WO2019182522A1

WO2019182522A1 - Internally illuminated door, window or cabinet accessory and method of making the same

Info

Publication number: WO2019182522A1
Application number: PCT/SI2018/050011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roman PIRNAR; Marjan VOLJČ
Original assignee: Pirnar D.O.O.
Priority date: 2018-03-20
Filing date: 2018-03-20
Publication date: 2019-09-26
Also published as: EP3707323A1

Abstract

Internally illuminated door, window and/or cabinet accessory, and method of making the same provide for solution to technical problem of availability of door sings and door or window handles with illumination means such as LED or other type of light which is directly visible to the user and presents intrusion rather than forming part of background lighting by using internal light source such as LED or the like, by providing openings in handle housing, and by allowing light emitted by internal illuminating means to be seen through said openings. By choosing suitable material such as translucent adhesive or mixture of said adhesives or mixture of at least one adhesive and small particles such as quartz dust to diffuse said light thereby providing for diffuse light or soft glow. Further, openings can be cut in form of a name such as family name hence adding personal touch to each handle.

Description

INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED DOOR, WINDOW OR CABINET ACCESSORY AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME

Field of technology illumination; making of doors and windows, carpentry.

Technical problem

Technical problem to be addressed is availability of door signs and door handles with illumination means, wherein these means as available in state of the art are in form of LED or other type of light which is directly visible to the user and presents intrusion rather than forming part of background lighting. Also, current door handles do not provide for diffused light which would be able to serve as background lighting of symbols imbedded in the handle.

State of the art

WO2010103397 describes an illuminated handle bar switch module comprising reflector, LED, rubber grommet and LED cap that protects LED or other illuminating device from dust, water or other contamination. The illumination assembly is robust enough to provide protection against vibration to soldering joints due to use of rubber grommet and also to withstand the vibration deriving from vehicle engine.

US6135621 describes an illuminated handle comprising a tubular bar having a first end and a second end, a first lens located at the first end of the bar, a first light source located at the first end of the bar, a first curved mirror partially surrounding the first light source and enclosing the first end of the bar, a polished surface located at the second end of the bar, and a second curved mirror enclosing the second end of the bar.

WO/2007/028955 describes a door handle assembly for a door having a locked door status when locked and an unlocked door status when unlocked. The door handle assembly comprises a door handle body including illumination means operable to provide light of a first color as a visual indication of the locked door status, to provide light of a second color as a visual indication of the unlocked door status and to provide light of a third color as a visual indication of another status

Illuminated handle bars are therefore known in state of the art. However, the surface of the handle bars needs to be transparent, or light is simply attached to it such as in above referenced examples.

Description of new invention

Internally illuminated accessory and method making the same provide for solution to above described technical problem using internal light source such as LED or the like, by providing openings in a housing of said accessory, and by allowing light emitted by internal illuminating means to be seen through said openings. By choosing suitable material such as translucent adhesive or mixture of said adhesives or mixture of at least one adhesive and small particles such as quartz dust to diffuse said light thereby providing for diffuse light or soft glow. Further, openings can be cut in form of a name such as family name hence adding personal touch to each accessory.

This invention relates to an accessory such as a door handle, door sign, window handle, window sign, cabinet handle, cabinet sign or similar. Such accessory can be rectangular in cross section but it can also have other cross section shapes such as circle, oval, triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon or like, with equal or different sides. Such accessory can be uniform along longitudinal axis but can also be of variable cross section area. Such accessory can have uniform cross section shape but can also change cross section shape, for example from circular to quadrilateral back to circular and similar.

When using said accessory it is advantageous to have it illuminated. State of the art provides for accessories consisting of essentially clear tube having light on one end, and mirror on the other. But such accessories may be intrusive. In addition they are not metal or wooden exterior accessories, these surface finishes preferred by many a customer.

Subject of this invention is therefore an accessory for doors, windows, cabinets or other elements in need of having an accessory, said accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel, said housing having at least one wall, at least one wall of said housing having at least one opening, said opening filled with filling means of non-opaque material such as plastic, polymer or similar translucent or semi-translucent material or other material capable of at least partially passing light through, said housing comprising at least one illumination means for providing light internal to said housing, said illumination means chosen from the group consisting of LED or plurality thereof, at least one light bulb, neon tube, said illumination means transmitting light in such a way that it protrudes through filling means, said filling means diffusing said light in order to provide either essentially uniform or graduated glow of said filling means, said illumination means attached to said filling means in such a way to enable transmitting of light through said filling means toward accessory environment.

For purposes of this invention reference to diffused light means light which is scattered and does not appear to have a focal point or is deemed to be comprised of beams pointing in many different directions. The term does not refer only to reflected light but also to light which has passed through a medium, said light originating inside of said accessory, and directed toward outside of said accessory.

In this embodiment accessory is made of a metal, for example, of Aluminum or steel. Accessory is comprised of a housing in form of, for example, rectangular hollow profile. In this housing at least one opening is cut, said opening of any form. For example, the form of said cut can be a name, or maybe different slits or similar, it can be essentially of any shape. Filling means can be comprised of several materials. It can be composed of solid plastic such as acrylic, it can be composed of initially liquid or deformable plastic which solidifies and has translucent properties such as translucent adhesive vinyl or it can be a mixture of plastic and diffusing means such as mixture of cyanoacrylate and quartz dust.

The first example includes pre-manufactured slab of acrylic or similar plastic material with protrusion of essentially same shape as said opening in said housing of said accessory. During assembly, such slab can be inserted into rectangular profile and pushed to the side of said housing of said accessory in such a way that it protrudes into opening previously cut into said housing of said accessory, and attached to said housing with a help of, for example, adhesive. After this step, said protrusion is made flush with said housing by means of polishing, grounding or similar.

After this step, illumination source such as LED, light bulb, neon tube or similar is attached to said slab from the inside of the accessory, and attached to power source. When on, such light transmit light into said slab which then diffuses this light.

Subject of this invention can therefore further be an accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel wherein said filling means are a piece of solid material of translucent or semi translucent material or other material capable of at least partially passing light through having at least one at least partially flat surface, said material comprising at least one protrusion, said at least one protrusion matching in shape said at least one opening, said at least one protrusion extending above said one at least partially flat surface and having thickness equal or greater than wall thickness of said housing of said accessory, said piece of solid material inserted into said housing of said accessory in such a way that said at least one protrusion enters into said at least one opening from inside, wherein said piece of material is attached to said housing of said accessory from the inside, and wherein after insertion from the inside said at least one protrusion is made flush with surface of said housing of said accessory, preferably by polishing or grinding. Such solution can have drawbacks. During polishing or grinding the housing can slightly deform and protrusion made of acrylic or similar plastic no longer fits in said opening with desired level of precision. This causes for example a groove to be formed between said protrusion and edge of said opening cut into said housing. This groove serves as receptacle for dirt, and presents non-uniform feel to user’s hand touching said housing during use of said accessory.

In order to overcome this problem, the second example is presented. An illumination source is positioned on the inside of said housing in proximity to said opening cut into said housing. Then, illumination source is covered by sufficient amount of adhesive, said adhesive filling also said opening, said adhesive acting as light communication medium between said illumination source and said opening, filled with said adhesive. This adhesive is translucent or semi-translucent, i.e. capable of at least partially passing light through. After curing, or solidification of said adhesive, the surface of said housing is polished or ground until the filling material is flush with the housing. Because of elasticity of said adhesive there is no groove or similar crack formed even if said housing is slightly deformed during polishing and/or grinding.

Subject of this invention can therefore further be an accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel wherein said filling means is liquid or plasticized adhesive having translucent properties after curing or solidification, said adhesive filling said at least one opening and being, after curing or solidification, in contact with said illumination means, and further wherein excess of said adhesive after curing or solidification is removed, preferably by polishing or grinding.

It is not necessary for the adhesive to solidify, it can remain in gel-like form.

There are many translucent adhesives (i.e. adhesives capable of at least partially passing light through after curing or solidification) which can be used for such purpose, for example:

cyanoacrylate adhesive;

translucent vinyl adhesive; epoxy adhesive;

liquid optically clear adhesive;

polyurethane adhesive;

methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesive;

and many others known in state of the art.

Said light source or illumination means can be attached to said filling means by means of any translucent adhesive.

Subject of this invention can therefore further be an accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel wherein said filling means possesses gel like qualities after curing.

But even these solutions can have drawbacks. During curing small yet unevenly distributed gas bubbles can form in said adhesive causing bright spots or uneven reflection off said gas bubbles surfaces.

It is advantageous if light passing through said translucent filling is diffused. Such diffusion of light creates perception of smooth illumination or soft glow without interference or bright spots. In addition, if gas bubbles are formed in said adhesive during curing, the diffusion masks their presence preserving this smooth illumination or soft glow appearance.

This effect is achieved by the third example, namely by adding diffusion means to said adhesive, for example, adding fine quartz dust or small glass spheres to cyanoacrylate adhesive. Similarly as in previous examples, after curing or solidification, excessive adhesive protruding above outside surface of said housing is polished or ground until outside surface of said housing of said accessory is smooth, said filling of said opening being flush with outside surface of said housing of said accessory.

Subject of this invention can therefore further be an accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel wherein said filling means is liquid or plasticized adhesive being mixed with diffusion means for diffusing of said light after curing or solidification of said adhesive, said light passing through said mixture of adhesive and diffusion means from inside of said housing toward outside of said housing, and further wherein excess of said mixture of adhesive and diffusion means after curing or solidification is removed, preferably by polishing or grinding.

Among the accessories which are subject of this invention, they may be chosen from the list containing door handles, door signs, window handles, window signs, cabinet handles, cabinet signs. Below, few embodiments are defined, and explained.

Method for making internally illuminated accessory is comprised of the following steps: providing housing of said accessory, said housing comprised of at least one wall, said housing having at least one cross sectional shape, said shape chosen from one or more of the following group: triangle, rectangle, quadrilateral, pentagram, hexagram, circle;

making at least one opening in at least one wall of said housing of said accessory, said opening of arbitrary shape such as slit, circle, or lines comprising letters such as name;

filling of said at least one opening by filling means, said filling means having translucent properties;

connecting at least one light source to said filling in such a way that at least some light is passed through said filling and said opening from inside out;

making said filling flush with outside surface of said housing of said accessory at least at the edges of at least one opening of said housing, preferably by polishing or grinding.

Method for making internally illuminated accessory can be further comprised of the following steps:

filling of said at least one opening by liquid or plasticized filling means, said filling means being translucent adhesive such as cyanoacrylate, translucent vinyl adhesive, epoxy, liquid optically clear adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesive or mixture thereof until said at least one opening is at least flush with the outside surface of said accessory;

removing of excess of said filling means after curing or solidification, preferably by polishing or grinding.

mixing of said liquid or plasticized filling means with light diffusion means.

mixing of said liquid or plasticized filling means with light diffusion means wherein said light diffusion means are chosen from the group containing quartz dust, glass spheres, glass beads, metal spheres, metal particles, glass particles, glass fibers or parts thereof, mineral fibers or parts thereof.

The invention is further described by means of embodiments as described below, and with aid of attached figures wherein said figures form part of this description, and present.

Figure 1 presents the first embodiment comprising a housing of a handle with openings, namely housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4).

Figure 2 presents step of assembling of said handle, namely housing (1), acrylic insert (2), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4).

Figure 3 presents handle with cross section A-A, namely housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4), cross section A-A, LED illumination means (5), wires for supplying electrical current to illumination means (10).

Figure 4 presents finished handle with housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4), side covers (6). Figure 5 presents the second embodiment with housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4) comprising light diffusion means, attachment wires for supplying current to LED strip (9).

Figure 6 presents step of assembling the second embodiment, namely insertion of transparent film into said housing, and presenting housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4), transparent film (8).

Figure 7 presents LED strip to be inserted into housing, namely LED strip (7).

Figure 8 presents cross section of assembled handle, namely housing (1), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4), LED strip (7), cross section C-C, attachment wires for supplying current to LED strip (9).

Figure 9 presents both embodiments as finished products on a door, namely the first embodiment as (a), and the second embodiment as (b).

Figure 10 presents the third embodiment, namely a sign fixed into the door, namely door (11), housing (12), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4).

Figure 11 presents a sign to be fixed into the door showing housing (12) from the back side and from the top and lateral sides, LED strip (7). It should be noted that this figure presents view from the back of the sign, view from the top side of the sign and view from the lateral side of the sign.

Figure 12 presents a sign to be fixed into the door, housing (12), at least one opening (3) to be filled with filling means (4).

In the first embodiment, at least one opening (3) is cut into a housing (1) of a handle subject of this invention, in this case there are many openings (3) forming particular patterns. This housing (1) is a rectangular tube made of metal, with openings cut in all four walls of said housing (1). Into this housing (1) a transparent acrylic insert (2) is inserted. Then, methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesive is introduced through said openings (3) until all openings are completely filled with said adhesive. The adhesive has two effects - first, it fills the openings (3) until full, and also attach said acrylic insert (2) to inside of said housing (1). Said adhesive is allowed to be cured or solidified, and excess of said adhesive is removed by grinding and later by polishing.

After said acrylic insert (2) is attached, LED illumination means (5) in form of a single LED light is inserted into said housing (1) and attached by means of transparent or translucent adhesive to said acrylic insert (2).

The wires for supplying of electric current to illumination means (10) are led through a hole made in said handle and attached to external power supply. Finally, side covers (6) are attached.

Instead of wires leading to said LED illumination means (5) the battery pack can be used thus eliminating needs of the wires, said setup optionally turned on and off by means of remote switch via WI-FI or some other triggering mechanism as known in state of the art.

In the second embodiment, at least one opening (3), this time in form of letters forming a name such as family name or somesuch is cut into a housing (1) of a handle subject of this invention. The housing (1) is a rectangular tube made of metal, with openings cut in one wall of four walls of said housing (1). Into this housing (1) a transparent film (8) is inserted in such a way that it covers said openings (3) from the inside in order to form a barrier for filling means filled from the outside into said openings (3). Then, said openings (3) are filled with filling means, in this case quartz spheres or particles of maximum size between 0,1 and 0,2 mm mixed with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Then, this mixture is allowed to be cured or solidified. After curing or solidification excess of said mixture is removed by grinding and later by polishing. Then, LED strip (7) powered through attachment wires for supplying current to LED strip (9) is attached to the inside of the housing (1).

When turned on, the LED strip provides for illumination, which is diffused by both cured cyanoacrylate adhesive and quartz particles or spheres dispersed in said cured cyanoacrylate adhesive giving soft glow.

Similarly as before, battery pack can be used thus eliminating needs of the wires, said setup optionally turned on and off by means of remote switch via WI-FI or some other triggering mechanism as known in state of the art.

In the third embodiment a sign for doors is shown. In this case, an open (which could also be closed) housing (12) is embedded into the door after being previously arranged with two LED strips (7) on the back, and wherein transparent film was attached to the housing (12) of said sign, between said LED strips (7) and openings (3) to keep filling of said openings until such time they are cured or solidified.

Onto back side of this open housing (12) a transparent film (8) is inserted in such a way that it covers said openings (3) from the inside in order to form a barrier for filling means filled from the outside into said openings (3). Then, said openings (3) are filled with filling means, in this case quartz spheres or particles of maximum size between 0,1 and 0,2 mm mixed with cyanoacrylate adhesive. Then, this mixture is allowed to be cured or solidified. After curing or solidification excess of said mixture is removed by grinding and later by polishing.

When turned on, the LED strips provide for illumination, which is diffused by both cured cyanoacrylate adhesive and quartz particles or spheres dispersed in said cured cyanoacrylate adhesive giving soft glow.

Claims

1. Internally illuminated accessory for doors, windows, cabinets or other elements in need of having an accessory, said accessory comprised of housing, preferably of metal such as Aluminum or steel, said housing having at least one wall, at least one wall of said housing having at least one opening, said opening filled with filling means of non-opaque material such as plastic, polymer or similar translucent or semi-translucent material or other material capable of at least partially passing light through, said housing comprising at least one illumination means providing light internal to said housing, said illumination means chosen from the group consisting of LED or plurality thereof, at least one light bulb, neon tube, said illumination means transmitting light in such a way that it protrudes through filling means, said filling means diffusing said light in order to provide either essentially uniform or graduated glow of said filling means, said illumination means attached to said filling means in such a way to enable transmitting of light through said filling means toward accessory environment.

2. Accessory according to claim 1, wherein said filling means are a piece of solid material of translucent or semi translucent material or other material capable of at least partially passing light through having at least one at least partially flat surface, said material comprising at least one protrusion, said at least one protrusion matching in shape said at least one opening, said at least one protrusion extending above said one at least partially flat surface and having thickness equal or greater than wall thickness of said housing of said accessory, said piece of solid material inserted into said housing of said accessory in such a way that said at least one protrusion enters into said at least one opening from inside, wherein said piece of material is attached to said housing of said accessory from the inside, and wherein after insertion from the inside said at least one protrusion is made flush with surface of said housing of said accessory, preferably by polishing or grinding.

3. Accessory according to any of the previous claims, wherein said filling means is liquid or plasticized adhesive having translucent properties after curing or solidification, said adhesive filling said at least one opening and being, after curing or solidification, in contact with said illumination means, and further wherein excess of said adhesive after curing or solidification is removed, preferably by polishing or grinding.

4. Accessory according to any of the previous claims, wherein said filling means possesses gel-like qualities after curing.

5. Accessory according to any of the previous claims, wherein said filling means is liquid or plasticized adhesive being mixed with diffusion means for diffusing of said light after curing or solidification of said adhesive, said light passing through said mixture of adhesive and diffusion means from inside of said housing toward outside of said housing, and further wherein excess of said mixture of adhesive and diffusion means after curing or solidification is removed, preferably by polishing or grinding.

6. Accessory according to any of the previous claims where said accessory is chosen from the list containing door handle, door sign, window handle, window sign, cabinet handle, cabinet sign.

7. Method for making internally illuminated accessory is comprised of the following steps:

- providing housing of said accessory, said housing comprised of at least one wall, said housing having at least one cross sectional shape, said shape chosen from one or more of the following group: triangle, rectangle, quadrilateral, pentagram, hexagram, circle; - making at least one opening in at least one wall of said housing of said accessory, said opening of arbitrary shape such as slit, circle, or lines comprising letters such as name;

- filling of said at least one opening by filling means, said filling means having translucent properties;

- connecting at least one light source to said filling in such a way that at least some light is passed through said filling and said opening from inside out;

- making said filling flush with outside surface of said housing of said accessory at least at the edges of at least one opening of said housing, preferably by polishing or grinding.

8. Method according to claim 7 further comprised of the following steps:

- filling of said at least one opening by liquid or plasticized filling means, said filling means being translucent adhesive such as cyanoacrylate, translucent vinyl adhesive, epoxy, liquid optically clear adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, methyl methacrylate (MMA) adhesive or mixture thereof until said at least one opening is at least flush with the outside surface of said accessory;

- removing of excess of said filling means after curing or solidification, preferably by polishing or grinding.

9. Method according to any of claims 7 to 8 further comprised of the following steps:

- mixing of said liquid or plasticized filling means with light diffusion means.

10. Method according to any of claims 7 to 9 further comprised of the following steps:

- mixing of said liquid or plasticized filling means with light diffusion means wherein said light diffusion means are chosen from the group containing quartz dust, glass spheres, glass beads, metal spheres, metal particles, glass particles, glass fibers or parts thereof, mineral fibers or parts thereof.

11. Method for making internally illuminated accessory in accordance with any of the claims 7 to 10 for making internally illuminated accessory in accordance with any of the claims 1 to 6.