A light guide supporting structure has a base portion which is slidingly received and retained by a supporting member. The longitudinal edges of a light guide are secured within longitudinal slots formed in the base member. The supporting member is mounted upon a surface. The support structure includes an axial cavity which can form an electrical conduit.

A light directing, load bearing, thermally protective coupling for connecting a light conduit, such as a light pipe, to a light source includes a body member having a first end connected with the light source and a second end connected with the light pipe. The body member contains a longitudinal channel which extends from the first end to the second end and includes an inner surface defining the channel which directs light from the light source, through the coupling, to the light pipe. To reduce light loss, the inner surface is provided with a highly reflective finish. The coupling is formed of a thermally conductive metal which dissipates heat from the light source and has a length sufficient to produce a temperature drop which allows the light pipe to be connected with the coupling without damaging the light pipe. The first end of the coupling includes a lip portion which is connected with a gasket provided on a light source reflector cone, and the second end of the coupling can include a collar which interlocks with a mating collar provided on an adjacent light pipe.

Disclosed is a luminaire including a housing for receiving light axially and having at lest one optical surface for emitting light. A lens is mounted in the housing and has a light input portion and a light output portion. A prismatic film is mounted in the housing onto which light output from the output portion of the lens is incident thereon wherein light is reflected by the prismatic film radially outwardly therefrom.

A luminaire and method are provided comprising a light source, a plurality of prisms, such as linear prisms, for redirecting light from the light source in a predetermined direction, and a reflector for redirecting light from the light source toward the plurality of prisms. Each of the linear prisms has a longitudinal axis and the light source has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the linear prisms are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light source. Each of the plurality of prisms has an included angle, which can vary as a function of the distance from the light source. The angle can vary stepwise or continuously. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of prisms adjacent the light guide has an included angle in the range of between about 35 and 45 degrees. In another embodiment, the included angle is substantially uniform among the prisms. The luminaire optical sheet can be made out of continuous sheet with built in hinge points to provide a complete light redirecting structure.

Illumination devices and methods of forming illumination devices, utilizing optical light films are disclosed. Joints useful in forming light carriers from optical light films are also disclosed.