Electroluminescent flexible film for product packaging

• US 6,637,906 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frito-Lay North America Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Recot Incorporated (PepsiCo Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knoerzer, Anthony Robert, Kohl, Garrett William
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/951,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 362/154, 362/155, 362/156, 362/267, 362/84, 362/310, 313/506, 313/511, 428/68, 428/690, 428/917
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/004 Information or decoration elements, e.g. level indicators, detachable tabs or coupons
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/545 the inserts or accessories being located within a pouch or envelope attached to the exterior of the packages, e.g. shipping mailers envelope construction B65D27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/10 Apparatus or processes specially adapted to the manufacture of electroluminescent light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 33/12 Light sources with substantially two-dimensional radiating surfaces

Abstract

A flexible electroluminescent film, and packaging material and packages made therefrom, that incorporates electroluminescent material within the polymer packaging film layers to enable the film to be illuminated without an external light source. The film may also comprise various thin-film items, such as power source, inverter, switch, integrated circuit, radio receiver, and speaker, all within the film layers. The film can be used in existing form and fill packaging machines without substantial modifications to the machines.

Claims

1. A flexible film sheet comprising:

a first polymer film layer;

a first electrode film layer bound to said first polymer film layer;

an electroluminescent material layer bound to said first electrode film layer;

a second electrode film layer bound to said electroluminescent material layer;

a second polymer film layer bound to said second electrode layer;

a power source electrically connected to said electroluminescent material; and

wherein said flexible film sheet is suitable for use in a vertical form, fill, and seal packaging machine, and the power source further comprises a thin-film DC power source.

2. The flexible film sheet of claim 1 wherein the power source further comprises a thin-film current inverter electrically connected to the DC power source and the electroluminescent material layer.

3. The flexible film sheet of claim 2 wherein the film further comprises a circuit, said circuit located between said first polymer layer and said second polymer layer, for conducting a current from the DC power source, through the inverter, to the electroluminescent material, and back to the DC power source.

4. The flexible film sheet of claim 1 wherein the flexible film further comprises a thin-film switch electrically connected to said DC power source and located between said first polymer layer and said second polymer layer.

5. The flexible film sheet of claim 1 wherein the flexible film further comprises an integrated circuit electrically connected to said DC power source and located within said film layers.

6. The flexible film sheet of claim 1 wherein the flexible film further comprises a thin-film radio receiver electrically connected to said DC power source and located between said first polymer layer and said second polymer layer.

7. The flexible film sheet of claim 1 further comprising a thin-film speaker electrically connected to said DC power source and located between said first polymer layer and said second polymer layer.

8. A flexible package for containing a product, said package comprising:

a first polymer layer;

a second polymer layer;

an electroluminescent thin film sandwiched between said first polymer layer and said second polymer layer;

a power source electrically connected to said electroluminescent thin film;

wherein said first polymer layer, second polymer layer, and electroluminescent film are bound together and arranged to form said flexible package.

9. The flexible package of claim 8 wherein the power source comprises a thin-film DC power source electrically connected to an inverter.

10. The flexible package of claim 8 further comprising a switch electrically connected to said power source, whereby such switch controls the input of power into the electroluminescent film.

11. The flexible package of claim 8 wherein said package comprises a bag for containing a snack food product.

12. The flexible package of claim 8 further comprising an integrated circuit electrically connected to the power source.

13. The flexible package of claim 8 further comprising a radio receiver electrically connected to the power source.

14. The flexible package of claim 8 further comprising a speaker electrically connected to the power source.

15. A method for producing a flexible package, said package comprising two polymer film layers, said method comprising the steps of:

a) placing between the two polymer film layers an electroluminescent film and a thin film power supply, wherein said electroluminescent film and power supply are electrically connected;

b) sealing the two polymer film layers together, thereby encasing the electroluminescent film and power supply within the two layers and forming a sheet of thin-film, flexible material;

c) feeding said sheet of thin-film, flexible material into a form, fill, and seal machine; and

d) forming a package from said sheet of thin-film, flexible material.

16. The method for producing a flexible package of claim 15 wherein step d) further comprises forming a snack food product package.

17. The method for producing a flexible package of claim 15 wherein step a) further comprises placing between the two polymer film layers an integrated circuit electrically connected to the electroluminescent film and power supply.

18. The method for producing a flexible package of claim 15 wherein step a) further comprises placing between the two polymer film layers a thin-film switch electrically connected to the electroluminescent film and power supply.

19. The method for producing a flexible package of claim 15 wherein step a) further comprises placing between the two polymer film layers a thin-film radio receiver electrically connected to the electroluminescent film and power supply.

20. The method for producing a flexible package of claim 15 wherein step a) further comprises placing between the two polymer film layers a thin-film speaker electrically connected to the electroluminescent film and power supply.