Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
  • A01K27/00—Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs
  • A01K27/006—Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs with light-emitting or ornamental devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21K2/00—Non-electric light sources using luminescence; Light sources using electrochemiluminescence
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B5/00—Optical elements other than lenses
  • G02B5/12—Reflex reflectors
  • G02B5/122—Reflex reflectors cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type
  • G02B5/124—Reflex reflectors cube corner, trihedral or triple reflector type plural reflecting elements forming part of a unitary plate or sheet
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B33/00—Electroluminescent light sources
  • H05B33/02—Details

Definitions

• the present invention relates to flexible visibility enhancing material which is simultaneously self radiating and capable of reflecting light from an outside source.
• the material may be in sheet form comprising an overlying layer of prismatic light reflecting material and an underlying layer of luminescent material in which the latter can be selectively energized to become luminous.
• Various reflective materials are commonly employed for safety and decorative purposes.
• One of the most common principles employed is simply to apply a reflective coating upon a surface of the item or to construct the item of a highly reflective ⁇ material such as polished metal.
• a reflective coating upon a surface of the item or to construct the item of a highly reflective ⁇ material such as polished metal.
• structures which have upon one or both surfaces various formations which reflect the light rays impinging thereon, either principally as a result of the steepness of the angle at which the light ray impinges the surface or by virtue of reflective coatings on the surface of the formations.
• retroreflective materials i.e. materials capable of reflecting the bulk of the light rays impinging thereon in a substantially parallel path back toward the source of the light.
• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company has sold a material under the trademark SCOTCHLITE which relies upon minute glass spheres embedded in a matrix of synthetic resin to provide such retroreflection.
• Another type of retroreflective element has been a molded member having cube corner formations on one surface thereof, such molded members being formed from glass or synthetic plastic.
• Cube corner reflectors molded from glass and more recently from acrylic resins have commonly been employed as safety devices on bicycles, automobiles and other vehicles. Although it had long been suggested that the cube corner might be of small dimension until the advent of the U.S. Patent to Rowland, No. 3,684,348, generally such formations were of appreciable size. Furthermore, the nature of the material from which reflectors were fabricated resulted in structures which were relatively rigid in character and which did not lend themselves either to shaping to various substrates of nonplanar character or to use as a fabric which might be worn.
• the Rowland patent represented a significant advancement in the field of reflective materials. That patent discloses a retroreflective composite synthetic plastic material comprised of a body portion having substantially smooth surfaces on opposite sides thereof and a large number of minute cube corner formations closely spaced about and projecting from one of the smooth surfaces.
• the cube corner formations each have three faces and a base adjacent the body portion with a side edge dimension said to be not more than 0.025 inch and preferably less than 0.010 inch and the close spacing avoids any substantial smooth areas therebetween.
• the body portion and the cube corner formations are separately formed from essentially transparent synthetic plastic resin and are bonded together into a composite structure wherein those light rays entering into the material through the opposite surface of the body portion predominately pass through the body portion and into the cube corner formations by which they are reflected back f through the composite structure substantially parallel to the path of entry.
• each cube corner formation has one face parallel to one face of every other cube corner formation.
• the cube corner formations are substantially equal in size and arranged in a pattern of rows and columns.
• the center-to-center spacing between cube corner formations in every row and between cube corner formations in every column is in accordance with a uniform pattern to insure close spacing of the formations and good retroreflection.
• the apex of each cube corner formation is in alignment with the apices of all of the cube corner formations located in the pattern row and column in which it is disposed, and each apex is vertically aligned with the center of its base.
• the composite material has a reflective coating deposited on the cube corner formations.
• An adhesive layer may then be provided on the reflective coating and a removable piece of sheet material loosely adhered to the adhesive layer.
• This self-adherent composite structure may be readily used since the sheet material may be removed to adhere the retroreflective sheet material to a substrate.
• the reflective coating is metallic and the structure includes a layer of resin deposited on the metallic coating to provide protection therefor.
• a protective resin layer it is customary to provide an integral, non-removable backing sheet to provide protection for the cube corner formations which can be easily damaged.
• the backing sheet also serves to enhance the reflectability of the cube corner formations.
• luminous material or "luminous composition” is intended to include any material or composition which has phosphorescent, fluorescent, and/or auto luminescent properties.
• An early disclosure of a luminous device is provided in U.S. Patent No. 1,373,783 to Willis which discloses a glass plate mounted in a metal holder with a layer of luminous powder compressed between the glass plate and the holder.
• luminous adhesive sheet or tape material is disclosed.
• a sheet of cellulose film is provided with a permanently tacky, pressure-sensitive, adhesive coating containing a luminous material.
• the coating is applied to one surface of the sheet or tape and is visible through the sheet or tape when the latter is applied to a supporting object.
• U.S. Patent No. 3,260,846 to Feuer discloses a light source utilizing the beta ray energy of a radioactive material characterized by having a front phosphor region of sufficient depth to absorb the emitted beta rays but not the light generated by the radioactive excitation of the phosphor particles. It includes a back heavy metal reflecting region which, due to the high atomic number, at least 45, serves to back scatter the beta particles as well as reflect light. The reflected beta particles then further excite the forward phosphor regions and ultimately this energy is discharged from the system in a form of light energy.
• the luminescent material is of flexible vinyl plastic film which absorbs energy from any light source to which it is exposed, whether natural sunlight, or artificial incandescent or fluorescent light, and chemically generates a luminous light in response thereto.
• the film produces an intense bright green glow which is visible in absolute darkness for a duration of approximately thirty minutes. After that period of time, even though eighty to eighty-five percent of its luminosity will have diminished, it continues to exhibit a visible glow for up to an additional eight hour period of time. Nonetheless, after exposure of three to ten seconds of ambient light, the film can be recharged to its maximum capacity.
• flexible visibility enhancing material which combines the advantages of a light reflective component and a luminescent component.
• the material includes a first layer of prismatic light reflective plastic material having an underlying surface formed with a plurality of minute prism-like formations projecting therefrom at regular spaced intervals and an overlying substantially smooth light transmissive surface. Bonded as by heat sealing to the first layer is a second layer of plastic luminescent material contiguously and integrally attached to the underlying surface of prism-like formations and generally coextensive therewith.
• a leash for controlling and restraining a pet animal includes a flexible elongate member comprised of the visibility enhanced material and extends between proximal and distal ends.
• the leash is provided with a handle at the proximal end and an attachment member at the distal end for releasable connection to the pet animal.
• the combination of the two vinyl layers creates a new material which has the characteristics of both.
• the retroreflective phosphorescent type material of the invention reflects light back in the direction of its source and also produces its own light in conditions of subdued light and total darkness. This unique combination enables the material of the invention to be visible when light is shined onto it, and also when the light source is extinguished entirely. Additionally, the visibility enhancing material of the invention is visible under extreme variations and lighting conditions, including total darkness.
• the life expectancy of the radiance from the luminescent material has been found to be substantially extended.
• the retroreflective material serves to protect the chemical content of the luminescent material such that the decay of its luminous glow is substantially reduced.
• the material may be in sheet form comprising a layer of prismatic light reflecting material and an underlying layer of luminescent material in which the latter can be selectively energized to become luminous.
• Still another object of the invention is to provide such a visibility enhancing material having an adhesive coating by which it may be conveniently adhered to a support surface.
• a further object of the invention is to provide flexible visible enhancing material which may be in sheet form comprising a layer of prismatic light reflecting material and an underlying layer of luminescent material in which the letter can be selectively energized to become luminous.
• Figure 1 is a fragmentary cross section view of flexible visibility enhancing material embodying the invention
• Figure 2 is a pictorial view depicting one embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3 is a cross section view taken generally along line 3—3 in Figure 2;
• Figure 4 is a cross section view of another embodiment of the flexible visibility enhancing material.
• Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of an electrical circuit for operating the embodiment depicted in Figure 4.
• FIG. 1 illustrates, in section, flexible visibility enhancing material 20 embodying the #z invention.
• the material G is layered and may be of sheet or tape form.
• a first layer 22 of the material is comprised of prismatic light reflective material having an underlying surface formed with a plurality of minute prism-like formations 24 which project outwardly from a main body 26 at regular spaced intervals.
• the main body is also formed with an overlying substantially smooth light transmissive surface 28.
• the first layer 22 may be substantially similar to the construction disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,684,348, cited above, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• the prism-like formations 24 are actually cube corner formations each of which has three planar faces which are disposed in planes perpendicular to each other and intersecting along their side edges. The apex of each such prism-like formation is vertically aligned with the center of the base.
• the formations 24 are arranged in a pattern providing rows and columns and the center-to-center spacing between the apices of the formations along the rows and columns is in accordance with a regular pattern to assure close spacing and avoid substantially any flat areas between them.
• the light ray is directed to a second of the planar surfaces, then to a third of the planar A3 surfaces, after which it is directed out of the formation 24 i ** ? a return path indicated by a reflected light ray 32.
• the path of the reflected light ray 32 is substantially parallel to that of the light ray 30 before entering the main body 26. Indeed, this is the principle of retroreflection which is utilized by the material manufactured and sold by Reflexite Corporation of New Jersey, Connecticut under the trademark "REFLEXITE".
• a reflective coating overlying the prism-like formations 24 may be provided by a metallized synthetic plastic film which is brought into intimate contact with the surface of the cube corner formations.
• a second layer 34 of luminescent material is applied to the prism-like formations 24 so as to be contiguously and integrally attached thereto and generally coextensive therewith.
• the second layer 34 is preferably of a vinyl material having luminescent qualities such as that mentioned above which is commercially available under the trademark "SPOT-LITE".
• the second layer 34 may be bonded to the formations 24 as by heat or ultrasonic sealing performed in such a manner that the quality of the prism-like formations is not compromised in any manner.
• a coating or layer 36 of a permanently tacky, press Aure sensitive adhesive is deposited on the surface of the second layer 34 opposite the prism-like formations 24. Thereafter, a sheet of backing material 38, or release paper, is applied so as to overlie the adhesive 36 and is loosely adhered thereon. To mount this structure on a suitable surface, the sheet 38 is removed and the remaining composite material pressed thereagainst so that the adhesive coating will adhere thereto.
• Supporting surfaces for the visibility enhancing material 20 of the invention are virtually limitless and, as noted above, may include walls, buildings, signs, clothing, vehicles, and a variety of other receiving surfaces.
• a surface 28 is an outermost surface and is first subjected to a primary light ray 30.
• Light rays 30 impinge upon the prism-like formations 24 and, with the aid of the second Layer 34 of luminescent material providing a reflective background, are redirected as reflected light rays 32.
• the second layer 34 emits its luminescence through the prism-like formations 24 and through the first layer 22 and through the smooth light transmissive surface 28 to regions external of the material 20.
• the material 20 of the invention is substantially as reflective as the unmodified REFLEXITE material, or equivalent, which is utilized in its construction.
• the luminescence emitted by the material 20 of the invention is substantially the same as the unmodified "SPOT-LITE" material, or other similar luminescent material.
• the reflective material, overlying the luminescent material serves to protect the chemical content of the luminescent material such that the decay of its luminous glow is substantially reduced.
• the first layer 22 may be available in a wide assortment of colors including white, yellow, orange, blue, and red, for rendering further enhanced visibility to an underlying structure.
• FIG. 2 and 3 Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.
• a visibility enhanced leash 40 is depicted for controlling and constraining a pet animal, such as a dog 42.
• the leash 40 is of flexible elongated construction that extends between a handle member 44 at its proximal end adapted to be gripped by the dog's human companion and an attachment member 46 of suitable construction for releasably connecting the leash to a collar or harness for the dog.
• the construction of the leash is similar to that of the material 20. Specifically, it includes a first layer 48 of the prismatic light reflective material, similar to layer 22, formed with a plurality of minute prism-like formations 50 projecting therefrom at regular spaced intervals.
• the first layer 48 includes an overlying substantially smooth light transmissive surface 52 and a main body 54 intermediate the formations 50 and the surface 52. Bonded to the prism-like formations 50 so as to be contiguously and integrally attached to their underlying surface and generally coextensive therewith is a second layer 56 of luminescent material.
• the leash 40 acts both as a strength member for controlling and restraining a pet animal and also incorporates the enhanced visibility characteristics of the material 20 as previously described.
• FIG. 4 and 5 depicted in Figures 4 and 5 which comprises modified flexible material 60 of the type according to which the luminescent material can be selectively energized to become luminescent.
• the second layer 34 of luminescent material depicted in Figure 1 has been replaced by a composite layered system 62 comprised of a plurality of sublayers which are bonded together in a suitable manner and encapsulated so as to be substantially hermetically sealed.
• a first electrode 64 typically of aluminum foil, has bonded thereto. i ? first a plastic dielectric layer 66, then a phosphor layer 68 comprised in substantial part of zinc sulfide. The layers 66 and 68 may be screened onto the aluminum foil layer in a well known manner. Overlying the phosphor layer 68 is a transparent electrode 70 of suitable plastic such as a polyester film on an opposite surface of which is suitably deposited a second electrode 72 which may be in the form of a silver bus bar. A final layer 74 may be a suitable desiccant to eliminate moisture from the system 62.
• caps 76, 78 Overlying and underlying the electrodes 64, 72 and their associated layered components are upper and lower caps 76, 78, respectively, which are peripherally bonded, as by heat sealing, to encapsulate all of the components and maintain them hermetically sealed.
• the caps 76, 78 may be composed of a polyester or other suitable plastic material.
• One material which has been found to be particularly desirable for the purpose is the copolymer polychlorotrifluoroethylene and polyvinylidene fluoride, one source of which is Allied Chemical Corporation of Morristown. NJ which sells the material under the trademark "ACLAR".
• the composite layered system 62 is suitably bonded to the prismatic layer 22 in a manner similar to the bonding of the layer 34 to the layer 22 of the Figure 1 embodiment.
• Schematic electrical circuitry 80 is illustrated in Figure 5 for operating the composite layered system 62 .
• a batt ifery 82 is provided as a source of d.c. voltage, or electromotive force.
• Electrically coupled to the battery is a suitable inverter 84 which converts the d.c. output of the battery to a.c.
• Leads 86, 88 of copper or other suitable material connect, respectively, to the electrodes 64, 72.
• a switch 90 can be manually or automatically operated, in some desired fashion, to thereby cause to be generated an electrical field across the phosphor layer 68 with the result that the phosphor layer thereby becomes luminescent.
• the life expectancy of the radiance from the composite layered system 62 is substantially extended when combined with the microprism material 22.
• This desirable and unobvious result is achieved because, with the construction disclosed, it is not necessary to electrically energize the phosphor layer 68 as frequently to obtain a desired energy output when the composite layered system 62 is employed with the electrical circuitry 80 as compared with the use of that system but without the prismatic layer 22.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Animal Husbandry (AREA)
• Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
• Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=27095959

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (4)

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• 1992
  • 1992-01-31 AU AU13674/92A patent/AU1367492A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1992-01-31 EP EP19920906509 patent/EP0570504A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-01-31 WO PCT/US1992/000872 patent/WO1992014173A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (4)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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