Method for providing replaceable light source

• US 20040160768A1
• Filed: 02/11/2004
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Global OLED Technology LLC (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Cok, Ronald S.
• Application Number:
  US10/776,742
• Publication Number:
  US 20040160768A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/226
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/00 Lighting devices intended to be free-standing F21S9/00, F21S10/00, F21S13/12 take precedence lighting devices specially adapted to be transported from place to place, e.g. lighting devices carried on wheeled supports F21L; details of supports for lighting devices F21V21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/002 Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/004 with a lamp housing in direct contact with the floor or ground
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/005 with a lamp housing maintained at a distance from the floor or ground via a support, e.g. standing lamp for ambient lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0005 of sources having contact pins, wires or blades, e.g. pinch sealed lamp F21V19/001 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 12/721 cooperating directly with the edge of the rigid printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 50/841 Self-supporting sealing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

A method for providing a replaceable light source is described comprising the steps of: a) manufacturing a light source on a flexible substrate in a substantially two-dimensional configuration; b) shipping the light source in the two-dimensional configuration; and c) flexing and removably placing the light source in a curved three dimensional configuration within a lighting fixture. The present invention has the advantage of providing a lighting apparatus having a light source that can be manufactured, shipped, and stored efficiently in a planar configuration, thereby saving considerable storage space while providing a three-dimensional lighting source when in use. Another advantage is that the planar flexible light sources are not fragile and can be manufactured, packaged, shipped and stored in thin, unpadded packaging.

Claims

1. A method for providing a replaceable light source comprising the steps of:

a) manufacturing a light source on a flexible substrate in a substantially two-dimensional configuration;

b) shipping the light source in the two-dimensional configuration; and

c) flexing and removably placing the light source in a curved three dimensional configuration within a lighting fixture.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 further including the step of packing the light source in a flat package.

3. The method claimed in claim 2 wherein the package contains a plurality of light sources.

4. The method claimed in claim 3 wherein a portion of the plurality of light sources may be removed from the package.

5. The method claimed in claim 2 wherein the light source may be removed from the package and mounted in the lighting fixture by holding and manipulating the light source by the edges of the light source.

6. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of vending the light source in a flat package from a vending machine.

7. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of vending the light source in a flat package through the mail.

8. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of vending the light source in a flat package with the lighting fixture.

9. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of vending a plurality of light sources in a flat configuration within a dispenser adapted to dispense one light source at a time.

10. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of placing advertising on a non-emissive portion of the light source.

11. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a light source at no cost to a customer to induce sales of a lighting fixture.

12. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing a lighting fixture at no cost to a customer to induce sales of a light sources.

13. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of providing means for testing a light source while the light source is in a package.

14. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a deposit from a customer for a light source and returning the deposit to the customer upon a return of the light source.

15. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a deposit from a customer for a light source and returning the deposit to the customer upon the purchase of a second light source.

16. The method claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of vending a plurality of light sources each in a flat package depending from a common support.

17. A method for providing a replaceable light source comprising the steps of:

a) manufacturing a plurality of light sources on one or more flexible substrates in substantially two-dimensional configurations;

b) forming a sequentially attached plurality of the light sources into a cylindrical roll;

c) shipping the roll of light sources;

d) detaching one or more of the light sources from the roll; and

e) flexing and removably placing the detached light source in a curved three dimensional configuration within a lighting fixture.

18. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of light sources packaged in a roll and electrically connected in parallel and means to detach and provide power to groups of individual light sources electrically connected in parallel.

19. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of light sources packaged in a roll and electrically connected in series and means to detach and provide power to groups of individual light sources electrically connected in series.

20. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the sequential attachment is provided by a common flexible substrate.

21. The method claimed in claim 17, wherein the sequential attachment is provided by a common backing layer to which the light sources are attached.

22. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of vending the light sources from a vending machine.

23. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of vending the light sources through the mail.

24. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of vending the light sources with the lighting fixture.

25. The method claimed in claim 17 further comprising the step of vending a plurality of light sources from a dispenser adapted to dispense one light source at a time.

26. A method for providing a replaceable light source comprising the steps of:

a) manufacturing a plurality of light sources on one or more flexible substrates in substantially two-dimensional configurations;

b) forming a sequentially attached plurality of the light sources into an accordion-folded stack;

c) shipping the light sources in the stack;

d) detaching one or more of the light sources from the stack; and

e) flexing and removably placing the detached light source in a curved three dimensional configuration within a lighting fixture.

27. The method claimed in claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of light sources packaged in a stack and electrically connected in parallel and means to detach and provide power to groups of individual light sources electrically connected in parallel.

28. The method claimed in claim 26 further comprising the step of providing a plurality of light sources packaged in a stack and electrically connected in series and means to detach and provide power to groups of individual light sources electrically connected in series.

29. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the sequential attachment is provided by a common flexible substrate.

30. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the sequential attachment is provided by a common backing layer to which the light sources are attached.

32. The method claimed in claim 26 further comprising the step of vending the light sources through the mail.

33. The method claimed in claim 26 further comprising the step of vending the light sources with the lighting fixture.

34. The method claimed in claim 26 further comprising the step of vending a plurality of light sources from a dispenser adapted to dispense one light source at a time.

31. The method claimed in claim 31 further comprising the step of vending the light sources from a vending machine.