Electroluminescent display apparatus for an inflatable device and method

Abstract

A lighted balloon system is provided including an inflatable, metallized polyfilm balloon device, having a surface, and a relatively lightweight, flat electroluminescent display device mounted to the surface of the balloon device. The lighted balloon system further includes a power supply, and one or more circuits disposed on the surface of the inflatable device electrically communicating the power supply and the display device for illumination thereof.

1 . A lighted inflatable apparatus comprising: 
 an inflatable device; and    a relatively lightweight, flat emissive display device applicable to the inflatable device for illumination of the emissive display while applied thereto.    
   
   
       2 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said inflatable device is a balloon device.    
   
   
       3 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said balloon device is selected from the group consisting essentially of a metallized polyfilm balloon, a non-metallized polyfilm balloon, a latex rubber balloon and a chloroprene balloon.    
   
   
       4 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 1 , further including: 
 a power supply operably coupled to the display device for illumination thereof.    
   
   
       5 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 said power supply is disposed on a surface of the inflatable device.    
   
   
       6 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 said power supply includes a battery configured to be printed directly onto said surface of the inflatable device.    
   
   
       7 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 said inflatable device is a balloon composed at least partially of a metallized polyester, and    at least one electrode operably coupled to the battery utilizes the metallized polyester for operation thereof.    
   
   
       8 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 4 , further including: 
 one or more circuits disposed on the surface of the inflatable device electrically communicating the power supply and the display device.    
   
   
       9 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 the one or more circuits are provided by etched multi-circuit ITO coated polyfilm.    
   
   
       10 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 the one or more circuits are provided by printed conductive inks.    
   
   
       11 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 the one or more circuits are transparent circuits composed of metallized films and printed conductive inks.    
   
   
       12 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 said one or more circuits includes at least one of a foraminous electrode and an electrode printed on said surface via a transparent or translucent ink including ITO conductive particles suspended in a binder solution.    
   
   
       13 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said display device is an electroluminescent display configured to be printed directly onto a surface of the inflatable device.    
   
   
       14 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said electroluminescent display is comprised of light emitting polymers, (OLED).    
   
   
       15 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 said electroluminescent display is comprised of light emitting electroluminescent phosphors (ACPEL).    
   
   
       16 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said flat emissive display device is configured to emits transmissive light from both a front side and a back side thereof.    
   
   
       17 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 said inflatable device is a metallized polyester balloon, and    said display device is suspended internally therein.    
   
   
       18 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein 
 one or more window portions are formed in a metal coating of said balloon for viewing of the internally suspended display device.    
   
   
       19 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein 
 the display device is suspended by a filament.    
   
   
       20 . The lighted inflatable apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 said inflatable device is a metallized polyester balloon,    said display device is an electroluminescent display, and    further including a conductive adhesive mounting the electroluminescent display to a metal coating of the metallized polyester balloon in a manner capable of conducting power to the display.    
   
   
       21 . A lighted balloon system comprising: 
 an inflatable, metallized polyfilm balloon device having a surface;    a relatively lightweight, flat electroluminescent display device mounted to the surface of said balloon device;    a power supply; and    one or more circuits disposed on the surface of the balloon device electrically communicating the power supply and the display device for illumination thereof.    
   
   
       22 . The lighted balloon system according to  claim 21 , wherein 
 said power supply includes a battery configured to be printed directly onto said surface of the balloon device.    
   
   
       23 . The lighted balloon system according to  claim 22 , wherein 
 at least one electrode formed from a metallized polyester surface of the balloon device, and operably coupling the battery to at least one of the one or more circuits.    
   
   
       24 . The lighted balloon system according to  claim 23 , wherein 
 said electroluminescent display is configured to be printed directly onto the surface of the balloon device via one of ink-jet printing, screen-printing and rotogravure printing.    
   
   
       25 . The lighted balloon system according to  claim 21;  further including 
 a conductive adhesive mounting the electroluminescent display to a metal coating of the metallized polyester balloon in a manner capable of conducting power to the display.