Container illumination device

• US 8,814,379 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Benmore Ventures Limited
• Original Assignee: Benmore Ventures Limited
• Inventors: Griffiths, Bryn, Duncan, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, William N
• Application Number:
  US13/061,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 362/191, 362/101, 362/96
• US Class Current: 362/191
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/12 Means for the attachment of smaller articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

A self-contained illumination device (10) for attachment to a container, e.g. to the base of a bottle, comprises a printed circuit board (12), with LEDs (14) attached to the central region of a liquid-impervious flexible pad (11). The central region is surrounded by an annular adhesive region which is arranged to attach the pad to the container in liquid-tight manner. The pad comprises a base layer (32) of plasticized paper or PVC, covered by an adhesive layer (34) and, before attachment to the container, a peripheral layer (36) of a release paper.

Claims

1. A self-contained illumination device for attachment to a container, the device comprising:

a. a pad formed of a first layer and a second layer wherein;

(1) the first layer;

(a) is formed of a liquid-impervious material,

(b) is flexible and at least partially foldable,

(c) has first and second opposing major surfaces

wherein;

i. a thickness between the first and second major surfaces is in the range of 0.15 to 0.4 mm,

ii. the first major surface has a central region surrounded by an adhesive region, and

iii. the second major surface of the pad is printable;

(2) the second layer covers and releasably attaches to the adhesive region of the first major surface of the first layer,

b. illumination device electrical elements provided on a rigid circuit board, the circuit board being attached to the central region of the first major surface of the first layer,

whereby upon removal of the second layer from the adhesive region of the first layer, the adhesive region can be adhered to, and can adopt the contour of, a surface of a container in liquid-tight manner, with the circuit board situated between the container and the central region of the first layer.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the second layer is ring-shaped.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein a line of separation extends across the second layer from the inner periphery of the ring to the outer periphery of the ring.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein the first layer comprises biodegradable plastics and/or paper material.

5. A device according to a claim 2, wherein the material of the first layer is stronger than the material of the second layer.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive region comprises a glue, wherein failure of the glue occurs at a temperature of above 80°

C. with high humidity.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical elements comprise one or more light sources and one or more battery cells.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the or each light source is an LED.

9. A device according to claim 7 wherein cell clips for the or each battery cell are also provided on the circuit board.

10. A device according to claim 7, wherein the or each battery cell is in electrical communication with the other electrical elements by a pin.

11. A device according to claim 1, comprising a piece of insulating material arranged in a position in which it prevents electrical contact of a battery cell with other circuit elements of the device and being moveable out of the position via a slot through the circuit board and/or a slit through the pad.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the electrical elements include a switch defined by a depressible domed contact, wherein the domed contact lacks any rigid cover thereover, whereby a depressing force can be applied to the domed contact without being transmitted through any rigid cover to the domed contact.

13. A method of manufacturing a self-contained illumination device comprising electrical elements and being suitable for attachment to a container, the method comprising the steps of:

producing a pad having a first layer with a second layer releasably adhered thereto, the second layer having a first line of separation which separates an inner area thereof from a surrounding outer area, and a second line of separation which extends from the first line to the periphery of the pad,

removing the inner area of the second layer to reveal an area of the first layer,

and securing to the thus revealed area of the first layer a rigid circuit board with the electrical elements of the illumination device secured thereto.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the first and second layers are flexible and at least partially foldable.

14. A method of attaching a self-contained illumination device to a transparent wall of a container comprising the steps of:

providing a pad having a first layer and a second layer releasably adhered to the first layer, the second layer comprising an inner area surrounded by an outer area,

removing the inner area of the second layer to reveal an underlying inner area of the first layer,

securing to the inner area of the first layer a rigid circuit board with electrical elements of the illumination device mounted thereon,

removing the outer area of the second layer to reveal an adhesive region of the first layer surrounding the circuit board, and

adhering the surrounding adhesive region to the transparent wall in liquid-tight manner, whereby the illumination device is capable of illuminating the contents of the container.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein, when the surrounding adhesive region is being adhered to the transparent wall, an air pocket is formed between the inner area of the first layer and the adjacent region of the transparent wall.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the outer area of the second layer is in the form of a ring and a line separation extends across the second layer from the inner periphery of the ring to the outer periphery of the ring, and wherein the step of removing the outer area of the second layer is started from the line of separation.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the first and second layers are flexible and at least partially foldable.

17. A self-contained illumination device for attachment to a container, wherein the illumination device includes:

a. a flexible and at least partially foldable pad having;

(1) opposing major surfaces, wherein one of the major surfaces has a central region and an adhesive region surrounding the central region, and

(2) an intermediate thickness between the opposing major surfaces,

b. a circuit;

(1) attached to the central region of the pad, and

(2) bearing electrical elements including a light source and a battery,

c. a releasable layer releasably adhered to at least the adhesive region of the pad, wherein the circuit and pad together have a major diameter which is at least 22 times greater than their combined thickness,

whereby the releasable layer can be removed from the adhesive region, and the adhesive region of the illumination device can be adhered to a surface of a container with the pad at least substantially conforming to the surface, and with the circuit situated between the pad and the container.