Patent ID: 6882111

Claim:
An elongated lighting apparatus illuminated along its entire length and capable of operation in environments subject to temperature fluctuations, said apparatus comprising: a) at least two elongated tubular members each having two ends, each elongated tubular member having a mounting means therein, said elongated tubular members being fabricated from a material that allows the passage of light therethrough and at least one end of each elongated tubular member is an open end, wherein the elongated tubular members are aligned end to end with a region of separation therebetween and at least one open end is adjacent to the region of separation; b) at least two substrates, each substrate having a plurality of light emitting devices thereon, at least one substrate being slidably connected to said mounting means within each of the elongated tubular members; c) at least two end caps for sealingly engaging with the open ends of the elongated tubular members, at least one end cap having a protrusion projecting towards the region of separation, said protrusion fabricated from a material that allows the passage of light therethrough and having at least one light emitting device proximate thereto; d) a flexible interconnector enclosing the region of separation, wherein the flexible interconnector is fabricated from a material that allows the passage of light therethrough, said flexible interconnector being illuminated by the light emitting device proximate to the protrusion; and e) means for connecting said plurality of light emitting devices to an electrical power source for energising said light emitting devices.