Luminous Ballast

Abstract

The invention relates to a display and / or sun protection element (1), said element (1) comprising a body (10), made of a flexible material, and a ballast (20) of elongated shape, said body (10) comprising an upper part (110) and a lower part (120) and being configured to be mounted at least by its upper part (110) or by a lateral edge (130) on a rigid frame and comprising in its lower part (120) a sheath (125), said ballast (20) being mounted in said sheath (125), the element (1) being characterized in that the ballast (20) is luminous. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Luminous ballast Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of display and more particularly concerns a luminous ballast fabric element. Prior art

[0002] In the field of display, it is known to use devices comprising a flexible fabric body mounted on a frame such as flags, blinds or parasols.

[0003] In order to maintain these flexible bodies, particularly in the presence of wind, it is known to attach them and / or to integrate a ballast in their lower part. For example, in the case of a valance blind, it is known to integrate a ballast bar along the lower edge of the valance to weigh it down and reduce its movements in the presence of wind.

[0004] It is also known to mount luminous plates between two layers of fabric of these devices, for example to make luminous flags or luminous valances. These luminous plates can however have a large wind-catching surface.

[0005] There is therefore a need for a simple and effective solution to at least partially remedy these drawbacks. Statement of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, the invention firstly has as an object a display and / or solar protection element, said element comprising a body, made of a flexible material, and a ballast of elongated shape, said body comprising an upper part and a lower part and being configured to be mounted at least by its upper part or by a lateral edge on a rigid frame and comprising in its lower part a sheath, said ballast being mounted in said sheath, the element being remarkable in that the ballast is luminous.

[0007] By the terms "the ballast is luminous", it is meant that the ballast comprises or is made up of one or more light sources, preferably of the electroluminescent diode type.

[0008] The element according to the invention can be mounted on a frame in order to constitute, for example, a flag, a valance blind or a kakemono. The luminous ballast makes it possible to weight down the lower part of the element while emitting light. The luminous ballast is configured both to weight down the element and to emit light.

[0009] Preferably, the ballast is in the form of a bar, a rod or a stick.

[0010] Advantageously, the ballast is luminous over a portion of its length or over its entire length.

[0011] Advantageously, the ballast extends over at least half the length of an edge of the lower part of the body.

[0012] Preferably, the sheath delimits at least one through opening formed in its thickness to allow the light emitted by the light ballast to pass towards the outside in order to produce lighting.

[0013] More preferably, the at least one through opening is rectangular in shape to be simple to produce and to allow a significant amount of light to pass through.

[0014] Advantageously, the at least one through opening extends over more than half the length of the sheath, preferably over substantially the entire length of the sheath.

[0015] In one embodiment, the ballast comprises a light plate or a light rod, preferably made from light-emitting diodes.

[0016] Advantageously, the ballast comprises a translucent or transparent protective plate, fixed or placed against the light plate and / or a reinforcing element placed behind the light plate in order to protect it.

[0017] Alternatively or in addition, the light plate is placed or fixed between two translucent or transparent protective plates so that the ballast illuminates on both sides.

[0018] Advantageously, the ballast comprises a translucent colored film positioned between the light plate and the protective plate or alternatively on the external face of the protective plate in order to modify the color of the light from the light plate to make it, for example, yellow, green, blue or red or any other color.

[0019] Advantageously, writing may be affixed, for example printed or screen-printed, on the protective plate or the luminous plate.

[0020] Advantageously, the sheath may comprise a plurality of through openings (cutouts) in the form of characters and / or patterns.

[0021] Advantageously, the ballast comprises a metal element, for example a rod, to increase the ballast effect.

[0022] In one embodiment, the sheath delimiting at least one through opening formed in its thickness, the ballast comprises a luminous portion extending in projection through said at least one opening.

[0023] Advantageously, the projecting luminous portion comprises a strip of light-emitting diodes or a bar of light-emitting diodes, for example with a “neon” effect.

[0024] In one embodiment, the sheath is made at least in part from a transparent or translucent material that lets at least some light through.

[0025] In this case, the sheath may be devoid of a through opening formed in its thickness.

[0026] Advantageously, the sheath comprises a closable opening, for example using a strip of self-gripping material, preferably at one of its ends, for inserting or removing the luminous ballast.

[0027] Preferably, the light ballast is configured to be electrically powered to produce light. For example, the element may comprise a power supply battery or be configured to connect to an electrical power source, for example a home network or a solar panel, to power the light source(s) of the light ballast.

[0028] Advantageously, the battery is mounted in the element, preferably in the sheath with the ballast to increase the ballast effect.

[0029] Preferably, the battery is rechargeable.

[0030] Advantageously, the element may comprise or be coupled to a solar panel in order to electrically power the light ballast and / or a rechargeable battery.

[0031] The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an element as presented previously, said method comprising the steps of forming a sheath in the lower part of the body, inserting a luminous ballast into said sheath thus formed and closing the sheath to integrate the luminous ballast into the sheath.

[0032] In one embodiment, the method further comprises a step of forming a through opening in the thickness of the sheath, preferably at least over half of its length, more preferably substantially over its entire length. Brief description of the drawings

[0033] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

[0034] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates one embodiment of the element according to the invention in the form of a blind valance.

[0035] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a light ballast for an element according to the invention.

[0036] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an exploded view of a second embodiment of a light ballast for an element according to the invention.

[0037] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a light ballast for an element according to the invention.

[0038] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates an embodiment of the method according to the invention. Description of the embodiments

[0039] [Fig. 1] schematically illustrates an example of element 1 according to the invention. Element 1 comprises a body 10 and a ballast 20. Body 10 is made of a flexible material such as for example a textile material, in particular a fabric.

[0040] Element 1 is intended for display and / or sun protection. In this example, element 1 is a blind valance 100.

[0041] Thus, for example, a display can be produced on or through the body 10 of the valance 100, for example with elements screen-printed on the body or by inserting a luminous panel between two thicknesses of the body 10 of the valance.

[0042] The body 10 comprises an upper part 110, a lower part 120 and two side edges 130.

[0043] The body 10 is configured to be mounted at least by its upper part on a rigid frame such as a vertical, oblique or horizontal mast, or two masts or two posts or two frames.

[0044] The body 10 comprises in its central part cutouts 15, preferably obtained by laser cutting, forming the outline of characters and a luminous plate (not visible) placed in said central part between two thicknesses of the body 10 at the level of the cutouts 15 so that the light passes through the cutouts 15 when said luminous plate emits light.

[0045] The body 10 comprises in its lower part 120 a sheath 125.

[0046] The sheath 125 is configured to house the ballast 20.

[0047] The sheath 125 may be made from the same material as the rest of the body 10 or may be reported on the rest of the body 10, being of the same material or of a different material.

[0048] Preferably, the sheath 125 is made of the same material as the rest of the body 10, being separated from said rest of the body 10 by a seam. The sheath 125 may, for example, be formed by a fold of material from the body 10.

[0049] The sheath 125 may be made of a transparent or translucent material which allows at least part of the light emitted by the luminous ballast 20 to pass through or else of an opaque material. In the latter case, the sheath 125 comprises at least one through opening formed in its thickness so as to allow the light emitted by the luminous ballast 20 to pass through to the outside.

[0050] In the example of [Fig.l], the sheath 125 delimits a through opening 125A (obtained for example by cutting). The through opening 125A is rectangular in shape and extends over more than 90% of the length of the sheath 125 in order to significantly illuminate the bottom of the valance.

[0051] The sheath 125 can delimit two through openings 125A: one on each of its front and rear faces (front and back).

[0052] In one embodiment, the sheath 125 is devoid of a through opening formed in its thickness and is in this case at least partly made of a translucent or transparent material to allow all or part of the light emitted by the luminous ballast 20 to pass through.

[0053] Preferably, the sheath 125 comprises a closable opening, for example using a strip of self-gripping material, preferably at one of its ends, for inserting or removing the luminous ballast 20.

[0054] The ballast 20 is mounted in the sheath 125 and has an elongated shape, for example a bar or rod shape.

[0055] The ballast 20 is luminous, that is to say that it comprises or constitutes one or more sources of light, over one or more portions of its length or over its entire length.

[0056] The ballast 20 preferably extends over at least half the length of an edge of the lower part 120 of the body 10. In the example of [Fig.l], the ballast 20 extends over the length of the sheath 125, itself being formed over the entire length of the lower edge 121 of the lower part 120 of the body 10.

[0057] [Fig.2] represents an example of luminous ballast 20 according to the invention.

[0058] The ballast 20 comprises a light plate 210 made from electroluminescent diodes minescent, a translucent or transparent protective plate 220, fixed or placed against the luminous plate 210, and a reinforcing element 230, for example opaque, placed behind the luminous plate in order to protect it.

[0059] In another embodiment, illustrated in [Fig. 3], the ballast 20 comprises a luminous plate 210, preferably made from light-emitting diodes, placed or fixed between two translucent or transparent protective plates 220 so that the luminous ballast 20 illuminates on its two opposite faces.

[0060] Advantageously, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the ballast 20 may comprise a translucent colored film 215 positioned between the light plate 210 and the protective plate 220 (or alternatively on the external face of the protective plate 220) in order to modify the color of the light from the light plate to make it, for example, yellow, green, blue or red or any other color.

[0061] Advantageously, writings can be affixed, for example printed or screen-printed, on the protective plate 220 or the light plate 210.

[0062] Advantageously, the sheath 125 may comprise a plurality of through openings 125A (cutouts) in the form of characters and / or patterns.

[0063] In another embodiment illustrated in [Fig.4], the sheath 125 delimits at least one through opening 125A, the ballast 20 comprises a luminous portion 240 extending projecting through said opening 125A. This luminous portion 240 may for example be a strip of light-emitting diodes or a bar of light-emitting diodes, for example with a “neon” effect.

[0064] The luminous ballast 20 is electrically powered, for example by a power supply battery or a connection to an electrical network. In the case of a battery, the latter can advantageously be mounted in the sheath 125 to increase the ballast effect, and possibly be rechargeable and connected, for example, to a solar panel.

[0065] Example of implementation

[0066] In addition to a blind valance 100 or parasol, the element 1 according to the invention may for example be a flag mounted on a mast or a structure, an oriflamme, a kakemono.

[0067] Manufacturing example

[0068] First of all, a sheath 125 is formed in the lower part 120 of the body 10 made of flexible material in a step E1, possibly with one or more through openings 125A delimited, for example by cutting, in its thickness.

[0069] The luminous ballast 20 is inserted into the sheath 125 thus formed, for example by its end, in a step E2. The sheath 125 is then closed to integrate the luminous ballast 20 into the sheath 125 in a step E3. It will be noted that as a variant the sheath 125 could be formed by winding the flexible material around the luminous ballast 20.

[0070] The luminous ballast 20 according to the invention makes it possible to illuminate the lower part of a flexible element of the lambrequin, flag or kakemono type in a simple, reliable and effective manner.

Claims

Claims

1. Element (1) for display and / or sun protection, said element (1) comprising a body (10), made of a flexible material, and a ballast (20) of elongated shape, said body (10) comprising an upper part (110) and a lower part (120) and being configured to be mounted at least by its upper part (110) or by a lateral edge (130) on a rigid frame and comprising in its lower part (120) a sheath (125), said ballast (20) being mounted in said sheath (125), the element (1) being characterized in that the ballast (20) is luminous.

2. Element (1) according to claim 1, in which the ballast (20) is luminous over a portion of its length or over its entire length.

3. An element (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the ballast (20) extends over at least half the length of an edge of the lower portion (120) of the body (10).

4. Element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheath (125) delimits at least one through opening (125A) formed in its thickness to allow the light emitted by the luminous ballast (20) to pass towards the outside.

5. Element (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the at least one through opening (125A) is rectangular in shape.

6. Element (1) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, in which the at least one through opening (125A) extends over more than half the length of the sheath (125), preferably over substantially the entire length of the sheath (125).

7. Element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the ballast (20) comprises a luminous plate (210) or a luminous rod, preferably made from light-emitting diodes.

8. Element (1) according to claim 7, in which the ballast (20) comprises a translucent or transparent protective plate (220), fixed or placed against the light plate (210) and / or a reinforcing element (230) placed behind the light plate (210) in order to protect it.

9. Element (1) according to claim 7, in which the luminous plate (210) is placed or fixed between two translucent or transparent protective plates (220) so that the ballast (20) illuminates on both its faces.

10. Element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, the sheath (125) delimiting at least one through opening (125A) formed in its thickness, the ballast (20) comprises a luminous portion (240) extending in projection through said at least one through opening (125A).

11. Element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheath (125) is made of a transparent or translucent material.

12. Element (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the sheath (125) is devoid of a through opening (125A) formed in its thickness.

13. Element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the sheath (125) comprises a closable opening, for example using a strip of self-gripping material, preferably at one of its ends, for inserting or removing the luminous ballast (20).

14. A method of manufacturing an element (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, said method comprising the steps of forming (El) a sheath (125) in the lower part (120) of the body (10), inserting (E2) a luminous ballast (20) into said sheath (125) thus formed and closing (E3) the sheath (125) to integrate the luminous ballast (20) into the sheath (125).

15. Method according to the preceding claim, further comprising a step of forming a through opening (125A) in the thickness of the sheath (125), preferably at least over half of its length, more preferably substantially over its entire length.

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