Three-dimensional lighting structure utilizing light active technology

• US 8,210,697 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2009
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul E. Lohneis
• Original Assignee: Paul E. Lohneis
• Inventors: Lohneis, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US12/423,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20090256472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/227, 362235-238, 362/249, 362/249.02, 362/249.04, 362/249.06, 362/249.08, 362/249.09, 362/249.14, 362/249.16, 362/249.17, 362/249.18, 362/249.19, 362/806, 362/807, 362/811, 362/812, 404/10, 404/11, 404/27, 404/41, 404/42, 404/44, 405/52
• US Class Current: 362/84
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/004 by deformation of parts or snap action mountings, e.g. using clips
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/005 by permanent fixing means, e.g. gluing, riveting or embedding in a potting compound
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/006 for illumination or simulation of snowy or iced items, e.g. icicle
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2107/60 on stacked substrates
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/20 Electroluminescent [EL] light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/10 OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/84 Parallel electrical configurations of multiple OLEDs

Abstract

A structure and method for three-dimensional lighting using light active technology. The structure has one or more sheets of light active material, which each sheet of the one or more sheets of light active material having a plurality of lighting elements. The structure additionally has one or more folding elements along which the one or more sheets of light active material are operable to be folded to create a three-dimensional lighting structure. A power supply element can then be used to provide power to the plurality of lighting elements. A fastening element is operable to fasten together the one or more sheets of light active material at one or more fastening points to retain the three-dimensional lighting structure created by folding the one or more sheets of light active material along the one or more folding elements.

Claims

1. A three-dimensional lighting structure, comprising:

at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material, with each sheet of the at least one sheet of light active material having a plurality of lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that comprise emissive electroluminescent material and with each sheet of the at least one sheet of light active material having circuitry coupled to the plurality of light elements within;

at least one folding element of the at least one sheet of light active material, wherein a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure is formed of the at least one sheet of light active material and the at least one folding element;

a power supply element to provide power to the circuitry coupled to the plurality of lighting elements of the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material; and

a fastening element coupled to the at least one sheet of light active material at at least one fastening point of the at least one sheet of light active material, wherein the collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure is removably retained in a three-dimensional form by the fastening element.

2. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet of light active material comprises a plurality of organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting elements.

3. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one sheet of light active material comprises a plurality of inorganic light emitting diode (ILED) lighting elements.

4. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises a bead chain.

5. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the fastening element comprises a clip element.

6. The lighting structure of claim 5, wherein the clip element further comprises:

a substantially u-shaped unitary body portion having two opposedly positioned lateral ends; and

first and second dimplet portions, the first dimplet portion positioned along a first interior surface at a first lateral end of the unitary body portion and the second dimplet portion positioned along a second interior surface at a second lateral end of the unitary body portion in oppositional proximity to one another.

7. The lighting structure of claim 5, wherein the fastening element comprises an end clip having a plurality of grooves into which corresponding ones of a plurality of edges of the at least one sheet of light active material fit snugly.

8. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the fastening element is a self-adhesive element.

9. The lighting structure of claim 1, further comprising a folding element retention element that retains in position a fold of the at least one sheet along the at least one folding element.

10. The lighting structure of claim 9, wherein the folding element retention element comprises a heat or laser weld of the at least one sheet along the at least one folding element.

11. The lighting structure of claim 9, wherein the folding element retention element comprises a mechanical attachment along the at least one folding element.

12. The lighting structure of claim 11, wherein the mechanical attachment comprises staples along the at least one folding element.

13. The lighting structure of claim 11, wherein the mechanical attachment comprises glue along the at least one folding element.

14. The lighting structure of claim 11, wherein the mechanical attachment comprises a self-adhesive fastener along the at least one folding element.

15. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein the fastening element further comprises:

a tab portion formed along an edge of the one sheet of light active material;

a slot portion of the one sheet to receive the tab portion when the one sheet is folded along the at least one folding element to mate the tab portion to the slot portion.

16. The lighting structure of claim 1, wherein removal of the fastening element permits the at least one sheet of the light active material of the three-dimensional lighting structure to collapse into a substantially two-dimensional form.

17. A method of creating a three-dimensional lighting structure, comprising:

folding at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material along at least one folding element to create a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure, each sheet of light active material comprising a plurality of lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that comprise emissive electroluminescent material and each sheet of light active material having circuitry coupled to the plurality of light elements; and

removably retaining the three-dimensional lighting structure by activating a fastening element to retain the three-dimensional lighting structure created by folding the at least one sheet of light active material along the at least one folding element.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing power to the circuitry coupled to the plurality of lighting elements of the at least one sheet of light active material.

19. The method of claim 17, powering the lighting elements of each sheet of the at least one sheet of light active material with a power supply element.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

collapsing the three-dimensional lighting structure into a substantially two-dimensional by de-activating the fastening element.

21. A method of manufacturing a three-dimensional lighting structure, comprising:

providing at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material, each sheet of light active material comprising a plurality of lighting elements that are sandwiched between two or more laminate layers and that comprise emissive electroluminescent material and each sheet of light active material having circuitry coupled to the plurality of light elements;

providing the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material with at least one folding element along which the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material are foldable; and

providing a fastening element to removably retain a collapsible three-dimensional lighting structure created when the at least one sheet of light active material are folded along the at least one folding element.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

sealing the edges of the at least one non-rigid, flexible, foldable sheet of light active material.