A lighting apparatus (10) is described for incorporation into a tiled wall, panel, ceiling, floor or similar structure (38,40). The apparatus comprises: a reflector unit (12, 14) that has at least one reflective surface (24, 26) for location behind the surface of the structure and an external light-transmissive face (14) for location generally flush with the surface of the structure; and means (28) for coupling an end of a fiber-optic cable (32) having a multiplicity of optical fibers (34) to the reflector unit behind the surface of the structure so that light projecting from the ends of the fibers enters the reflector unit and is reflected by the reflective surface(s) so as to provide substantially uniform illumination across the light-transmissive face. The reflector unit is formed with an external flange (20) generally parallel to the light-transmissive face. This facilitates positive fixing of the apparatus to the substrate of the wall or ceiling, for example using tile cement, and enables repositioning of the apparatus and surrounding tiles until the cement is dry.

A surgical illuminator comprising a plurality of elongated, flexible, optical fibers having proximal and distal end portions and a strip of tape for retaining at least the distal end portions of the optical fibers in a ribbon-like pattern. A connector is coupled to the proximal end portions of the optical fibers, and the connector is adapted to optically couple the optical fibers to a light source. The tape has adhesive on both of its faces so that the tape can also be adhered to a surgical instrument to provide illumination from the light source.

A vehicle instrument display disposed in a panel in front of a driver's seat, wherein at least one scale plate of a plurality of instrument display devices is made of a colored or colorless transparent or transluscent material, whereby the internal mechanism of the display devices can be readily observed.

An annunciator apparatus has a light directing device that efficiently causes light to pass from a light source, such as a lamp, toward a generally flat surface of the light directing device in an efficient manner. The light pipe of the annunciator incorporates parabolic rear surfaces that are reflective. In addition, discs of partially reflective and partially transmissive material are disposed directly between a light source and the preselected plane toward which light is directed perpendicularly. The annunciator comprises an indicia plate which incorporates layers to accomplish the desired effect of having a reduced reflection characteristic. Indicia are represented on front and back surfaces of a substrate and aligned with each other to define a "pinhole" effect that significantly reduces light reflected back from the light directing device toward the viewer.

A preferred illuminated vehicle accessory according to the present invention includes a light-emitting and light-conducting light bar, an electric light source operatively associated with the light bar, and an electrical connection device for electrically connecting the light source with a source of electrical current on the vehicle. The light bar is adapted to be interconnected with the vehicle accessory, and a light-directing apparatus is provided for directing the light emitted from the light bar toward at least one predetermined portion of the vehicle. The light bar preferably includes an elongated rod member composed of a light-conducting material, such as an acrylic material for example, that is at least semi-transparent. In various forms of the invention, the light bar can be located either on an internal surface of the vehicle accessory or on an exposed surface of the vehicle accessory.