Method and apparatus for light transmission

• US 6,146,006 A
• Filed: 06/22/1998
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Flexalite Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Flexalite Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Cross, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/102,341
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 362/551, 362/582, 362/583, 362/555, 362/103, 362/108, 362/800, 362/806
• US Class Current: 362/555
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/004 Reflective safety signalling devices attached on persons
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00

Abstract

A method and apparatus for light transmission adapted for use in a reflective belt, safety vest, or similiar devices requiring visibility of a bright and/or reflective material where a light source of one or more lighting elements is positioned to transmit light along a self-supporting elongated light transmitting member of a hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material and a flashing circuit for the light source which includes a battery pack or any other power source convertable to D.C. voltage. The hot-melt adhesive is of a high clarity, highly flexible material which transmits light in a highly visible manner within an elongated casement of material formed of a light-colored backing material and a front strip of a translucent material adapted to transmit the light driven along the member by the light-emitting source. Any light-emitting source, either visible or invisible would be suitable for the transmitting device. Similarly, the casement of material, elongated members, light-emitting sources and circuit and D.C. power source could be mounted on either the front and/or rear panel of a safety vest where the vest is desirable for high visibilty in darkness or dimly lit situations.

Claims

1. A portable reflective belt to be worn by a user of the portable reflective belt comprising a belt formed of a flexible material and having a length to allow it to encircle the waist of the user, a battery pack and circuit mounted on said belt, said belt providing an elongated envelope containing a plurality of light sources spaced along the length of the belt, and at least one elongated light-transmitting member having said light sources positioned therealong and acting to transmit the light along the length of said member, said member being formed of a flexible, substantially transparent hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material providing exceptional light transmission characteristics.

2. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said light source is a halogen lamp.

3. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said belt comprises a backing layer of a light reflective material and a front layer of a translucent plastic material.

4. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light source is powered by a battery powered circuit providing a flashing characteristic through the light transmitting members.

5. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein said belt is formed from a retroreflective material comprising a white backing layer and a front vinyl lens for dispersing the light from the members through said lens.

6. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein said belt is formed of a pair of strips of "VELCRO" material with the loops and hooks of the facing material surfaces acting to encompass the light-transmitting members and light source along a central portion and engaging with each other along the edges to form the casement.

7. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 6, wherein said loop strip is of a light-reflecting material and said hook strip is of a translucent material forming a casement for the light-transmitting means.

8. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light-transmitting plastic may have one or more dyes or colorants added thereto.

9. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light-transmitting means includes a light source combining red, green and blue light emitting diodes so as to achieve a color in an array of a sixty-four color spectrum.

10. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said light-transmitting members may be combined with other materials in a layering, weaving or bundling fashion so as to achieve desired light characteristics.

11. A light reflective belt as set forth in claim 1 in which a light-emitting diode is located at each end of a light-transmitting member with the pair of diodes directed towards the opposite ends of the member.

12. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said elongated member has diodes adhesively joined to or encapsulated within the member at spaced intervals therealong.

13. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 12, wherein the profile of said member includes a rounded top surface and a concave recess formed on the lower surface, said diodes and hot-melt adhesive material being inserted into the recess at spaced intervals along the member.

14. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said diodes are encapsulated within said hot-melt adhesive, the lower surface of said member being formed with light reflecting microprisms.

15. The safety belt according to claim 1, wherein the backing strip comprises a reflective material and the safety belt contains a front layer of a translucent plastic material positioned over the light source and the member.

16. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, wherein the light source may emits any visible or invisible light capable of being transmitted down the transparent members.

17. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

18. A reflective belt as set forth in claim 1, in which said light source is a laser beam.

19. A safety vest to be worn by a person to be seen on or nearby roadways and highways, comprising a vest garment of colorful and reflective material having a front panel and a back panel joined over the shoulders, and means to connect said front and back panels by side attachment means, and a light transmitting strip on either the front or back panel or both, each said light-transmitting strip having an elongated encompassing casement of material and containing one or more light-transmitting members of a flexible homogenous hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material and one or more light sources at the ends of said members, and a battery pack and circuit for flashing the light sources.

20. A safety vest as set forth in claim 19, in which each light-transmitting strip is an independent unit with its own battery pack, circuit and light-transmitting means.

21. An apparatus comprising at least one light source and at least one member of a flexible and substantially transparent hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material characterized by its ability to transmit and radiate light, said light source being positioned adjacent the member.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the light source is embedded in the member.

23. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic is selected from the group consisting of a ethylene-vinyl acetate;

a low density polyethylene;

polypropylene; and

polyamide.

24. An apparatus comprising at least one light source and at least one member of an elongated flexible homogenous hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material having a longitudinal axis, the light source being positioned along the longitudinal axis of the member.

25. A safety belt comprising an elongated and substantially transparent hot-melt adhesive thermoplastic material having a round top and a lower surface having a concave recess formed therein;

a light reflecting structure formed on the lower surface; and

a light source embedded in hot-melt adhesive material positioned in the recess at spaced intervals along the material.

26. The safety belt according to claim 25 wherein the light reflecting structure is a microprism.