BE1024427B1 - Coated electrical component - Google Patents

Abstract

14 Encapsulated electrical component Extract The invention relates to an encapsulated electrical component (5) which comprises an electrical component (1) and an enclosure (2, 3, 4) covering the electrical component (1). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such a sheathed electrical component (5). Moreover, the invention relates to a textile structure (6) which comprises at least one enveloped electrical component (5) and to a method for connecting such a textile structure (6) to a substrate. 15 2017/5031 16 BE2017 / 5031

Description

(30) Priority data:

21/01/2016 EP 16152249.5 (73) Holder (s):

VAMUTEX bvba 9310, HERDERSEM Belgium (72) Inventor (s):

VANHAUWERMEIREN Jo 9310 HERDERSEM Belgium

MUYSEWINKEL Use 9310 HERDERSEM Belgium (54) Enclosed electrical component (57) 14 Enclosed electrical component Extract The invention concerns an enclosed electrical component (5) comprising an electrical 5 component (1) and an enclosure (2, 3, 4). electrical component covered (1). The invention is also about a method of manufacturing such an encapsulated electrical component (5). In addition, the invention relates to a textile structure (6) comprising at least an encapsulated electrical component (5) and to a method of connecting such a textile structure (6) to a substrate. 15 2017/5031 16 BE2017 / 5031

FIGURE 1

BELGIAN INVENTION PATENT

FPS Economy, K.M.O., Self-employed & Energy

Publication number: 1024427 Filing number: BE2017 / 5031

Intellectual Property Office International classification: D04C 1/06 D04B 1/22 D04B 21/20 D02G 3/44 D04B 1/16 F21S 4/26 D04B 21/16 Date of issue: 21/02/2018

The Minister of Economy,

Having regard to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property;

Having regard to the Law of March 28, 1984 on inventive patents, Article 22, for patent applications filed before September 22, 2014;

Having regard to Title 1 Invention Patents of Book XI of the Economic Law Code, Article XI.24, for patent applications filed from September 22, 2014;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 2 December 1986 on the filing, granting and maintenance of inventive patents, Article 28;

Having regard to the application for an invention patent received by the Intellectual Property Office on 20 January 2017.

Whereas for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Code of Economic Law (hereinafter WER), in accordance with Article XI.19, § 4, second paragraph, of the WER, the granted patent will be limited. to the patent claims for which the novelty search report was prepared, when the patent application is the subject of a novelty search report which discloses a lack of unity of invention as mentioned in paragraph 1, and when the applicant does not limit his filing and does not file a divisional filing in accordance with the search report.

Decision:

Article 1

VAMUTEX bvba, Aartstraat 3, 9310 HERDERSEM Belgium;

represented by

NLO BVBA, Technologiepark 19, 9052, ZWIJNAARDEGENT;

a Belgian invention patent with a term of 20 years, subject to payment of the annual fees as stipulated in Article XI.48, § 1 of the Code of Economic Law, for: Encapsulated electrical component.

INVENTOR (S):

VANHAUWERMEIREN Jo, Aartstraat 3, 9310, HERDERSEM;

MUYSE SHOP Use, Aartstraat 3, 9310, HERDERSEM;

PRIORITY:

21/01/2016 EP 16152249.5;

BREAKDOWN:

Split from basic application: Filing date of the basic application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without prior investigation into the patentability of the invention, without warranty of the Merit of the invention, nor of the accuracy of its description and at the risk of the applicant (s).

Brussels, 21/02/2018,

With special authorization:

BE2017 / 5031

Enclosed electrical component

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an encapsulated electrical component, in particular an electrical component comprising luminous components, such as LEDs encased in a textile structure. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such an encapsulated electrical component.

The invention further relates to a textile structure comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component integrated in this textile structure and a method for manufacturing such a textile structure.

Background of the invention

Elongated elements such as wires, strips and cables provided with LED lights are known and are used, for example, for interior decoration or decoration for the holidays. Most of these elongated elements with LED lights are designed to be used as decoration. As a result, these elongated elements have limited mechanical properties.

Textiles and textile materials have many different applications, varying from clothing, interior, curtains, wall coverings, bed linen, etc. While textile materials can be found in many different shapes, they usually do not contain a light source. In many cases, textile fabrics must be washable, flexible and drapeable. In addition, other necessary functions are often required, such as assemblability. It is difficult to provide textiles that incorporate a light source. Although it is difficult to integrate the lighting into textiles, it is a property that is certainly sought to decorate or accentuate materials.

Ribbons (or galons) are usually thin bands of material, usually made from yarn. They are mainly used as decorative materials on other textile materials or objects. Ribbons can be woven, knitted or braided, for example. Many different types of fibers such as cotton, silk, polyester or polyamide fibers are used for the yarns with which the ribbons are produced.

BE2017 / 5031

US20150204496 describes a fabric structure comprising tubular woven holies in which light emitting means are provided.

GB2396252 describes a fabric with LED parts mounted or stitched onto the fabric. These LED components are visually present on the fabric.

W0200880245 describes an LED light wire which is protected by wrapping a textile yarn around the LED light wire. The yarn thus obtained can then be further used as a warp or weft yarn in weaving.

However, the above techniques do not describe a light-emitting textile structure, for example a ribbon that can be further used to incorporate into or onto a substrate, such as a textile material.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electrical component that can be further incorporated into a textile structure.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an encapsulated electrical component in which the electrical component is invisible to the human eye.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an encapsulated electrical component wherein the enclosure around the electrical component protects the electrical component and the electrical component cannot be easily removed from the enclosure.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a textile structure, such as a ribbon, in which an electrical part, in particular a sheathed electrical component, is incorporated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of making a textile structure in which at least one encapsulated electrical component is present.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to produce a textile structure, such as a ribbon, containing an electrical component, which is washable, flexible, assemblable and drapeable and can be cut to any desired length.

BE2017 / 5031

A first aspect of the present invention provides an encapsulated electrical component. The encapsulated electrical component consists of an electrical component and an enclosure enclosing the electrical component. The casing consists of a textile structure. The textile structure is arranged around the electrical component with a textile operation.

Preferably, the enclosure is in direct contact with the electrical component. By direct contact between the enclosure and the electrical component is meant that the enclosure touches the electrical component completely or nearly completely on the outer periphery of the electrical component. The direct contact between the electrical component and the envelope makes it physically difficult to pull the electrical component out of the textile structure.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the enclosure completely cover the electrical component so that the electrical component is invisible to the human eye.

The term electrical component refers to any type of electrically conductive material, preferably elongated electrically conductive materials such as wire, metal wire, strips, metal strips, ribbons or other elongated conductive elements. Electric components used in this invention are preferably elongated elements containing at least one luminescent component. Preferably, the electrical components contain different lighting components, for example, lighting parts placed at regular intervals on the elongated elements, for example at a distance ranging between 1 cm and 100 cm, for example at a distance of 2 cm, 4 cm, 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm or 50 cm.

The term lighting component refers to any type of lighting component known in the art. Desired lighting components include light-emitting diodes (LED's). A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor that emits visible light when an electric current passes through it.

The term enclosure means a material that covers or encloses the electrical component. According to a preferred form of the present invention, the sheath consists of a textile structure, such as a braided or knitted structure.

The textile structure is arranged around the electrical component with a textile operation. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical component is provided with the

BE2017 / 5031 sheathing by braiding or knitting a textile structure around the electrical component.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the envelope consists of a circular knitted textile structure around the electrical component. The circular knitted jacket is preferably obtained by knitting the jacket around the electrical component.

By applying the enclosure around the electrical component with a textile operation, direct contact is obtained between the electrical component and the enclosure. Due to the direct contact between the electrical component and the enclosure, it is physically difficult to pull the electrical component out of the textile structure. Such an envelope makes it possible to process the electrical component in a textile structure without causing damage to the electrical component. In addition, the enclosure makes the electrical component invisible to the human eye, giving it a highly decorative aspect.

The textile structure of the envelope comprises at least one elongated element. Any type of elongated element suitable for the manufacture of a textile structure can be considered. Examples of elongated elements include threads, cords, yarns, straps or tapes. The elongated elements can include natural material, polymer material, paper, metal or metal alloys or any combination thereof.

Preferred elongated elements are yarns. The term yarn refers to a yarn that can be a monofilament, multifilament or spun yarn. The yarn can be made from natural or synthetic fiber, or a combination of both. Synthetic fibers are fibers obtained by a manufacturing process, as opposed to natural fibers which are naturally found in fiber form. Natural fibers include, but are not limited to, silk, wool such as sheep's wool, angora or cashmere, cotton, flax, bamboo, hemp, jute and cellulose derived fibers such as viscose or rayon. Synthetic fibers include, but are not limited to, polyester, polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polyolefins such as polypropylene, acetate, acrylic, and metals or metal alloys. Preferably, mulifilament becomes polyester or spun yarns

BE2017 / 5031 used for the casing. These yarns preferably have a titer between 50 and 1000 dtex, preferably a titer between 250 and 450 dtex.

Other examples of elongated elements include tapes or tapes, such as metal tapes or tapes, for example, aluminum tapes or tapes.

In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an encapsulated electrical component. The method includes the following steps:

providing at least one electrical component encapsulating said at least one electrical component with a sheath by a textile operation to provide said electrical component with a sheath in direct contact with the electrical component.

The envelope preferably consists of a textile structure.

In a preferred embodiment, the envelope of the at least one electrical component is obtained by braiding, knitting or spinning.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the sheathing of the at least one electrical component is obtained by braiding or knitting a textile structure around the at least one electrical component. Braiding or knitting a textile structure around the at least one electrical component can ensure that the electrical component is invisible to the human eye. Furthermore, these techniques provide direct contact between the electrical component and the enveloping textile structure.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the encapsulated electrical component is obtained by knitting a textile structure around the at least one electrical component.

A third aspect of the present invention relates to a textile structure that includes at least one encapsulated electrical component as described above. The at least one electrical component is integrated into the textile structure.

The term textile structure ”refers to a structure obtained by an operation with which textile can be made. Textile operations include at

BE2017 / 5031 preferably weaving, knitting or braiding. A very preferential textile operation is knitting warp.

Preferably, the textile structure contains at least one yarn. The yarn can be a monofilament, multifilament or spun yarn. The yarn can be made from natural or synthetic fibers, or a combination of both. Artificial fibers are fibers obtained from a manufacturing process, unlike natural fibers, which are naturally found in fiber form. Natural fibers include, but are not limited to, silk, wool, such as sheep's wool, angora or cashmere, cotton, flax, bamboo, hemp, jute, and cellulose-derived fibers such as viscose or rayon. Synthetic fibers include, but are not limited to, polyester, polyamide, polylactic acid (PLA), polyolefins such as polypropylene, acetate, acrylic, and metals or metal alloys.

In preferred embodiments, the textile structure consists of a thin belt made of textile yarns. Such thin bands can be woven, knitted or braided. An example of such a textile structure is a narrow fabric, such as a ribbon (galon). Such a ribbon has, for example, a width varying between 0.5 and 20 cm, for example between 1 and 5 cm. A particularly preferred embodiment consists of a chain knitted ribbon.

A textile structure according to the present invention has the advantage that it can be further processed on or in a substrate. In addition, the textile structure is drapeable, flexible, washable and stitchable. A further advantage of a textile structure according to the present invention is that it can be easily cut to the desired length. This makes a textile structure according to the present invention very user-friendly for decoration applications. The desired length can be cut from a textile structure, for example from a roll of this textile structure. The textile structure cut to the desired length can then be connected to an electrical supply and / or can be connected to a substrate such as a garment, for example by gluing, sewing, sticking, welding or stitching.

BE2017 / 5031

A fourth aspect of the present invention concerns a method of manufacturing a textile structure that includes at least one electrical component. The method of manufacturing a textile structure includes, for example, weaving, braiding or knitting at least one yarn and at least one sheathed electrical component as described above.

A preferred embodiment for making the textile structure is to use the sheathed electrical component in warp knitting. In this method, the encapsulated electrical component is used as a weft thread in warp knitting. In a first example, the encapsulated electrical component is knitted straight into the final textile structure. In a second example, the encapsulated electrical component is knitted in a non-straight way, for example in a zig-zag style. In the first example, the sheathed electrical component can be pulled out of the textile structure, in the second example, it is impossible or very difficult to pull the sheathed electrical component out of the textile structure.

A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a method of bonding a textile structure comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component as described above to a substrate. The method includes the following steps: providing a textile structure comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component as described above; providing a substrate;

cutting the textile structure to a predetermined length;

joining the textile structure cut to a predetermined length to said substrate;

connecting the textile structure to a power source.

The term substrate refers to any type of object on which a textile structure can be applied. Substrates can be, for example, utensils, decorative objects, protective or household objects. Such objects are, for example, clothing, such as shirts, jackets, caps, hats, shoes, other objects are beds, chairs, Christmas trees, flowers, carpets, furniture, such as pouffes, benches, chairs and the like. Substrates can be semi-finished products for further

BE2017 / 5031 making objects or finished products. Such substrates can be: wood, plastic, foil, foam, textile, cork, glass, silicone and the like. Such semi-finished products can be used as wall coverings, curtains and the like. In preferred embodiments, substrates include garments.

Cutting the textile structure according to the present invention can be done by any technique capable of cutting the textile structure to the desired length so that all different aspects of the textile structure and the electrical component are cut to the desired length. These techniques can include, but are not limited to, cutting, laser cutting and using scissors. In preferred embodiments of the present invention, scissors are used to cut the textile structure to the desired length.

Joining a textile structure of the present invention to a substrate or article can be performed by any technique capable of temporarily or permanently bonding, attaching or adhering a textile structure to or to a substrate. These techniques can include, but are not limited to, gluing, sewing, gluing, welding, and stitching. Preferably according to the present invention, the textile structure is stitched onto a substrate.

As a power source, any available power source capable of actively driving the electrical component in the textile structure can be considered. These sources can include, but are not limited to, batteries, the power grid, solar panels, and the like. Preferably battery and are used to drive the electrical component. When the textile structure is attached to a textile substrate and the textile substrate needs to be washed, it is possible to disconnect the battery from the textile substrate.

Connecting the power source to the encapsulated electrical component or a textile structure comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component can be by any available method suitable for bringing the current to the electrical component. These connection methods can be, but are not limited to, push buttons, cable connections and the like.

BE2017 / 5031

Brief description of the drawings

The invention is now described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 show different embodiments of encapsulated electrical components according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a textile structure comprising an encapsulated electrical component according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto. The drawings described are only schematic and are not limitative. In the drawings, the size of some elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice the invention.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an encapsulated electrical component 5 according to the present invention. The encapsulated electrical component 5 comprises an electrical component 1 and an enclosure 2. The enclosure 2 is obtained by knitting six wires around the electrical component 1 (circular knitting).

The electrical component 1 used in this specific example is an LED strip with an LED every 6 centimeters.

The sheath 2 of the electrical component 1 was obtained using 330 dtex polyester yarns on a 12 cylinder Semel knitting machine. These yarns were knitted around the electrical component 1 so that the electrical component 1 is no longer visible. Due to the low mechanical properties of the LED strip, the machine speed was set to a slower speed to allow knitting.

BE2017 / 5031

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an encapsulated electrical component 5 according to the present invention. The encapsulated electrical component 5 comprises an electrical component 1 and an enclosure 3. The enclosure 3 is obtained by knitting a yarn around the electrical component 1.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an encapsulated electrical component 5 according to the present invention. The encapsulated electrical component 5 comprises an electrical component 1 and an enclosure 4. The enclosure 4 is obtained by braiding a wire around the electrical component 1.

Figure 4 shows a textile structure 6 in which an encapsulated electrical component such as, for example, an encapsulated electrical component 5 as shown in Figure 1, Figure 2 or Figure 3 is integrated. In the embodiment in Figure 4, the sheathed electrical component 5 is used as a weft thread in a warp knitting process to produce a textile structure 6. The textile structure 6 comprises, for example, a ribbon with a width of 3 cm. The warp knitted construction makes it possible to place the encapsulated electrical component 5 in the center of the ribbon. Polyester yarns with a titre of 330 dtex were used for knitting. Preferably, after knitting, the textile structure 6 passes directly through press rolls, which consolidate the textile structure 6 at a pressure of, for example, 1 bar.

The textile structure 6 is used, for example, to decorate a garment, for example a shirt collar with an illuminable ribbon.

centimeter of the ribbon thus produced was cut from the textile structure 6 with scissors. This piece of ribbon was sewn on the outside of the collar of the shirt. The wire of the electrical component was connected at the back of the shirt with a cable to a 3.7 V battery inserted in an inner pocket of the shirt.

The resulting shirt was washed, after removing the battery, ten times on a 30 ° C wash. After washing and inserting the battery, the FEDs were still fully operational.

BE2017 / 5031

Claims (16)

Conclusions An encapsulated electrical component (5) comprising an electrical component (1) and an enclosure (2, 3, 4) surrounding the electrical component (1), characterized in that said enclosure (2, 3, 4) makes contact with the electrical component and that the envelope (2, 3, 4) comprises a textile structure provided around the electrical component by a textile operation. An encapsulated electrical component (5) according to claim 1, wherein said electrical component (1) comprises at least one elongated conductive element including at least one lighting component. An encapsulated electrical component (5) according to claim 2, wherein said at least one lighting component comprises a light emitting diode (LED). An encapsulated electrical component (5) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said textile structure of said enclosure (2, 3, 4) comprises a braided or knitted structure. A sheathed electrical component (5) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said textile structure of said sheath (2, 3, 4) comprises at least one yarn. An encapsulated electrical component (5) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said electrical component (1) is invisible to the human eye through said enclosure (2,3,4). A method of manufacturing an encapsulated electrical component (5), this method comprising the following steps of providing at least one electrical component (1); BE2017 / 5031 encasing said at least one electrical component (1) with an envelope (2, 3, 4) by a textile operation to provide said electrical component (1) with an envelope (2, 3, 4) in direct contact with the said electrical component (1). A method according to claim 7, wherein said textile operation comprises knitting, braiding or spinning. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the textile operation comprises knitting or braiding a textile structure around said at least one electrical component (1). A textile structure (6) comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component (5) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6. A textile structure (6) according to claim 10, wherein said textile structure (6) comprises a woven structure, a braided structure, a knitted structure. A textile structure (6) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the textile structure (6) comprises a ribbon. A method of manufacturing a textile structure (6) comprising at least one encapsulated electrical component (5), said method comprising the step of weaving, braiding, knitting at least one encapsulated electrical component (5) as defined in one of claims 1 to 6 and comprises at least one yarn. A method according to claim 13, wherein the knitting comprises chain knitting. A method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the sheathed electrical component (5) is used as a weft thread in warp knitting and wherein the BE2017 / 5031 encapsulated electrical component (5) is knitted in a straight or zig-zag manner. A method of joining a textile structure (6) as defined in 5 any of claims 10 to 12 to a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: providing a textile structure (6) as defined in any of claims 10 to 12, providing a substrate; - cutting said textile structure (6) to a predetermined length; connecting said textile structure (6) cut to a predetermined length to said substrate; connecting the textile structure (6) to a power source. BE2017 / 5031