Patent Application
20050118377
The technical field of this disclosure represents electroluminescent articles, specifically simulated stained glass modular electroluminescent articles.
Electroluminescence is commonly known as panel lighting. In light panels, particles of scintillation material, or electroluminophore, are suspended in a thin layer of non-conductive material such as plastic. This layer is sandwiched between two plate conductors one of which represents a translucent substance, such as glass or plastic, coated on the inside with a thin film of oxide of metal. With the two conductors acting as electrodes, a current is passed through the electroluminophore, causing it to luminesce. Luminescent panels may serve a variety of purposes, for example, to illuminate clock and radio dials, to outline the risers in staircases, and to provide luminous walls. Until recently, the use of panel lighting was restricted because the current requirements for large installations were excessive and because the life of the phosphor and the conductor coating was limited. However, recent advancements in the material science have resulted in the development of electroluminophores that emit bright light in different wavelengths for thousands of hours.
The art of stained glass is known for nearly one thousand years. It is based on the effect of light passing through a colored glass thus creating a beautiful glowing image. The colored pieces of glass are interconnected, usually by lead or copper. The main drawback of stained glass is the high cost of production caused by the need for a highly skilled labor and a substantial time required to produce the stained glass objects. Another drawback of stained glass is based on the fact that, in order to obtain the full visual effect, a stained glass object must be installed in a window. But even then, at night, when there is no light, there is no image.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 286,434, Herzog disclosed imitation stained glass with the imitation leads applied to the surface of glass. This glass is coated between the imitation lead strips with varnish, lacquer, or a similar colored substance, transparent or translucent.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,900,641,
Woodman et al disclosed simulated stained glass panels printed with transparent colors in a desired pattern with simulated lead strips separating the colored areas.
The above two patents have addressed the high cost and the complexity of manufacturing of stained glass, but the simulated stained glass object would not glow unless it is installed in a window where the image can only be seen during the daytime.
In the late 19th-early 20th Century, Luis Comfort Tiffany created some of the most beautiful stained glass works ever made. However, he was concerned with the limitations of stained glass. This is why Tiffany decided to utilize the newly invented incandescent light in creating a new “Tiffany lamp” where the art of stained glass could be enjoyed day and night. However, this is a costly technology that requires the use of a light bulb and wrapping the artwork around it, thus limiting the size and shape of the stained glass object.
In the U.S. Pat. No. 3,876,483, Holt disclosed a method of making simulated stained glass articles such as Tiffany-style lamp shades where a pre-patterned color filn is sandwiched between pre-forms made of a translucent material. However, this method has all the drawbacks of the Tiffany method except for the high manufacturing cost.
One object of this invention is providing simulated stained glass articles that actively emit light rather then passively transmitting it. Another object of this invention is providing inexpensive and attractive simulated stained glass articles that could be manufactured in the factory environment with a mass production process that doesn't require a highly skilled labor.
The advantages of this invention are in its important practical applications that include light-emitting windows, decorated mirrors, jewelry boxes, decorative plates, lighted clocks, glass sculptures, tables, chests, lighted vases, light-emitting partitions, door and window inserts, lighting fixtures, Tiffany style floor and desk lamps, night-lights, wall pictures, and decorative lighting panels—both exterior and interior.
In a simulated stained glass modular electroluminescent article, simulated stained glass electroluminescent modules are arranged into a flat decorative-panel or a three-dimensional decorative object.
In the simulated stained glass electroluminescent module, electrically-stimulated scintillation materials, or electroluminophores, are arranged in a decorative pattern and sandwiched between a pair of electroconductive walls. According to the preferred embodiment, both electroconductive walls are translucent and light is emitted from the module toward both sides. In another embodiment, one of the electroconductive walls is translucent and another is reflective, and light, amplified by the reflection, is emitted from the module toward one side.
Lead-simulating lines are disposed on the outside of the electroconductive walls to substantially coincide with the boundaries of the electroluminophores. Under the application of electric current, the electroluminophores emit light with the simulated stained glass modular electroluminescent article creating a visual effect which is consistent with that of sunlight passing through a stained glass.
A plurality of electroluminophores 1 is shown through a cut-out in an optically translucent electroconductive wall 2. The electroluminophores 1 are arranged into a decorative pattern consistent with that of a stained glass. The electroluminophores may be constructed of an organic or synthetic powder or thin film, and produce light under the application of alternating or direct current field.
A plurality of lead-simulating strips 3 is disposed on the outside surface of the optically translucent electroconductive wall 2. The lead-simulating strips 3 are disposed to coincide with the boundaries of the electroluminophores 1. The lead-simulating strips may be executed in metal or plastic.
In a simulated stained glass electroluminescent module of the preferred embodiment 4, the electroluminophores 1 are sandwiched in a pair of electroconductive walls where both electroconductive walls are optically translucent. Each of the optically translucent electroconductive walls 2 is comprised of a translucent substrate 5, a translucent electrode layer 6 disposed on the translucent substrate 5, and a translucent dielectric layer 7 disposed on the translucent electrode layer 6.
The translucent substrate is preferably a glass or plastic panel. The translucent electrode layer is constructed of tin oxide, indium oxide, or the like conductor. The translucent dielectric layer is executed as a thin film of epoxy resin, or the like insulator.
The lead-simulating strips 3 are disposed on the outside surface of the translucent substrate 5 to coincide with the boundaries of the electroluminophores 1.
Under the application of electrical current to the translucent electrode layers 6, the resulting electromagnetic field stimulates the electroluminophores 1 to emit light through the optically translucent electroconductive walls 2 from both sides of the simulated stained glass electroluminescent module of the preferred embodiment 4, this light is visually consistent with that of the stained glass affected by sunlight.
It is known to those skilled in the art that, with the certain luminophore compositions, the use of the translucent dielectric layer is not required. The simulated stained glass electroluminescent modules, not employing translucent dielectric layers, fall within the scope of this invention.
In a simulated stained glass electroluminescent module of another embodiment 8, the electroluminophores 1 are sandwiched in a pair of electroconductive walls where one electroconductive wall is optically translucent, and another wall is optically reflective.
An optically reflective electroconductive wall 9 comprises a substrate 10, a reflective electrode layer 11 disposed on the substrate 10, and a translucent insulation layer 12 disposed on the reflective electrode layer 11.
The substrate is a plastic or glass panel. The reflective electrode layer is made of thin aluminum film, silver film, or the like conductor. The translucent insulation layer is executed as a thin film of epoxy resin, or the like dielectric.
Under the application of electrical current to the translucent electrode layer 6 and the reflective electrode layer 11, the resulting electromagnetic field stimulates the electroluminophores 1 to emit light. Amplified by the optically reflective electroconductive wall 9, the light is emitted through the optically translucent electroconductive wall 2 from one side of the simulated stained glass electroluminescent module of another embodiment 8, this light being visually consistent with that of the stained glass affected by sunlight.
With some luminophore compositions, the use of the translucent insulation layer is not required. Also, there electroluminescence devices are well-known where the substrate is not used. The simulated stained glass electroluminescent modules, not employing the substrate and/or the translucent insulation layer, fall within the scope of this invention.
In such application as a lighted chest, the simulated stained glass electroluminescent modules of the preferred embodiment 4 could be used for the lid, and the simulated stained glass electroluminescent modules of another embodiment 8 may be utilized for the front, back, and side walls.
