1. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface;
a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;
spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component,
wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is adhesively attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;
wherein each of the voids comprises a void entry surface and a void exit surface, wherein the void entry surface and the void exit surface are generally parallel to each other and to the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component;
and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.
2. An optical assembly according to claim 1, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are flat.
3. An optical assembly according to claim 1, further comprising spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component.
4. An optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
5. An optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the spacers comprise discrete structures dispersed over the entry surface of the light management component.
6. An optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the spacers comprise a base layer extending between the spacers.
7. An optical assembly according to claim 6, wherein the base layer comprises a polymeric film.
8. An optical assembly according to claim 6, wherein the base layer comprises bulk diffusing particles dispersed therein.
9. An optical assembly according to claim 6, wherein the base layer comprises a surface diffuser.
10. An optical assembly according to claim 3, wherein the spacers comprise bulk diffusing particles dispersed therein.
11. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface, wherein the light management component exhibits an optical gain of one or more for light entering its entry surface;
a release liner facing the entry surface of the light management component;
curable adhesive located between the release liner and the entry surface of the light management component, wherein the curable adhesive is attached to the entry surface and defines voids between the release liner and the entry surface of the light management component.
12. An optical assembly according to claim 11, further comprising pressure sensitive adhesive located between the curable adhesive and the entry surface of the light management component, wherein the pressure sensitive adhesive is attached to the entry surface of the light management component.
13. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface;
a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;
spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component, wherein the spacers comprise discrete structures dispersed over the entry surface of the light management component;
wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;
and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more
14. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.
15. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.
16. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids are independent of each other.
17. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids contain air.
18. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are flat.
19. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.
20. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the voids comprise entry surfaces proximate the light delivery component, and further wherein the entry surfaces of the voids are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.
21. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
22. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
23. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise adhesive.
24. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise curable adhesive.
25. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise reflective surfaces.
26. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of adhesive.
27. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and curable material.
28. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.
29. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.
30. An optical assembly according to claim 13, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.
31. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface;
a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;
spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component, wherein the spacers comprise a base layer extending between the spacers;
wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;
and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.
32. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.
33. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.
24. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids are independent of each other.
35. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids contain air.
36. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are flat.
37. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.
38. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the voids comprise entry surfaces proximate the light delivery component, and further wherein the entry surfaces of the voids are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.
39. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
40. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
41. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise adhesive.
42. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise curable adhesive.
43. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise reflective surfaces.
44. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of adhesive.
45. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and curable material.
46. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the spacers comprise bulk diffusing particles dispersed therein.
47. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.
48. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.
49. An optical assembly according to claim 31, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.
50. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface;
a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;
spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component, wherein the spacers comprise beads;
wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;
and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.
51. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.
52. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.
53. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the voids contain air.
54. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are flat.
55. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.
56. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the voids comprise entry surfaces proximate the light delivery component, and further wherein the entry surfaces of the voids are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.
57. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
58. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
59. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the spacers comprise adhesive.
60. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the spacers comprise reflective surfaces.
61. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.
62. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.
63. An optical assembly according to claim 50, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.
64. An optical assembly comprising:
a light management component comprising an entry surface;
a light delivery component comprising an exit surface facing the entry surface of the light management component;
spacers located between the entry surface of the light management component and the exit surface of the light delivery component, wherein the spacers comprise bulk diffusing particles dispersed therein;
wherein the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component at one or more attachment points, the one or more attachment points defining unfilled voids located between the exit surface and the entry surface;
and wherein one or both of the light management component and the light delivery component exhibit an optical gain of one or more.
65. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein, outside of the voids, substantially all of the exit surface of the light delivery component is attached to the entry surface of the light management component within the optical assembly.
66. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids are interconnected with each other.
67. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids are independent of each other.
68. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids contain air.
69. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are flat.
70. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids comprise exit surfaces proximate the light management component, and further wherein the exit surfaces of the voids are coincident with the entry surface of the light management component.
71. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the voids comprise entry surfaces proximate the light delivery component, and further wherein the entry surfaces of the voids are coincident with the exit surface of the light delivery component.
72. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers occupy 10% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
73. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers occupy 5% or less of the entry surface of the light management component.
74. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise discrete structures dispersed over the entry surface of the light management component.
75. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise adhesive.
76. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise curable adhesive.
77. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise reflective surfaces.
78. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of adhesive.
79. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the spacers comprise a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive and curable material.
80. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the light management component comprises first and second major surfaces, the first major surface comprising the entry surface and the second major surface comprising a prismatic structured surface.
81. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the light delivery component comprises a diffuser.
82. An optical assembly according to claim 64, wherein the light delivery component comprises a light guide.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An illuminated pouring spout comprising: a passage through the pouring spout; at least one enclosed cavity within the pouring spout; at least one light source secured within said at least one cavity; at least one power source secured within said at least one cavity; and electrical switch mechanism connecting the power and light sources; and means for attaching said pouring spout to an open end of a liquid container; said electrical switch mechanism including an outside switch contact and an inside switch contact positioned on said means for attaching said illuminating pouring spout to said open end of said container; means for resiliently maintaining said inside and outside switch contacts in opened condition; said switch contacts being positioned adjacent an outer surface of said pouring spout, whereby upon the manual grasping of said pouring spout, said outer and inner switch contacts may be closed to illuminate said at least one light source.