuminate. A light sensor or photosensor  520  can be provide to automatically turn on the lights at the appropriate times. Additional circuitry can be provided (not shown) which causes the light to strobe or blink or to control the color of the LED or other light source  534 .  
         [0053]     Solar cell  514  shows an analogous system with the solar cell  513  and battery  524  incorporated into the retainer  522  to conserve space. An external solar cell, however, may be desirable where the placement of the compound optical and electrical conductor would decrease the effectiveness of the solar panel. The batteries  518 , 524  could also be powered by another power source such as wind, nuclear, hand-tumed or gas generator or other appropriate power source to act as an independent power source.  
         [0054]     The solar cell, battery powered (“independent”) compound optical and electrical conductor can be used in place of or in conjunction with the non-solar powered (“dependent”) compound optical and electrical conductor. By providing a separate power leads (at “A”) in addition to the above described conductors (at B), the solar power, battery power can be used as a fail safe lighting mechanism only when the main power fails. In such a configuration, where lighting was essential to safety, for instance, the normally electrically powered lights compound conductors could draw power from the solar cells and respective batteries if the electrical power failed (or vice versa, the electrical power could be used to supplement solar power). Appropriate switches and circuitry (not shown) could be used to protect the batteries, convert AC to DC power where necessary, and connect the electrical wire input  516  to the battery on failure of the electrical power. Since the compound conductors can be all electrically connected through the use of the above described connectors, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the use of spaced apart solar powered compound optical and electrical conductors I connected through appropriate connectors C to non-solar powered compound optical and electrical conductors D will ensure that each is lit even during a power failure. The number of solar powered compound optical and electrical conductors necessary will be determined by the power draw of the light sources, line losses, the capacity of the solar cells, the capacity of the batteries and the amount of time that the system would need to operate without the main power source.  
         [0055]     Of course, the system could be operated as shown in  FIG. 11  without any outside power source other than the solar powered cells. If all of the compound optical and electrical conductors are solar powered, then there would be no reason to electrically interconnect the compound optical and electrical conductors. The lines  516  could be used instead to transfer control signals such to ensure that all of the units turn on and off in unison, or to provide decorative patterns such as simultaneous or sequential blinking, strobing effects, etc. Of course, preferably electrical interconnection is used so that a compound optical and electrical conductor unit can be powered by its neighbor should its own power source fail.  
         [0056]     The present compound conductor and connector invention may be applied to virtually any mating surface, as desired. A primary application of the present invention is for relatively long tractor trailers, where the continuously lighted optical conductor span provides a significant advantage over existing plural marker lights of conventional trailer light installations. Moreover, the present optical conductor, with its multiple LED embodiments, can provide color changes depending upon the specific LED(s) energized, to correspond with brake lights, turn signals, etc., as desired. Columnators may be provide to each side of the light sources to focus the light from the light source(s) to each optical conductor extending from the side or end of the connector, thereby serving to compensate for light attenuation through the optical conductors.  
         [0057]     The present invention is also adaptable to any of a number of other stationary and moving structures, such as narrow loading docks for guidance in poorly lighted conditions, stairways and particularly hand rails, theater aisles, boats and ships, aircraft, etc. The present compound conductors may be secured to any of these structures by conventional adhesive means or mechanical means (nuts and bolts, screws, blind fasteners, etc.), as desired, for adaptability to virtually any stationary or moving vehicle or other structure. The present invention thus provides a significant advance in safety for anyone or any structure or vehicle which has occasion to operate in less than optimally lighted areas.  
         [0058]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.