Patent Publication Number: US-7220037-B2

Title: Detachable display having an electro-luminescent light source

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/497,006, filed Aug. 20, 2003, entitled “Detachable Display Having and Electro-Luminescent Light Source”, by the same inventors. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention is related to garments having optical displays on their surface. In particular it is related to such displays employing an electro-luminescent light source. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   Garments are known that have designs on acetate layers illuminated by an electro-luminescent lamp. In addition, apparel having light emitting diode displays and implanted optical fiber displays have been disclosed. However in these prior technologies the displays have been combined with the garments requiring a permanent affixing of the display to the garment. Indeed, the complexity of the assembly of the display to the garment has required complex technologies for assembling fiber optic elements that were unsuited to making the display detachable from the garment. There is clearly an advantage to having the display detachable and readily reattachable from the basic garment. Such advantages relate to the ability to launder and reuse the garment, or to use the garment at times without the presence of the display. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the aforesaid drawback of the conventional systems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display system for use on a garment allowing the attachment and removal of display elements on the garment. 
   In one embodiment the invention comprises a garment having attached to a surface thereof a display module that comprises a substantially flat display envelope having a transparent front surface. Inside the envelope is an electro-luminescent lamp layer which is activated by electrical power connections from an inverter supplied with power from a battery. The display module is connected to the garment by snaps or other mechanical clips, which are also used as connectors for the electrical current activating the display. Thus the functions of mechanical and electrical connection are accomplished simultaneously. 
   To energize the electro-luminescent lamp layer an electrical signal is brought from a battery power source and an electrical inverter under the control of an control electronic circuit that determines when the layer emits light. A more complex arrangement has the electro-luminescent layer divided into segments where each segment functions as an independent electro-luminescent layer receiving a potential having a pattern of illumination that is determined by the control electronic circuit. In such a system the various segments of the display are nonetheless supplied with power through the connection clips. In order to separately energize the various display segments a multiplexing arrangement is made where the various elements receive power in a definite time sequence. This enables a single set of attachment points to provide electrical energy to a multiplicity of display elements. 
   The invention can be used in safety apparel where the resulting pattern is a bright surface having the shape of a caution warning. The present invention provides an article of clothing with a detachable backlit display that emits light that allows animation and special effects by design which can distinguish the user by the performance of an article of clothing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a cross section of a display module of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  depicts a electro-luminescent layer that is divided into independent segments. 
       FIG. 3  depicts typical signage temporarily affixed to a garment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a garment  1  has attached to a surface thereof a display module  3 . The module is attached by use of a removable attachment mechanism such as snaps, zippers or the like, provided that the attachment mechanism has an electrically conductive component. As shown in the figure, preferably snaps  5  connect the display module with the garment. The module  3  comprises an envelope having a transparent surface such as a substantially flat PVC envelope having a back surface  7  for attachment to the garment  1  and a transparent front surface  9 . The transparency of the front surface  9  need not be total, but need only be sufficiently transparent to allow light from inside the envelope to escape through the front surface. In particular the front surface may contain elements that diffuse light, such as a lenticular screen so as to give a more uniform intensity. Inside the envelope is an electro-luminescent lamp layer  11  in contact with the back surface of the envelope. On the outside of the front surface  9  is a mask  13 , having transparent sections  15  and opaque sections  17  as a result of which the illuminated front surface projects an image determined by the mask. Such an image could be a caution warning or other signage. 
   To energize the electro-luminescent lamp layer  11  a signal is brought by a wiring harness  19  from a power pack  21  comprising a battery power source and an electrical inverter through the clips  5  through electrical connectors  23  to the electro-luminescent lamp  11 . It is not essential that the clips themselves be conductors provided that they contain connectors that join the wire harness elements  19  to the conductors  23 . The function of the inverter is to convert the direct current from the battery to an alternating current known to persons of skill in this art as sufficient to cause the electro-luminescent layer to emit light. The pack further comprises a control electronic circuit that determines when the layer  11  emits light. A simple control might only cause the layer  11  to flash periodically. A more complex arrangement could involve a electro-luminescent layer that is divided into segments. This is shown in  FIG. 2 , which depicts such a layer divided into segments  25 . In effect each segment functions as an independent electro-luminescent layer receiving a potential from the inverter and having a pattern of illumination that is determined by the control electronic circuit. The segments  25 , can be as small as desired in order to provide a display of any desired detail. In order for the signals from the wire harness to control multiple elements there could be implemented a multiplexing or strobing arrangement of the signals so that at specific times specific elements of the display are illuminated. To accomplish this a timing element  27  is placed in the display module which sends signals to the appropriate display elements in a timing sequence. This enable two wires  23  to control multiple elements. In the first preferred embodiment however the electro-luminescent layer is not subdivided and the display is accomplished by the mask  13  and its pattern of transparent  15  and opaque regions  17 . 
     FIG. 3  depicts typical signage applied to the surface of a garment. 
   In use, the garment has the display module attached to a surface thereof by clips. When turned on, electrical signals from the power pack  21  under control of the control electronic circuit, which may be nothing more than an array of switching circuits in conjunction with timing circuits arranged to produce a desired visible pattern, cause the elements of the electro-luminescent layer to emit light. The light from the electro-luminescent layer is patterned by the mask  13 . This could be done for example in conjunction with safety apparel where the resulting pattern is a bright surface having the shape of a caution warning as shown in  FIG. 3 . This would enable the wearer to be safely identified even in darkness, rain, smoke and fog and in low light conditions where visibility is limited. 
   The present invention provides additional advantages. In particular it provides an article of clothing with a removable backlit display that emits light. The present invention allows animation and special effects by design which can distinguish the user by the performance of an article of clothing. 
   Although the invention has been discussed in terms of a particular embodiment sit will be understood by persons of skill in this art that it encompasses any use of its technology as described in the following claims.