Patent Publication Number: US-2010122479-A1

Title: System and method for aerial electroluminescent sign

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to method and apparatus for displaying an advertisement using a vehicle, such as towing an advertisement with the vehicle through the air, wherein portions of the advertisement are electroluminescent. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Aerial advertising displays include signs and logos on the sides of aircraft and banners suspended from them during flight, including banners towed behind fixed-wing aircraft or suspended from slower moving aircraft such as helicopters, dirigibles and balloons. Aerial advertising displays have the advantage of being able to be seen by many people. Further options for creating attractive displays are needed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a view of an example advertising system, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 1B  is a cross section taken along line  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an example advertising system, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a flying-start connector, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional taken generally along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional taken generally along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a partial view of an apparatus according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is a method, according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In the drawings, like numerals describe substantially similar components throughout the several views. These embodiments are described hi sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, logical, electrical changes, etc. may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Aerial advertising may be provided via one or more banners that are towed by an aircraft. The banner may carry an advertisement, symbol, sign, flag or indicia, any of which is illuminated by an electroluminescent (EL) lamp. The aircraft may be any of a fixed-wing (e.g., a PIPER Cub), helicopter, airship, balloon or other flying device. 
     Banners are improved when they address the tendency for airplanes to fly quickly and therefore provide only a short exposure of a banner to a viewer. EL banners make messages more noticeable for the short time they are visible by a viewer. EL banners also provide illumination that makes the banner visible at night, increasing advertising time. Banners that are single-line messages in plain font are more noticeable when they include further ornament, such as illuminated portions. The addition of EL lamps to a banner adds to the effectiveness of an advertising campaign on the banner by increasing the ability of the banner to attract attention and by providing a new kind of sign that is more interesting than previous banner advertisements. EL banners and methods of their use may provide for animated banners in various embodiments. 
     Aerial advertising banners that include EL material provide a lighted banner system that is flexible, lightweight and affordable. Since EL material can flex many times, and since EL material is light weight, the present subject matter provides an illuminated banner that is flexible and that can withstand wind buffeting. Since EL material is less expensive than LED systems or other light systems, the present subject matter provides for affordable illuminated aerial advertising. 
       FIG. 1A  is a view of an example advertising system, according to some embodiments. Various embodiments include an aircraft  106  coupled to a tether  102 . The illustrated aircraft is a helicopter, but other types can be used, such as a dirigible. A banner  112  is coupled to a second tether  120 , although in some embodiments it may be directly attached to the first tether  102 . The second tether  120  is coupled to a weight  118  that allows the banner  116  to be coupled to the aircraft  106  during take-off and landing. The weight  118  is used to lower the flying position of the banner  112  with respect to the aircraft  106  in flight. The weight  118  functions to keep the flexible tether  102  taut. It can optionally function to maintain the banner  112  as unfurled and correctly displayed during flight, for example by providing support cables, outriggers and the like. 
     Interconnects between the aircraft  106  and the first tether  102 , the first tether and the weight  118 , the weight  118  and the second tether, and a loop  131  may be via conventional connectors such as carabiners, U-bolts or the like. Electrical connectors can be used to interconnect wiring harnesses for each of these portions. 
     One or more EL lamps that illuminate indicia  114 A through  114 X are coupled to the banner  112  and are illuminated by a power source  104  for EL via at least one electrical conductor  108 . A conductor can include a wire, a braid, a cable, or another type of electricity conductor. In some embodiments, a grounded inverter is coupled to the banner, and a single electrical conductor powers the inverter to illuminate EL material. 
     In various embodiments, a first conductor and a second conductor are provided so that an EL load in the banner can be powered with AC power. In various embodiments, a first electrical conductor  108  and a second electrical conductor  110  extend through the first  102  and second  120  tethers. The first  108  and second  110  electrical conductors are used to satisfy the AC electricity requirements of one or more EL lamps that illuminate indicia  114 A through  116 X. Various embodiments include more than two conductors to enable animation of several EL lamps. 
     Slower-moving aircraft such as helicopters, dirigibles and balloons often are allowed greater access to airspace over cities. The aircraft are more maneuverable and often are able to be better positioned for viewing by spectators. A lower airspeed allows for larger banners and flags to be towed below and behind the aircraft. These aircraft do not use a high-speed coupling apparatus (e.g., a hook on the plane to catch a loop on the banner) to couple the aircraft  106  to the banner. In providing a banner  112  that is coupled with the aircraft  106  during take-off and landing, the present subject matter provides a platform which supports a complex electrical connection between the banner  112  and the aircraft  106 . Such a complex electrical connection can include a plurality of wire pairs to light a plurality of EL lamps individually. 
     The banner  112  carries indicia such as advertising. An indicium or indicia can include, but are not limited to, printing, depressions, perforations, and other visual cues. The illustrated banner  112  includes indicia portions or components  126  to  128 . A component is a part of a sign that is illuminated by a single EL lamp. More than two components are possible. Further, more than two banners can be towed by a single aircraft. In some embodiments, in an EL-unlit state, the components are contrasted from a depiction on the banner by colors and/or shading, and in an EL-lit state are contrasted because they are illuminated. In some of these embodiments, the depiction on the banner is not visible when the sky is darkened. A depiction could be an entire human body, while the component is the arm, in one example. 
     In some embodiments, all the portions of a banner are powered in parallel by the same conductor. In these embodiments, all portions illuminate simultaneously, illuminating at the same time and terminating illumination at the same time. In further embodiments, each of the portions is individually controllable to illuminate concurrently or in parallel. An example of an animation and an associated circuit is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/999,494 to Golle et al., filed Dec. 4, 2007 which is commonly assigned and incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     In various embodiments, indicia  126  to  128  are illuminated with planar EL lamps that are disposed behind a film on which the indicia are printed. According to some embodiments, indicia  126  to  128  include white portions that may be illuminated by white or light colored EL lamps. In optional embodiments, the indicia  126  to  128  are illuminated with an EL lamp producing an orange color. According to one example embodiment, the orange color or the white colors may be produced by the EL light produced directly by the lamps or by the light produced by the lamp and filtered through a colored transparent overlay, for example but not limited to as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,769,138 to Golle, incorporated herein by reference. 
     The aircraft  106  may be wrapped with advertising indicia carried on a film  120 . This can be in addition to towing an EL banner. Examples of wrapping are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/825,552, which is commonly assigned and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 1B  is a cross section taken along line  1 B- 1 B of  FIG. 1A . The tether  102  is a high-tension tether that may include one or more conductors. The tether can be designed to provide an insulative jacket  124  around a high tensile strength portion  122  that is designed to manage high tensile loads and to keep the first  108  and second  110  conductors from breaking. The first  108  and second  110  conductors may be coiled to provide for axial expansion. 
     The first tether  102  or the high tensile portion  122  may be a round line of small diameter such as standard 227 kg (500 lb) nylon parachute canopy line or round abseiling line. Ribbon-like webbing is not used for the first tether in some embodiment due to possible turbulence resulting from the airspeed of the aircraft during flight. 
     The second tether  120  may include 227 kg (500 lb) nylon canopy line, atlas seatbelt webbing, or another material. In some embodiments, seatbelt webbing is folded over and sewn with the leading edge of the banner between the two side edges of the webbing in order to attach the banner  102  to the lanyard  131 . Folding over and sewing the webbing creates a conduit suitable for housing a wire harness. 
       FIG. 2  is a view of an example advertising system, according to some embodiments. The aircraft  206  in this configuration is fixed-wing design. A flexible tether  202  is towed by the airplane and is to be coupled to a banner  204  via a flying-start connector  208 . One example of a flying-start connector is illustrated in  FIG. 3 , although other configurations can be used. 
     In various embodiments, the airplane  206  carries an EL power source  210 . This power source is coupled to the banner to light EL lamps that illuminate indicia  210 A through  210 X. In some embodiments, the EL lamps are distributed through portions  214  to  216 . One or more circuits are used to illuminate the EL lamps. The one or more circuits are coupled to the EL power source  210 , and that power source is to illuminate the EL lamps. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a flying-start connector, according to some embodiments. In various embodiments, a hook  302  is coupled to a tether  312  to hook a loop or catch  304  of a banner. In use, one or more electrical contacts  306 A through  306 B of the hook  302  contact electrical contacts or pads  308 A through  308 B of the tether to conduct electricity. As the airplane flies, the banner is sized to have enough drag to create adequate tension to keep the electrical contacts  306 A through  306 B in contact with the loop  304 . Additionally, the loop is sized or preformed to maintain alignment with the contact electrical contacts  308 A through  308 B during flight. The contacts  306 A through  306 B may include gold, tin plated copper or other corrosion-resistant electrically conductive material. The pads may optionally be spring loaded. 
     In various embodiments, the hook has an insulative portion  310 . The insulative portion can be manufactured from an electrically insulative material, or it can be constructed of a conductive material that is coated with an insulative material. 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional taken generally along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 1 . A banner  100  includes a substrate  138  and EL lamp units  140 A to  140 X. The EL lamp units  140 A to  140 X are configured to illuminate indicia  114 W on a film  180 . The substrate  138  may be stiffer than the film  180 . The substrate  138  may be stiffer than the EL lamp units  140 A to  140 X. 
     Although EL lamp units are shown disposed on one side of the substrate  138 , further embodiments may dispose them on both sides. In embodiments in which EL lamps  141 A through  141 X are disposed on the other side of the substrate  138 , an optional film  181  may be included on the opposite side of the substrate  138 . In various embodiments, the EL lamps  141 A through  141 X are sealed in pockets, such as via adhesive or laminate, so that the pockets resist water seepage. Film  181  may optionally be used as a stencil in some embodiments. 
     In various embodiments, the EL lamp units  140 A to  140 X (optionally  141 A through  141 X) are separate EL lamps, and in additional embodiments they comprise one EL lamp. Accordingly, some embodiments allow for individual control of illumination of lamp units  140 A to  140 X, while others illuminate them simultaneously. 
     In some embodiments, the EL lamps units  140 A to  140 X are formed in the shape of the alphanumeric characters of indicia  114 A to  114 X. In these embodiments, the film  180  is translucent or absent, and viewers see indicia defined by the EL lamp units  140 A through  140 X. 
     In further embodiments, the lamp units  140 A through  140 X are covered with a mask or film  180  that has cut-outs that define the desired indicia. For example, in some embodiments, the film  180  has a cut out shaped like the number “2” and the film  180  exposes only the portion of the EL lamp units  140 A through  140 X to produce an indicium of the number “2”. Still further embodiments include a mask in which only portions are translucent or transparent. These portions may be backlit by EL. In substrate areas where there is no EL, the substrate  138  may include nonilluminated indicia. The film  180  may also include nonilluminated indicia. 
     Attachment of an EL lamp to a substrate may be via one or more attachment means, alone or in combination, including sewing, adhering and lamination. The EL lamp units can be attached to a film  180 , such as with transparent adhesive. Film  180  can be attached to the substrate  138 . For example, in some embodiments, lamp units  140 A to  140 X are sewn, adhered or laminated into pockets when the film  180  is coupled to the substrate. In some embodiments, the EL lamp is first coupled to a substrate, and then a film is coupled to the substrate and EL lamp assembly. 
     Either of the substrate  138  and the film  180  may be constructed from firm-finish  200  denier nylon, non rip polyester, Nylite 90, sail cloth, F-152 (type) nylon taffeta, cotton, rayon, polyester, twill, mixtures thereof, and the like. 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional taken generally along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 . EL lamps. The illustrated embodiments show pockets  115 A′,  115 X′ in which EL lamp units  140 A′ through  140 X′ are disposed. The pockets may be created by stitching the substrate  138 ′ to the film  180 ′. As disclosed herein, the films  180 ′ and  181  may be either entirely transparent, translucent, or only partially transparent or translucent. In partially translucent embodiments, an EL lamp shines through one or more translucent portions and light from the EL lamp is masked by opaque portions. 
     According to various embodiments, suitable materials for use as any of the films disclosed herein include thermoplastic or thermosetting polymeric materials. These may carry the advertising indicia  114 A through  114 X or  114 A′ through  114 X′. These films may be of a thickness so that they do not tear in use. The films may also be comprised of any of the materials set out above for the substrate. However, in the illustrated embodiments, the films  180 ′,  181 ′ should be at least partially translucent so that EL lamps may shine through them. 
     Such films may, in one example embodiment, be low surface-energy substrates. “Low surface energy” refers to materials having a surface tension of less than about 50 dynes/cm (e.g., equivalent to 50 milliNewtons/meter). The polymeric substrates are nonporous in some embodiments. Microporous, apertured, as well as materials further comprising water-absorbing particles such as silica and/or super-absorbent polymers, may also be employed provided the substrate does not deteriorate or delaminate upon exposure to water and temperature extremes, as previously described. Other suitable substrates include woven and nonwoven fabrics, particularly those comprised of synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, and polyolefins. The substrates as well as the imaged article (e.g. sheets, films, polymeric materials) may be clear, translucent, or opaque. Further, the substrate and imaged article may be colorless, comprise a solid color or comprise a pattern of colors. Additionally, the substrate and imaged articles (e.g. films) may be transmissive, reflective, or retroreflective. 
     Commercially available films include a multitude of films typically used for signage and commercial graphic uses such as available from 3M Corp. under the trade designations “Panaflex”, “Nomad”, “Scotchcal”, “Scotchlite”, “Controltac”, and “Controltac Plus”. According to one example embodiment, the aircraft  100  may be wrapped with 3M™ Controltac™ Plus Graphic Film with Comply™ Performance IJ180C-10, printed on rolls having, for example, a width of 54 in and a length of 50 yd. This 2 mil, opaque film produces high-quality, long-term graphics with selected piezo inkjet printers. The film  120  may be pressure-activated adhesive and 3M Comply™ Performance for easier installation of large fleet graphics, signs, emblems and more. In another embodiment, the film  120  may be 3M Scotchcal™ Luster Overlaminate 8519, 2 mil with PSA, 54 in×300 ft. 
     The imaged, polymeric films may be a finished product or an intermediate and are useful for a variety of articles including signage and commercial graphics films. The films may include a variety of advertising, promotional, and corporate identity imaged films. The films may comprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the non-viewing surface in order that the films can be adhered to a substrate, or optionally to another surface such as an airplane. The films in combination with any associated adhesive can range in thickness from about 5 mils (0.127 mm) to as thick as can be accommodated by a printer (e.g. ink-jet printer). According to one example embodiment, printing on the films  120  may be done using the Xaar Jet XJ128-200 piezo printhead on an x-y stage at 317 by 295 dpi at room temperature. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the EL lamp units  140 A to  140 X are each connected to a source of energy produced by a power and control unit  150  located in an aircraft. The connection to unit  150  is provided by one or more conductors  152 . In some embodiments, four are provided for each lamp unit  140 A to  140 X, carrying power and ground to opposite sides or ends of the lamp units. Conductors  152  may leave unit  150  wrapped as a single bundle  151 , and leave the bundle  151  to run to the respective units  140 A to  140 X. Accordingly each of the units  140 A to  140 X may have its own separate power line. Alternatively, a single bus may be used to run power to each unit  140 A to  140 X, although such an arrangement does not allow for controlling the illumination of each unit  140 A to  140 X individually. 
     Power and control unit  150  may be housed in a wiring or electrical compartment  160  onboard an aircraft, and may be connected to a master power source, such as a 480 volt power supply or any suitable master power supply. Some embodiments include a 28 volt DC power supply that is inverted. 
     Cable bundle  151  runs from the unit  150  through an aperture in the floor of the compartment and to the underside of the aircraft and runs along the side edge on the bottom of the aircraft undercarriage, for example held in place with fasteners that may be attached to any suitable portion of the undercarriage. 
     The power and control unit  150  is shown in more detail in  FIG. 7 . Unit  150  may include a power inverter  170  that supplies power to conductors  152  through switches  172 A through  172 N. Switches  172  are in turn controlled by a computer control device or other controller device  174  that may sequentially activate switches  172 A through  172 N and then, for example, activate them all in combination. In another embodiment, each switch may be activated in sequence and left on until all other switches are activated, and leaving all activated for a period of time until all are deactivated. According to another example embodiment, the switches may be deployed remotely from the unit  150 , such as on the undercarriage of the aircraft or adjacent the lamp unit  140 , and a control line for the switch run from the control unit to the switch. 
       FIG. 8  is a method, according to some embodiments. The method starts at  802 , and at  804 , the method includes attaching a planar electroluminescent lamp unit to a banner. At  806  the method includes attaching the banner to a tether. At  808  the method includes coupling at least one conductor between the electroluminescent lamp and an electroluminescent power source on an aircraft. The method ends at  818 . Various optional steps can be performed with the illustrated method. For example, at  810 , various methods illuminate the electroluminescent lamp. In some examples, the lamp is illuminated intermittently according to a program. 
     At  812 , the aircraft is flown. In some flying-start embodiments, a banner is towed behind a flying aircraft. At  814 , an aircraft includes a tether that is deployed to catch a loop of a banner. Some optional embodiments include catching a loop of the banner with a hook. At  816 , a method embodiment includes making an electrical connection between an electroluminescent lamp of the banner and the electroluminescent power source. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention includes any other applications in which the above structures and fabrication methods are used. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.