NL8801010A - Illuminated line marking installation - uses buried optical fibres to conduct light from sources ground surface of sports field - Google Patents

Abstract

Bundles (7) of multicore fibre optic cables (8) run underground from light generating equipment outside the playing area. Along the lines which mark the pitch perimeter and other areas, e.g. penalty areas, centre lines, etc., cables are brought out from the bundles and the ends (13) of the individual fibres are spread out along sections (9, 10) of the required lines. Above the ends is a transparent coloured cover layer (14), which it itself covered by an opalescent layer (17). The sections of line are encased in plastics material blocks (11, 12). Several such systems of illuminated markers can be installed so that the same field can be used for different games, e.g. football, rugby, handball, etc..

Description

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Signaling system

The invention relates to a signaling system, comprising a pattern of visible lines, letters or other signs to be applied to or in a surface, for instance a floor, wall or ceiling.

Such a signaling system is known in many embodiments. For example, it is known to use "invisible" lines in sports halls, which are brought to light by striking ultraviolet radiation. By choosing the spectrum, for example the dominating wavelengths, of the incident radiation, the color of the line can be chosen if desired. The drawback of this known system is that the paint in question is poisonous and expensive, which makes application problematic.

Attempts have also been made to construct patterns of fluorescent tubes in sports floors. In practice, this system also appears to encounter too many problems to find application on any scale.

The object of the invention is to provide a system which is very simple and relatively inexpensive, can be easily installed and offers virtually unlimited flexibility in the patterns to be formed, so that the system lends itself not only to sports fields, but also to applications in the context of fire safety (airplanes, hotels, ships and other spaces where many people are present at the same time) as well as advertising services.

In this connection, the invention provides a signaling system of the aforementioned type, which has the special feature that the pattern comprises at least one conductor for electromagnetic radiation, can be coupled to a source for said radiation and emits visible light upon receipt of said radiation.

For example, the conductor can comprise at least one glass fiber. Upon irradiation with visible light, a surface treatment by .8801010 'ί -2- allows light to radiate substantially diffusely from the surface of the glass fiber, whereby the characters become visible.

A photoluminescent or fluorescent substance can also be added to the conductor, whereby visible light of a greater wavelength is emitted when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, for example ultraviolet radiation. Here too, if desired, the choice is also made to use an adjustable or variable source for selecting a desired color.

Very high aging resistance is ensured with an embodiment in which the conductor comprises at least one hollow glass fiber, in which the photoluminescent or fluorescent material is contained.

For example, in sports fields, the system according to the invention allows various striping patterns, for example for football, hockey, badminton, basketball, etc., to be used. be embedded in the top layer of the floor of a sports hall. Under normal circumstances, these are barely or not visible. Only by switching on the source of electromagnetic radiation, for example a mercury vapor lamp which expands mainly ultraviolet radiation, can the associated pattern of glass fibers be brought to light. if one wishes to switch to a different sport, another light source is switched on or the light source is placed in such a way that it irradiates a different pattern of glass fibers.

For example in airplanes, hotels and ships, where fire safety is always an aspect of great attention, the system according to the invention can be advantageously applied, for example by indicating escape routes in aisles, against walls, or on ceilings, emergency exits, fire extinguishers. etc. With regard to fire safety, attention is drawn to the fact that the system according to the invention can give a very brightly illuminating pattern, which can be decisive in circumstances where visibility is poor due to smoke development.

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The system according to the invention also offers great advantages for advertising applications. It provides a very clear image for very low cost compared to conventional systems, is easy to insert and remove and offers great flexibility.

Attention is drawn to the fact that in the context of fire facilities, the sources of electromagnetic radiation can be switched on by heat, whereby the system is automatically energized.

Glass fibers further lend themselves to making very simple and reliable branches, such that the same light intensity is ensured everywhere.

In a particular practical embodiment, the system according to the invention has the special feature that the glass fibers at one end can receive light from the radiation source and are arranged with said other radiation-emitting ends in said pattern. In order to obtain as much direction-independent radiation intensity as possible, the system may have the feature that radiation diffusing agents, such as an opal coating, are added to the radiation-emitting ends.

The pattern may be composed of segments, all of which, together, in groups or individually, can receive radiation from at least one source.

In order to obtain a desired color of the emitted radiation, the system may have the feature that the source comprises filtering means for selecting the spectrum of the emitted radiation.

Easy placement, especially in the case of standardized dimensions, such as may be the case with sports lines, can show the special feature that the radiation-emitting ends are included in a block.

For example, in the case of surfaces to be walked on, the system can be characterized in that the or each block 35 and optionally radiation supply conductor means is / are included in the surface.

The invention furthermore focuses on a floor, e.g. 8801010

Pr 4 -4- example a sports floor with a signaling system as described above. In particular, such a floor can exhibit complete homogeneity by using a translucent coating. Such a coating can have an opal character.

The invention further relates to a method for applying a signaling system. This method is characterized in that slots are milled in the relevant surface for receiving the or each block 10 and optionally radiation supply conductor means.

The invention finally focuses on a block with the ends of glass fibers and on filtering means for use in the above-described system. Such a block can be designed such that the ends of the glass fibers are covered by radiation-diffusing means, such as an opal coating. Furthermore, or in combination with this, a block can have the feature that the ends of the glass fibers are embedded in a filling mass with a preselected density (number of fibers per surface unit). The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawing. Show in this:

Figure 1 shows a sports field with a schematically indicated striping system according to the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the line T1 / Tl of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a detail of a variant;

Figure 4 shows the section IV / IV from figure 3; and

Figure 5 shows the cross-section V / V, figure 4, or the detail V from figure 3 on an enlarged scale.

Figure 1 shows a sports floor 1. Such a sports floor is covered by means not drawn, so it is carried out indoors. In this exemplary embodiment it comprises two lines. The line, generally indicated by 2 and drawn with solid lines, is a football line, while line 3 indicated by broken lines is a handball line. This line is built up in segments of blocks, in which the ends are embedded from below «8801010 -5-

F

optical conductors to be described. A light source 4 is coupled with the football lines 2, while a light source 5 is coupled with the handball lines 3. Both sources include filter means 6.

Figure 2 shows a vertical section through the floor 1. Included in a supporting layer 6 are bundles of supply conductors 7, which are coupled in known manner to the light sources 4 and 5. The individual glass fiber bundles 8 serve for supplying light coming from the light sources 4, 5 to striping segments, in FIG. 9 and 10, which segments comprise plastic blocks 11, 12, in which the ends of the individual glass fibers, which are generally designated 13, are homogeneously distributed.

Due to this "fanning-out" construction, in particular through a post-treatment by polishing or the like, an excellent homogeneity of the emitted light can be achieved. The translucent ends of the glass fibers 13 are covered with a transparent cover layer 14. As can be seen, the blocks 11, 12 are received in slots formed by milling in a resilient layer 15, which for sports floors can for instance consist of a rubber-like material on which a colored cover layer 16 is applied.

An opal, homogeneous covering layer 17 on the entire floor surface ensures that the light emitted from the ends of the glass fiber 13 is spread more or less homogeneously, without any significant directional preference.

Figure 3 shows a block 18 with a supply conductor 19. In contrast to the embodiment according to Figure 2, in which the connection to the bundles 8 lies in the same plane as the main plane of the axes of the ends of the glass fibers, here the supply conductor extends transversely to the block 18, which contributes to a small installation depth of the block. With the aid of a Fresnel-like upper structure 20, a good diffusion of the emitted light to all 35 sides is ensured.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the ends 21 of the glass fibers are placed at an angle to the top surface 22 of the block 18. As can be seen from Figure 4, this provides an upper surface, the glass fiber ends 21 of which have a general ellipse shape.

Figure 5 shows the tilt of the ends of the glass fibers 21 on an enlarged scale.

By selectively energizing the light source 4 or the light source 5 according to figure 1, the segments, from which the respective lines 2, 3 are built up, can be individually brought to light, as indicated in figure 1, the lines are partly continuous and partly interrupted. The system according to the invention lends itself perfectly to such an option in the case of a segment-wise construction. Other than straight lines can also be easily realized. For example, for advertising purposes, numbers and letters or artistic patterns can be used. By interweaving various patterns, it is also possible to make colored images, which can also be given a dynamic character by energizing different light sources in varying times.

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Claims (16)

1, Signaling system, comprising a pattern of visible lines, letters or other signs to be applied to or in a surface, for instance a floor, wall or ceiling, characterized in that the pattern comprises at least one conductor for electromagnetic radiation, can be coupled to a source for said radiation and emits visible light upon receipt of said radiation. Signaling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the conductor comprises glass fibers. Signaling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conductor comprises a photoluminescent or fluorescent substance. 4. Signaling system according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the conductor comprises at least one hollow glass fiber, in which the photoluminescent or fluorescent material is located. A signaling system according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the glass fibers at one end can receive light from the radiation source and are arranged with said other radiation-emitting ends in said pattern. Signaling system according to claim 5, characterized in that radiation-diffusing means, such as an opal coating, are added to the radiation-emitting ends. Signaling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pattern is composed of segments, all of which, together, in groups or individually, can receive radiation from at least one source. 8. Signaling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the source comprises filtering means for selecting the spectrum of the emitted radiation. 9. Signaling system according to claim 7, characterized in that the radiation-emitting ends are incorporated in a block. 8801010 · A -8-. 10. Signaling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the or each block and optionally radiation supply conductor means is / are included in the surface. 11. Floor, for example a sports floor, with a signaling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a translucent covering layer, for instance a covering layer according to claim 6. 12. Method for applying a signaling system according to claim 10, characterized in that slots are milled in the relevant surface for receiving the or each block and optionally radiation-supply conductor means. Block with the ends of glass fibers, apparently intended for use as part of a signaling system according to any one of claims 1-10. 14. Block according to claim 13, characterized in that the ends of the glass fibers are covered by radiation-diffusing means, such as an opal coating. 15. Block according to claim 13, characterized in that the ends of the glass fibers are embedded in a filling mass with a preselected density (number of fibers per unit area). Filter means, evidently intended for use as part of a signaling system according to claim 8. 8801010