EP1992240A1 - Protective gear with an EL glowing laminate and manufacturing method and application therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

The protective gear has a luminescent EL-laminate (1) arranged with a housing and has a flat, flexible and thin EL-ZnS thick film-AC arrangement (2) with a fluorescent laminate (1), an integrated flat battery (5), an inverter (3) and a one-off switch (6). The luminescent EL-laminate (1) has a locking element arranged on the back of the protective clothing (8) and which is removable, with a label (7) arranged on the front. An independent claim is included for a manufacturing method and application.

Description

The invention relates to a protective clothing with an EL luminous laminate and a manufacturing method and an application thereof.

In the US05479325 is called a headgear-mounted member having an EL strip with a battery, an EL inverter, a switch, a functional platform and a waterproof housing. As Befestigungsmöghchkeit is among other things in claim 4, a Velcro, so called a hook and loop fastener called.
It will be in this US05479325 However, by no means a laminated composite consisting of the EL lamp with the EL inverter and the battery described, but a waterproof housing and a functional platform.

Disadvantage of said arrangement is that a separate housing is present next to the light strip, which increases the connection effort between light strip and housing. Furthermore, the construction cost and the manufacturing cost of such an arrangement is greater and it takes an increased space requirement.

In this arrangement, there is the disadvantage that different parts must be connected by means of cables, which increases the handling effort and about this makes the entire arrangement neither waterproof protected nor mechanical shocks protects.

In the US27002557A1 is called a garment with an EL light circuit with one or more flat strip EL lamps and a rechargeable battery. In this case, the rechargeable power supply is conventionally connected to the EL lamps via electrical connection lines and the EL inverter or the rechargeable battery is not integrated into the EL lamp, as in the present invention.

In the US07083295B1 are called an EL bag and / or a cap and a shoe and a jacket, wherein an EL display panel is connected in an area of the product with this. The power supply is provided by electrical connection cables to a unit of battery and EL inverter and an electronic circuit.

In this document, the same disadvantages apply, as they are based on the US 27002557A1 were called.

It will be in this US07083295B1 However, not a laminated composite consisting of the EL lamp with the EL inverter and the battery described, but an EL lamps system with a stand-alone power supply unit.

There, therefore, only a light-emitting plaque is described, in which the individual components are connected to one another via wires, which protects against mechanical damage and splash water.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a protective clothing with a light strip as EL luminous laminate so that a thin-order arrangement can be created with large-scale light impression, which is easy to handle.

To solve the task, the technical teaching of claim 1. The essential feature of the invention is that a caseless luminescent strip is created, which is easily releasably fastened by means of closure elements on the protective clothing.

Because of the housing-free design, there is the essential advantage that a flat battery is integrated in the luminescent laminate itself, so that all functional components necessary for the operation of the luminescent strip are integrated in the EL luminescent laminate itself. It is therefore a completely separately fastened component that no longer housing needs and the very easily detachable closures on the protective clothing can be fastened.

In this way, any protective clothing can be modularly equipped with a corresponding light strip because, because of the functional inscription integrated in the light strip, the protective clothing is now assigned a specific function (eg fire master or emergency rescue and the like).

This is not apparent from the prior art.

Some embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawing figures.

• Figur 1 : eine schematische Darstellung eines beispielhaften EL-Leuchtlaminats (1) in Draufsicht,
• Figur 2 : einen schematischen Schnitt durch eine erste Ausführungsform eines EL-Leuchtlaminats (1),
• Figur 3 : einen schematischen Schnitt durch eine zweite Ausführungsform eines EL-Leuchtlaminats (1) mit einer Schutzhülle (12),
• Figur 4 : einen schematischen Schnitt durch eine erste Ausführungsform eines EL-Leuchtlaminats (1) mit einer Schutzhülle (12) und rückseitiger Elektronik (3, 9),
• Figur 5 : eine schematische Darstellung einer Person (17) mit Schutzkleidungselementen (8) und EL-Leuchtlaminaten (1).

Showing:

• FIG. 1 FIG. 2 : a schematic representation of an exemplary EL luminous laminate (1) in plan view, FIG.
• FIG. 2 FIG. 2 : a schematic section through a first embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1), FIG.
• FIG. 3 FIG. 2 : a schematic section through a second embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1) with a protective cover (12), FIG.
• FIG. 4 FIG. 2 : shows a schematic section through a first embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1) with a protective sleeve (12) and rear-side electronics (3, 9), FIG.
• FIG. 5 : a schematic representation of a person (17) with protective clothing elements (8) and EL luminous laminates (1).

In the FIG. 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary EL luminous laminate (1) is shown in plan view. The EL device (2) is in In this case, piecewise arranged on the right side of the EL luminous laminate (1) or the substrate (10) and can in principle be arranged piecewise left or piecewise above or piecewise below or executed over the entire surface, in which case the components (3, 5 , 6, 9) are advantageously arranged on the back of the EL luminous laminate (1).

On the top of the EL device (2) is a function label (7) is arranged. This graphic representation (7) can be carried out manually by means of a permanent marker, that is to say a pencil with water-resistant ink, or by printing by means of pad printing or screen printing or transfer printing or inkjet printing and similar printing techniques. By attaching the graphical representation (7) on the surface of the EL device (2), the production can be done individually by the user or already during production. By using, for example, 2-component pad printing ink, a high abrasion resistance and a good resistance to environmental influences can be achieved.

In FIG. 2 1 is a schematic section through a first embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1) consisting of a substrate (10) with an upper wiring structure (15), with an EL arrangement (2) with functional inscription (7) arranged thereon and with an EL Inverter (3) and an on-off switch (6) or button (6) and a charging element (9) and a power supply (5) in the form of a rechargeable battery (5) and a rear Velcro fastener element (11).

The EL device (2) is produced according to the prior art by screen printing of EL pastes, ie in thick film technology, and with alternating current of a few 100 to over 200 volts and a frequency of greater than 50 Hz and typically in the range 400 Hz 800 Hz and also operated at high emission brightness values. Since such EL device (2) in the use as EL luminous laminate (1) must be flexibly deformable and used under harsh operating conditions is to be designed, the EL element (2) design for high ductility.

In particular, polyurethane-based screen printing ink systems are used and a bendable embodiment is selected at least for the front transparent electrode. In this case, intrinsically conductive polymers, for example based on Baytron P, can be used or it is possible to disperse polymeric thin and substantially transparent and electrically conductive layers based on ITO (indium tin oxide) or ATO (antimony tin oxide) particles be used in a polymeric matrix. In addition, SWCNTs (single-walled carbon nanotubes) can be added and thus the risk of cracking due to overstretching or excessive deformation can be reduced or avoided.

Basically, a sputtered ITO electrode can be used and in this case the entire system must be made substantially stiffer, since too small bending radii or excessive deformation such ITO electrode tends to crack and thus a failure of the EL device (2 ) or parts thereof.

Usually, such transparent front-side electrodes with surface resistance values of about 30 ohms / square to 60 ohms / square to 600 ohms / square are still edged with a so-called bus bar and can thus produce a uniform EL luminous field with dimensions of typically A5 up to A4 or B4 become.

The EL device (2) is usually made of at least one front transparent film of PET or polycarbonate (PC) having a film thickness of typically 125 μm or 175 μm and above. On the outside of this film, the function label (7) is arranged and the outside may have a corresponding surface structure. A matt or semi-gloss surface texture provides good scratch resistance and acts as a diffuser for EL emission. Basically, this top transparent film also consist of two films and this second film can be formed by means of lamination and can thus be achieved additional protection.

On the inside of this front transparent film, a substantially transparent and electrically conductive layer is arranged with peripheral bus bar. Subsequently, the EL layer of usually microencapsulated zinc sulfide electroluminophores is homogeneously dispersed in a polymeric matrix, preferably based on polyurethanes and such permanently elastic polymers arranged.

The EL layer can have a desired emission color by selecting or mixing the EL pigments. It is also possible to incorporate color-converting dyes and / or pigments (Stokes shift) and, for example, the emission color white can be achieved in this way. Since such conversion admixtures usually have an intrinsic color in the range pink-pink to orange, a thin layer of, for example, titanium dioxide dispersed in a polymeric matrix can be placed over it and can be achieved such a whitish surface.

In one development of the present invention, in the EL layer or in the polymeric matrix it is additionally possible to add long luminescent pigments. For a rapidly rechargeable afterglow layer, inexpensive zinc sulfidic afterglow pigments can be used, and for a slower rechargeable afterglow layer, rare earth doped aluminates or silicates pigments are preferably used which then have an afterglow time of up to 2,000 minutes (observable for the dark-adapted eye and fully charged afterglow pigments) and have over it.

Often, mixtures of these mentioned afterglow pigments are used. The emission color is from greenish-bluish-yellowish to blue and red selectable, per pigment, the persistence strong fluctuates. The advantage of this Nachleuchtpigmentebeimengung can be that even if the power supply fails, the EL light field (2) remains lit, but usually only a few mcd / m ² and not some 2 to 10 cd / m ² as in the case of the function of Power supply of the EL device (2).

The EL layer is usually produced by screen printing. By this type of production also point-like EL elements are basically printable. By such a grid of EL points or small geometrical shapes, the active EL area can be reduced and the EL power supply can be made smaller.

After the insulation layer or the usually two printed insulation layers comes the back electrode. This can be formed directly in connection with the insulating layer or separately by means of lamination of a corresponding electrode arrangement.

The back electrode may be integrated in the EL layer sequence (2) or it may be formed by the backside conductive pattern (15) on the substrate (10). This results in a particularly flexible and thin structure.

The substrate (10) may in turn be an integral part of the EL luminous laminate (2) or an independent component.

The substrate (10) may be in the form of a thin circuit board having a wiring pattern (115). However, it is also possible to choose a polycarbonate film (PC film) or a film of ABS and the like polymeric materials. In this case, the conductive structure can be produced by printing technology or embossing technology or by wire-laying technology.

The components (3, 5, 6, 9) are arranged on this substrate (10). The wiring or wiring of the components via the conductive structure (15), wherein the electrical contacting can be done by means of conventional soldering, laser soldering, welding, ultrasonic welding, electrically conductive bonding and the like connection technologies.

The individual components are positioned using adhesive technology or US technology and can still be fixed or protected by means of resin systems and dispenser application.

As the power supply (5), a rechargeable battery is preferably used, and relatively small or flat batteries having a good charging characteristic and a low discharging characteristic can be used.

For example, Solicore, Inc. offers a 135 ° C laminatable SF-7624-HT40EA038 rechargeable flat battery with dimensions of 76 x 24 mm and a thickness in the range of 0.38 to 0.45 mm with a nominal capacity of 40 mAh and nominal 3 volts with a current pulse performance of up to 40 mA.

Modern EL inverters (3) can be operated from 3 volts DC and require low currents. For example, Supertex Inc. offers a 4.9 x 2.95 x 1.1 mm EL Lamp Driver IC HV850 with 3.0 to 4.2 volt DC operating voltage. Thus, an EL device with a dimension, as is common in mobile phone displays, with AC voltages in the range of 100 volts to over 200 volts at frequencies from 50 Hz, typically at about 200 Hz to 800Hz up to the kHz range, operated.

As a possible EL area 2 in ² are given. In the present case only a few 2 to a maximum of 10 cd / m ² EL emission brightness are needed. This HV850 IC also offers additional electronic features, such as the controllability of the EL frequency or the delayed switching off and the like additional functions. Moreover, this HV850 requires no additional inductance (coil) for operating an EL foil and is therefore particularly well suited for an extremely flat design.

There are, however, a number of alternative EL lamp driver circuits which may also be powered by 3 volt DC, and which are also very thin in construction and often include ancillary equipment for the operation of two EL panels or power-down electronics a sensor-controlled brightness control.

The on-off switch (6) or button can be realized in many ways and can be formed for example as a capacitive field or as a flexurally elastic field.

The loading element (9) can also be made diverse. In a simple and inexpensive embodiment, a standard low-voltage charging socket is provided up to a micro-USB socket and can be done by ohmic contact of the battery charging process. In addition to this contact-type charging of the battery and capacitive or inductive charging systems can be used in the prior art.

In FIG. 3 a schematic section through a second embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1) with a protective cover (12) is shown. In this schematic sectional view, two foils (13, 14) form the protective cover (12). In principle, instead of the lower film (14), the substrate (10) can also be used as the lower film.

The functional inscription (7) is in these cases on the upper protective film (13) and the at least piece Velcro fastener element (11) is arranged on the underside of the lower protective cover (14) or on the underside of the substrate (10). The protective film (13, 14) can be used in the form of thermoplastic films, wherein at least the upper film (13) in the region of the EL array must be made transparent or at least translucent. The protective film (13, 14) can also be formed from a fabric material or a nonwoven fabric, wherein at least the upper element (13) in the region of the EL device (2) must be transparent or translucent.

In FIG. 4 is a schematic section through a first embodiment of an EL luminous laminate (1) with a protective sheath (12) and backside electronics (3, 9) shown. Although this embodiment requires mounting both components on the substrate (10) on both sides and also a second back wiring structure (16), it provides more efficient front surface utilization by the EL device (2) and efficient utilization of the back side for the device a flat and thin rechargeable battery (5).

In FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a person (17) with protective clothing elements (8) and EL luminous laminates (1) shown. The EL luminous laminates (1) can be arranged in such a way by means of Velcro fastener detachably at a plurality of positions. The attachment of such EL luminous laminates (1) by means of at least piece Velcro fastener elements (11) on bottles or supply and Einsatzgegenständen can take place in an analogous form for attachment to a person (17).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

EL illumination laminate

2

EL arrangement

3

EL inverter

5

battery

6

On-off switch with optional pulse switching position

7

function marking

8th

protective clothing

9

Charging elements: ohmic contacts, capacitive or inductive non-contact charging elements

10

substratum

11

Closure element: piecewise, flat

12

cover

13

Protective cover top

14

Protective cover bottom

15

Return electrode or wiring structure

16

Back wiring structure

17

person

Claims (16)

Protective clothing with an EL luminescent laminate (1) which is designed to be free of housing, comprising at least one flat, flexible and thin EL-ZnS thick-film AC arrangement (2) with a flat battery (5) integrated in the luminescent laminate (1), an EL inverter (3) and an on-off switch (6), wherein the EL luminous laminate (1) is removably mounted on the back with at least one closure element (11) on the protective clothing (8) and on the front side Functional label (7). Protective clothing (8) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one closure element as Velcro (11) directly on the back of the substrate (10) with the EL device (2) and with integrated battery (5) and EL inverter ( 3) and on-off switch (6) is arranged. Protective clothing (8) according to claim 1, characterized in that the EL device (2) with integrated battery (4) and EL inverter (3) and on-off switch (5) in a protective cover (12, 13, 14 ) are arranged and the at least one piece Velcro closure element (11) on the back of the protective cover (14) is mounted and the front of the protective cover (13) is transparent or translucent for the at least one planar EL-arrangement (2). Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the entire EL luminous laminate has a thickness of less than 5 mm and in particular less than 3 mm. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 4, characterized in that the front has a functional inscription, which can be individually attached to the front of the EL luminous laminate irreversible or reversible. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 5, characterized in that the functional inscription is carried out by means of pad printing or screen printing or transfer printing or manually by means of a pen. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 6, characterized in that the EL luminous laminate has a rechargeable flat battery and the charging by means of ohmic contacts or contactless by means of capacitive coupling surfaces or inductive coupling surfaces Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one EL device is operated in pulsed mode and thus the signal effect is increased and at the same time energy is saved. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 8, characterized in that the EL luminous laminate has luminescent phosphorescent pigments in a polymeric matrix. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that the EL luminous laminate has hollow glass beads in a polymeric matrix and thus has autoreflektive or retroreflective properties. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 10, characterized in that the EL luminous laminate has reflective flakes or platelets in a polymeric matrix. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 11, characterized in that the front side of the EL luminous laminate is formed from a translucent fabric or woven fabric ("non-woven") and is arranged on the outside of the functional inscription. Protective clothing according to claim 1 to 12, characterized in that a plurality of EL arrangements are arranged. Protective clothing according to Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a protective clothing is understood to mean a fire-fighter protective clothing, an emergency physician, police, rescue and similar signal protective clothing up to helmets and boots and gas cylinders. Method for producing an EL luminous laminate for protective clothing, comprising at least one flat and flexible and bendable and thin EL ZnS thick-film AC arrangement with integrated battery and EL inverter and on-off switch, for protective clothing after one of claims 1 to 14. Application of an EL luminous laminate for a protective clothing comprising at least one flat and flexible and bendable and thin EL-ZnS thick-film AC arrangement with integrated battery and EL inverter and on-off switch for a protective clothing according to one of Claims 1 to 14 for wiederabnehmbaren attachment to a fire department protective clothing, emergency medical, police, rescue and the like signal-effective protective clothing up to helmets and boots and gas cylinders with at least one piecewise back Velcro fastener element and a front functional inscription.

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