GB2578831A

GB2578831A - Lightbox and method of construction and use thereof

Info

Publication number: GB2578831A
Application number: GB1915000.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wilshaw Mike
Original assignee: LEACH COLOUR Ltd
Current assignee: LEACH COLOUR Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-16
Filing date: 2019-10-16
Publication date: 2020-05-27
Also published as: GB201816835D0; GB201915000D0

Abstract

A light box assemblv includes one or more frame members 4 to provide a support for a graphic portion on which an image to be illuminated is located. Illumination means providing illumination for the image includes a plurality of LEDs 8 connected in series and/or parallel. The LEDs 8 are mounted on or otherwise attached to a sheet of flexible material 6 such as vinyl. The light box assembly can thus be supplied on site as a kit that is then assembled.

Description

Intellectual Property Office RTM Date:5 March 2020 Application No. GII1915000.2 The following terms are registered trade marks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.gov.uk/ipo Lightbox and Method of Construction and use thereof The invention to which this application relates is to a new lightbox and a method of constructing and/or assembling the same.

Although the following description refers to lightboxes for use in commercial and retail environments the skilled person will appreciate that the present invention can be used in a domestic environment and is not limited to commercial environments such as shops, exhibitions m and the like.

Conventional lightboxes arc made by applying light emitting diodes (LEDs) onto an aluminium composite backboard, typically comprised of two layers of aluminium sandwiching a plastic inner core. There is also provided an aluminium frame around the backboard which provides a gap between the LkDs and the printed fabric graphic which lies over the frame.

The fabric graphic is held under tension by a silicone strip sewn into 20 the edge. This edging strip is pushed into a channel in the aluminium extrusion and keeps the graphic surface smooth and taut.

The job of the backboard is to keep the LEDs at a set distance from the graphic face of the lightbox. In addition it has a structural role 25 in freestanding lightboxes A problem faced by installers, particularly when fitting large lightboxes, is in the logistics in getting the lightboxes to the location. Often this can be done by shipping on a truck, however first the light box must be split into manageable sections, usually of a couple of metres or so that are joined together with connectors as they are ins talled.

The lightbox however, is still bulky, requires prefabrication and often difficult to get to the location fitting through doors, lifts, stairwells can be awkward and needs site surveys before anything can be made.

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a lightbox 10 which addresses the abovementioned problems.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a method of constructing and / or as sembling a lightbox that addresses the abovementioned problems.

In a. first aspect of the invention there is provided a lightbox assembly, said assembly including one or more frame members, configured to provide a support for a graphic portion on which the image to be illuminated is located and illumination means proving illumination or light for the same, characterised in that said illumination means includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series and/or parallel, said LEDSs mounted on or otherwise attached to a sheet of flexible material.

Typically the sheet or flexible material combined with the LEDs provides a flexible backboard or backsheet.

In a preferred embodiment the LEDs are provided in strips. Typically the LEDS strips are self-adhesive and/or contain a self-adhesive portion. Further typically the 1,V1) strips are stuck and/or attached to the sheet of flexible material.

Preferably the sheet of flexible material is non-elastic and/or non-stretchable. Typically the flexible material can be rolled and/or folded but is resistant to stretching. Further typically the flexible material can be rolled and unrolled but is resistant to being deformed, pulled and/or stretched in a direction parallel to the plane of the sheet when in a flat or substantially unrolled condition.

In one embodiment the sheet of flexible material includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, also known as vinyl material. In one embodiment the sheet comprises PVC coated material such as canvas and/or the like.

In one embodiment the sheet comprises vinyl banner material.

In one embodiment the sheet material and/or frame members include fixing means. Typically, the fixing means include and one or any combination of studs, clips, staples, fasteners, hook and loop (VelcroTm) fasteners and/or the like to attach the sheet material to the one or more frame members. Further typically the fixing means are hook and loop (VelcroTM) type attachment means.

In one embodiment the graphic portion comprised fabric In one embodiment the one or more frame members are linear members. Typically the frame members are formed from extruded metal. In one embodiment the frame members are formed from plastics material.

Typically the lightbox assembly includes power means. Further typically the power means includes at least one transformer to provide lower voltage electricity to the LEDs.

In one embodiment the lightbox or power means includes a 24 Volt power supply to the LEDs.

In one embodiment the power means includes one or more conductive strips or members.

In one embodiment the conductive strips are copper strips. 'typically the copper strips are self-adhesive copper strips.

In one embodiment the copper strips are connected in parallel to the one or more LED strips. 'typically a 24 Volt power supply is used to connect all LED strips.

In one embodiment the conductive strips run under the LED strips. Typically the conductive strips and the LED strips are connected by solder. Further typically the LED strips are connected by relatively short wires soldered to the conductive strip.

In one embodiment the power means includes at least one flexible printed circuit board (PCB). Typically one or more flexible PCBs are attached to the flexible material substantially underneath the one or

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more Lim strips. Further typically solder points are spaced along the length of the flexible PCB.

In one embodiment the solder points long the PCB are spaced 5 equidistantly along the length of the same.

In one embodiment the LEDs are connected to the PC 13 by one or more plugs and/or sockets.

In a preferred embodiment the lightbox can be assembled and disassembled as required. Typically the lightbox can be disassembled with the sheet of flexible material can be rolled into and/or around a cylinder or tube. Further typically the one or more frame members can be inserted into the rolled sheet material and/or said sheet material can be rolled around the frame members.

In a second aspect of the invention there is provided a backing member or ba.cksheet suitable for use with a lightbox, said backing member including a plurality of LEDs attached to a sheet of flexible 20 material.

In a third aspect of the invention there is provided a kit of parts that can be assembled to form a lightbox, said kit including a backing member or backsheet comprising a plurality of LEDs mounted on or 25 otherwise attached to a sheet of flexible material.

In one embodiment the sheet of flexible material is rolled around a tube for transportation before assembly.

In one embodiment the flexible sheet can be cut to shape. Typically the sheet of flexible material includes one or more lines indicating where the sheet and/or the LEDs can be cut. Further typically said cut lines are horizontal and/or vertical lines. Cuts can be made horizontally and/or vertically depending on the wiring method across the LED strips. As such, so that any size lightbox can be made, or any size and shape frame fitted with backlighting by cutting and/or combining together said backboards.

In one embodiment the lightbox is movable between a first assembled condition and a second disassembled condition. Typically the lightbox can be dismantled easily and stored flat in the second condition.

In one embodiment the frame members include corner connectors. Typically the frame is taken apart (Jr dismantled by releasing or disconnecting the corner connectors.

Typically the LEDs are supplied with power via a substantially flexible 20 power rail means. Further typically the power rail means is one or more strips of electrical conducting material such as copper and/or PCB strips.

In a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of 25 constructing a lightbox, said lightbox including at least one flexible sheet material, said method including the step of attaching LEDs to said flexible sheet material.

Specific embodiment of the invention are now described with reference to the following figures wherein; Figure 1 shows a lightbox being assembled in accordance with one 5 aspect of the invention; and Figure 2 shows a flexible PCB strip in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The present concept is to have self-adhesive LED strips laid on a flexible but non-stretchable backboard for use with a lightbox. The flexible backboard material can a vinyl banner material or fabric. The advantage of this is that the backboard can be rolled around a cardboard tube to transport many metres of it to site for use.

Also, the backboard can also be cut to shape, along the 'cut-lines' horizontally across the LEDs and because of the wiring method, vertically too so that any size lightbox can be made by patching together these backboards with a power connector and fastening means such as VelcroTM to hold the edges in place.

Other advantages of this method arc that the lightbox can be dismantled easily and stored flat -the frame being taken apart on releasing the corner connectors. This is an important feature for the 25 exhibition market.

Where the lightboxes arc made into a hanging canopy, it also means that the weight of the canopy is considerably lighter than it would have been had it been built from the conventional backboard method.

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This means less hanging wires are required and larger sections can be built up without crossbeams. As well as the storage advantage, this makes the product ideal for the exhibition market The invention also uses a method of wiring using self-adhesive copper strips to provide a parallel connection to the 24V power supply for all LED strips. This runs under the 1,[1) strips and connect to them by short wires soldered to the strip.

Another method utilises a prototype flext PCB which does exactly this job in one piece. The advantage being that it is more resilient than the LED strip and takes less time to install. One or more of these can be laid underneath or below the LED strips so that power can be supplied to them from the two conductors running along the length.

Another advantage is the solder points are spaced at around 55mm apart so that spacing the LED strips when applying them to a sheet can be done simply and easily.

The flexible backsheet enables the production of large lightboxes that 20 can be lightweight and sent in flatpack' format with a base sheet that is simply rolled out on the installation sheet and connected. This can also be cut to shape without damaging the circuit.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the invention where a lightbox 2 is 25 being assembled to illuminate a graphic portion (not shown) from behind. The lightbox includes a number of frame members 4 and a flexible backsheet 6.

The frame members 4 in this example are extruded aluminium and are arranged to form a rectangular frame. 't he backsheet 6 is constructed primarily from vinyl although other stretch resistant polymers and/or fabric materials could be used. The sheet 6 is attached to the frame 4 S using VelcroTM 14 in this example.

The backsheet includes a plurality of 1,1Ds 8 arranged in rows (Jr strips. The power is supplied to the 14H1Ds via a transformer and a flexible PCB. An example of such a flexible PCB strip 12 is shown in figure 2. The P03 strip 12 is usually supplied on a reel and incorporates solder pads 16 spaced at 55 mm distances for positive/negative connections. The PCB can be cut through as backsheet 6 is cut to the required size and shape on site.

Once the backsheet is cut to the required size it is stuck into the frame and the graphic portion or cover applied over the frame. As such, the present invention provides a lightbox unit which can be supplied to site in a disassembled kit, and quickly assembled to form a lightweight lightbox.

Claims

Claims 1. A lightbox assembly, said assembly including one or more frame members, configured to provide a support for a graphic portion on which the image to be illuminated is located and illumination means proving illumination or light for the same, characterised in that said illumination means includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series and/or parallel, said LKOSs mounted on or otherwise attached to a sheet of flexible material.
2. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material combined with the LEDs provides a flexible backboard or backsheet.
3. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the LEDs are provided in strips.
4. A lightbox assembly according to claim 3 wherein the LEDS strips are self-adhesive and/or contain a self-adhesive portion.
S. A lightbox assembly according to claim 4 wherein the LED strips are stuck and/or attached to the sheet of flexible material.
6. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material is non-elastic and/or non-stretchable.
7. A lightbox assembly according to claim 6 wherein the flexible material can be rolled and/or folded but is resistant to stretching.
8. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of flexible material includes polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, also known as vinyl material.
9. A lightbox assembly according to claim 8 wherein the sheet comprises PVC coated material such as canvas and/or the like.
10. A lightbox assembly according to claim 9 wherein the sheet comprises vinyl banner material.
11. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sheet material and/or frame members include fixing means.
12 A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the graphic 15 portion comprised fabric material.
13. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the one (Jr more frame members are linear members.
14. A lightbox assembly according to claim 13 wherein the frame members are formed from extruded metal or plastics material.
15. A lightbox assembly according to claim 1 wherein the lightbox assembly includes power means.
16. A lightbox assembly according to claim 15 wherein the power means includes one or more conductive strips or members.
17. A lightbox assembly according to claim 16 wherein the conductive strips are copper strips.
18. A lightbox assembly according to claim 17 wherein the copper strips are self-adhesive copper strips.
19. A lightbox assembly according to claim 18 wherein the copper strips are connected in parallel to the one or more LED strips.
20. A lightbox assembly according to claims 3 and 18 wherein the conductive strips run under the LED strips.
21. A lightbox assembly according to claim 15 wherein the power means includes at least one flexible printed circuit board (PCB).
92 A lightbox assembly according to claim 3 and 21 wherein one or more flexible PCBs are attached to the flexible material substantially underneath the one or more LED strips.
23. A lightbox assembly according to claim 22 wherein solder points are spaced along the length of the flexible PCB.
24. A lightbox assembly according to claim 23 wherein the LEDs are connected to the PCB by one or more plugs and/or sockets.
25. A lightbox assembly according to and preceding claim wherein the lightbox can be assembled and disassembled as required.
26. A backing member or backsheet suitable for use with a lightbox as claimed in claim 1, said backing member including a plurality of LEDs attached to a sheet of flexible material.
27. A kit of parts that can be assembled to form a lightbox of claim 1, said kit including a backing member or backsheet comprising a plurality of LEDs mounted on or otherwise attached to a sheet of flexible material.
28. A lightbox assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the sheet of flexible material can be cut to shape.
29. A lightbox assembly according to claim 28 wherein the sheet of flexible material includes one or more lines indicating where the sheet 15 and/or the LEDs can be cut.
30. A method of constructing a lightbox according to claim 1, said lightbox including at least one flexible sheet material, said method including the step of attaching LEDs to said flexible sheet material.