A METHOD AND AN ARRANGEMENT FOR ILLUMINATING FLAGS

Abstract: A method of illuminating flags raised on flagpoles, particularly advertising flags of the kind placed along roads and highways adjacent restaurants, hotels and gasoline stations. The invention is characterized in that one or more flags (1) containing ultralight fluorescent material is/are illuminated by one or more lamps (4) which transmit a significant proportion of ultraviolet light.

Description: A Method and can Arrangement for Illuminating Flags Ihe present invention relates to a method for illuminating flags. Flags are used to a large extent in order to mark the presence of hotels, gasoline stations, restaurants, etc. It is often desired to amplify the effect produced, by mounting several flags adjacent to one another, often hoisted on relatively high flagpoles. The intention is to make the car driver aware of the presence of a gasoline station or pull-in in good time before the car driver reaches the facility concerned. These flags can be seen relatively easily in daylight. However, it is relatively ∞mmon to il¬ luminate flags with lamps during the darker hours. The effect of this illumination, however, is limited, because the lamps have a relatively wide angle of spread and because the flag takes-up a relatively small area of the light cone of the light beam. Thus, the problem is that the flags are not made visible to a sufficient extent, and are therefore not noticed to a sufficient degree during the dark hours of the day. This problem is solved by the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of illuminating flags that are raised on flagpoles, particularly flags which have an advertising character and which are placed along roads and highways to advertise restaurants, hotels and gasoline stations. The method is charac¬ terized in that one or more flags which include ultraliφt fluorescent material is/are illuminated by one or more lamps which transmit a con- siderable proportion of ultraviolet light. The invention also relates to an arrangement of the kind defined in Claim 6 and having the characteristic features set forth in the characterizing clause of said Claim. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which illustrates an illuminated flag. The drawing illustrative of the present invention illustrates a flag 1 which is raised on a flagpole 2 standing on the ground 3. The flags referred to are particularly of the kind which carry an advertisement and which are placed along roads in the neighbourhood of restaurants, hotels and gasoline stations. By advertisement is meant an emblem, a trademark, a so-called logo type, a name or the like which distinguishes or characterizes the facility at v-hich the flag is raised, for instance a gasoline station or a restaurant available to the traveller. However, the invention is not limited to flags which are erected along roads in the meaning of ∞untry roads, but can be applied to any flag which it is desired to illuminate during the dark hours. Acxtording to the present method, one or more flags which include ultralight fluorescent material is/are illuminated by means of one or more lamps 4 which transmit a significant proportion of ultraviolet light. The lamps 4 are placed suitably on the ground, although they may also be placed on nearby buildings, so as to protect the fittings frcm damage, among other t-hings. ternatively, the lamps may be mounted somewhat along the flagpole and. be directed upwardly, or may be mounted at or close to the top of the flagpole and be directed downwards. The lamps may suitably be of the kind which use a mercury bulb as a light source, this bulb coacting with a reflector in a manner to form a light lobe 5 which is directed onto the flag or flags. The light lobe 5 is shown in the drawing in broken lines. Many flags of the kind in question are made of a synthetic ibre material, for instance a nylon material, having fluorescent properties. It has surprisingly been found that when illuminating such flags with a lamp that transmits ultraviolet light, these known flags will fluαresce with an effect that is seldom achieved in the dark. The effect obtained is incomparably better than when flags are illuminated, in a correspordirxg manner by means of solely visible light. Mercury lamps transmit both ultraviolet light and visible light. Thus, the flag and the flagpole are illuminated with visible light in addition to ultraviolet light. According to one preferred embcxiiment of the invention, the lamp includes a filter which functions to filter-out visible light. One suitable filter in this regard is a so-called Wood's glass filter, which is placed, for instance, in the light aperture of the lamp. When the light is filtered, the flagpole will not be illuminated with visible light, and hence only the flag will be illuminated. This provides an extremely noticeable effect with regard to the appearance of the flag, which seems to be freely suspend- ed in air, so to speak. According to one embodiment of the invention, the flags are provided with pigment which fluαresσes when irradiated with ultraviolet light. This will naturally increase the fluorescence effect. According to another embodiment, the flags are comprised totally or parti¬ ally of synthetic fibre material and possess good fluorescent properties when irradiated with ultraviolet light. Fluorescent substances may also be added to the flag material in the manufacture of said material, in order to enhance the fluorescence effect. According to another embodiment, an emblem, trademark or corresponding symbol on the flags is cαrrprised of a material which provides much stronger fluorescence than the remainder of the flags. This results in a pronounced advertising effect. The present invention can be practiced with ultraviolet lamps other than those aforementioned. ]? -rthermore, any suitable fluorescent material can be used. The invention shall not therefore be considered restricted to the afore- described embodiments, since modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the following Claims.

Claims: maims 1. A method for illuminating flags raised on flagpoles, and particularly advertising flags which are placed along roads and highways in the neigh- bσurhood of restaurants, hotels and gasoline stations, ch ar a c t er i z e d by illuminating one or more flags (1) which include ultralight fluαrescent material by one or more lamps (4) which transmit a significant proportion of ultraviolet light. 2. A method acx»rding to Claim 1, char a c t e r i z e d in that the lamps (4) include a filter for filtering-out visible light. 3. A method according to Claim l or 2, ch a r a c t e r i z e d b providing the flags (1) with pigment wtiich fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light. 4. A method according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, char a c ter i z e d by producing the flags (1) either completely or partially from a synthetic material which fluoresces when irradiated with ultraviolet light. 5. A method according to Claim 4, char a c ter i z ed by producing an emblem or a trademark or corresponding symbol on the flags (1) with a material which provides a much mere pcwerful fluorescence than the remainder of the flags. 6. An arrangement for illuminating flags raised on flagpoles, particularly advertisement flags of the kind placed along roads and highways adjacent restaurants, hotels -and gasoline stations, ch a r a cter i z ed in that one or more flags (l) include an ultralight fluorescent material; and in that one or more lamps (4) are provided for illuminating the flags (1) , said lamps (4) being constructed to transmit a significant proportion of ultraviolet li-ght. 7. An arrangement according to Claim 6, ch a r a c ter i z ed in that the lamps (4) include a filter which filters-out visible light. 8. An arrangement according to Claim 6 or 7, char a ct er i z ed in that the flags (4) are provided with pigment which will fluαresce when irradiated with ultraviolet light. 9. An arrangement according to Claim 6, 7 or 8, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the flags (1) are made, either totally or partially, from a synthetic fibre material which will fluoresce when irradiated with ultraviolet light. 10. An arrangement according to Claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that an emblem or a trademark or corresponding symbol on the flags (1) is produced from a material which will fluoresce much more powerfully than the remainder of the flags.

Inventors: FAST PEDER, FAST, PEDER
Applicants: ULTRALUX AB
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G09F13
IPC codes: G09F13, G09F17