WO2006084455A1

WO2006084455A1 - Electroluminescent emblem

Info

Publication number: WO2006084455A1
Application number: PCT/DE2006/000237
Authority: WO
Inventors: Friedrich Hermann MÄNNEL
Original assignee: Männel GBV GmbH
Priority date: 2005-02-09
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2006-08-17
Also published as: EP1845812A1; ATE505963T1; WO2006084455B1; EP1845812B1; DE102005005866A1; DE502006009347D1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electroluminescent emblem. Such emblems have long been known and are used in road traffic under conditions of poor visibility in order to be seen in time. So far, voltages in the range of 100 to 150 volt have been necessary to operate said emblems, which presents a risk hazard for the wearer of the emblem but also a risk in an explosion hazard area. The aim of the invention is therefore to provide an electroluminescent emblem that increases the safety of the wearer of safety clothing equipped therewith and that is comfortable to wear. For this purpose, the inventive emblem (1) comprises a flexible gel accumulator (4) having an operating voltage of 6 volt which can be accommodated in the safety clothing (2) in various ways and manner and operates the novel panel lights (3). Ideally, the gel accumulator(s) (4) and the electroluminescent emblem form a self-contained unit that is preferably moisture-proof and electrically insulating. The invention also relates to use of the inventive emblem in safety clothing.

Description

ELECTROLUMINESCENT EMBLEM

The invention relates to an electroluminescent emblem, such as fire brigade or police badge, preferably for attachment to safety clothing.

Such emblems have long been known and are often used by emergency services and services in order to be able to be perceived in good time in poor visibility such as in the dark, rain or fog, especially in the field of road traffic. Similar as previously reflective and phosphorescent signs were worn on clothes and uniforms, the luminous effect, as is already known from DE 20 2004 013 832 Ul, be significantly enhanced with the aid of electroluminescence.

The said German utility model proposes a use of light-emitting capacitors in conjunction with a voltage supply of 100 to 150 volts DC, which is designed encapsulated in the course of explosion protection. The light-emitting capacitors are arranged on a flexible module, that the entire light assembly is somewhat flexible and thus the risk of damage to this capsule is low.

To support the luminosity and to maintain the function as a warning in the off state, the proposed light assembly is provided with reflective foil that scatters the light of the light capacitors in the on state, but also throws back light incident on the light assembly. In addition, DE 20 2004 011 734 Ul describes a safety garment which has pockets for a lighting arrangement described above. In this case, the lighting arrangement which is detachably connected to the safety clothing in this way can be operated with a portable voltage source. The light of an in-bag light assembly penetrates the outer pocket surface, which is designed as a foil, so that a displayed by the light assembly lettering is read from the outside.

The problem of high voltages in potentially explosive environments is still not satisfactorily solved in the prior art. Also, the wearing of over 100 volts directly on the body as a source of danger is not negligible.

Against the background of the prior art described above, the object of the invention is to provide an electroluminescent emblem which increases the safety of the wearer of safety clothing equipped with this electroluminescent emblem, and improves the wearing comfort of such protective clothing.

The electroluminescent emblem of the invention solves this problem by means of at least one flexible gel accumulator, the or provides an operating voltage in the range of preferably at least approximately 6 volts or -stellen. New light capacitors are able to develop their full luminosity with a voltage of at least approximately 1.5 volts. With the help of inverters, however, it is also possible to transform the tension high. The advantage of the present invention is therefore on the one hand, the very low operating voltage, which is not threatening for people. On the other hand, the flexible gel accumulator (s) can be accommodated in a variety of ways in the safety clothing.

In an advantageous embodiment, the emblem and the gel accumulator or accumulators form a unit, preferably moisture-proof and electrically insulated. The supply problem and the sealing are completely eliminated in this solution. In addition, only one unit needs to be

10 tet and not with emblem and a possibly. remote power supply two units. Moreover, this variant best meets the requirement of passive explosion protection, which is indispensable in the field of fire brigade and police operations.

15

Advantageously, the gel accumulator / s adapts / adapts to the padding of the safety garment so that its presence neither adds nor visually discerns its presence.

"20

An electrically conductive connection to the light-emitting capacitors, which are located in the emblem, can be hidden within the seams and between the fabric layers of the safety clothing. This problem is of course eliminated when

25 management of the emblem with integrated power supply.

In addition, by the padding damage to the Ge accumulator and / or the emblem can be largely avoided, since shocks and cracks are collected from the padding 30.

At most, a device such as a socket or a charging cable for electrical Bonding of the gel batteries with a charger for electrically charging the gel accumulator, preferably visible, be attached. This can also be done by an electrically conductive Velcro or loop tape, z. on the back of the emblem, done.

In order to remove or replace the emblem, in particular if a personal name or a unit is written on it, it is advantageously detachably connected to the safety clothing. The solubility of this compound can affect both the electrical and the mechanical connection. For example, a mechanical connection can be made using Velcro fasteners or press studs. But both can also serve as an electrically conductive connection of the gel accumulator with the light-emitting capacitors. Another way of electrical connection is the contactless power transmission by induction.

In an advantageous embodiment, a part of the surface of the emblem is coated with a reflective film. In this way, a luminous effect of the emblem when exposed to light is achieved by reflection without energizing the light-emitting capacitors. In this case, a transparent film can be used, which has a prism-shaped surface on the inner side. The light impinging on this film from inside or outside is scattered and directed to the outside and thus enhances the luminous effect of the emblem.

In order to control the operation of the emblem and possibly save power, it has proven to be advantageous if the electrically conductive connection of the light-emitting capacitors with the gel accumulator is separable by means of a switch or push-button operable outside the emblem. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, this switch or button is a film switch which is mounted behind a, preferably reflective, film of the emblem.

In a further advantageous embodiment of this switch or button is triggered by pressure on the emblem, so that no optically demarcated switch on the emblem is visible.

For the visibility of the emblem, it is also beneficial if the light-emitting capacitors can be controlled in different operating modes. As such come, for example, a steady light, but also flashing in different sequence patterns and blink sequences in question.

A worthwhile alternative to external charging may be solar cells incorporated into the clothing. Such solar cells are available in the form of films and can charge the gel battery when wearing the safety clothing during the day, so that in the dark again energy for the operation of the light capacitors is available.

Another advantage is when the light-emitting capacitors have a specific structure, namely for the representation of lettering, signals or characters. In particular, traffic signs, such as a hazard statement, could be so attached to the safety clothing visible to anyone from afar. A sequence of different characters can be achieved with advantage by the specific operation of individual light-emitting capacitors. It is also possible to switch the signaled meaning of the emblem. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the light-emitting capacitors are designed for this purpose in different colors, so that more distinctive signals and characters can be formed from them.

The above invention will be described below with reference to two drawings in exemplary embodiments.

Show it :

Fig. 1: the back of a safety vest with inventive emblem in a schematic representation and

Fig. 2: an inventive emblem in a schematic detail.

Fig. 1 shows a safety vest 2, which is provided with an emblem 1 which bears the inscription "police." The embroiderer 1 is affixed to the back of the safety vest 2 in the upper area and is of large-area design, so that perception is also less pronounced The power supply of the emblem 1 is ensured by two gel accumulators 4, 4 ', which are incorporated in the lower part of the safety vest 2 in a kidney belt and thus are not visible from the outside.They are quasi part of a padded kidney gong, which is symmetrical The electrically conductive connection 5 between the two gel accumulators 4, 4 'and the emblem 1 is sewn into the material of the safety vest 2 and therefore also not visible to the observer from the outside The electrical contact over which the emblem 1 is energized, is behind the preferably with the aid of a Velcro not shown here with the safety vest 2 associated emblem 1 and transmits a voltage required for normal operation of the emblem using an inductive method.

As an alternative to the variant shown in the exemplary embodiment, within the scope of the invention, one or more GeI accumulators 4, 4 'can also be integrated into the emblem. The advantages of this embodiment have been discussed above.

An electrically conductive Velcro strip for producing the electrically conductive connection 5 is also conceivable here.

The details of the emblem 1 are shown in detail in FIG. 2 described below.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed representation of the emblem 1, as can be combined with the safety vest 2 shown in FIG. 1, for example. A reflective film 8 overlaps the entire emblem 1, so that the existing scattered light contributes as much as possible to the perceptibility of the wearer. Illuminating capacitors 3 are applied under this foil 8 in such a way that they form characters, in the example the lettering "police" as well as a warning sign in accordance with the Highway Code The two parts lettering and warning signs can be switched on separately so that greater attention is paid to the emblem 1 For example, the warning sign may flash while the logo is lit in continuous operation Signal color red executed. The lettering is in the example, however, held in blue.

The emblem 1 also has a switch or button 9, via which the function of the emblem is controllable. In the exemplary embodiment, it is a membrane key that changes the operating mode at each pressure. By single pressure both parts of the emblem are switched on with continuous light, by a further pressure on the button 9 of the mode described above with continuous light for the warning sign and flashing light for the lettering. By a third pressure on the button 9, the emblem 1 is switched off again. The button 9 is designed so that it is only slightly raised raised in the surface of the film 8. It is thus easy to feel, but not visible to the distant viewer.

E N G L I S H E S T E

emblem

safety Clothing

light condenser

Gel accumulator

connection

velcro

push-button

foil

Switch button

Claims

PATENT APPLICATIONS

1. An electroluminescent emblem, such as fire brigade or police badge, preferably for attachment to safety clothing (2), which contains one or more light capacitors (3) which are connected via an electrically conductive connection (5) to at least one rechargeable battery for power supply characterized in that the accumulator (s) is / are a flexibly configured gel accumulator (4) which is preferably integrated in the safety clothing (2) and which provides an operating voltage of preferably at least approximately 6 volts, wherein the luminous capacitors (3) are preferably operable in the range of 1, 5 volts.

2. Emblem according to claim 1, characterized in that the gel accumulator (s) (4) is integrated in the electroluminescent emblem (1).

3. emblem according to claim 2, characterized in that the emblem (1) and / the gel accumulator / s (4) one, preferably moisture-tight and electrically isolated, form a closed unit.

4. emblem according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the emblem (1) and / or the / gel accumulator / s (4) in a padding of the safety clothing (2) is positively integrated / are.

5. Emblem according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (5) between the light-emitting capacitors (3) and the / the gel accumulator / s (4) is releasable.

6. emblem according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (5) in the form of a plug connection, in particular using an electrically conductive push-button (7) is designed.

7. emblem according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (5) is designed using an electrically conductive Velcro strip or loop tape.

8. emblem according to claim 5, characterized in that the electrical connection (5), at least in the field of attachment of the emblem (1) on the safety clothing

(2), contactless, in particular using a inductive transmission, is designed.

9. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emblem (1), preferably by means of push buttons (7) and / or a Velcro strip (6) on the safety clothing (2), releasably secured.

10. emblem according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a part of its surface consists of transparent film (8), said on the within the emblem (1) lying side has a preferably prismatic surface.

11. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (5) between light capacitors (3) and GeI-

Accumulator (4) by means of a switch or button (9) is separable.

12. emblem according to claim 11, characterized in that the switch or button (9) is incorporated in the emblem (1) that it can be triggered by pressure on the emblem (1).

13. emblem according to claim 12, characterized in that the switch or button (9) is a, preferably reflective, membrane switch.

14. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the illumination of the emblem (1) different modes of operation, in particular continuous light, pulsating light and / or different flashing sequences, ^{■ are} selectable.

15. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the / the gel accumulator / s (4) has a charging connection for electrical charging, preferably by means of a charger, or have.

16. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the protective clothing (2) for charging the / the gel accumulator / s (4) with solar cells, preferably in the form of foil solar cells provided.

17. emblem according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-emitting capacitors (3) a Lettering and / or a signal and / or a sign, in particular a traffic sign represent.

18. Emblem according to claim 17, characterized in that the light-emitting capacitors (3) represent a plurality of signals, which are illuminated separately, preferably at different times.

19. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-emitting capacitors (3) are designed in several colors.

20. Emblem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting capacitors, an inverter is assigned so that by means of the inverter, the voltage applied to the light-emitting capacitors is adapted to this.