Fabric display

• US 20070076407A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Marmaropoulos, George
• Granted Patent: US 7,531,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/023 fixed on clothing
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/905 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/906 Head covering or protector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/913 Material designed to be responsive to temperature, light, moisture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/23943 Flock surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/8305 Miscellaneous [e.g., treated surfaces, etc.]

Abstract

The present invention provides a fabric display using the action of electrostatic charges to manipulate visual displays. The fabric display comprises areas of furry fabrics (16) that can serve as visual effects or display of information and can be usable in a wearable garment, furniture, or other suitable locations where it c be incorporated to close a circuit. Through activation by the user, the surface of furry fabrics (16) is electrostatically charged causing the furs to repel from the surface and each other in a substantially vertical orientation with portions of the furs extending cut of the surface, thus revealing the color of the fabric surface.

Claims

1. A display fabric (10) comprising:

a fabric layer (14) having at least one conductive layer (12) therein for passing an electrostatic field, said fabric layer (14) having a plurality of furs (16) on the surface thereof responsive to said electrostatic field to extend out of said fabric layer (14) in a substantially vertical orientation, thereby revealing the surface color of said fabric.

2. The display fabric of claim 1, wherein the surface of said fabric layer (14) includes a plurality of predetermined color pattern surfaces.

3. The display fabric of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer(12) carries a positive or negative charge on its outwardly facing surface so that said electrostatic field that exists within the surface of said fabric layer (14) forces said furs to repel and extend in a substantially vertical orientation.

4. The display fabric of claim 1, wherein said conductive layer (12) serves as a coupling to a power source.

5. The display fabric of claim 1, wherein said fabric layer (14) is coupled to a fabric circuit integrated in a garment

6. The display fabric of claim 5, wherein said garment is a shirt.

7. The display fabric of claim 5, wherein said garment is a vest.

8. The display fabric of claim 5, wherein said garment is a jacket.

9. The display fabric of claim 5, wherein said garment is a hat.

10. The display fabric of claim 1, wherein said fabric layer (14) is coupled to a fabric circuit integrated in furniture. method for providing a visual display with a wearable comprising the steps of:

providing a fabric layer (14) having at least one conductive layer (12) therein for passing an electrostatic field and a plurality of furs (16) on the surface thereof;

dressing a person in said garment provided with said fabric layer (14); and

,

selectively providing an electrostatic force to a selective region of said conductive layer (12) to force the corresponding said furs (16) to extend out of said fabric layer (14) in a substantially vertical orientation, thereby revealing the surface color of said fabric.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of predetermined color pattern surfaces on the surface of said fabric layer (14).

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of coupling a power source to said conductive layer (12) to generate an electric field thereon by an activation of said person.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said garment is a shirt.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein said garment is a vest.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein said garment is a jacket.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said garment is a hat.

18. A method for providing a visual display with a wearable garment, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a fabric layer (14) having at least one conductive layer (12) therein for passing an electrostatic field and a plurality of furs (16) on the surface thereof;

integrating said fabric layer (194) in furniture; and

,

selectively providing an electrostatic force to a selective region of said conductive layer (12) to force the corresponding said furs (16) to extend out of said fabric layer (14) in a substantially vertical orientation, thereby revealing the surface color of said fabric.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of providing a plurality of predetermined color pattern surfaces on the surface of said fabric layer (14).