CA2487264A1 - Electronic luminescent clothing and tapes - Google Patents
Electronic luminescent clothing and tapes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2487264A1 CA2487264A1 CA 2487264 CA2487264A CA2487264A1 CA 2487264 A1 CA2487264 A1 CA 2487264A1 CA 2487264 CA2487264 CA 2487264 CA 2487264 A CA2487264 A CA 2487264A CA 2487264 A1 CA2487264 A1 CA 2487264A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- tape
- electronic luminescent
- garment
- substrate
- electronic
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/01—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with reflective or luminous safety means
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
Abstract
The invention provides a tape-like structure having electronic luminescent features, which tape may be used in the production of other articles such as safety garments. Accordingly, an electronic luminescent strand (EL) is combined with a tape such as a reflective tape. In some embodiments of the invention, the tape is a retro-reflective tape. In other embodiments the EL is sandwiched between the outer reflective surface of a tape and an inner backing layer.
Description
Electronic Luminescent Clothing and Tapes Field of the Invention The invention pertains to safety tapes and more particularly to an electronic luminescent tape and clothing or other articles to which the tape maybe applied.
Background of the Invention Reflective tapes and other reflective shaped textiles are used in the production of nighttime and other safety vests and other articles of safety clothing. The tapes provide a surface that reflects an incident light source, primarily as a reflected light, back in the direction that the incident source originated from.
Shortcomings in this approach to night safety are the facts that the reflective tapes (a) have no way of producing their own light and are therefore dependent on incident light for their effectiveness and (b) reflect primarily in the direction of the incident source and provide little or no warning light in other directions.
Obiects and Summary of the Invention It is an abject of the invention to provide a tape having electronic luminescent features, which tape may be used in the production of other articles.
It is also an object of the invention to provide articles such as safetygarments that use electronic luminescent tape.
Accordingly there is provided an electronic luminescent strand (EL) that is combined with a tape such as a reflective tape.
In some embodiments of the invention, the tape is a retro-reflective tape.
In other embodiments the EL is sandwiched between the outer reflective surface of a tape and an inner backing Layer.
In yet other embodiments, articles such as safety garments are fabricated using patterns formed from the combination of EL and pre-fabricated tape. The tape may be retro-reflective.
Brief Description of the Drawing Figures i5 Figure 1 is a front ekevation of a safety vest made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invenfiion;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of another electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of a garment showing deployment of ELT;
Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of yet another eml~diment of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Background of the Invention Reflective tapes and other reflective shaped textiles are used in the production of nighttime and other safety vests and other articles of safety clothing. The tapes provide a surface that reflects an incident light source, primarily as a reflected light, back in the direction that the incident source originated from.
Shortcomings in this approach to night safety are the facts that the reflective tapes (a) have no way of producing their own light and are therefore dependent on incident light for their effectiveness and (b) reflect primarily in the direction of the incident source and provide little or no warning light in other directions.
Obiects and Summary of the Invention It is an abject of the invention to provide a tape having electronic luminescent features, which tape may be used in the production of other articles.
It is also an object of the invention to provide articles such as safetygarments that use electronic luminescent tape.
Accordingly there is provided an electronic luminescent strand (EL) that is combined with a tape such as a reflective tape.
In some embodiments of the invention, the tape is a retro-reflective tape.
In other embodiments the EL is sandwiched between the outer reflective surface of a tape and an inner backing Layer.
In yet other embodiments, articles such as safety garments are fabricated using patterns formed from the combination of EL and pre-fabricated tape. The tape may be retro-reflective.
Brief Description of the Drawing Figures i5 Figure 1 is a front ekevation of a safety vest made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invenfiion;
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of another electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of another embodiment of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of a garment showing deployment of ELT;
Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of yet another eml~diment of an electronic luminescent tape made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;
Figure ~ is a schematic diagram of ELT fabrication; and Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an EL strand moulded into a structure.
Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention As shown in Fig. 1 by way of example, a safety garment such as a vest goo comprises a sleeveless textile garment or substrate rol to which is attached a plurality of electronic luminescent tapes ("ELT") l02 forming a pattern. As will be explained, the ELTs emits a pattern of light when the individual ELTs are supplied power from a battery operated driver l03 which is connectedto the ELT
structure by a lead or harness loq.. The term ELT describes a family of EL
based tapes having a variety of front and back surface combinations, As shown in Figure 2, each ELT io2 comprises an electronic luminescent strand or structure (EL) 20o integrated into a tape. EL structures 20o are a form of light emitting diode (LED) that is fabricated as wires, ribbons, ar strands. The EL
glows along its length and can be cut with wire cutters and joined to an electrical circuit at the cut end. The EL 20o generally has two conductors which run internally of an insulating and transparent or translucent polymer sheath 2r~.
The sheath 2m may be coloured or clear. When low voltage power is supplied to the conductors, the EL emits light. The colour of the emitted light can be influenced by the sheath.
Conventional tape such as a retro-reflective tapes are formed, in lengths, from a granular or other reflectivefront surface 210. As shown in Figure 2, a length of EL can be positioned between or sandwiched between a reflective tape 2~0 (having generally parallel side edges) and another textile substr~e lol which may be a garment or other textile. Stitclnng 22o may be applied to the edges of the tape 21o to secure the tape ~21 and the EL 20o to the substrate iol. It will be understood that adhesives, sonic welding etc. maybe used in place of stitching in alI examples.
Figure 3 illustrates that if the reflective tape 21o has a separate coextensive backing goo and if the backing is transparent enough, the EL can be positioned between the backing 30o and the substrate Col. Here and in the claims, "transparent" incorporates a wide range of transparency or translucency, so long as the structure allows light from an EL to pass through it.
As shown in Figure q., a preferred embodiment locates the length of EL 200 between the reflective or other front surface 210 of the tape 102 and the backing 300. Stitching 22o is used to assemble the tape 102 first by sandwiching the EL
20o between the reflective or other front surface 210 of the tape l02 and the baclang 300. In the alternative, the reflective or other surface 210, EL 200, backing 30o and substrate 10l may be joined together in one stitching pass 220.
All of the methods and tape structures illustrated in Figure 2, g and 4 are suitable for the production of electronic luminescent tapes (ELT) in long lengths which can be cut to length and used in the production of other articles such as safety clothing. Such tapes may be pre-fabricated in lengths or rolls of considerable length for later use on garments. As shown in Figure 6, when EL tape (ELT) 102 is manufactured in lengths for later use, the backing may be provided with landings or margins 601 that extend past the stitches 220 that hold the backing to the front surface 2io. This provides room for later stitches ~2 that are used to attach the pre-fabricated tape 102 to the substrate 101. In one embodiment, the ELT may have a retro-reflective front surface 210. This provides a tape that is functional as a reflectivetape (even when no power is supplied) and a light emitting tape when power is supplied to the EL. In the alternative, the backing 30o may be reflective or retro-reflective and the front surface 21o may be transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, neither surface is reflective.
Best Mode and Other Embodiments of the Invention As shown in Fig. 1 by way of example, a safety garment such as a vest goo comprises a sleeveless textile garment or substrate rol to which is attached a plurality of electronic luminescent tapes ("ELT") l02 forming a pattern. As will be explained, the ELTs emits a pattern of light when the individual ELTs are supplied power from a battery operated driver l03 which is connectedto the ELT
structure by a lead or harness loq.. The term ELT describes a family of EL
based tapes having a variety of front and back surface combinations, As shown in Figure 2, each ELT io2 comprises an electronic luminescent strand or structure (EL) 20o integrated into a tape. EL structures 20o are a form of light emitting diode (LED) that is fabricated as wires, ribbons, ar strands. The EL
glows along its length and can be cut with wire cutters and joined to an electrical circuit at the cut end. The EL 20o generally has two conductors which run internally of an insulating and transparent or translucent polymer sheath 2r~.
The sheath 2m may be coloured or clear. When low voltage power is supplied to the conductors, the EL emits light. The colour of the emitted light can be influenced by the sheath.
Conventional tape such as a retro-reflective tapes are formed, in lengths, from a granular or other reflectivefront surface 210. As shown in Figure 2, a length of EL can be positioned between or sandwiched between a reflective tape 2~0 (having generally parallel side edges) and another textile substr~e lol which may be a garment or other textile. Stitclnng 22o may be applied to the edges of the tape 21o to secure the tape ~21 and the EL 20o to the substrate iol. It will be understood that adhesives, sonic welding etc. maybe used in place of stitching in alI examples.
Figure 3 illustrates that if the reflective tape 21o has a separate coextensive backing goo and if the backing is transparent enough, the EL can be positioned between the backing 30o and the substrate Col. Here and in the claims, "transparent" incorporates a wide range of transparency or translucency, so long as the structure allows light from an EL to pass through it.
As shown in Figure q., a preferred embodiment locates the length of EL 200 between the reflective or other front surface 210 of the tape 102 and the backing 300. Stitching 22o is used to assemble the tape 102 first by sandwiching the EL
20o between the reflective or other front surface 210 of the tape l02 and the baclang 300. In the alternative, the reflective or other surface 210, EL 200, backing 30o and substrate 10l may be joined together in one stitching pass 220.
All of the methods and tape structures illustrated in Figure 2, g and 4 are suitable for the production of electronic luminescent tapes (ELT) in long lengths which can be cut to length and used in the production of other articles such as safety clothing. Such tapes may be pre-fabricated in lengths or rolls of considerable length for later use on garments. As shown in Figure 6, when EL tape (ELT) 102 is manufactured in lengths for later use, the backing may be provided with landings or margins 601 that extend past the stitches 220 that hold the backing to the front surface 2io. This provides room for later stitches ~2 that are used to attach the pre-fabricated tape 102 to the substrate 101. In one embodiment, the ELT may have a retro-reflective front surface 210. This provides a tape that is functional as a reflectivetape (even when no power is supplied) and a light emitting tape when power is supplied to the EL. In the alternative, the backing 30o may be reflective or retro-reflective and the front surface 21o may be transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, neither surface is reflective.
As shown in Figure 5, a simple pattern of ELT 50o comprises an arrayof separate ELT lengths 50~ which are electrically connected to a wring harness 104. The harness may terminate in a socket 502 so that it can be conveniently connected to a cooperating plug X03 that delivers power from a driver and battery compartment or bc~ X03. It will be appreciated that the low voltage output of the box log can be modulated by an integrated circuit or by other means to produce patters of flashing, blinking and apparent movement in the array 500. Patterns of moving, blinking or flashing lights attract more attention than stationary lights and also potentially consume less power.
As shown in Figure ~, lengths of front surface material from rolls boo are joined by a stitching or gluing machine X02 to lengths of backing material from a second roll X04. The EL strand '706 is sandwiched between the two lengths and captured there by the stitching X08.
As depicted in Figure 8, an EL strand 80o can be embedded into or moulded into a tape, a reflective tape, a lens, a matrix of lenses, an array of lenses or a length of lens-like material 8oi. In this embodiment the EL 80o is about ~ - 5 mm in diameter. The tape 801 or lens structure 801 is moulded around the EL 80o so as to encapsulate it. The moulded structure 8o1, 80o may be composited with or bonded to a surface such as a reflective surface 802 or a backing tape 803 or both of these.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to particular patterns and garments and other details of construction, these are provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.
As shown in Figure ~, lengths of front surface material from rolls boo are joined by a stitching or gluing machine X02 to lengths of backing material from a second roll X04. The EL strand '706 is sandwiched between the two lengths and captured there by the stitching X08.
As depicted in Figure 8, an EL strand 80o can be embedded into or moulded into a tape, a reflective tape, a lens, a matrix of lenses, an array of lenses or a length of lens-like material 8oi. In this embodiment the EL 80o is about ~ - 5 mm in diameter. The tape 801 or lens structure 801 is moulded around the EL 80o so as to encapsulate it. The moulded structure 8o1, 80o may be composited with or bonded to a surface such as a reflective surface 802 or a backing tape 803 or both of these.
While the invention has been disclosed with reference to particular patterns and garments and other details of construction, these are provided by way of example and not as limitations to the scope or spirit of the invention.
Claims (20)
1. An electronic luminescent structure, comprising:
an electronic luminescent strand that is sandwiched between a substrate and first tape.
an electronic luminescent strand that is sandwiched between a substrate and first tape.
2. The electronic luminescent structure of claim 1, wherein:
the first tape is a tape having a reflective surface.
the first tape is a tape having a reflective surface.
3. The electronic luminescent structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein:
the first tape has a separate, transparent backing that is coextensive with it.
the first tape has a separate, transparent backing that is coextensive with it.
4. The electronic luminescent structure of claim 1, wherein:
the electronic luminescent strand is sandwiched between a first tape and a backing tape.
the electronic luminescent strand is sandwiched between a first tape and a backing tape.
5. The electronic luminescent structure of claim 4, wherein:
the first tape or the backing tape has reflective surface.
the first tape or the backing tape has reflective surface.
6. The electronic luminescent structure of either of claims 4 or 5, wherein:
the backing tape is wider than the first tape, providing margins on either side of the first tape.
the backing tape is wider than the first tape, providing margins on either side of the first tape.
7. A garment on which is formed a pattern using an electronic luminescent structure of the kind described in any one of claims 1-6.
8. The garment of claim 7, comprising:
a battery operated driver for the electronic luminescent structure.
a battery operated driver for the electronic luminescent structure.
9. The garment of claim 8, further comprising:
a wiring harness that attaches an electronic luminescent structure to the driver.
a wiring harness that attaches an electronic luminescent structure to the driver.
10. The garment of claim 9, wherein:
there are two or more electronic luminescent structures forming a pattern and the harness attaches each electronic luminescent structure to the driver.
there are two or more electronic luminescent structures forming a pattern and the harness attaches each electronic luminescent structure to the driver.
11. A method for forming an electronic luminescent structure, comprising the steps of:
sandwiching an electronic luminescent strand between a first tape having side edges and a substrate by joining the edges of the tape to the substrate so as to capture the strand.
sandwiching an electronic luminescent strand between a first tape having side edges and a substrate by joining the edges of the tape to the substrate so as to capture the strand.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the substrate is a garment.
the substrate is a garment.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein:
the substrate is a second tape.
the substrate is a second tape.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein:
either tape is reflective.
either tape is reflective.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein:
the second tape is wider than the first, providing margins on either side of the first tape.
the second tape is wider than the first, providing margins on either side of the first tape.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein:
electronic luminescent structure is then joined to a garment, using the margins.
electronic luminescent structure is then joined to a garment, using the margins.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein:
electronic luminescent structure is then joined to a garment and the garment is a safety garment.
electronic luminescent structure is then joined to a garment and the garment is a safety garment.
18. An electronic luminescent structure, comprising:
a substrate into which is moulded an electronic luminescent strand.
a substrate into which is moulded an electronic luminescent strand.
19. The structure of claim 18, wherein:
the substrate is a lens.
the substrate is a lens.
20. The structure of either of claims 18 or 19, wherein:
the substrate is bonded to a backing tape.
the substrate is bonded to a backing tape.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2487264 CA2487264A1 (en) | 2004-11-12 | 2004-11-12 | Electronic luminescent clothing and tapes |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2487264 CA2487264A1 (en) | 2004-11-12 | 2004-11-12 | Electronic luminescent clothing and tapes |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2487264A1 true CA2487264A1 (en) | 2006-05-12 |
Family
ID=36319855
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2487264 Abandoned CA2487264A1 (en) | 2004-11-12 | 2004-11-12 | Electronic luminescent clothing and tapes |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2487264A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008006143A1 (en) * | 2006-07-14 | 2008-01-17 | Umberto Buscema | Safety vest |
| US8288940B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2012-10-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Laminate reflective and electroluminescent article |
| US8727550B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2014-05-20 | Oryon Technologies, Llc | Hybrid electroluminescent assembly |
| US9044055B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2015-06-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Garment with a retroreflective and electroluminescent article |
-
2004
- 2004-11-12 CA CA 2487264 patent/CA2487264A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2008006143A1 (en) * | 2006-07-14 | 2008-01-17 | Umberto Buscema | Safety vest |
| US8288940B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2012-10-16 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Laminate reflective and electroluminescent article |
| US8727550B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2014-05-20 | Oryon Technologies, Llc | Hybrid electroluminescent assembly |
| US9044055B2 (en) | 2009-03-12 | 2015-06-02 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Garment with a retroreflective and electroluminescent article |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |