EP2639495B1 - Structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle utilisant la technologie de photoactivité - Google Patents

Structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle utilisant la technologie de photoactivité Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2639495B1
EP2639495B1 EP13159344.4A EP13159344A EP2639495B1 EP 2639495 B1 EP2639495 B1 EP 2639495B1 EP 13159344 A EP13159344 A EP 13159344A EP 2639495 B1 EP2639495 B1 EP 2639495B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
active material
sheet
light active
dimensional
lighting structure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP13159344.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP2639495A3 (fr
EP2639495A2 (fr
Inventor
Paul E. Lohneis
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Individual
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Individual
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Filing date
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Priority claimed from US13/421,921 external-priority patent/US8845117B2/en
Priority claimed from US13/421,916 external-priority patent/US8979290B2/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2639495A2 publication Critical patent/EP2639495A2/fr
Publication of EP2639495A3 publication Critical patent/EP2639495A3/fr
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Publication of EP2639495B1 publication Critical patent/EP2639495B1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
    • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
    • A47G33/08—Christmas tree decorations
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G33/00—Religious or ritual equipment in dwelling or for general use
    • A47G33/04—Christmas trees 
    • A47G33/08—Christmas tree decorations
    • A47G2033/0827—Christmas tree decorations illuminated
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2121/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2121/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
    • F21W2121/006—Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2105/00—Planar light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21Y2115/15—Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]

Definitions

  • Existing lighting having miniature or light emitting diode (LED) technology employs rigid plastic frames to support two-dimensional shapes. These frames detract from the focus on the pattern and are bulky to store. Moreover, the frames used in current dimensional lighting are flat and therefore only support a two-dimensional ornament, thereby not providing a lighted three-dimensional user experience. This rigidity also denies flexibility in the number or quality of shapes that are available.
  • Existing miniature light technology furthermore has an operational life that is limited. Power load increases occur when one or more bulbs burn out and must be borne by the remaining lights until the entire circuit burns out at once, leaving a useless lighting fixture in which the problem bulb or bulbs are difficult to identify and replace. Additionally, such conventional lighting is notorious for using considerable power and generating considerable heat.
  • WO 03/023807 discloses the use of an electroluminescent flexible film in a snack-food bag.
  • WO92/18964 discloses an electronic book for identifying and highlighting printed information by visual signals.
  • US2004/0070195 discloses a flexible sheet having at least one region of electroluminescence.
  • three-dimensional lighting structures employing light active technology and arranged in one or more three-dimensional shapes, such as stars, balls, snowflakes, diamonds, and the like, which may or may not be geometrically patterned (geo-pattern), are disclosed.
  • Such light active technology may be arranged in sheet or string format and includes organic light emitting diode (OLED) and inorganic light emitting diode (ILED) lighting technology.
  • OLED technology employs organic compounds that are deposited, such as in rows and columns, as a film onto a flat carrier by a printing process. The resulting pixels of the organic compounds form an emissive electroluminescent layer that can emit light of varying colors.
  • ILED technology uses inorganic materials.
  • light active technology may be folded, cut and shaped provides for lighting structures to be given a three-dimensional presentation in shape when used and then easily folded for ready storage in accordance with various embodiments.
  • the durability of light active technology material provides for durable construction that can be used indoors or outdoors, and can be reused a number of times.
  • the long lighting life associated with light active technology, such as OLED, is also attractive. Using this technology, the "support" framing that might otherwise be needed for decorative lighting can be minimized while still enjoying the longevity associated with light active technology.
  • the degree of three-dimensionality achieved is somewhat dependant on the number of sheets or plies of light active technology used or the intricacy of folding of one or more sheets of light active technology employed to render a three-dimensional form, which may be in a geometrical-pattern (geo-pattern) form though this is not required.
  • the three-dimensional lighting may have multiple sheets of light active technology material that can be opened, or fanned open from closed, relatively flat closed storage, similar to the un-illuminated tissue paper balls, or it may be comprised of one sheet of light active technology material.
  • a three-dimensional structure may be achieved by fan folding a single sheet of active lighting material.
  • a sheet or ply of light active material refers to a single formed sheet containing an emissive electroluminescent layer composed of a film of organic compounds (in the case of OLED) or a film of inorganic compounds (in the case of ILED).
  • a sheet or ply of light active technology material may be comprised of lighting of only one color, or it may be comprised of various sections of varying colors; consider the red, white and blue colors of a flag, for instance, in a single sheet.
  • the three-dimensional decorative lighting disclosed herein does not have a structural frame and is collapsible into a flat shape for easy storage.
  • Light active technology sometimes referred to herein as active lighting material, provides advantages in the embodiments herein.
  • there is a considerably longer light life associated with light active technology vastly longer than that associated with regular LED lights and particularly current mini-lights often used in decorative lighting.
  • Current decorative lighting suffers from increased power loading when individual bulbs in a strand burn out, i.e., the reduced resistance causes an increase in the wattage to the remaining lights. In time, the power load becomes so high that all of the remaining lights burn out at once.
  • power overload is mitigated.
  • the use of light active technology in multi-dimensional lighting allows for greater flexibility in selection and arrangement of shapes.
  • conventional lighting uses fixed wiring that is generally limited to a small number, such as three to nine, homogeneous shapes
  • the three-dimensional decorative lighting has "power" strings of various lengths that are electrified in parallel and accordingly has multiple attachment points (sockets) so that the user can mix a virtually unlimited number of geo-shapes at his choosing and can skip sockets without having blank (unlit) sections.
  • Light active technology further provides considerable power savings, using considerably less power than current mini-lights and LED lights. It also produces significantly less heat than either of the conventional alternatives.
  • Three-dimensional dimensional lighting may be manufactured from plastic laminates having active lighting and is formed from one or more sheet plies of light active technology, such as by die pressing, die cutting, or other mechanical, heat, or light (e.g. laser) means, that are folded, secured or otherwise arranged into one or more three-dimensional arrangements to produce one or more desired three-dimensional shapes.
  • the edges of the plies of the light active material can be sealed in order to protect, as necessary, the diode lighting and powering circuitry within.
  • Sheet edges may be sealed by heat, light (e.g. laser), mechanical techniques, such as die-pressing, die-cutting under pressure, an adhesive, such as a silicon based bonding agent, that may be applied by a sealant gun after the edges are formed.
  • Such treatment not only permits the three-dimensional lighting to be used in inclement weather but to also be directly subjected to submersion conditions if desired.
  • FIG. 1 a front view of an unopened three-dimensional lighting structure 100 is seen, in which only one sheet of light active material is visible.
  • the shape is that of a snowflake as indicated by shaped portions 140 but many shapes may be used, as previously discussed.
  • the three-dimensional shape has one or more folding elements, shown here as mid-line creases 110 (indicated by the dashed lines of FIG. 1 ), holes and/or perforations 120 to facilitate expansion from a flat (storage) shape to the three dimensional shape.
  • the edges of the three-dimensional shapes in this embodiment will have slots 130 for the insertion of a fastening element (such as bead chain 210, for example, of FIG.
  • the sheets will vary in number depending on the degree of light production, size and three dimensionality desired.
  • the sheets may be heat or laser welded, or otherwise formed along the ornament's folding elements, such as a midline, by these folding element retention elements to provide a hinge point.
  • the light active sheets in some applications, will be mechanically attached along the midline folding element by appropriate folding element retention elements such as stainless steel staples or glue.
  • a hole 160, illustrated at the top of the three-dimensional lighting structure, is provided for hanging using wire, monofilament, hooks, etc. and may be reinforced if necessary by brass or other material.
  • a power supply element such as power cord 170, shown at the top of the ornament 100, provides electrical power to the discrete lighting elements of the light active technology material, whether they be OLEDs or ILEDs, for example.
  • the discrete lighting elements of the light active technology material are denoted by reference number 150.
  • a three-dimensional decorative lighting may be fixed, variable or both.
  • Fixed three-dimensional dimensional lighting has a fixed number of consistent three-dimensional shapes permanently attached to a power feed line, such as the power cords evidenced in FIGs. 1-5 .
  • Variable dimensional lighting will utilize separately selected shapes that are plugged into multiple power sockets of a "power string" (various lengths).
  • self-adhesive type fasteners such as Velcro® may be used to suspend the power cord on surfaces. These fasteners facilitate the removal of the power cord when the three-dimensional lighting structure is un-installed.
  • the three-dimensional lighting structure's laminate materials may be clear, opaque or colored (totally or in selected spots) to provide variety.
  • Various power, timer, programmable (such as phased/sequenced), remote switch, etc. illumination arrangements may be optionally employed as desired. Such arrangements may be remotely controlled by programmable means, such as firmware, controller, and computer.
  • the power supply element(s) described herein may be provided with power by any number of power sources, including, but not limited to, DC power, AC power, battery power, solar power, low voltage transformer, back-up supplies, or any combination thereof.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of a three-dimensional lighting structure 200 in accordance with certain embodiments.
  • an opened, fully three-dimensional ornament has folding mechanisms or elements 220, such as creases, slots, perforations at the appropriate point of the sheets of light active material 230, 235, 240, 245, 250 and employs a shape maintainer, referred to as a fastening element, such as a molded beaded "chain" 210, around the peripheral of the three-dimensional structure.
  • folding mechanisms or elements 220 such as creases, slots, perforations at the appropriate point of the sheets of light active material 230, 235, 240, 245, 250 and employs a shape maintainer, referred to as a fastening element, such as a molded beaded "chain” 210, around the peripheral of the three-dimensional structure.
  • sheets 230, 235,, 245, 250 can be easily seen and contribute greatly to the pliability and three-dimensional nature of the three-dimensional ornament; while sheet 240 is substantially planar and may also be substantially rigid to lend structural support to the three-dimensional lighting structure, other sheets are easily shaped to the desired ornament shape.
  • the sheets 230, 235, 240, 245, 250 may be affixed to each other by means of a folding element retention element such as by using a heat seal or weather-resistant fasteners, such as made of brass or stainless steel, for example. While the use of folding mechanisms/elements is apparent along the mid-line of the plies in this figure, this is by way of example only and not limitation.
  • other three-dimensional shapes, such as a box-kite arrangement may utilize folds/creases other than along the mid-line of its plies of light active material.
  • Power cord 260 is used to provide power to the plies of light active material.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates storage of a three-dimensional lighting structure 300 in accordance with certain embodiments.
  • This top view of structure 300 shows that the structure may be collapsed (after removal of the beaded "chain" shape maintainer/fastening element of FIG. 2 , for example) and sandwiched down into a smaller version for storage, due to the use of flexible active lighting and the corresponding absence of a rigid frame structure.
  • the folding element creases 320, perforations at the center of the structure are the locations at which folding of the sheets 230, 235, 245, 250 occurs, and are still visible, as indicated by the parallel, vertical lines shown in the center.
  • Power cord 330 is used to provide power to the plies of light active material.
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a three-dimensional lighting structure 400 in accordance with certain embodiments.
  • This view illustrates what an exemplary three-dimensional lighting structure might look like and is presented as an aesthetically pleasing snowflake shape.
  • the folding elements 470 shown as center folding creases, or slotting, perforations, etc. in the middle of the design are evident, as are the perforated patterns 440 repeated in each sheet 410, 420, 430 of the three-dimensional lighting structure.
  • the perforations 440 in this example are shown as diamond shaped, any size or shape may be utilized and may have a positive impact on three-dimensional lighting structure performance. For example, as the size of the perforations increases, the amount of wind resistance offered by the three-dimensional lighting structure lessens.
  • the power cord 450 is clearly shown going to each layer or sheet of light active material 410, 420, 430, as are the dashed representations of same 450', 450" for the bottom two layers indicates that they may either be powered separately or together with the top layer. Either way, when power is provided to the light active material of the sheets via power cord 450, the lighting of every layer is powered.
  • Power cord 450 (450', 450") provides electrical power to the discrete lighting elements of the light active technology material, whether they be OLEDs or ILEDs, for example.
  • the discrete lighting elements of the light active technology material are denoted by reference number 460.
  • FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a three-dimensional lighting structure 500 in accordance with certain embodiments.
  • a chain shape maintainer or fastening element 510 around the periphery of the three-dimensional lighting structure to hold the three sheets of light active material 520, 530, 540 open in position is evident.
  • an optional end clip 550 a fastening element useful for maintaining the desired three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional lighting structure while open, is shown.
  • Fastening element 550 may be made of plastic or other substantially rigid material. As a shape retainer, end clip 550 accepts the ends of sheets 520, 530, 540 as shown into grooves into which the sheets may snugly fit.
  • FIG. 6 an exemplary rectangular shaped three-dimensional lighting structure 600 is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments.
  • This ornament 600 has six sides: a top 610, a bottom 620, a back side 630 in which a candle-shaped lighting figure is shown, a left side 640 in which a star-shaped lighting figure 645 is shown, a front side 650 with a snowflake-shaped lighting figure 655, and a right side 660 in which a snowman-shaped figure 665 is shown.
  • each of the four sides with patterned lighting each has its own arrangement of lights within the side to create a unique design, whether it be a snowman, a snowflake, a star or a candle.
  • the "x" symbols on the drawing indicate the presence of the lighting elements within the sheet(s)/ply(s) of active lighting material for a particular side of the ornament.
  • the placement of the lighting elements to create the lighting image of a desired shape of each of the four sides may occur by appropriate placement of the lighting elements during manufacture, such as by proper placement of the elements by means of "pick and place” manufacturing or the like.
  • the shapes may be made by using the lighting elements to simply outline the desired shape, it can be seen by reference to the candle shape 635, for example, that lighting elements may be used to fill in a design as well; the lighting elements within a design may be evenly spaced or not.
  • the desired decorative shape may be formed by some combination of lighting and shading, such as by placement of lighting elements on a field of colored material.
  • the lighting may be used to simply enhance the effect of a colored or shaded portion of the active lighting material.
  • the lighting elements employed in the three-dimensional lighting structure may themselves be of varying colors. As examples of the above, consider a painted angel may be accentuated by the placement of a halo formed by lighting elements, one or more candles enhanced by placement of lighting elements to represent candle flames, and a holiday tree with lighting elements strategically placed to yield the desired effect.
  • Any given three-dimensional lighting structure may theoretically be comprised of one sheet or ply of light active material, as illustrated in FIG. 8 , or multiple sheets of material, as shown in FIGs. 2, 3 , 4, 5 and 7 , for example.
  • folding of the sheet at one or more folding elements to create a three-dimensional surface together with a fastening element to hold the three-dimensional shaping into place defines a three-dimensional lighting structure.
  • the rectangular three-dimensional lighting structure 700 is comprised of six different sheets/plies of active lighting material: top 710; bottom 720; back side 730 having a candle-shaped figure 735 comprised of lighting elements powered by power cord 737; left side 740 having a star-shaped figure 745 comprised of lighting elements powered by power cord 747; front side 750 having a snowflake-shaped figure 755 comprised of lighting elements powered by power cord 757; and a right side 760 having a snowman-shaped figure 765 comprised of lighting elements powered by power cord 767.
  • each separate sheet of light active material has its own power cord to power lighting elements within that particular sheet. The sheets of light active material are smaller but more power cords must be dealt with.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates that a similarly shaped ornament may be formed from one sheet/ply of light active material.
  • Ornament 800 is formed from a single sheet/ply 810 of light active material having various sections that when folded along folding elements 820 form a six-sided rectangular shaped, three-dimensional lighting structure with shapes 830, 840, 850, 860 as shown in FIG. 6 .
  • a particular advantage of the unitary ornament 800 is that only a single power cord is needed to power all lighting elements within the single sheet 810. It is noted that any number of sheets of light active material may be utilized to create the three-dimensional lighting structure.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates multiple sheets
  • FIG. 8 illustrates one sheet, it is understand that any number of sheets, including up to a theoretically infinite number of sheets may be employed so long as the result is a three-dimensional light active structure that retains its three-dimensional nature by means of a fastening element.
  • folding elements such as bends, creases, perforated portions, etc. may be along the center or midline of a sheet of light active material.
  • Top view 900 of FIG. 9 illustrates that this limitation is not a requirement of the various embodiments.
  • Ply/sheet of light active material 910 has two folding elements, 920 and 930, both of which are off-center, not mid-line, with respect to sheet 910. It is noted that such folding elements 920 and 930 are particularly useful in the creation of non-symmetrical three-dimensional lighting structure shapes. Examples of non-symmetrical three-dimensional ornaments might include animal shapes, nature shapes (flowers, trees), etc.
  • a fastening element may be used to fasten together two or more sheets of light active material, it may also be used to fasten a single sheet or ply of material to itself, at appropriate fastening points to help retain three-dimensional shapes created by shaping the one or more sheets of light active material.
  • a three-dimensional shape is created from a single sheet or from a small number of sheets which are, at various locations, are self-attached or fastened.
  • the petals of a flower are made from a single sheet and feature the appearance of separate, wavy petals by self-attaching the material at the start of a new petal, much like the art of origami.
  • the folds to be affixed are folded edges of the same sheet/ply of material.
  • the fastening element may be made of weather-resistant material, such as plastic, brass or stainless steel.
  • the fastening element for fastening two or more plies/sheets of material may also be affixed to each other using a heat seal or weather-resistant fasteners, such as made of plastic, brass or stainless steel, for example;
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a clip that may be used for this purpose.
  • Velcro or glue may be used as a fastening element, in addition to the clips of FIGs. 5 and 10 , and the beaded chain of FIGs. 2 and 5 .
  • FIG. 5 provides an illustration that one or more fastening elements may be used in combination; that drawing illustrates the use of a beaded chain together with an end clip.
  • Clip element 1000 is comprised of a unitary body portion 1010, formed as a substantially u-shaped body. Proximate either lateral end of the body portion 1010, substantially round projections, herein referred to as dimplets 1020, are formed along the inside surface of body portion 1010 and may be integral unitary body portion 1010; conversely, they may be separately formed by affixed to the inside surface of body portion 1010 as shown.
  • Clip element 1000 fits snugly over the ends of two or more surfaces/edges of light active material and the dimplets 1010 are designed to match up with corresponding depressions 1030 found within the surface of the light active material sheet being fastened together.
  • the dimplets 1010 are designed to match up with corresponding depressions 1030 found within the surface of the light active material sheet being fastened together.
  • fastening elements serve to retain the three-dimensional shape of the lighting structure formed by folding/bending one or more sheets of light active material.
  • a fastening element in addition to the clips, beaded chain and self-adhesive means discussed above, can be provided by a tab portion that can be mated with a slot portion upon folding the sheet(s) along the one or more folding element lines.
  • the tab portion in an exemplary embodiment may be formed along an edge of one sheet of light active material.
  • the slot portion may be formed elsewhere in the same sheet or in another sheet, but is operable to receive the tab portion when the one sheet is folded along the one or more folding elements to mate the tab portion to the slot portion.
  • other fastening elements described above, can be optionally used to strengthen the fastening/retaining function of the fastening element.
  • any number of slots and corresponding tabs may be used as desired.
  • either or both of the portions that will serve as top and bottom surfaces when the sheet is followed along folding elements 820 may operate as tab portions that may be inserted into a mating edge portion of the sheet that serves a slot function. This may be further enhanced by extending the length of the tab portion(s) to be retained within a slot edge to which it is mated. Once the tab(s) and slot(s) portions are mated, they may be further retained in place by the application of one or more additional fastening elements, such as tape, glue or velcro, that serve to bolster the retention function.
  • additional fastening elements such as tape, glue or velcro
  • folding elements such as perforations along which a sheet(s) may be folded may additionally serve a slot function.
  • dashed line that represents folding line 920 in FIG. 9 could be representative of one or more slot portions that function to receive one or more tab portions that may be mated to them by the folding process.
  • folding the sheet along folding line 920 also may be considered to form a tab portion.
  • the use of two such sheets of material as sheet 910 in this manner would demonstrate corresponding tab and slot portions.
  • the center element may be one of the sheets or a portion of one of the sheets of light active material at the geometrically considered center of the design and shape of the three-dimensional lighting structure, in the case where the three-dimensional lighting structure is formed of multiple sheets of light active material.
  • the center element may be considered to be a portion of a sheet of light active material at the geometrical center of the design and shape of the three-dimensional lighting structure, in the case where the three-dimensional lighting structure is formed of a single sheet of light active material.
  • the geometric center of a three-dimensional lighting structure may be that location or part of the three-dimensional lighting structure that may be considered to be the "back" of the lighting structure and so may be attached to the substantially rigid backing without detracting or taking away from the aesthetic of the structure. As shown herein, it may generally be the backside of the structure, though different locations may be used for different sized and shaped three-dimensional lighting structures.
  • the substantially rigid backing may in some implementations be a sheet of light active material possessing enough rigidity to support attachment of the three-dimensional light structure to it; in this case, the sheet of light active material that serves as substantially rigid backing for the three-dimensional lighting structure is not non-rigid, flexible and foldable as are other sheets of light active material in the structure.
  • the substantially rigid backing provides a sturdy backing for mounting the three-dimensional lighting structure to a surface, like an exterior or internal wall, partition, or divider that may be solid, such as drywall, siding, brick and stucco, or with openings, such as slatted fencing, lattice work, and grid-patterned.
  • the backing material may have holes which may be reinforced with grommets to allow for the attachment of the three-dimensional lighting structure by single nails, hooks, screws or by mounting with multiple nails, hooks and screws.
  • the substantially rigid backing may be made of commercially available solid plastic, corrugated plastic or other material, so long as the backing is rigid enough to support the three-dimensional lighting structure attached to it.
  • the backing may be a PVC rigid vinyl sheet, characterized as being resistant to water, chemicals and tearing, as well as having excellent printability, or a PVC plastic sheet that may be transparent, nearly invisible, abrasion resistant, and UV (ultraviolet) resistant.
  • corrugated plastic or corriboard known under various tradenames, including Coroplast, IntePro, Correx, Twinplast, Twinwall, Corriflute or Corflute, for example, has a composition similar to that of corrugated fiberboard and may include extruded twinwall plastic sheets from high-impact polypropylene resin and are capable of standing up to adverse weather conditions and/or harsh chemicals.
  • the substantially rigid backing may be UV resistant, and may be clear, opaque or colored.
  • the center element of the three-dimensional lighting structure may be affixed to the backing material by using a variety of materials and techniques, such as Velcro, laminate staples, laser or heat sealing or welding, adhesive, etc.
  • FIG. 11 a front view of a three-dimensional lighting structure 1100 in accordance with certain embodiments is shown.
  • the single sheet of light active material shown serves as the center element of the three-dimensional lighting structure and is attached to substantially rigid backing 1110. This can also be observed in the top or cross-sectional view of lighting structure 1200 in FIGs. 12A and 12B .
  • light active sheet 240 serves as the center element of the three-dimensional lighting structure 1200 and is shown attached to substantially rigid backing 1110.
  • bead chain 210 extends through sheet 240 and serves to retain the three-dimensional shape of the lighting structure, as previously discussed.
  • Substantially rigid backing 1110 may attach to a wall, partition, divider or other suitable surface, which may be substantially flat.
  • the center element also can serve as the substantially rigid backing, thereby eliminating the need for a separate backing element.
  • sheet 240' is thicker than in the embodiment of FIG. 12A .
  • the substantially rigid backing is a sheet of light active material 240' possessing enough rigidity to support attachment of the three-dimensional light structure to it; sheet of light active material 240' serves as substantially rigid backing for the three-dimensional lighting structure and is not non-rigid, flexible and foldable as are other sheets of light active material in the structure that are coupled to it.
  • substantially rigid backing 1110 is shown as circular or oval, it is intended that any shape of backing may be used, including square, rectangular, diamond or patterned shapes. Additionally, backing 1110 may be the approximate size, shape and pattern of the center element attached to it.
  • FIG. 13 a view of a collapsed lighting structure 1300 formed of three sheets of light active material is provided.
  • Sheet 240 serves as the center element of the three-dimensional lighting structure and is shown affixed to backing 1110.
  • the third and bottom sheet 430 serves as the center element and is attached to backing 1110 as indicated.
  • FIGS. 1-10 These views illustrate exemplary three-dimensional lighting structures with the center element attached to a substantially rigid backing 1110.
  • the aesthetically pleasing snowflake shape shown is attached to backing 1110 which may be used to attach the lighting structure to a surface.
  • the folding elements 470 shown as center folding creases, or slotting, perforations, etc. in the middle of the design are evident, as are the perforated patterns 440 repeated in each sheet 410, 420, 430 of the three-dimensional lighting structure.
  • the perforations 440 in this example are shown as diamond shaped, any size or shape may be utilized and may have a positive impact on three-dimensional lighting structure performance. For example, as the size of the perforations increases, the amount of wind resistance offered by the three-dimensional lighting structure lessens.
  • the power cord 450 may be used to power each layer or sheet of light active material; power cords 450', 450" may also be used to power the bottom two light active layers. Either way, when power is provided to the light active material of the light active sheets, the lighting of every layer may be powered.
  • Power cord 450 (450', 450") provides electrical power to the discrete lighting elements of the individual sheets of light active technology material, whether they be OLEDs or ILEDs, for example.
  • the discrete lighting elements of the light active technology material are denoted by reference number 460.
  • FIG. 15 illustrates a bottom view of three-dimensional lighting structures 1500 formed of sheets of light active material, in accordance with certain implementations and embodiments.
  • Chain shape maintainer or fastening element 510 around the periphery of the three-dimensional lighting structure hold the three sheets of light active material 1520, 1530, 1540 open in the three-dimensional structure formed.
  • Sheet 1520 serves as the center element of the three-dimensional structure and is affixed or attached to backing 1110 as shown.
  • an optional end clip 550 a fastening element useful for maintaining the desired three-dimensional shape of the three-dimensional lighting structure while open, is shown. It is noted here that only three sheets of light active material are shown, but any number of light active sheets may be used within the scope of the invention.
  • Fastening element 550 may be made of plastic or other substantially rigid material. As a shape retainer, end clip 550 accepts the ends of sheets 1520, 1530, 1540 as shown into grooves into which the sheets may snugly fit.
  • FIGs. 12A and 12B which are roughly half the size as the three-dimensional structure in FIG. 2 and similarly FIG. 13 is roughly half the size as the three-dimensional structure in FIG. 3 .
  • the difference in the number of sheets used in the three-dimensional structure with backing may vary greatly depending upon the size, shape and configuration of the lighting structure.
  • the scene created is a visually interesting winter scape in which three-dimensional structures, in this example snowflakes 1610 attached to flat wall 1630 are used in combination with other decorative elements, such as hanging three-dimensional light active lighting structures 1620, elements 1635 painted on flat wall 1630, and a foreground area 1640 with its own three-dimensional elements, such as free hanging or pole mounted three-dimensional lighting, are used to great effect.
  • decorative elements such as hanging three-dimensional light active lighting structures 1620, elements 1635 painted on flat wall 1630, and a foreground area 1640 with its own three-dimensional elements, such as free hanging or pole mounted three-dimensional lighting, are used to great effect.
  • the use of varying sizes and depths increases the three-dimensional effect of the overall scene, especially where a focus to a distant point is desired, i.e. parallax effect.
  • Such a decorative scene would be especially effective in store and similar displays.
  • a three-dimensional lighting structure may have one or more one non-rigid, flexible, foldable double-faced sheets of light active material, with each sheet of light active material having a plurality of lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that comprise emissive electroluminescent material and having circuitry coupled to the light elements within; at least one folding element of the at least one sheet of light active material, with a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure formed of the at least one sheet of light active material and the at least one folding element; a power supply element to provide power to the circuitry coupled to the lighting elements of the at least one sheet of light active material; a fastening element coupled to the at least one sheet of light active material at at least one fastening point, the collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure removably retained in a three-dimensional form by the fastening element; and a center element of the three-dimensional lighting structure to which the at least one sheet of light active material and
  • a three-dimensional lighting structure may be created by: folding at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material along at least one folding element to create a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure having a center element located at a back side of the three-dimensional lighting structure, with each sheet of light active material having lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that comprise emissive electroluminescent material and having circuitry coupled to the light elements; and removably retaining the three-dimensional lighting structure by activating a fastening element to retain the three-dimensional lighting structure created by folding the at least one sheet of light active material along the at least one folding element.
  • a method of manufacture of a three-dimensional lighting structure includes: providing at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material, with each sheet of light active material having lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that have emissive electroluminescent material and having circuitry coupled to the plurality of light elements; providing the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material with at least one folding element along which the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material are foldable to create the three-dimensional lighting structure having a center element located at a back side of the three- dimensional lighting structure; and providing a fastening element to removably retain a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure created when the at least one sheet of light active material are folded along the at least one folding element.

Landscapes

  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Electroluminescent Light Sources (AREA)
  • Fastening Of Light Sources Or Lamp Holders (AREA)

Claims (11)

  1. Une structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle, comprenant :
    une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430), chacune des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive ayant une pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage (460) qui sont enserrés entre deux ou plusieurs couches de stratifié, et chacune des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive comprenant un matériau électroluminescent émetteur et ayant un circuit couplé à la pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage contenus à l'intérieur ;
    un ou plusieurs éléments de pliage (470) de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive, avec une structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle escamotable formée de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive et du ou des d'éléments de pliage ;
    un élément d'alimentation électrique (450) pour fournir une alimentation électrique au circuit couplé à la pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive ;
    un élément de fixation couplé à la ou aux feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) à un ou des points de fixation de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive, dans laquelle la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle escamotable est retenue de façon amovible sous une forme tridimensionnelle par l'élément de fixation ; et
    un élément central de la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle, dans laquelle l'élément central comprend une feuille sensiblement plane et rigide faite d'une matière photoactive à laquelle la ou les feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive sont couplées, ou l'élément central comprend une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) attachées à un support sensiblement rigide (1110), l'élément central étant couplé à l'élément de fixation et situé à un centre géométrique de la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle ;
    dans laquelle le retrait de l'élément de fixation permet à la ou aux feuilles faites de la matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) de la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle de s'escamoter en une forme sensiblement bidimensionnelle.
  2. La structure d'éclairage selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle l'élément de fixation comprend une chaînette à boucle, un élément auto-adhésif adhésif ou un élément d'attache, l'élément d'attache comprenant en outre :
    une partie de corps unitaire sensiblement en forme de u ayant des extrémités latérales positionnées de manière opposée ; et
    des première et deuxième parties alvéolées, la première partie alvéolée étant positionnée le long d'une première surface interne au niveau d'une première extrémité latérale de la partie de corps unitaire et la deuxième partie alvéolée étant positionnée le long d'une deuxième surface interne au niveau d'une deuxième extrémité latérale de la partie de corps unitaire à une proximité oppositionnelle l'une de l'autre, ou
    l'élément d'attache comprenant en outre
    une attache d'extrémité ayant une pluralité de rainures dans lesquelles les bords correspondants d'une pluralité de bords de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive s'ajustent parfaitement.
  3. La structure d'éclairage selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2, comprenant en outre un élément de rétention de l'élément de pliage qui retient en position un pli de la ou des feuilles le long du ou des éléments de pliage (470),
    dans laquelle l'élément de rétention de l'élément de pliage comprend une soudure thermique ou au laser de la ou des feuilles le long du ou des éléments de pliage, ou
    dans laquelle l'élément de rétention de l'élément de pliage comprend un élément de fixation mécanique le long du ou des éléments de pliage, l'élément de fixation mécanique comprenant de préférence des agrafes le long du ou des éléments de pliage, de la colle le long du ou des éléments de pliage, ou un élément de fixation auto-adhésif le long du ou des éléments de pliage.
  4. La structure d'éclairage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle l'élément d'alimentation électrique (450) est un cordon d'alimentation électrique simple qui fournit l'alimentation électrique à la pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage, l'élément de fixation comprenant de préférence : une partie languette formée le long d'un bord de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive ; une partie encoche de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive pour recevoir la partie languette lorsque la ou les feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive sont pliées le long du ou des éléments de pliage pour solidariser la partie languette avec la partie encoche.
  5. La structure d'éclairage selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans laquelle la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle comprend une pluralité de feuilles de feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430), chacune des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive étant configurée pour être alimentée électriquement par un cordon d'alimentation électrique de l'élément d'alimentation électrique.
  6. La structure d'éclairage selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans laquelle lorsque l'élément central comprend une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) attachées au support sensiblement rigide (1110), la feuille sensiblement rigide (1110) est configurée pour monter la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle sur une surface.
  7. Un procédé de fabrication d'une structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle escamotable, consistant à :
    fournir une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430), chacune des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive comprenant une pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage qui sont enserrés entre deux ou plusieurs couches de stratifié, et chacune des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive comprenant un matériau électroluminescent émetteur et ayant un circuit couplé à la pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage ;
    fournir la ou les feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) avec un ou plusieurs d'éléments de pliage (470) le long desquels la ou les feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive sont pliables pour créer la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle ayant un élément central, dans laquelle l'élément central comprend une feuille sensiblement plane et rigide faite d'une matière photoactive à laquelle la ou les feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive sont couplées, ou l'élément central comprend une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) attachées à un support sensiblement rigide (1110), l'élément central étant couplé à un élément de fixation et situé à un centre géométrique de la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle ; et
    fournir l'élément de fixation pour retenir de façon amovible la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle escamotable crée lorsque la ou les feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) sont pliées le long du ou des éléments de pliage (470).
  8. Le procédé selon la revendication 7, consistant en outre à :
    sceller les bords de la ou des feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430).
  9. Le procédé selon la revendication 7 ou la revendication 8, consistant en outre à :
    lorsque l'élément central comprend une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) attachées au support sensiblement rigide (1110), monter l'élément central de la structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle sur une surface, le support sensiblement rigide étant configuré pour se monter sur la surface.
  10. Le procédé selon la revendication 7, consistant en outre à :
    plier une ou plusieurs feuilles pliables, flexibles, non rigides faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430) le long d'un ou de plusieurs d'éléments de pliage (470) pour créer une structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle escamotable.
  11. Le procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 8 à 10, consistant en outre à :
    fournir l'alimentation électrique à un circuit couplé à la pluralité d'éléments d'éclairage de la ou des feuilles faites d'une matière photoactive (410, 420, 430).
EP13159344.4A 2012-03-16 2013-03-15 Structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle utilisant la technologie de photoactivité Not-in-force EP2639495B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/421,921 US8845117B2 (en) 2008-04-15 2012-03-16 Three-dimensional lighting structure utilizing light active technology
US13/421,916 US8979290B2 (en) 2008-04-15 2012-03-16 Three-dimensional lighting structure utilizing light active technology

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2639495A2 EP2639495A2 (fr) 2013-09-18
EP2639495A3 EP2639495A3 (fr) 2014-05-07
EP2639495B1 true EP2639495B1 (fr) 2016-11-30

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EP13159344.4A Not-in-force EP2639495B1 (fr) 2012-03-16 2013-03-15 Structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle utilisant la technologie de photoactivité
EP13159335.2A Not-in-force EP2639783B1 (fr) 2012-03-16 2013-03-15 Structure d'éclairage tridimensionnelle utilisant la technologie de photoactivité

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CA (2) CA2809629C (fr)

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US11466850B2 (en) 2019-12-30 2022-10-11 Certainteed Llc Siding including integrated light source
US11713875B2 (en) 2019-12-30 2023-08-01 Certainteed Llc Cladding including integrated light source

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2639783A3 (fr) 2014-05-07
EP2639495A3 (fr) 2014-05-07
CA2809629A1 (fr) 2013-09-16
CA2809626A1 (fr) 2013-09-16
EP2639783B1 (fr) 2016-07-20
CA2809626C (fr) 2017-10-24
EP2639495A2 (fr) 2013-09-18
CA2809629C (fr) 2017-10-24
EP2639783A2 (fr) 2013-09-18

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