Patent ID: 7431481

Claim:
A light guide assembly ( 5 ) comprising: a base ( 14 ); a light source ( 10 ) removably secured to said base ( 14 ) and oriented to emit light ( 101 - 108 ) out and away from said base ( 14 ); a light distributor ( 50 ) spaced apart from said light source for distributing the light ( 101 - 109 ) across said light guide assembly, said light distributor ( 50 ) including a primary reflection surface ( 55 ) with a plurality of transmission elements ( 58 ) extending out from said primary reflection surface ( 55 ) therealong to allow a portion of the light ( 101 , 104 , 108 ) to pass through said transmission elements ( 58 ) of said primary reflection surface ( 55 ) without being reflected by said primary reflection surface; a collimator ( 113 ) disposed between said light source ( 10 ) and said light distributor ( 50 ) to collimate the light ( 101 - 108 ) before it impinges on said light distributor ( 50 ); a plurality of light deflecting surfaces ( 142 , 143 , 145 - 147 ) complementing said primary reflection surface ( 55 ) to deflect the light ( 102 , 103 , 105 - 107 ) reflected by said primary reflection surface ( 55 ) out of said light guide assembly ( 5 ), each of said plurality of light deflecting surfaces ( 142 , 143 , 145 - 147 ) defining a width, wherein said width of each of said plurality of light deflecting surfaces ( 142 , 143 , 145 - 147 ) is relative to said distance to said primary reflection surface ( 55 ); and said light distributor ( 50 ) including a light entry surface ( 51 ) to receive the light ( 101 - 108 ) after it is collimated by said collimator ( 113 ).