Patent ID: 7703950

Claim:
A side-emitting lens for a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, the lens having a central lens axis about which the lens is symmetrically disposed, the lens serving to redirect light generated by the LED lamp which is initially directed along the central lens axis to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the central lens axis, the lens comprising: a base section having, a cavity defined by a cavity refracting surface with a substantially planar central section, which is substantially normal to the central lens axis, and a stepped cavity sidewall having a series of sidewall refracting surfaces, and a base external refracting surface symmetrically disposed about the central lens axis and spaced apart from said stepped cavity sidewall; an internal reflecting surface that terminates in a rim and a vertex, said internal reflecting surface being spaced apart from said cavity and symmetrically disposed about the central lens axis; and a side surface attached to said rim and joining said base external refracting surface, said side surface being substantially parallel to the central lens axis.