Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K11/00—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials
  • C09K11/02—Use of particular materials as binders, particle coatings or suspension media therefor
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
  • C09K11/00—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials
  • C09K11/08—Luminescent, e.g. electroluminescent, chemiluminescent materials containing inorganic luminescent materials
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
  • F21V9/30—Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source

Definitions

• the invention relates to a light housing, such as a light box or a light source of an at least partially transparent material .
• light source as used herein is understood to mean an incandescent lamp or a tube lamp, for example, and the term light box is generally understood to mean a light casing, a lamp shade or other devices which enclose a light source at least partially.
• a normally operating, energized light source generally emits "white" light.
• the current supply to the light source is interrupted, for example in case of a power failure caused by calamities, such as the blowing of a fuse, fire and the like, or when part of the light source just breaks down, for example when a filament burns through, or when the light source is turned off, the room darkens.
• darkening is undesirable, numerous problems may arise.
• persons who were carrying out activities in such a room cannot resume their activities until the light source emits light again, for example.
• such darkening generally leads to panic reactions and the persons have difficulty in getting their bearings in the dark, in particular when they have to leave said rooms.
• it will be necessary in such situations to revert to the use of light sources which operate independently of a power source for example pocket lights and candles.
• the invention provides a light housing which is at least partially provided with an illuminating coating.
• a light housing which is at least partially provided with an illuminating coating.
• the invention thus provides a safe and secure solution for the problems which may arise in case of undesirable darkening.
• afterglowing pigment as used herein is understood to mean a fluorescent and/or phosphorescent pigment .
• Fluorescence is the process whereby radiation is emitted as a result of a transition between molecular energy levels exhibiting the same spin condition, whilst in the case of phosphorescence, radiation is emitted as a result of a transition between two molecular energy levels exhibiting different spin conditions. Fluorescence is of very short duration, and generally it only occurs visibly when a fluorescent pigment is exposed to light. Phosphorescent pigments, however, are capable of emitting light for a much longer period of time after being exposed to light, however.
• fluorescent as well as of phosphorescent pigments is the fact that they are both capable of emitting light of a different wavelength or a different wavelength range than the light to which they are exposed, or to which they were initially exposed. Such a pigment is thus capable of emitting light of a particular colour or tint upon or after exposure to for example "white light” .
• Illuminating pigments are activated by natural light or by other light sources. In the dark, for example in case of a power failure, the absorbed light is immediately emitted.
• An additional advantage of such light housings is the fact that the light from the light source is directly absorbed by the photo-illuminating pigment. When the natural light becomes dimmer or when the light sources are extinguished, actively or not actively, the pigment will start to emit the absorbed light.
• a light housing according to the invention is in particular provided with a coating consisting of a dispersion with a base of cellulose, acrylate, epoxy or polyurethane, or of a foil, for example a shrink foil provided with an afterglowing pigment of a alkaline- earth metal-containing aluminate, which is doped with one or more transition metals.
• Such a coating can be applied thinly, since said illuminating pigments have a small grain size of approximately 7 - 10 ⁇ m.
• the afterglowing or illuminating pigment can be exposed to light having a wavelength range of about 350 - 450 n, preferably of about 380 - 400 nm.
• the afterglowing pigment preferably emits light wherein the wavelength maximum lies at about 520 nm and the wavelength range of the emitted light is about 475 - 575 nm.
• the persistence and the intensity of the afterglow in accordance with Din 67510, Part 4 (1995) of the afterglowing pigment is at least 1,350 minutes, preferably at least 2,000 minutes with a visibility limit of 0.3 mcd/m 2 .
• the intensity of the light being emitted by the afterglowing pigment after 5 minutes is at least 170 mcd/m 2 , preferably at least 400 mcd/m 2 , after 30 minutes it is at least 25 mcd/m 2 , preferably at least 65 mcd/m 2 , and after 20 minutes it is at least 5 mcd/m 2 , preferably at least 11 mcd/m 2 .
• the the light housing according to the invention is preferably provided with a coating wherein the charging degree of the afterglowing pigment is 10 - 80%, preferably 20 - 50%. This provides a perceivable light intensity for a duration of at least 8 hours, which makes it possible to find the exits when darkness sets in or when the lights go out due to a calamity.
• a light housing according to the invention preferably comprises a coating having a layer thickness of 10 - 100 ⁇ m, for example 50 ⁇ m.
• the coating according to the invention is particularly suitable for being used as an outer layer on a prefabricated light housing.
• The provides the additional advantage of protection against breakage, for example in the case of glass fracture of a light source, whereby fragments of glass that may have come loose are confined.
• Such a thin layer will not visibly interfere with the light emitted by the light source, so that the transparency remains ensured.
• the initial light output of the light housing according to the invention will preferably be at least higher than 3,000 mcd/m 2 , more preferably at least 5,000 mcd/m 2 .
• One preferred embodiment is a light housing according to the invention in the form of a fluorescent tube. Since such a fluorescent tube has a large surface area, a substantial afterglow action can be obtained due to the action of the large surface area of the coating. For the same reasons, the generally known energy-saving lamps constitute a preferred embodiment of a light housing according to the invention.
• the invention furthermore relates to an illuminating coating with a base of a dispersion, for example a cellulose, acrylate, epoxy or polyurethane dispersion or a foil provided with an afterglowing pigment of an alkaline-earth metal-containing aluminate, which is doped with one or more transition metals, and to a method of applying such a coating to a light housing.
• a dispersion for example a cellulose, acrylate, epoxy or polyurethane dispersion or a foil provided with an afterglowing pigment of an alkaline-earth metal-containing aluminate, which is doped with one or more transition metals
• the coatings for example with a base of a polyurethane dispersion or another plastic emulsion or dispersion, are directly applied to the glass of the light housing, the light source or the light box by dipping or by using another application technique.
• Said coated light sources can be fitted in the usual light boxes or lamp holders.
• a coating with a base of a foil of LDPE or PE, for example, preferably a shrink foil, for example of modified vinyl acetate, can be applied to the light housing directly after the manufacture thereof as a subsequent finishing step.
• a shrink foil for example of modified vinyl acetate
• the light housings may first be subjected to a pre- treatment step, for example an etching step or another, 6 mechanical operation, such as blasting or sanding.
• a pre-treatment step for example an etching step or another, 6 mechanical operation, such as blasting or sanding.
• the application of a primer may render such a pre-treatment step superfluous.
• a uniform coating is applied to the glass in a layer thickness of approx. 10 - 100 ⁇ m by dipping, after which drying and curing follows.
• a layer thickness of 20 - 70 ⁇ m is preferred.
• Such a thin coating disturbs the normal light action only minimally. Said dipping may take place in two directions, so as to obtain a homogeneous coating.
• the light source such as a tube, a lamp etc. is rotated horizontally in the coating, thus obtaining a uniform coating in one operation.
• This coating can only be applied by means of a paint brush or by using a spraying technique.
• the coating may be provided with a colourless finishing layer.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Paints Or Removers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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ID=19767119

Family Applications (1)

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Family Cites Families (6)

• 1998
  • 1998-05-12 NL NL1009136A patent/NL1009136C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-04-29 AU AU37363/99A patent/AU3736399A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-04-29 EP EP99919707A patent/EP1076795A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-04-29 WO PCT/NL1999/000261 patent/WO1999058900A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-04-29 CA CA002331521A patent/CA2331521A1/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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