Textile product with light elements

Abstract

Textile product, preferably a fan scarf, comprising a control unit connectable to a power storage unit and a plurality of spaced-apart lighting elements, characterized in that each lighting element can be connected to the control unit and supplied with electrical energy independently of the other lighting elements.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a textile product, preferably a fan scarf, comprising a control unit connectable to a power storage unit and a plurality of spaced-apart lighting elements according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Current technology includes fan scarves knitted from multicolored yarns, featuring, for example, club names and / or club emblems of sports clubs. These knitted scarves are generally made of two layers, with the outer layers forming the front and back of the finished scarf, and the layers sewn together at the edges.

[0003] From DE 20 2012 003 8571 a communication scarf with a large number of light sources is known, which are permanently or detachedly connected to the scarf as a whole or in parts and can reproduce information in text or as graphics depending on the arrangement of the light sources.

[0004] A disadvantage of this design is that the light sources are attached unprotected to the outside of the knitted scarf, making them susceptible to damage from external influences. Furthermore, the light sources can accidentally detach from the scarf and be lost.

[0005] In DE 10 2014 014 506 A1, a fan scarf made of a textile fabric with at least one electric lighting element, a control element for actuating the lighting element and a power storage unit for operating the lighting element is disclosed, in which a translucent material is attached to the textile fabric and the electric lighting element is arranged in a space formed between the fabric and the translucent material.

[0006] A disadvantage of this design is that the lighting element can only be switched on and off uniformly, and therefore different lighting effects cannot be displayed with this fan scarf.

[0007] Finally, DE 20 2023 103 897 U1 discloses a textile product with incorporated micro-LEDs that can create a lighting effect to highlight various names, logos or even the presence of the person wearing the textile product.

[0008] A disadvantage of this textile product is that it can only create lighting effects where the name or logo can only be displayed uniformly.

[0009] In order to advantageously develop the aforementioned prior art and overcome the disadvantages identified, the present invention aims to provide a textile product in which a plurality of differently arranged lighting elements are provided and in which each lighting element can be controlled or switched on and off independently of the other lighting elements.

[0010] The problem is solved by a textile product with the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the textile product are disclosed in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the features listed individually in the dependent claims can be combined in any technologically meaningful way and define further embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, the features specified in the claims are specified and explained in the description, which also presents further preferred embodiments of the textile product.

[0011] Textile products within the meaning of this invention are all textile pieces, regardless of whether they are designed as fan scarves. Fan scarves are merely a preferred textile product within the meaning of this invention, without, however, limiting the scope of the invention to flat textile products that are intended to be worn around the neck of the user. The term "textile product" also includes flat textile products that can be attached, for example, to vehicles with suction cups or to keys with rings, chains, carabiners, etc.

[0012] The textile product according to the invention consists of at least one layer of a textile fabric. The term "textile fabric" within the meaning of the invention is to be interpreted broadly and includes all woven, knitted, crocheted, braided, sewn, nonwoven fabrics or felts that consist of a natural and / or artificial textile material.

[0013] The textile product according to the invention comprises a control unit connectable to an energy storage unit and a plurality of spaced-apart luminescent elements. Luminescent elements within the meaning of this invention are all devices that convert electrical energy into light. Electroluminescent elements generally consist of a capacitor in which the non-conductive layer is excited to luminescence by applying current to surrounding conductive layers. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), i.e., luminous thin-film components made of organic semiconducting materials, are also suitable. The luminescent elements can be optionally clear, monochrome, or multicolored. Preferred luminescent elements are, in particular, light sources with low energy consumption and high luminous efficacy, such as electroluminescent elements in the form of cords, films, or tapes with spaced-apart luminous points.

[0014] The textile product according to the invention features a plurality of spaced-apart lighting elements. Each of these lighting elements can be supplied with electrical energy independently of the others via a control unit. This makes it possible to switch each individual lighting element permanently on or off, or to illuminate each of these lighting elements at predetermined time intervals. The control unit serves to connect the lighting elements to electrical energy from a power storage unit and to control the switching on and off of the lighting elements.

[0015] In the embodiment of the textile product according to the invention, the energy storage unit, like the control unit, can be an integral part of the textile product. However, the present invention also encompasses embodiments in which the energy storage unit is not an integral part of the textile product and is merely connected to the control unit of the textile product by a cable. For example, embodiments are disclosed in which the energy storage unit, such as a battery or a power bank, is located in the user's pocket and is then connected to the control unit of the textile product via a cable. This embodiment has the particular advantage that the textile product is not burdened with the weight of the energy storage unit and can therefore be made very lightweight.This significantly improves user comfort and also allows for the use of heavier energy storage units with a higher charging capacity. Finally, this design also provides better protection for the energy storage unit against weather conditions such as moisture, cold, etc.

[0016] Because each of the lighting elements can be connected to the control unit and supplied with electrical power separately, each element can also be switched on and off independently. This makes it possible, in particular, to switch the lighting elements on and off in a predetermined sequence and / or at predetermined time intervals, for example, to allow individual letters formed by lighting elements to light up sequentially or in another predetermined order, or to make all the lighting elements flash simultaneously.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, all lighting elements can be supplied with electrical energy simultaneously and switched on and off accordingly. However, it is also possible that only individual or specific groups of lighting elements are supplied with electrical energy via the control unit, and thus only specific lighting elements or groups of lighting elements are switched on and off.

[0018] Furthermore, in an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that only individual lighting elements are supplied with electrical energy in a pre-programmed sequence and accordingly the lighting elements only light up in a pre-programmed sequence.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the textile product according to the invention, the control unit has a switch with which the control unit can be connected to and disconnected from the power storage unit. This switch can thus be used to turn the lighting elements on and off.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, repeated activation of the switch allows the lighting elements to be selectively supplied with electrical energy, either simultaneously at pre-programmed intervals or individually in a pre-programmed sequence. In this way, pre-programmed modes can be recalled, so that each activation of the switch selects a different program in which individual or specific groups of lighting elements flash simultaneously or light up sequentially.

[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit is arranged at the edge of the textile product. This makes it possible to arrange a cable connection in an easily accessible location and to operate the switch without affecting the lighting elements.

[0022] A particularly preferred embodiment is one in which the textile product is designed with two layers, allowing the power storage unit and / or the control unit to be arranged between the two layers. In this embodiment, both the power storage unit and the control unit are particularly well protected against impacts and weathering.

[0023] In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit and the energy storage unit are arranged together in a single housing. In this embodiment, the control unit and the energy storage unit are protected from impacts and weather influences by the housing. Furthermore, in this embodiment, only short connecting cables are required between the control unit and the energy storage unit. This significantly reduces the susceptibility to malfunctions of the textile product according to the invention.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the energy storage unit has a connection for connecting it to an external device. This allows the energy storage unit to be connected to an external charger and recharged as needed. With this embodiment, it is not necessary to completely replace the energy storage unit, such as a battery, when it no longer has sufficient charge.

[0025] In a further embodiment of the invention, the control unit has a connection with which it can be connected to an external power storage unit. In this embodiment, the power storage unit can be arranged outside the textile product.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the textile product according to the invention, the connection between the control unit and the individual lighting elements is made via a flexible conductor track, from which each individual lighting element is supplied with electrical energy via a cable connection. In this embodiment, the energy supply to the individual lighting elements is bundled via a flexible conductor track, from which individual cable connections then supply each lighting element. Bundling the power supply within the flexible conductor track ensures a reliable connection between the control unit and the lighting elements, as only a short cable connection is required between the flexible conductor track and the lighting element. Due to the flexibility of the conductor track, the wearing comfort of the textile product is not impaired for the user.

[0027] In another preferred embodiment, the lighting elements are designed in the form of letters or emblems. This embodiment allows for the creation of impressive lighting effects, for example, when the name of a sports club flashes or when the letters of the club's name are illuminated one by one in a specific sequence.

[0028] Finally, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the lighting elements are sewn to at least one layer of the textile product. This ensures that the lighting elements are held in precise position. Even when the textile product is pivoted, the lighting elements cannot shift on or within the textile product. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 20 2012 003 8571

[0003] DE 10 2014 014 506 A1

[0005] DE 20 2023 103 897 U1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Textile product, preferably a fan scarf, comprising a control unit connectable to a power storage unit and a plurality of spaced-apart lighting elements, characterized by that each lighting element can be connected to the control unit and supplied with electrical energy independently of the other lighting elements. [2] Textile product according to claim 1, characterized by that the control unit can supply the individual lighting elements with electrical energy either all at the same time or individually. [3] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the individual lighting elements can be supplied with electrical energy simultaneously at pre-programmed intervals. [4] Textile product according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the individual lighting elements can be supplied with electrical energy in a pre-programmed sequence. [5] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control unit has a switch with which the energy connection between the control unit and the power storage unit can be connected and disconnected. [6] Textile product according to claim 5, characterized by that when the switch is operated several times, the lighting elements are supplied with electrical energy either simultaneously at pre-programmed intervals or individually in a pre-programmed sequence. [7] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control unit is arranged at the edge of the textile product. [8] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the power storage unit is connected to the control unit and the power storage unit and the control unit are arranged between two layers of the textile product. [9] Textile product according to claim 8, characterized by that the control unit and the power storage unit are arranged in one housing. [10] Textile product according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized by that the power storage unit has a connector with which it can be connected to a charger. [11] Textile product according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the control unit has a connection with which the control unit can be connected to an external power storage unit. [12] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the connection between the control unit and the individual lighting elements is made via a flexible conductor track, from which the individual lighting elements are each supplied with electrical energy via a cable connection. [13] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the lighting elements are designed in the form of letters or emblems. [14] Textile product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the luminous elements are sewn to at least one layer of the textile product.