Patent ID: 8322883

Claim:
An illumination device for simulating neon lighting, comprising: a solid rod-like member having a predetermined length with a light-receiving surface and a light-emitting surface, said rod-like member being composed of a substantially flexible compound; a flexible circuit board disposed within said rod-like member; a multiplicity of spaced point light sources arranged in a line along said flexible circuit board and extending substantially along the light-receiving surface of said rod-like member, the spaced point light sources and the flexible circuit board being in direct physical contact with the rod-like member such that light entering the rod-like member from said point light sources and through the light-receiving surface is preferentially scattered, with light being directed along the predetermined length of said rod-like member while also being urged out the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member, thus causing a light intensity pattern that appears substantially uniform along the light-emitting surface of said rod-like member; and a collection surface positioned near said point light sources for collecting and reflecting light not emitted directly into said rod-like member.