WO2002001538A2

WO2002001538A2 - Reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent means of transport, signals, equipment, fishing

Info

Publication number: WO2002001538A2
Application number: PCT/HR2001/000033
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Boras
Original assignee: Mario Boras
Priority date: 2000-06-29
Filing date: 2001-06-28
Publication date: 2002-01-03
Also published as: AU2001270917A1; HRP20000440A2; WO2002001538A3

Abstract

The means of transport or conveyance, fishing boats, trawlers or luggers and their equipment, flags and visual traffic signs and signalling equipment, skateboards, roller skates, surfboards and skis with reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent features solve the problems of achieving better visibility and lighting of their interior or exterior visible parts in situations when they are not able to use the standard lighting power or they are not lit up at night or they are using instead of existing fishing light-emitting lures and for all above mentioned purposes by applying reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent materials and their combinations on the visible parts, achieving their enhanced and permanent visibility while reducing or replacing the standard means of lighting for the items being in motion or motionless.

Description

REFLECTIVE-LUMINESCENT AND/OR LUMINESCENT MEANS OF TRANSPORT, SIGNALS, EQUIPMENT, FISHING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical invention relates to the means of transport, fishing boats trawlers, or luggers with their equipment for fishing, flags and visual traffic signs with signalling equipment, skateboards, surfboards, roller skates and skis which have reflective- luminescent and/or luminescent (glow-in-the-dark) features, either on all of their visible parts or only on some of them. According to the IPC Classification the invention is classified as:

B 60Q 1/00, 3/00, 7/00; B 60R 1/00, 9/00, 13/00; B 60V 1/00, 3/00; B 6 IB 1/00, 9/00, 13/00, 15/00; B 61D 29/00, 41/00; B 61L 1/00, 29/00; B 62B 7/00, 9/00, 11/00, 13/00, 15/00; A 61G 5/00; B 62C 1/00; B 62D 29/00; B 62J 6/00, 7/00, 9/00, 15/00, 23/00, 27/00; B 62K 1/00 to 27/00; B 63B 15/00, 21/24, 21/48, 22/00, 27/00, 35/00, 38/00, 45/00, 51/00; B 63 C 9/00, 11/48; B 64D 47/00; B 64F 1/18; B 63H 9/00.

All means of transport must have lighting appliances to mark themselves in traffic while being in motion or motionless. Lighting appliances use electrical or some other source of power for lamps which emit light to achieve visibility of figure or some parts of a vehicle or for lighting of its interior. Possibility of failure on electric wiring, bulbs burned out and cut off power, can cause that a vehicle in motion is not sufficiently visible to other participants in traffic and all it together represents a technical problem. In such a situation or when a vehicle is motionless, marking of a vehicle is still possible by devices that reflect light beams of on-coming cars headlights. The technical problem with glass reflectors or other kinds of reflective devices is that they can only redirect on-coming headlights if they hit the reflective material, but if the on-coming vehicle, for some reason, has not lighted the reflective material, reflectors will not be able to mark a vehicle and will stay invisible in dark. Commercial fishing of oily fish usually performs at night. After using echo sounder and visual methods for locating schools offish, the next phase is attracting fish to artificial sources of light. Various kinds of lighting devices can be placed onto the fishing boat, trawler or lugger, and 2-3 lighted boats (in Dalmatia known as "svicarice"). Said lighting devices use electrical or some other source of power to light up surface of the water, because it is well known that fish are extremely attracted to the light. Technical problem is need for installing and maintenance of the equipment, energy supplying and costs, possible blackouts when fishing.

Visual traffic signs and signalling equipment are in usage for the reason of security in traffic. To be visible these signs use electric or some other sources of power or they have reflective property. Technical problem with reflective signals is that they are visible at night only if they are directly hit by light to be able to redirect it back to the source, but if for any reason, reflectors are not lighted they remain invisible at night. Technical problem for traffic signs and signalling equipment which are using electrical or some other source of power for their work is in possibility of power failure, needs for maintenance of the installation and energy supply, costs for it, and all of that can fail if they are not equipped with alternative possibility for their visual marking at night.

Wind socks (cones) are providing information about strength and direction of wind. In poor weather conditions and at night-time they must be lighted with electrical or some other source of power to be seen, which makes the same technical problem for the reasons mentioned for traffic signs. Skis, skateboards, roller skates, all kinds of surfboards for surfing on the water, ground or snow, with or without sails, do not use any of devices to mark their position, for safety reasons, in regard to other participants in that kind of traffic. In bad weather conditions, and at night or dusk, their visibility is poor which represents technical problem for reasons of safety of the users themselves and similar participants in their surroundings. Flying objects with no engines, such as various kinds of gliders and hang gliders or parachutes with ability to glide (paragliding, parascending, usually, they do not have any of devices to mark their position to other similar gliders in their traffic surroundings. That makes the technical problem for the reason of safety of the gliders including other participants in the sort of traffic in their surroundings. Flying objects lighter than air such as balloons, hot-air balloons and ones known as

"special shapes" for advertising purposes, mark their position in the air by lighting effect of flame from a gas burner which heats up the air inside a balloon. This activity occurs only when it is necessary to keep the air in a balloon warm but it does not provide permanent and sufficient marking of the flying object, as well as permanent visibility of billboards on a balloon. All these reasons make a technical problem for reasons of safety of flyers and their surroundings in bad weather conditions or at night and interruption in visibility of billboards on a balloon at night.

At night, in case of power failure on a vehicle on the road when there is no exterior lighting of it, as a source of light are provided flashlights with electrical or some other source of power. Technical problem makes need for changing batteries and bulbs burned out and maintenance of the lighting device.

BACKGROUND ART

All means of transport must have lighting appliances to mark themselves in traffic while they are in motion or stay motionless at night time. Motor car, lorries, vans, buses, motorcycles and other means of transport on the road must have mandatory lights such as sidelight in front and tail-light at the back of a car, light for license plate as well as lights which are not mandatory such as additional lamps against fog, parking lights and mandatory reflective devices known as cat's-eyes or glass reflector. Various kinds of lighting devices on vehicles use electrical or some other source of power to light lamps which emit light and achieve that figure or some parts of a vehicle are visible at night. In the same way are lighted and interiors of vehicles. When the vehicles remain motionless or parked, they are marked in traffic by parking lights which are not mandatory and with mandatory reflective devices (cat's-eyes, glass reflector) which focuses the reflected light back towards the light source.

In the past, fisherman were using different kinds of lights for lighting the surface of water. They were setting fire with pine tree or slate also known as shale (schist). Only traditional pine tree had proved itself as a practical fuel for the purpose while other means had bad sides like making a lot of ashes and stench with soot falling into the water and frightening fish. There were also attempts to use oil, olive oil or petroleum oil but with no success. Acetylene gas showed the best results giving bright light with no ashes, it was more economical than other mentioned fuels, with a lot of UV light in its visible spectrum which is known for the best results in reaching deep into the sea depth. Today, usually are used various kinds and power ratings of electrical lamps. Petroleum gas lamp attached at the bow of a boat to attract fish to the light was also used in fishing with harpoon at night. Petroleum heated in the lamp turned into gas, burning with intensive bright light. Visual signals and signalling equipment serve to insure traffic security on highway/road traffic, railroad transportation, air transportation, river and sea transport. They are generally known as shaped and painted plates or bodies with different shapes, colours and positions at the site, then devices with one or more coloured lamps, flags of various sizes, colours and shapes, wind socks, signalling rockets, etc.

Road traffic signs are regulated by international agreements and include horizontal signalling i.e. marks on the surface of the road, vertical traffic signs and traffic lights. Signalling of road sections where road works are under way is made with proper traffic signs and with upright frames (guard-rail, roadblock) painted alternately in red and white stripes. For the reason of better visibility at night and poor weather conditions, roadblocks must be coated with reflective material, or have lamps with orange lights hung on or added cat's-eyes i.e. glass reflectors. Cars are allowed to pass the section alternately according to signalling with waving green or red flags or using movable traffic lights. Edges of roads are marked with short coloumns which can be equipped with lights, reflective material coating or added cat's-eyes; on the right side of the road in red colour and on the left side in white or yellow colour. Traffic islands and other raised or marked off areas on the road achieve their visibility by using lighting devices or reflective coatings or cat's-eyes at night time. In regions with heavy snowfalls edges of roads are marked with sticks, yellow and red alternately coloured. They can also have reflective coating or cat's-eyes incorporated for better visibility at night.

Movement of ships over water is regulated by navigation signalling equipment for the purpose of communication, position marking and warnings. Signals for visual communication include and flags of various colours, shapes and sizes; flags for giving signals by waving, lamps, reflectors, and Morse signalling lamps for making combinations of long and short fleshes of light to represent letters in Morse Code. To avoid collisions on river or sea in use are marking lights, such as side navigation lights - red on the left and green on the right side of a ship, as well as white colour light on the mast and stern of the ship. There are special lights to mark stranded or anchored ships and ships which are not manoeuvrable. Signalling equipment on the seashore include lighthouse, beacon lamps with white, red or green light colour as permanent or broken lights. They mark positions of important and dangerous spots on fairways at night. In the day time marks on the sea are various kinds of buoys and signs made as metal structures or walls. Some types of buoys on the water include light and whistle or bell buoy, top mark buoy, spar buoy, can buoy, etc. Differences in shape and colour of buoys mark a type of danger they are warning of on a fairway, as well as starboards or part markers. Light buoys are equipped with lamp and reservoir containing melted acetylene as a fuel.

Visual signalling equipment on a plain includes; right and left navigation light at the ends of wings, warning (anticollision) light at the top of the rudder of a plain and landing light at wings and/or fuselage of a plain. Power source supply is electrical.

Skis, skateboards, roller skates, all kinds of surfboards for surfing on the water, ground or snow, with or without sails, are made with no devices for marking their position in regard to other participants in traffic and their surroundings in conditions when their visibility is poor because of bad weather or dusk/night. The situation is alike when various kinds of hang-gliders or parachutes which are able to glide (paragliding, parascending) are concerned. Flying objects lighter than air i.e. hot-air balloons mark their position by lighting effect of the flame from a gas burner which is primary in function of heating up the air inside a balloon and for the purpose of controlling movement of balloon. Lighting of the interior of vehicles, their boot or space provided for engine is usually done by using electric power for lighting with lamps.

Following patents relate to the problem of better visibility for some of the vehicles: US 4154504 - Safety reflective seal trim strip

DE 4303024 - Body = side reflective ornamental mouldings on motor vehicles DE 4138824 - Motor vehicle wheel with reflective and/or luminescent components mounted on visible outer side for easier recognition in darkness or low visibility conditions. CN 1216742 - Circuit with luminescent diode and indicating light for motor vehicle containing same EP 0906001 - Led circuit for vehicle lamp and vehicle lamp comprising such a circuit GB 2247036 - Reflective device for attachment to car window NZ 299920 - Securable elongate frame containing luminescent or reflective part; attached to motor vehicle number plate DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The means of transport, visual traffic signs and signalling equipment, wind socks (cones), flying objects lighter than air such as hot-air balloons or "special shapes" hot-air balloons, airships filled with helium, mark their position in regard to other participants in traffic i.e. to achieve sufficient visibility at night-time they use lighting appliances with electrical or some other source of power, while hot-air balloons use illumination of flame from gas burner primary task of which is to create and regulate movement of a balloon. Wind socks (cones) are lighted up with external sources of light while means of transport and traffic signs also use and retroreflective devices such as cat's-eyes or glass reflectors.

The main goal of the present invention is to make all above mentioned better and permanently visible at night-time by applying reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent materials on their visible parts in the whole or just in some of their parts. It is especially important if their mandatory devices for marking break down because of possible failure on them or are out of order because light beams, for some reason, are not directed to their reflective surface so they could not reflect them back to the source, and mark itself in the surroundings. Flying objects lighter than air like airships filled with helium, all kinds of hang-gliders and parachutes witch are able to glide (paragliding, parascending), skis, roller skates, skateboards, all kinds of surfboards for surfing on the water, ground or snow, with or without sails, are also the goal of the present invention in the way of making them permanently visible in low visibility conditions and at night for reasons of safety of their users, other participants in traffic and surroundings. The invention is provided in the way that all above mentioned objects in the whole or just in same of their visible parts are manufactured of the material with reflective - luminescent and/or luminescent features which makes possible their permanent visibility, with no changes in construction or structural links of them. The next goal of the present invention is to make the lighting of interior, boot and space for engine under bonnet for all means of transport continuously lighted after a power outage occurs, and in that way achieve sufficient visibility in the places for repairing of the failure without using devices with batteries or some other source of power for lighting up the places. In that way means of transport become and more safety for using in emergency situations. It can be provided by applying materials with reflective - luminescent and/or luminescent features either on visible surfaces of said places in the whole or only on some of their parts with making no changes in their construction or details.

Commercial fishing of oily fish or fishing with harpoon offish attracted to the light at night, require permanent need to supply electrical or some other source of power for producing light which is a bait for fish, maintenance of the installation, possible blackouts and bulbs burned out. All that represent a technical problem solving of which is an object of the present invention as follows:

1. The main goal is to make a light source as a bait for attracting school offish without conventional supply of energy, changing bulbs burned out and other above said technical problems. This is possible to achieve if fishing equipment and devices such as buoys, all kinds of ropes (buoy ropes, float lines, seizing, etc.), nets and all other sunk fishing equipment is manufactured of glow-in-the-dark material. Net made of luminescent material is formed in long cylindrical cone or some other geometric figure in proportions and dimensions necessary for attracting a school offish and sunk vertically or horizontally deep into the water with its bottom end close to the level of footrope or of cable for closing the ring net. To achieve better attracting effect it is possible to attach luminescent stripes all over the net or chemoluminescent light sticks which provide light by a chemical reaction taking place when two solutions are allowed to mix by flexing or bending the tube. They are commercially known as;

Lightshape Stick-on Buttons, Cyalume, Glow Stick, Snaplight, Magic in the night, Lite-Rope or other products of Omniglow Corp. made with Cyalume Chemical Light Technology of Cytec Technology Corp. or the like products/manufactures such as Light Sticks of Pete's Luminous Creations; products of Glowing Impressions Inc. from Hampton, Va., etc.

2. Trawl fishing can be performed as deep-sea fishing (250-1000 meters) or inshore fishing by dragging the net along the bottom of the sea near a seashore. Additional attracting offish can be achieved if all parts of sunk fishing equipment (trawling, warps, otter boards, net, footrope, etc.) are manufactured of the material with luminescent features emitting cold-light in low-lighted zone in depth of the sea.

Luminescent stripes attached all over the net can increase the attracting effect as well as chemoluminescent lightsticks. The method of fishing remains the same except of above mentioned glow-in-the-dark feature of all parts sunk into the water and visible to fish. 3. Inshore fishing with ring net cast in a circle is fishing where school of fish is attracted by lighting effect of fishing boats. It can be increased by applying glow-in-the-dark material either on all or only on some visible parts of the fishing boats such as sails, bulwark, guard rail, at stern (bow) and parts of a boat under the bulwark. The main goal is to achieve reflection of "cold light" of the boat in the sea using its permanent (fixed) or mobile luminescent surfaces at night, and in that way to reduce or even avoid using of any additional energy supply for lighting baits. The same method can be applied and for fishing with harpoon at night. Sheets made of materials with glow- in-the-dark feature can be shaped in different geometrical figures or shapes and sunk into wanted depth of water using equipment like floats, warps, sinkers, also having luminescent features. In accordance with the present invention here is represented the way of realisation of a car with some of its visible parts like; front and back bumper; right and left mirror shells and roof-rack which have luminescent and/or reflective-luminescent features. Final layer of these parts is made of usually used plastic material in which is added photoluminescent pigment LumiNova or some other similar non-organic or organic pigment to provide photoluminescent "cold light" to the body of said parts according to traffic regulations as follows; orange or red colour for back bumper, white for front bumper, front parts of the wing mirror shells and of roof-rack, while their lateral and back parts emit orange colour at night. In the second variant of this realisation the same parts are manufactured with reflective-luminescent properties using one of Glow + Reflective technologies, e.g. PERMALIGHT, Neolite Reflex-Glow, GLOW-FLEX or similar technologies that provides the best combination between luminescent and reflective properties of the same material. All reflective-luminescent or luminescent parts emit light as a result of being exposed to the light from the sun, ambient light or any type of artificial light source. Once the light no longer exists surfaces of the products are charged (excited) and will glow in the dark for over 8 hours. Simple exposure of 10 seconds from a flashlight or the headlights of a passing vehicle will recharge the parts to remain visible and glow for over next 8 hours at night. When exposed to the headlights reflective-luminescent parts demonstrate their retroreflective feature. The next way of realisation of the present invention is in application of textiles with reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent features in all or just in some of visible parts of products and objects like; wind socks (cones), flying objects lighter than air like hot-air balloons, zeppelins, various kinds of hang-gliders, parachutes able to glide like paragliding or parascending, various kinds of sails for boats, ships, skateboard and surfing, advertising hot-air balloons known as "special shapes", flags and signalling flags. Textile with luminescent feature is produced by GLO-TEX technology which includes combining a metal aluminate oxide pigment with a thermoplastic polymer and then extruding the combination into a fiber. Next possibility of realisation of textile is in single-layered or multi-layered (laminated) textiles which have organic or non-organic luminescent pigment added into all of the layers or only in some of their visible ones. Reflective-luminescent features of above said articles of manufacture is provided by using Permalight, Reflex-Glo, Glo-Flex and the like technologies. All above mentioned ways of realisation of the present invention cause no changes in structural details (links) or construction of the products and objects.

Manufacturing of fishing equipment like warps, nets, ropes, cables, etc. is possible using GLO-TEX technology which provides luminescence to fibrous materials, while floats, sinkers and other sunk fishing equipment is made of plastic lining with added luminescent pigment in itself.

On visible parts of a boat such as bulwark, guard rail, at stern (bow) and side sections of a boat under the bulwark is performed lining of acrylic, polyester, epoxy, PVC, polypropylene or polyethylene (HDPF, LDPE, etc.) polymers comprising non-organic or organic luminescent pigment. These surfaces can also be made removable in form of relatively flexible sheets/panels of the same luminescent material and adoptable to the surfaces of a boat attached on, or as an alternative, made of luminescent polymer stripes connected with flexible vertical and/or horizontal narrow stripes (fugues) of luminescent rubber which make possible adaption to curved surfaces of the boat including its deck.

The next way of realisation of the present invention is related to products like skis for snow or water, roller skates, skateboards, all kinds of surfboards for surfing on the water, ground or snow. All of said products have in the whole or just in some of their visible parts applied material with reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent features. In the first, luminescent variant of embodiment of said products the final layer is made of any suitable synthetic thermoplastic polymer lining, e.g. epoxy polymer, comprising non- organic Lumi-Nova pigment from Nemoto & Co. to provide photoluminescent property of products. In the second variant of embodiment of above mentioned products (skis, roller skates, etc.) their final layer is made of material with reflective-luminescent features according to "GLO-FLEX" or the like technologies which provide highly reflective and luminescent property of the same material. Reflective feature of the material is active during the day when photoluminescent material is charged and will glow in the dark once the light no longer exists. The reflective feature of the material is also demonstrated when its surface it hit by light beams at night time, recharging simultaneously luminescent component in it.

For the purpose of achieving luminescent property for all realisations of the present invention it is prefered but not limited to, application of the latest generation of organic or non-organic photoluminescent pigments on the bases of oxides of Strontium- Aluminates (SrAl) and other proprietary compounds and their activators and co-activators. Photoluminescent pigments may be applied individually or in new mutual combinations. They are commercially known as: LumiBrite pigments; LumiNova and AuroRainbow pigments from Nemoto & Co.; LTD pigments; ProGlow pigments from ProGlow Mfg-Co. ; from Pete's LuminousCreations; Shandong Lunbo ind.; Lumenion Chemical Co. line of pigment products; LTL-Luminoύs Technologies Ltd. pigments; RTP comp. pigments; Beaver Luminescers pigments; Nichia Co.; Beele Co.; Luna Technologies Intern Inc.; and others. The pigments generally comprises 20-60% by weight, less than conventional luminescent pigments (ZnS). Proportions depend on possible areas of application of luminescent powder such as in ink, paint, coating, incorporating in various resins or rubber. Following suggestions of manufacturer's specifications the mixing ratio is within 0,05%-50% by weight.

The third variant of manufacturing skis, roller skates, skateboards and surfboards with luminescent features includes application of Light Panel technology. Visible layer applied on the surface of said products contains a thin layer of a phosphor impregnated material that is sandwiched between two layers of conducting material one of which is transparent. Phosphor layer produces perfectly uniform lighting of the whole surface when voltage is applied across the two conductive layers. It is rugged enough to withstand severe shocks and vibration as well as extremes in temperature - all factor that are characteristic for using of said products. It literally cannot burn out, has extremely thin profile and light weight and negligible power consumption, using only 1/2 watt from batteries locked in the tube of front or back wheels axle or in ski binding, alternatively in the shell skiing boot. LightPanel technology material can be used in combination with other materials with photoluminescent feature for lighting of engine area under a bonnet of a vehicle. On the inner side of a bonnet is a cover consisted of neighbouring, by turns situated linings made of LightPanel and polyester photoluminescent parts. Both of linings are of the same thickness in any of possible geometric patterns. Various visible parts of an engine like wires, plastic break fluid reservoir, battery lid, cooling water pipe, air filter lid, intake silencer, blower fan and the like are in the whole made of plastic or rubber with added luminescent pigment or have lining of luminescent material. When the car is in motion it is automatically regulated that LightPanel parts of the cover on the inner side of bonnet are supplied with electricity from the car using only 1/2 watt power consumption itself. They are emitting light and charging all mentioned parts of engine and sections on the bonnet which have photoluminescent property. When the car stops or there is a cut of power in it, LightPanel parts stop emitting the light, but all of photoluminescent parts are charged (excited) and start to glow in the dark enabling visibility in darkness. Using the some method it s possible to light up with said "cold light" and spaces of boot, spare wheel and drivers and passenger's cabin.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. The means of transport, fishing boats, trawlers or luggers with their fishing equipment, flags and visual traffic signs with signalling equipment, surfboards, skateboards, roller skates and skis with reflective-luminescent and/or luminescent features, characterized by, that for manufacturing of all or only of some of their visible parts is used the material with reflective-luminescent features.

2. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 1. characterized by, that all of their visible parts or just some of them have a lining made of the material with reflective-luminescent features.

3. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 1, characterized by, that for manufacturing of all or only of some of their visible parts is used the material which is a combination of the material with reflective-luminescent features and the material with neither reflective nor luminescent features.

4. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 2, characterized by, that all of their visible parts or just some of them have a lining made of the material, which is a combination of the material with reflective-luminescent features and the material with neither reflective nor luminescent features.

5. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 1, characterized by, that for manufacturing of all or only of some of their visible parts is used the material with luminescent feature.

6. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 2, characterized by, that all of their visible parts or just some of them have a lining made of the material with luminescent feature.

7. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 3, characterized by, that for manufacturing of all or only of some of their visible parts is used the material which is a combination of the material with luminescent feature and the material without luminescent feature.

8. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 4, characterized by, that all of their visible parts or just some of them have a lining made of the material which is a combination of the material with luminescent feature and the material without luminescent feature.

9. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 8, characterized by, that some of their visible parts are made of the material with reflective- luminescent features and some of the material with luminescent feature.

10. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 9, characterized by, that some of their visible parts have a lining made of reflective- luminescent material and some have a lining made of luminescent material.

11. The means of transport and other mentioned appliances according to the claim 10, characterized by, that some of their visible parts are made of the material which is a combination of reflective-luminescent material and the material with neither reflective nor luminescent features, while some of their parts are made of the material which is a combination of the material with luminescent feature and the material without luminescent feature.