WO2024069296A1

WO2024069296A1 - Flexible panel with lighting elements

Info

Publication number: WO2024069296A1
Application number: PCT/IB2023/059039
Authority: WO
Inventors: Opsomer FREDERIC
Original assignee: Prg Projects Nv
Priority date: 2022-09-12
Filing date: 2023-09-12
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Also published as: BE1030862B1; BE1030862A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns an improved portable screen with information carriers, preferably LED light sources, in particular for use with a view to large-scale lighting installations, where multiple screens are combined.

Description

FLEXIBLE PANEL WITH LIGHTING ELEMENTS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an improved portable screen with information carriers, preferably LED light sources, in particular for use with large-scale lighting installations in which several screens are combined.

PRIOR ART

Until now, large-scale light installations have been constructed with fixed panels with light sources thereon. These panels are often heavy, large and cumbersome to transport, and difficult in the assembly and dismantling of the lighting installations.

The size of the panels makes transport difficult and often requires very secure storage during transport, so that the light sources cannot be damaged. These additional measures for safe storage take up extra space, so that sub-optimal use is made of the available space in a container or truck, and additional means of transport are therefore required, which means additional costs in materials, manpower and financially.

Other systems use flexible printed circuit boards so that the panel is somewhat deformable and can be more easily tensioned with tension elements, such as rods. This is described, among other things, in KR20200112409. However, this means that these are very large and very sensitive (to damage) systems, which are difficult to transport and manipulate for these reasons.

With a view to improving this, the present invention aims to provide a flexible lighting panel, which can be used in particular to build larger lighting installations, by combining a large number of the panels. Due to its flexibility, the panel can also be dismantled and stored very compactly (folded), in a way that does not damage the sensitive elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a flexible lighting panel for displaying information. The panel comprises a canvas of flexible material, comprising at least four corners, with corner elements provided on the back at the corners. In addition, it includes a multitude of LED (light-emitting diode) light sources, provided on the front of the canvas, and at least two flexible, elongated rods. The corner elements are adapted to receive the ends of the rods, and the distance between opposite corner elements is less than the length of the rods.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the canvas is provided on opposite sides with mutually attachable connecting means.

Preferably, the light sources are provided in rows parallel to said common direction.

Furthermore, the invention concerns an assembly of two or more, preferably at least 4, 10, 20, 50, 100 or even more, of such flexible panels according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the panels can be connected at the sides.

In a subsequent aspect, the invention relates to a method for constructing a lighting installation with an assembly of two or more panels according to the first aspect, or a kit according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the panels are provided with mutually attachable connecting means on the sides, preferably velcro. The method involves unrolling the panels from a state where the rods are parallel and the canvas is wrapped around the rods, then rotating the rods relative to each other to a non-zero angle, and then positioning the ends of the rods in the corner elements for stretching the canvas, and where the panels are connected via the sides in a final step.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figures 1A-C show the rear side of a panel according to an embodiment of the invention in unfolded, partially dismantled, and fully rolled up condition.

Figure 2 shows the front side of an unfolded panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 shows a dolly for receiving and transporting multiple panels according to an embodiment of the invention, with associated electronics for control and/or energy supply.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. For a better understanding of the description of the invention, the following terms are explained explicitly.

In this document, "a" and "the" refer to both the singular and the plural, unless the context presupposes otherwise. For example, "a segment" means one or more segments.

When the term "around" or "about" is used in this document with a measurable quantity, a parameter, a duration or moment, and the like, then variations are meant of approx. 20% or less, preferably approx. 10% or less, more preferably approx. 5% or less, even more preferably approx. 1% or less, and even more preferably approx. 0.1% or less than and of the quoted value, insofar as such variations are applicable in the described invention. However, it must be understood that the value of a quantity used where the term "about" or "around" is used, is itself specifically disclosed.

The terms "comprise," "comprising," "consist of," "consisting of," "provided with," "have," "having," "include," "including," "contain," "containing" are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, characteristics, elements, members, steps, as known from or disclosed in the prior art.

Quoting numeric intervals by the endpoints includes all integers, fractions, and/or real numbers between the endpoints, including those endpoints.

In a first aspect, the invention concerns a flexible lighting panel for displaying information thereon. The panel comprises a canvas of flexible material, comprising at least four corners, with corner elements provided on the back at the corners. In addition, it includes a multitude of LED (light-emitting diode) light sources, provided on the front of the canvas, and at least two flexible, elongated rods. The corner elements are adapted to receive the ends of the rods, and the distance between opposite corner elements is less than the length of the rods.

By using a flexible canvas that is stretched by the rods, the panel can be transported very easily and compactly, for example with the canvas wrapped around the rods, and the overall system is also much lighter, as there is no longer a rigid construction in the panel. An additional advantage is that the light sources can also be protected more easily, as they can no longer come into contact with other rigid objects during transport, as with fixed panels, which typically rest on each other.

In a further preferred embodiment, the light sources are provided in rows parallel to said common direction.

The canvas, as a carrier, preferably consists of a light, easily deformable material that does not contain any structural elements (certainly in terms of electronics or electrical components) and consists almost entirely of the same material (for example textile, plastic, nonwoven, etc.). This makes it fully deformable, rollable and foldable, without these elements being damaged, and the canvas can move and deform under external influences such as wind, but also manipulation by a user. Such canvases are also easy to produce, cheap and easy to replace, due to the absence of structural elements, and can also tolerate minor damage without jeopardizing the functioning of the entire system.

Existing systems, as described for example in KR20200112409, do not involve canvas, but a flexible printed circuit board, which does not improve deformability, resistance to forces, and performance in the event of damage.

In addition, this can be optimally combined with connecting multiple canvases via the connecting means. The canvases are very flexible, and can adapt to each other quickly and easily, without putting pressure on structural components.

The above applies especially when using LED light sources or LED strips, as they can tolerate deformations very well without substantially preventing or counteracting them, are easy to attach to the canvases, and add little weight. This way, a larger system of multiple canvases tied together can be used in any circumstance.

Preferably, the rods are somewhat flexible, so that they can be slightly bent in an elastic manner, and thus the distance between the ends of the rods can be reduced. In this way, the rods can be inserted with their ends into the opposite corner elements by bending them, thus tensioning the canvas when the rod returns to its original shape. For example, (partially) hollow rods can be used, which are easily deformable. Alternatively, you can also work with telescopically extendable rods, or elastic corner elements that allow deformation, for example partly made of an elastically deformable material. Another alternative is that the canvas is (partially) elastic, so that the corner elements can be pulled further apart, allowing the rods to be placed in them, and the canvas then elastically returns to its original state, so that it is kept stretched by the rods.

The corner elements may be specifically pre-formed to receive the ends of the rods, for example a hollow cap that fits onto the end of the rod, and is secured to the canvas, for example with the skirt and/or the closed end. The corner elements can alternatively also be formed in the shape of a flexible bag, in which the ends of the rod can be positioned.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas is substantially rectangular, and the light sources are provided in rows parallel to one side of the canvas, preferably wherein the light sources of each row comprise one or more LED strips, wherein the light sources of a strip are electrically connected to each other.

By positioning the light sources in parallel rows, they make it very easy to roll up (or fold) the canvas in that direction. This is particularly useful during transport, where the canvases can, for example, be wrapped around the rods and can thus be stored very compactly.

The use of LED strips offers the advantage that the weight of the light sources remains low, they can be easily controlled, they are energy efficient and also very flexible to deformation. LED strips are very narrow, so they impose few restrictions on the flexibility of the canvas in their width direction. In addition, they are very flexible in the longitudinal direction, which means they have a very limited influence on the folding of the canvas in that direction as well.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas is provided on opposite sides with mutually attachable connecting means, the canvas preferably being provided with velcro on the sides.

In many applications, the intention is to use a large number of the panels in combination with each other, to form one large screen. By connecting the panels on the sides, this effect can be achieved even more strongly and this increases the visual quality, especially since in this way any deviating colors or lights under/behind the canvas can be completely covered. Because the panels typically have the same dimensions and allow a tessellated combination (e.g., triangles, rectangles, etc.), a larger surface area can easily be created with the panels.

Examples of connecting means include hooks and eyes, velcro, zippers, etc.

In a further preferred embodiment, the canvas is substantially rectangular, wherein the sides are provided with velcro over substantially the entire length, and where two, preferably adjacent, sides are provided with a loop side of the velcro, and wherein the other two, preferably adjacent sides have a hook side of the velcro.

A rectangular shape offers the most advantages when constructing larger screens from multiple units of panels. By providing each panel with two loop sides and two hook sides of velcro, it is ensured that the panels can all be connected, velcro offers the advantage that it guarantees sufficient anchorage strength for such lightweight panels, is itself light, and allows easy coupling and uncoupling between panels during assembly and dismantling.

In a possible embodiment, a first set of adjacent sides of the canvas is provided with a loop side of the velcro, and the second set of adjacent sides of the canvas is provided with a hook side of the velcro.

In an alternative embodiment, a first set of opposite sides of the canvas is provided with a loop side of the velcro, and the second set of opposite sides of the canvas is provided with a hook side of the velcro.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas is provided with a plurality of internal cuts, wherein the cuts extend along a common direction parallel to a side of the canvas, and wherein the light sources are provided in rows parallel to said common direction.

These cuts ensure that the panels are sufficiently protected in extreme weather conditions, such as wind and/or rain. These cuts can therefore allow wind to pass through, to prevent the panels from being pulled loose or damaged, and they can also allow water to pass through.

In a preferred embodiment the two elongated rods are connected in a central part of the rods, preferably about the center of the rods, where the rods are rotatably connected to each other, where the rods rotate relative to each other around an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rods. The two rods can, for example, be rotatably connected by a coupling with a pin. By connecting the rods, they are even easier to transport, install and clear away, and the assembled panel is sturdier due to the connection of the support rods.

In a further preferred embodiment, the elongated rods are rotatable to a parallel position. In this position it is easy to use the rods to roll up the canvas around the rods and transport it.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas is substantially rectangular, and the light sources are provided as LED strips, which extend parallel to one side of the canvas, with a length substantially equal to the length of the side to which the LED strip extends parallel, where each LED strip preferably contains at least 25 LED light sources.

The use of LED strips offers the aforementioned advantages of lightness, easy controllability, energy efficiency, flexibility, and are particularly suitable for use in large installations, where the large number of LEDs together provide a desired image.

Preferably, the LED strips are provided parallel to the longest side of the canvas, around which the canvas is typically also rolled up.

In a preferred embodiment the canvas is substantially rectangular.

In a preferred embodiment, two opposite sides of the canvas are provided with a reinforced edge, making it easy to roll them up around this edge. These are preferably the longest sides of the canvas if the sides are not all equal. Preferably, the corner elements are also firmly attached to this reinforced edge.

This reinforcement can, for example, be carried out in the form of a rod that is provided in a roll of the canvas.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas is provided with perforations with reinforced edges along the sides. The cloths can be additionally secured with this, for example to surrounding elements and/or neighboring panels, using rope or other tension elements. These are preferably provided at intervals of at least 10 cm, further preferably at least 15 cm. Preferably these are provided at intervals of at most 50 cm, further preferably at most 40 cm or even 30 cm. Most preferably, the intervals are approximately 20 cm. The reinforced edges ensure that the perforations cannot lead to tearing, as the panels are often used in the open air and can therefore be subject to gusts of wind. In a preferred embodiment, the panel further comprises an energy supply unit, wherein the light sources are provided with connectors adapted for coupling to the energy supply unit, the coupling suitable for supplying energy to the light sources.

The energy supply units can then be connected to one or more control units, which specifically control the light sources individually (or per strip), and thus determine the displayed image.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas has a length of at least 100 cm, preferably at least 150 cm, and the canvas has a width of at least 100 cm, preferably at least 125 cm.

The canvas preferably has a length of approximately 2 m, but depending on the application (indoor/outdoor), density of light sources, choice of material and/or other factors, larger or smaller dimensions can also be chosen, such as 175 cm, 150 cm, 125 cm, 100 cm, or 250 cm, 300 cm, 400 cm, etc.

Preferably the screen has a width of approximately 160 cm, but again other dimensions can be chosen based on the above factors, such as 150 cm, 125 cm, 100 cm, 75 cm, or 175 cm, 200 cm, 250 cm, 300 cm, etc.

In a preferred embodiment, the canvas has a black front side. The choice of a black, or alternatively dark, front side ensures that the light from the light sources forms a sharper contrast with the background, and the image is therefore displayed more clearly.

In a preferred embodiment, the light sources are provided in rows parallel to one side of the canvas, preferably wherein the light sources of each row comprise one or more LED strips, wherein the light sources of a strip are electrically connected to each other, and wherein the light sources are provided in columns perpendicular to the rows.

Such a configuration offers more visualization options, also allows structured and organized control of the individual light sources and ensures that the canvas can be folded and/or rolled up along the two main axes.

In a preferred embodiment, the corner elements form pockets on their own and/or in combination with the canvas, wherein the pockets are oriented with an opening towards a central point on the canvas. This allows for easy reception of the rods. In what follows, the invention is described by way of non-limiting examples illustrating the invention, and which are not intended to and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES

Figures 1A-C show the back of a flexible lighting panel (1) according to the invention in different form, namely from a stretched state, ready for use (Fig. 1A), over a partially dismantled state (Fig. IB), to a fully rolled-up, compact state (Fig. 1C).

The panel (1) comprises a canvas (2) and two elongated, cylindrical rods (3), linked together at a central point (7), to which they are rotatably connected relative to each other. The rods (3) are anchored in corner elements (4) of the canvas (2), and are held therein by their ends, as the length of the rods (3) exceeds the mutual distance between opposite corner elements (4). The length of the rods (3) is typically not or very slightly greater than the diagonal distance of the canvas (2) at rest, so that there is no risk of the canvas (2) being overtensioned but is chosen in such a way that the corner elements (4) are positioned in such a way that the canvas (2) is stretched when the rods (3) are secured in the corner elements (4).

A number of typically parallel cuts (5) are provided in the canvas. These run parallel to one of the sides (9) of the canvas (3), and allow water to pass through during excessive rainfall, and also prevent a canvas from catching too much wind.

The cuts (5) can be spread out in a regular grid pattern, as shown in the Figures.

The canvas (2) is provided with perforations (6) with reinforced edges at regular intervals along the sides (8, 9). These perforations (6) can be used to additionally anchor the canvas to external points, for example with rope or tensioning straps.

The sides (8, 9) of the canvas can be provided with a fastening means, such as velcro. Two sides are provided with the hook side, the other two with the loop side of velcro. For ease of use during assembly, opposite sides are provided with opposing fastener types (loop versus hook).

As visible in Fig. IB, the rods (3) can be removed from the corner elements (4) and brought parallel to each other. In a possible embodiment, the rods (3) are mutually rotatably connected, which simplifies transport, but they can alternatively also be provided separately from each other. The rods (3) are longer than the sides of the canvas (2), making them suitable for rolling the canvas (2) around, as shown in Fig. 1C, and transport it. Fig. 2 shows the front of the canvas (2) on which a large number of lighting elements (10) such as LED strips (11) are provided, with the strips parallel to the longest side (9) of the canvas (2). The lighting elements (10) are arranged in a grid pattern. The lighting elements (10) are only explicitly drawn in two LED strips (11) but are present in each of the strips (11).

Fig. 3 shows a possible arrangement for easily transporting the panels (1) in rolled up condition, on a dolly, so that they are carried on supporting surfaces of the dolly. Alternatively, dollies can also be provided where the rolled up panels are stored in the dolly supported on the rods (3). In such an embodiment, it is crucial that the rods can support sufficient weight of the canvas, without permanent deformation.

The dolly comprises a separate storage for energy supply units (12) and/or control units (whether or not integrated into one unit). These are preferably provided for each panel, with specific coupling. In this way, a large-scale screen can be constructed simply and correctly so that it can be controlled efficiently. The panels are equipped with a (non- visible) coupling structure to which the energy supply unit and/or control unit can be connected.

The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments described above and certain modifications or changes may be added to the examples described without having to re-evaluate the appended claims. For example, the present invention has been described with reference to lighting panels, but it is clear that the invention can be applied to, for example, canvases with sound elements and/or other items.

Claims

1. A flexible lighting panel, comprising: a. a canvas of flexible material, comprising at least four corners, with corner elements provided on the back at the corners; b. a plurality of LED (light-emitting diode) light sources, provided on the front of the canvas; c. at least two flexible, elongated rods; wherein the corner elements are suitable to receive the ends of the rods, and wherein the distance between opposite corner elements is lower than the length of the rods, wherein the canvas is provided on opposite sides with mutually attachable connecting means.

2. The flexible lighting panel according to the preceding claim 1, wherein the canvas is substantially rectangular, and wherein the light sources are provided in rows parallel to a side of the canvas, preferably wherein the light sources of each row comprise one or more LED strips, wherein the light sources of a strip are electrically connected to each other.

3. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, wherein the canvas is provided with velcro on the sides.

4. The flexible lighting panel according to the preceding claim 3, wherein the canvas is substantially rectangular, wherein the sides are provided with velcro over substantially the entire length, and where two, preferably adjacent, sides are provided with a loop side of the velcro, and wherein the other two, preferably adjacent sides have a hook side of the velcro.

5. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the canvas is provided with a plurality of internal cuts, wherein the cuts extend along a common direction parallel to a side of the canvas, and wherein the light sources are provided in rows parallel to said common direction.

6. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-5, wherein the two elongated rods are connected in a central part of the rods, preferably about the center of the rods, wherein the rods are rotatably connected to each other.

7. The flexible lighting panel according to the preceding claim 6, wherein the elongated rods are rotatable to a parallel position.

8. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-7, wherein the canvas is substantially rectangular, and wherein the light sources are provided as LED strips, which extend parallel to one side of the canvas, with a length substantially equal to the length of the side to which the LED strip extends parallel, with each LED strip preferably comprising at least 25 LED light sources.

9. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-8, wherein the canvas is substantially rectangular.

10. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, wherein the canvas is provided with perforations with reinforced edges along the sides.

11. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, further comprising an energy supply unit, and wherein the light sources are provided with connectors adapted for coupling to the energy supply unit, the coupling suitable for supplying energy to the light sources.

12. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-11, wherein the canvas has a length of at least 100 cm, preferably at least 150 cm, and wherein the canvas has a width of at least 100 cm, preferably at least 125 cm.

13. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-12, wherein the canvas has a black front side.

14. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-13, wherein the light sources are provided in rows parallel to one side of the canvas, preferably wherein the light sources of each row comprise one or more LED strips, wherein the light sources of a strip are electrically connected to each other, and wherein the light sources are provided in columns perpendicular to the rows.

15. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-14, wherein the corner elements form pockets on their own and/or in combination with the canvas, wherein the pockets are oriented with an opening towards a central point on the canvas. The flexible lighting panel according to any of the preceding claims 1-15, wherein the canvas consists substantially of textile.