Glow-in-the dark for a lighting source including flexible packages for such light source

Abstract

The use of glow-in-the-dark materials, such as phosphors or long-persistent glow materials which incorporate the use of rare earth elements (i.e. “glow materials”); wherein the glow crystal sizes are 0.5 mm to 10.0 mm in size and to be contained or placed in various forms such as solutions, polymer matrixes both rigid and non-rigid, containers, or flexible vacuum pouches or combinations of same wherein the concentration and size of such glow particles create a light source not heretofore achieved by prior art.

1 . A method of lighting an enclosed area, comprising:
 dispersing long-persistent phosphor particles having a particle size in a range of 0.5-10 mm within a container;   activating the long-persistent phosphor particles with an external light for a predetermined period of time; and   lighting an enclosed area with the activated long-persistent phosphor particles within the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the long-persistent phosphor is a rare earth doped strontium aluminate. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein lighting an enclosed area comprises lighting an enclosed area with sufficient light for a user to see the surroundings in the enclosed area. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a polymer matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is flexible polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a tube. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a rigid epoxy.