Abstract:
A flag made of a flexible fabric is disclosed having a lighting feature incorporated therein. The lighting feature may take on various shapes and is configured to create a continuous illumination. The lighting feature may be removeably placed within a pocket on the flag or may be more permanently affixed to the surface of the flag or sandwiched between layers of material within the flag. The lighting feature may be powered by sources including batteries, solar power, and external power, and may be configured to automatically shut off when the ambient light level is high.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/613,872 filed Mar. 21, 2012, the contents of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Integrating lighted features into flexible fabric structures has been met with limited success. Typical implementations utilizing incandescent, LED, or other “point source” lights may suffer from poor reliability. More specifically, as the fabric is flexed, electrical connections between the point source lights are stressed and eventually broken. Further, such designs may create a safety hazard when the electrical connections are weakened or broken. More specifically, a loose or disconnected electrical power supply could ignite or burn adjacent objects or personnel and/or cause an uncomfortable or dangerous shock to an adjacent or nearby person. 
         [0003]    Electroluminescent lighting (hereinafter “EL lighting”) utilizes an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to the passage of an electric current or to a strong electric field to generate light from electricity. Advantages of EL lighting include durability, flexibility, and low power consumption. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example EL flag having a battery pack integrated in an upper-left corner of the EL flag. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example EL flag having a battery pack integrated in a lower-left corner of the EL flag. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example EL flag having a battery pack integrated with a flagpole associated with the EL flag. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example EL flag having a solar panel and a light sensor attached to a flagpole associated with the EL flag. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example EL flag having a two-sided EL lighting feature. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example EL flag having a removable EL lighting feature. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example EL flag having a clear window that provides an unobstructed view of an EL lighting feature within the EL flag. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example EL flag having clear piping that provides an unobstructed view of an EL lighting feature that borders the EL flag. 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  illustrates example operations for illuminating a fabric integrated continuous illumination lighting display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    The presently disclosed technology utilizes EL lighting or other continuous illumination technologies integrated on or within a fabric material to illuminate the fabric material. While the following implementations are discussed with specificity to the design of flags, the concepts presented herein may also be applied to other fabric articles (e.g., clothing, shelters, containers, etc.). Further, while the following implementations are discussed specifically with regard to EL lighting, other continuous illumination technologies may also be used (e.g., chemiluminescense). 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example EL flag  100  having a battery pack  102  integrated in an upper-left corner of the EL flag  100 . The EL flag  100  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance (e.g., the EL flag  100  may represent a specific country), a devotion (e.g., the EL flag  100  may represent a specific university or sports team), or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  100  is attached to a flag pole  104  that may be used to secure the EL flag  100  to a variety of structures (e.g., a building, a vehicle) or the ground. In some implementations, the flag pole  104  is not included and the EL flag  100  is secured directly to a structure. 
         [0015]    The EL flag  100  includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting feature  106 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination (e.g., by incandescent or LED lights). The lighting feature  106  provides a uniformly lit star pattern. In one implementation, the lighting feature  106  is configured to blink or vary in its intensity over time to provide a desired visual effect. Further, the lighting feature  106  may possess a variety of colors and those colors may also change over time. Still further, other stars on the EL flag  100  may also be EL lighting features. In an implementation with multiple lighting features, each may be sequentially lit to provide an animated or otherwise visually engaging presentation. 
         [0016]    In various implementations, the lighting feature  106  is laminated onto a surface of the EL flag  100 , stitched into a similarly sized and shaped aperture in the EL flag  100 , or placed within a similarly sized and shaped clear window in the EL flag  100 . Other ways of integrating the lighting feature  106  into the EL flag  100  are contemplated herein. 
         [0017]    The EL lighting features are fabricated using either organic or inorganic EL materials. The active EL materials are generally semiconductors having a wide enough bandwidth to allow the exit of the light from the EL material. An example EL material is inorganic thin-film EL (TFEL) (e.g., zinc sulfide topped with manganese, which has a yellow-orange emission). Other examples of the range of EL material include powdered zinc sulfide doped with copper (which produces a greenish light) or silver (which produces a bright blue light); thin-film zinc sulfide doped with manganese (which produces an orange-red color); naturally blue diamond, which includes a trace of boron that acts as a dopant; inorganic semiconductors containing group III and V elements, such as indium phosphate, gallium arsenide, and gallium nitride; and some organic semiconductors. 
         [0018]    The lighting feature  106  is powered by the battery  102 , which is located in the upper-left corner of the EL flag  100 . The battery  102  may be single-use or rechargeable and incorporate a variety of technologies (e.g., zinc-carbon, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-zinc, nickel metal hydride, and lithium-ion). Further, the battery  102  may include two or more individual batteries linked in series or parallel to obtain a desired output voltage and/or capacity. In some implementations, no battery  102  is used and power for the lighting feature  106  is obtained from an external source (e.g., 110V household power). 
         [0019]    The battery  102  is electrically connected to the lighting feature  106  by one or more electrical lines  108  (e.g., wires). In some implementations, the lighting feature  106  is directly connected to the battery  102  and no separate lines  108  are included. For example, a thin element of the lighting feature  106  may extend to the battery  102 . The thin element of the lighting feature  106  may be blacked out so as not to detract from the visual display. In other implementations, the battery  102  is small enough that it may be incorporated immediately adjacent and electrically connected to the lighting feature  106  without significantly detracting from the visual display. 
         [0020]      FIG. 2  illustrates an example EL flag  200  having a battery pack  202  integrated in a lower-left corner of the EL flag  200 . The EL flag  200  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  200  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting feature  206 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0021]    The lighting feature  206  is powered by the battery  202 , which is located in the lower-left corner of the EL flag  200 . In other implementations, the battery  202  may be located in other areas of the EL flag  200  or separate from the EL flag  200 . The battery  202  may be single-use or rechargeable and incorporate a variety of technologies. Further, the battery  202  may include two or more individual batteries linked in series or parallel to obtain a desired output voltage and/or capacity. In some implementations, no battery  202  is used and power for the lighting feature  206  is obtained from an external source. 
         [0022]    The battery  202  is electrically connected to the lighting feature  206  by one or more electrical lines  208 . In some implementations, the lighting feature  206  is directly connected to the battery  202  and no separate lines  208  are included. For example, a thin element of the lighting feature  206  may extend to the battery  202 . The thin element of the lighting feature  206  may be blacked out so as not to detract from the visual display. In other implementations, the battery  202  is small enough that it may be incorporated immediately adjacent and electrically connected to the lighting feature  206  without significantly detracting from the visual display. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates an example EL flag  300  having a battery pack  302  integrated with a flagpole  304  associated with the EL flag  300 . The EL flag  300  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  300  is attached to the flag pole  304 , which may be used to secure the EL flag  300  to a variety of structures or the ground. The EL flag  300  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting feature  306 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0024]    The lighting feature  306  is powered by the battery  302 , which is located on or within the flag pole  304 . In other implementations, the battery  302  may be located in other areas of the flag pole  304  or separate from the flag pole  304 . The battery  302  may be single-use or rechargeable and incorporate a variety of technologies. Further, the battery  302  may include two or more individual batteries linked in series or parallel to obtain a desired output voltage and/or capacity. In some implementations, no battery  302  is used and power for the lighting feature  306  is obtained from an external source. 
         [0025]    The battery  302  is electrically connected to the lighting feature  306  by one or more electrical lines  308 . In some implementations, the lighting feature  306  is directly connected to the battery  302  and no separate lines  308  are included. For example, a thin element of the lighting feature  306  may extend to the battery  302 . The thin element of the lighting feature  306  may be blacked out so as not to detract from the visual display. In other implementations, the battery  302  is small enough that it may be incorporated immediately adjacent and electrically connected to the lighting feature  306  without significantly detracting from the visual display. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  illustrates an example EL flag  400  having a solar panel  410  and a light sensor  412  attached to a flagpole  404  associated with the EL flag  400 . The EL flag  400  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  400  is attached to the flag pole  404 , which may be used to secure the EL flag  400  to a variety of structures or the ground. The EL flag  400  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting feature  406 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0027]    The lighting feature  406  is powered by the solar panel  410 , which is a connected assembly of photovoltaic cells. The solar panel  410  may be a part of a larger photovoltaic system that includes the solar panel  410  and a battery  402 , and electrical lines (e.g., lines  408 ) connecting the solar panel  410  and the battery  402  to the lighting feature  406 . In operation, the solar panel  410  charges the battery  402  and the battery  402  provides power to the lighting feature  406 . While sufficient solar energy to run the lighting feature  406  is available, the battery  402  remains charged. Once the available solar energy drops below the energy required to power the lighting feature  406 , the battery  402  is depleted to power the lighting feature  406 . If the available solar energy drops remains below the energy required to power the lighting feature  406 , the battery  402  will eventually become entirely depleted and the lighting feature  406  will become unpowered until the battery  402  is recharged or replaced. 
         [0028]    The light sensor  412  may turn the power to the lighting feature  406  on and off depending on the ambient lighting conditions. More specifically, when the ambient lighting level is low, the light sensor  412  may turn the lighting feature  406  on and when the ambient lighting level is high, the light sensor  412  may turn the lighting feature  406  off. The lighting feature  406  may not be particularly visible in high ambient lighting conditions and turning the lighting feature  406  off in such conditions may conserve power. In another implementation, the lighting feature  406  is turned on and off via a timer that is calibrated to illuminate the lighting feature  406  during nighttime and/or twilight hours. As used herein, the term “light sensor” may include a photovoltaic cell, a photoresistive element, or another light-sensitive element. The term “light sensor” may also include electronic circuitry programmed to detect when the light incident the solar panel  406  has dropped below a certain level, thereby using the solar panel  406  to detect light, rather than a separate light sensor  412 . In such embodiments where the light sensor is in the form of electronic circuitry, the light sensor may be located on the flag pole  404  or elsewhere. 
         [0029]    The solar panel  406  and the battery  402  are each located on or within the flag pole  404 . In other implementations, the solar panel  406  and/or the battery  402  may be located in areas of the flag pole  404  other than that depicted or separate from the flag pole  404  altogether. The battery  402  may incorporate a variety of technologies and may include two or more individual cells linked in series or parallel to obtain a desired output voltage and/or capacity (e.g., three individual battery cells are shown linked in series in  FIG. 4 ). In some implementations, no battery  402  is used and power for the lighting feature  406  is obtained directly from the solar panel  410 . 
         [0030]    The battery  402  and solar panel  406  are electrically connected to the lighting feature  406  by one or more electrical lines  408 . In some implementations, the lighting feature  406  is directly connected to the battery  402  and/or the solar panel  406  and no separate lines  408  are included. For example, a thin element of the lighting feature  406  may extend to the battery  402  and/or the solar panel  406 . The thin element of the lighting feature  406  may be blacked out so as not to detract from the visual display. In other implementations, the battery  402  and/or the solar panel  406  are small enough that they may be incorporated immediately adjacent and electrically connected to the lighting feature  406  without significantly detracting from the visual display. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  illustrates an example EL flag  500  having a two-sided EL lighting feature  506 . The EL flag  500  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  500  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting features  506 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0032]    Side  1  of the EL flag  500  presents a star-shaped lighting feature and Side  2  of the EL flag  500  presents a circular lighting feature. The difference in appearance between the two sides may be accomplished by providing the lighting feature  506  that occupies the surface area of both the star-shaped and circular feature and using opaque flag material to form the visible shapes by selectively blocking light emitted from the lighting feature  506  on the two sides of the EL flag  500 . 
         [0033]    In one implementation, the lighting feature  506  is sandwiched between two layers of opaque flag material. In the area of the lighting feature  506  that is the star-shaped lighting feature on Side  1  and the circular lighting feature on Side  2 , the flag material on each side of the lighting feature  506  is either transparent or is not present. In other implementations, there are at least two separate lighting features, one for each side of the EL flag  500 , and there is an opaque layer between the separate lighting features that blocks light from one lighting feature from bleeding over to the other lighting feature. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  illustrates an example EL flag  600  having a removable EL lighting feature  606 . The EL flag  600  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  600  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., the lighting feature  606 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0035]    The EL flag  600  further includes a transparent or translucent sleeve  614  that accepts the lighting feature  606  in sheet form. This way, the lighting feature  606  may be easily changed out to present a different visual display. Further, the front, rear, or both sides of the sleeve  614  may be transparent or translucent so that the lighting feature  606  may be visible from the front, rear, or both sides of the EL flag  600 . The sleeve  614  may be stitched, glued, attached with a hook-and-loop fastener, laminated, or otherwise permanently or removably attached to the EL flag  600 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 7  illustrates an example EL flag  700  having a clear window  716  that provides an unobstructed view of an EL lighting feature  706  within the EL flag  700 . The EL flag  700  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  700  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., the lighting feature  706 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0037]    The clear (or translucent) window  716  is depicted as a rectangular border in  FIG. 7 , but it may have any shape or size on the EL flag  700  to secure the EL lighting feature  706 . Further, the window  714  may be on one or both sides of the EL flag  700 , providing visibility to the EL lighting feature  706  on one or both sides of the EL flag  700 . The lighting feature  706  in  FIG. 7  is a rope or tubular shaped EL lighting feature (as opposed to the planar EL lighting features of  FIGS. 1-6 ). In other implementations, multiple rope or tubular or planar shaped lighting features and corresponding windows may be used. 
         [0038]      FIG. 8  illustrates an example EL flag  800  having clear piping  818  that provides an unobstructed view of an EL lighting feature  806  that borders the EL flag  800 . The EL flag  800  may include a variety of designs, colors, and patterns intended to display an allegiance, a devotion, or merely present an attractive visual display. The EL flag  800  further includes one or more EL lighting features (e.g., lighting feature  806 ) to provide a fabric integrated display. The EL lighting features present a continuous illumination, as distinct from discrete point source illumination. 
         [0039]    The clear (or translucent) piping  818  borders the entire EL flag  800  and the lighting feature  806  in rope form is contained within the piping  818 . This form allows the lighting feature  806  to outline the EL flag  800 . In other implementations, the clear piping  818  may have any shape or size on the EL flag  800  to secure the EL lighting feature  806  in a desired orientation. The piping  818  may be stitched, clipped, glued, attached with a hook-and-loop fastener, laminated, or otherwise permanently or removably attached to the EL flag  800 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 9  illustrates example operations  900  for illuminating a fabric integrated continuous illumination lighting display. An integrating operation  910  integrates a window with a sheet of fabric. The integrating operation  910  may be permanent or removable and the window may take a variety of shapes and sizes consistent with an intended visual display. A securing operation  920  secures a continuous illumination light source adjacent the window. In one implementation, the window is stitched to the flag and the continuous illumination light source is placed adjacent the window and the window is closed around the continuous illumination light source (e.g., via more stitching) to hold the continuous illumination light source in place. 
         [0041]    An illumination operation  930  illuminates the continuous illumination light source. The illumination operation  930  presents a desired visual display to individuals that view the fabric integrated continuous illumination lighting display (e.g., an illuminated flag). Further, the fabric integrated continuous illumination lighting display is robust due at least in part to the robust nature of the continuous illumination light source itself 
         [0042]    The logical operations may be performed in any order and omitting or adding steps, unless explicitly claimed otherwise or a specific order is inherently necessitated by the claim language. The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. Furthermore, structural features of the different embodiments may be combined in yet another embodiment without departing from the recited claims. 
         [0043]    As used herein, when referring to the battery or to how the lighting feature is powered by the battery, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that certain electronic circuitry may be necessary to accomplish certain features disclosed herein. This electronic circuitry is known to those having ordinary skill in the art and therefore is not disclosed with particularity herein. It will be understood that any such necessary electronic circuitry shall be electronically coupled to the necessary parts required for operation and may be located adjacent the battery, adjacent the lighting feature, or elsewhere. For example, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that the electronics necessary to convert the DC power from a battery into the AC power necessary to illuminate many electroluminescent materials may be incorporated into a case (i.e., battery pack) containing the battery and may be electronically coupled to both the battery and the lighting feature. Further, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that the term “battery” contemplates the use of any device capable of holding an electrical charge (e.g., chemical battery, fuel cell, capacitor, or others). It will be further understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that where the battery is a rechargeable battery, an external source (e.g., 110V household power) may be used to recharge the battery.