DETAILED DESCRIPTION An optical light guide composed of a solid, transparent material selected from the class consisting of glass, acrylic, polystyrene, or polycarbonate has been developed, in accordance with the present invention, having a curved configuration, with an angle of curvature greater than thirty degrees (30.
degree.
), without suffering substantial loss in light transmission.
In fact, light is transmitted with an efficiency of transmission essentially equal to that obtained from the conventional fiber-optic light guide.
However, the optical light guide of the present invention is substantially lighter in weight compared to the conventional fiber-optic rod, is resistant to breakage, can be disposed of readily, and is substantially less expensive to manufacture.
The optical light guide of the present invention comprises a solid, unitary rod, composed of a material selected from the class consisting of glass, acrylic, polystyrene, and polycarbonate, with said solid rod having a head, means for intercoupling the head to a source of light along the optic axis of the light source, a tapered section extending from said head, a curved section extending from said tapered section, with said curved section having an angle of curvature of between thirty (30.
degree.
) and sixty degrees (60.
degree.
) relative to the longitudinal axis of said tapered section, and with said rod having a light receiving surface at the proximal end of said light guide for receiving incident light projected from said light source.
The curved section may terminate at the distal end of the light guide or may represent an intermediate section, with the optical light guide having another straight section extending from the curved section, and terminating at the distal end of the light guide.
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