WO2003106186A2

WO2003106186A2 - Paper or cardboard product provided with illuminating means

Info

Publication number: WO2003106186A2
Application number: PCT/EP2003/006312
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Rogge
Original assignee: Peter Rogge
Priority date: 2002-06-15
Filing date: 2003-06-16
Publication date: 2003-12-24
Also published as: DE20320950U1; AU2003276986A1; WO2003106186A3; AU2003276986A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a paper or cardboard product that is provided with illuminating means (24) that are battery-powered and controlled by control electronics (22). In order to improve illumination of transparent cutouts (16), the illuminating means (24) are disposed laterally in the vicinity of a transparent cutout (16) assigned thereto below a cover layer (14) consisting of a material that is substantially impervious to light. The results are especially good if fiber optic elements (32) are used in the area of the cutout (16).

Description

Paper or cardboard product with illuminants

The present invention relates to a paper or cardboard product, e.g. B. a greeting or greeting card with bulbs that are powered by a battery.

Products of this type have been in the form of greeting or greeting cards for some years now, with LEDs being used as the illuminant, which are arranged at specific locations on a printed motif, and depending on the design of the control electronics, they glow permanently or intermittently can blink. For reasons of cost, standard LEDs are used in the .Rule, but their variety of shapes is very limited, so that the spot-emitting LEDs offer only a very limited scope for design. Flat illuminants, such as. B. EL films are still very young in their development and have so far not been able to prevail for technical reasons and also for reasons of cost in the use of greeting or greeting cards.

The object of the present invention is to provide a paper or cardboard product which offers a greater creative scope even when using simple illuminants.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that, in the case of a paper or cardboard product of the type described in the introduction, the lamps are arranged laterally beneath a cover layer made of essentially opaque material next to an associated transparent cutout. Due to the concealed arrangement of the lamps, for which LEDs are preferably used, they are no longer perceived as a technical structure that, for example, disrupts a motif printed on the top of the cover layer, but the lighting effect is achieved by indirect, flat illumination, which is caused by the transparent sections are perceived by the viewer. The shape of these transparent cutouts can be adapted very well to the chosen motif, without making the manufacture of the product significantly more expensive.

The illuminants are preferably arranged lying next to the cutout. This has the advantage that the radiation characteristic z. B. can be optimally used by LEDs for indirect backlighting of the cutout. In addition, many illuminants have an elongated basic shape, so that they can be accommodated more easily lying, for example, in the format of a greeting card.

Of course, a plurality of illuminants which are controlled independently of one another can be provided in addition to their respective transparent cutouts.

An embodiment of the product is particularly preferred in which the at least one cutout is closed with a transparent film. With such a film, which can be colored in a desired color, on the one hand, the optical effect can be improved and, on the other hand, it is avoided that a curious viewer spies a glance at the inside of the card or through the opening, the illuminants or another component can grasp and damage. The transparent film can be matted be carried out, the resulting scattering being able to provide even more uniform illumination of the cutout, if so desired. In the case of clear transparent films, it is also conceivable to provide a matt, transparent material between the lamps and the respectively associated cutout, which, as already mentioned, can be formed by a film closing the cutout and / or can be colored in the desired manner. The color scheme can of course not only be varied by the choice of transparent materials, but also by the selection of, for example, an LED with a specific color characteristic.

In order to achieve the best possible backlighting of the cutouts, it is provided in a further preferred embodiment of the invention that the illuminants are arranged between the cover layer and a layer of matt reflective material, so that an indirectly flat motif can be represented in accordance with the shape of the cutout.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, light-guiding elements can also be provided between the illuminants and the associated cutout, for example in order to be able to illuminate a plurality of cutouts with one LED or to achieve certain optical effects by targeted light refractions in the light-guiding elements, for example by refraction in a prism ,

The light-guiding elements preferably consist of at least one transparent plate or thick film, for example of cut acrylic glass as a plate or PVC, PE, PET or APET films, each of which lies over the corresponding one Extend cutout, wherein the illuminants are preferably located at recesses in at least one narrow side of the plate or film.

With the aid of such plates or foils as light-guiding elements, into which the illuminants shine, particularly uniform light distributions and a particularly homogeneous appearance can be achieved, with the backlighting of translucent image templates, for example in four-color printing, being conceivable due to the uniform illumination.

In order to ensure particularly good light introduction, the cutouts are preferably polished or cut out with laser light, which results in a surface similar in quality to the polishing. If light-emitting diodes are used, they are preferably seated flush in the recess, with insertion over two thirds of the length of the light-emitting diode being advantageous for homogeneous light distribution. Fastening the light emitting diodes with the help of acrylic glue or external adhesive tape prevents light loss at the contact area between the light emitting diode and the plate or film.

In order to have a positive influence on the light distribution, further measures can be advantageous, for example by roughening the underside of the plate or film, covering it with a white layer, painting white and / or printing with a dot or line grid. With the help of the grid, inhomogeneous illumination points can be compensated for larger sections. Covering the bulbs outside the recesses, e.g. B. with silver foil, may be useful to avoid unwanted stray light and to increase the light feed. For the same purpose, the edge, ie the narrow side of the plate or the film must be taped with white, opaque adhesive film.

Depending on the intended use, comparatively rigid acrylic glass plates can be used, or comparatively flexible foils, it being conceivable to provide a multi-layer structure of the light guide from several layers of foils, each foil in one possible embodiment being provided with separately controllable 'illuminants.

Special design possibilities arise to reproduce in a further preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the paper or board product in addition to the above-mentioned light sources has also sound or noise generating means, for example, after the activation of stored melodies, sounds or captured by the sender messages ^•.

The activation of the paper or cardboard product can take place in the preferred embodiment with a hinged lid or hinged sides, for example with the aid of a pull switch, the movable element of which is fixed on the lid of the card, so that an electrical switch is actuated when it is opened. It is also conceivable to activate a pressure switch, by means of which at least some of the lamps and / or the sound elements can be activated, whereby combination solutions are also conceivable, that is to say, for example, a card in which the lamps are first activated with the aid of the pull switch when opened and additionally by a pressure switch the sound generation can be activated. As already mentioned, the solution according to the invention is particularly suitable for greeting and greeting cards, but it can of course also be used with other paper or cardboard products, e.g. B. in packaging, cassettes, shopping cart displays, gift packaging or books, in the latter case it is also conceivable to provide different illuminants with assigned cutouts on different sides, each of which can be activated by folding the relevant page.

It is also conceivable for the entire lighting unit, consisting of illuminants, battery, control electronics, cutout and, if appropriate, light-guiding elements, to be removably integrated in the greeting card, ie. H. that it is designed, for example, as a piece of jewelry that can be removed and worn after receiving a greeting card.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 is an oblique view of a greeting card.

2 shows a schematic section of the card in the area of a backlit section;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 of a further embodiment of a greeting or greeting card. 4 shows a section similar to FIG. 2 of yet another embodiment of a greeting or greeting card;

5 shows a section of a fourth embodiment of a greeting or greeting card;

Fig. 6 is a view of the light guide element of the card of Fig. 4 with lamps and control electronics.

1 shows a greeting card 10, which as a folding card with a cover 12, a cover layer 14 with a motif cutout 16, a base layer 18 and a lighting device 20 provided between the cover layer 14 and the base layer 18 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) are trained. The illumination of the motif section 16, which is closed with a transparent film 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), takes place indirectly indirectly, so that there is a particularly good optical effect and the motif section may be incorporated into a motif to be printed on the cover layer 14 leaves without punctual light sources could disturb the overall optical impression.

The lighting device 20 essentially consists of control electronics 23, an LED 24 as the illuminant, a battery (not shown) and a pull switch 26 which triggers the control electronics 23, one end of which is fixed to the cover 12 and which is secured by a slot 28 in the cover position 14 with the lid open 12 electrical contacts (not shown) closes, whereupon the control electronics 23 activate the LED 24 permanently or flashing in a certain rhythm.

Of course, several cutouts and several lamps can also be provided, which can also be controlled independently of one another by the control electronics 23. In addition, the use of sound modules is conceivable, which in addition to the optical effects can also generate noises or melodies after the card 10 has been opened.

The indirect illumination of the motif section 10 is achieved in that the LED 24 is arranged laterally next to the section 16 between the top layer 14 and the bottom layer 18. The LED 24 is arranged horizontally, so that the distance between the top layer 14 and the bottom layer 18 is minimized and the radiation characteristic of the LED 24 can be optimally used for backlighting the cutout. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light emitted by the LED 24 is diffusely reflected on the base layer 18, which results in the areal illumination of the entire motif detail 16. 3, a matted intermediate layer 30 can optionally be provided between the LED 24 and the transparent film 22 in order to scatter the light even more. The transparent film 22 itself can also be made matt to improve the scattering of the light. The transparent film 22 can be colored in a specific color, preferably when using LEDs, the coloring of the film 22 is carried out in accordance with the light spectrum emitted by the LED 24 used. Light-guiding elements can also be provided between the LED 24 and the associated cutout 16, for example if the distance between the LED 24 and the cutout 16 is relatively large, several cutouts 16 are to be illuminated with one LED or certain light refractions to achieve targeted inhomogeneous illumination of the motif cutout 16 should be achieved, for example by arranging a prism.

4 shows an embodiment of the greeting card 10, in which a light guide element 32 is provided in order to achieve a more uniform illumination of the cutout 16. Otherwise, parts of the greeting card 10 corresponding to the previously described embodiments have again been provided with the same reference numerals.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the light-guiding element 32 consists of an acrylic glass plate which is arranged between the bottom layer 18 and the top layer 14 and extends completely beyond the motif cutout 16. In this embodiment, the light-emitting diode 24 sits on the side of the cutout 16 in a polished recess 34 in a narrow side of the acrylic glass plate 32, the light-emitting diode body being inserted flush into the recess 34, for example with the aid of acrylic adhesive. The other areas of the light-emitting diode body 24 are advantageously covered with a silver foil in order to avoid disturbing stray light and to improve the light feed.

In order to achieve a homogeneous light distribution, the base area 36 of the light guide element 32 is matted, covered with a white layer, lacquered or even with a point or printed on line grid 38. In Fig. 4, this grid 38 is shown raised for illustration; as a rule, however, it is printed on the underside of the plate 32 and accordingly does not extend into the inside of the plate 32. The outer edge of the light-guiding element 32 is covered with an opaque, white adhesive film in order to avoid loss of light.

Because of the homogeneous light distribution, a greeting card 10 with a light-guiding element 32 is also suitable, for example, for viewing translucent image templates 40, for example photos produced in four-color printing, which are held in the motif detail 16.

In the case of larger light-guiding elements 32, a plurality of light-emitting diodes 24 can be seated in cutouts 34 in a narrow side, as shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the light intensity can be improved and a more uniform illumination can be achieved across the entire motif section 16. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the light-emitting diodes 24 are controlled via common control electronics 23, but it would also be conceivable to provide separate controls. It is also conceivable to provide the different light-emitting diodes 24 with different color characteristics, i. H. one light-emitting diode provides red illumination, one for green illumination and one for blue illumination.

Another embodiment of a greeting card 10 is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, a light-guiding element 132 is provided, which consists of two film layers 33, which are used, for example, with the aid of acrylic adhesive or the like. are interconnected. Each light guide layer 33 has its own light-emitting diodes 124 on one of its narrow sides, ie blue backlighting can be implemented in a layer 33 and red backlighting in the further layer. Of course, further layers can also be provided in order to enable further color representations. Furthermore, single-layer foils can also be used instead of the acrylic glass plate shown in FIG. 4, for example if a certain elasticity is desired, so that the greeting card 10 can be bent.

Instead of the illustrated embodiment of a greeting card with a hinged cover 12, it is also conceivable to activate the control electronics 22 via a pressure switch provided on the cover layer 14, whereby combined embodiments are also conceivable. For example, the lighting device 20 can be activated by opening the cover 12 with the pull switch, while sound effects can be triggered or the lighting effects of the motif sections 16 can be changed with the aid of an additional pressure switch.

Claims

Expectations

1. Paper or cardboard product, e.g. B. a greeting or congratulation card (10) with lamps (24) which can be driven by a battery from control electronics (22), characterized in that the lamps (24) below a cover layer (14) made of substantially opaque material are arranged laterally next to an associated, transparent cutout (16).

2. Paper or cardboard product according to claim 1, characterized in that the lamps (24) are arranged lying next to the cutout (16).

3. paper or cardboard product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one cutout (16) is closed with a transparent film (22).

4. paper or cardboard product according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the lamps (24) between the top layer (14) and a layer (18) made of matt reflective material are arranged.

5. paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a matt, transparent material (30) is provided between the lamps (24) and the respectively associated cutout (16).

6. paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the lamps and the associated section light guide elements (32; 132, 133) are provided.

7. paper or cardboard product according to claim 6, characterized in that the light guide elements (32; 132) consist of at least one plate (32) or thicker film (132, 133), each of which extends over the corresponding cutout, the illuminant (24) preferably sit in recesses (34) on at least one narrow side of the plate (32) or film (133).

8. paper or cardboard product according to claim 7, characterized in that the recesses (34; 134) are polished or cut out with laser light.

9. paper or cardboard product according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lamps (24) outside the recesses (34; 134) z. B. are covered with silver foil.

10. paper or cardboard product according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the narrow sides of the plate (32) or film (132) are opaque.

11. paper or cardboard product according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the underside (36) of the plate (32) or foil roughened, covered with a white layer, painted white and / or printed with a dot or line pattern is.

12. Paper or cardboard product according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the film (132) is designed as a light-guiding element with a plurality of layers (133).

13. Paper or cardboard product according to claim 12, characterized in that separately controllable lamps (124) are provided for different layers of film (133).

14. Paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed with a foldable lid (10) or foldable sides and the lamps (24) can be activated by opening the lid (12) or the sides.

15. Paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the illuminants (24) are designed as LEDs, which are arranged lying next to the cutout (16) or in the cutouts with a corresponding outer contour and in the direction of the cutout ( 16) blast.

16. Paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it additionally has sound- or noise-generating means.

17. Paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pressure switch is provided, through which at least one Part of the illuminants and / or the sound elements can be activated.

18. Paper or cardboard product according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it is designed like a book with a plurality of pages, each having illuminants next to cutouts that can be activated by opening the page.

19. Paper or cardboard product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an integrated in the product unit of lamps, battery, control electronics, cutout and optionally light guide elements is held removable.