Illumination – Light source or light source support and luminescent material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-12
2001-02-06
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source or light source support and luminescent material
C362S260000, C362S800000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06183102
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to applicational uses of phosphor based materials and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for producing a transparent tubular member containing a phosphorescent material or long persistent phosphorent (LPP) material, which is capable of being employed in a variety of different ways.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of phosphor materials are well known in the art and which provide varying degrees of persistent luminescence. A common objective of phosphor materials is to provide an application for a luminescent light source which takes advantage of intermittent light irradiation and/or the absence of irradiating light on a continuous basis.
Examples of high luminescent phosphors are disclosed in such prior art references as U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,579, issued to Inaho et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,043,096, issued to Lindmayer, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,094, issued to Royce et al. Each of the above references discloses a phosphor material which provides a degree of persistent lumination following exposure to an irradiating light source and which can be conveniently provided in a powderized or granulated form. The phosphor of Royce '094 is particularly noteworthy in that it discloses a long-decay red phosphor, such preceding persistent phosphors typically being of a green or lime-green color.
While the existence of phosphor materials such as above is fairly well known in the art, the recent trend has been to identify useful applications of persistent phosphor which will enable the production of sufficient light illumination following an iterative period of light irradiation. U.S. Pat. No. 4,884,990, issued to Lovik, discloses a luminescent balloon and method of manufacture in which luminescent dray solid particles are maintained in a latex carrier and constitute at least fifty percent to seventy five percent of the total dry solid of the inner lamination for imparting luminescent qualities to the balloon. U.S. Pat. No. 4,759,453, issued to Paetzold, discloses a luminescent baby bottle marked with a luminescent marker for use by a baby or infant. The marker is a band of synthetic plastic with a pigment of inorganic zinc sulfide phosphor with double activators. The band is further disclosed as being cylindrical and the bottle is blown within the band.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is a transparent tubular member containing a volume of a phosphorescent material, and particularly such as a phosphor exhibiting a degree of long persistence, which is useful for numerous applications. The tubular member is constructed of a plastic, plasticized resin or vinyl material and includes a first end, a second end, an outer diameter and an inner diameter which establishes between the outer diameter a specified annular thickness. The tubular member typically has an internally open core and may or may not be closed at the first and second ends. The tubular member does exhibit a degree of flexibility and resiliency and is preferably produced in a conventional extrusion process.
A volume of a phosphorescent material exhibiting a degree of long-persistence, such as previously described, is encapsulated within the tubular member for the purpose of establishing a degree of persistent luminescence. In a first embodiment, encapsulating is accomplished by introducing the phosphor material, typically provided in a powder or granulated form, in a water or other fluid based slurry mixture and under a degree of pressure so that it coats the inwardly annular facing wall defined by the inner diameter. The benefit of the slurry process is that it applies a relatively thin layer of phosphor which saves on material expense and still provides an effective work application while maintaining the desired degree of flexibility of the tubular member.
In a further preferred embodiment, additional inner and outer coaxial layers of clear
on-phosphorant encapsulated tubing are co-extruded in simultaneous fashion over the phosphorescent encapsulated tubular member so as to produce a robust tubular member which is capable of withstanding more demanding applicational uses. A still further embodiment discloses installing a plurality of light emitting diodes (L.E.D.'s) at spaced intervals within the open interior of the tubular member, connecting the diodes by means of at least one common electrical wire, and connecting the wire(s) to a power supply, such as a battery, which provides intermittent flashing of the diodes to recharge the luminescent capabilities of the phosphorescent based material. A yet further variation of this embodiment further contemplates the provision of a processor based circuit including a photocell element for timing the intermittent flashing of the diodes so as to recharge the luminescence of the phosphor material at desired intervals.
A yet further embodiment discloses severing the elongate tubular member into first and second cross sectional halves. The first half includes the encapsulated phosphorescent material either coated to the inner walls or preferably impregnated within the material content of the wall thickness. A thin, elongate and flexible reflector element is mounted within the semi-cylindrical open core defined by the elongate extending first cross sectional half. The second half is a clear, non-encapsulated material, which is fused to the first half to reassemble the complete tubular member. The resulting combination causes the reflector to bounce the light waves both externally as well as into the phosphorescent material, with the result being that additional luminescent capabilities are achieved.
The present invention also discloses a method of constructing a tubular member containing a phosphorescent material including the steps of extruding at least one layer of a transparent tubular member selected from a group of materials including a plastic, plasticized resin and vinyl. Also included is the step of encapsulating a volume of phosphorescent material exhibiting a degree of persistent luminescence within the tubular member such that the material emits a prolonged degree of luminescence following a period of exposure to an irradiating light source. Additional steps of encapsulating the tubular member with a slurry mixture containing the phosphorescent material, co-extruding at least one additional tubular member in coaxial fashion, and without an encapsulated volume of phosphor, around the phosphor encapsulated tubular member, and iteratively recharging the degree of luminescence of the phosphorescent material, are also disclosed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2644113 (1953-06-01), Etzkorn
patent: 4209823 (1980-06-01), Burkdoll
patent: 4755324 (1988-07-01), Lindmayer
patent: 4759453 (1988-07-01), Paetzold
patent: 4818434 (1989-04-01), Lindmayer
patent: 4884990 (1989-12-01), Lovik
patent: 5043096 (1991-08-01), Lindmayer
patent: 5102579 (1992-04-01), Inaho et al.
patent: 5406463 (1995-04-01), Schexnayder, Sr.
patent: 5649757 (1997-07-01), Aleman et al.
patent: 5650094 (1997-07-01), Royce et al.
patent: 5775016 (1998-07-01), Chien
patent: 5961072 (1999-10-01), Bodle
patent: 5967638 (1999-10-01), Gorman, Jr. et al.
Miller Robert H.
Mortz Bradford K.
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Global Products Sales and Marketing, L.L.C.
Sember Thomas M.
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