Chemical illuminant

Abstract

A chemical illuminant includes an outer case comprising sealable opposite ends situated in a lengthwise direction of the outer case; one ampoule housed in the outer case; a pair of compositions that emit light when mixed with each other; and a spacer arranged in the outer case, wherein one of the compositions is contained in a space formed inside of the outer case, but outside of the ampoule, and the other of the compositions is contained in the ampoule, a space in which the one of the compositions is contained is formed between the spacer and an inner surface of the outer case, at least one recess is formed at a periphery of the spacer, and the ampoule is supported in the recess.

Claims

1. A chemical illuminant comprising: an outer case comprising a single hollow space extending in a lengthwise direction of the outer case and sealable opposite ends situated in the lengthwise direction of the outer case; an ampoule housed in the hollow space of the outer case; a pair of compositions that emit light when mixed with each other; and a spacer arranged in the hollow space of the outer case, wherein one of the compositions is contained in a first space formed inside of the hollow space of the outer case, but outside of the ampoule, and the other of the compositions is contained in the ampoule, the first space in which the one of the compositions is contained is formed circumferentially between the spacer and an inner surface of the outer case, at least one recess is formed at a periphery of the spacer and extends from the periphery of the spacer toward a center of the spacer, and the ampoule is supported in the recess.

2. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer case and the spacer are both cylindrical, and the spacer is located coaxial with the outer case.

3. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer is composed of foaming resin.

4. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 3, wherein the spacer is composed of one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and a mixture thereof.

5. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein a gap between the spacer and the inner surface of the outer case is in the range of about 0.3 mm and about 5.0 mm both inclusive.

6. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer has a specific gravity smaller than that of the pair of compositions.

7. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer is made of a material which does not absorb the pair of compositions thereinto.

8. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer is made of a material by which light is scattered.

9. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the recess has such a depth that the ampoule supported therein can make contact with both the recess and the inner surface of the outer case.

10. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the spacer has the recesses, the number of the recesses being 2 to 5 both inclusive.

11. A method of fabricating a chemical illuminant defined in claim 1, comprising: sealing one of opposite ends of the outer case; inserting one of liquids, the spacer, and the ampoule into the outer case through an open end thereof; and sealing the open end of the outer case.

12. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer case and the spacer are both columnar, and the spacer is located coaxial with the outer case.

13. The chemical illuminant as set forth in claim 1, wherein the ampoule supported in the recess is sandwiched between the spacer and the inner surface of the outer case.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chemical illuminant in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view for explaining the step of welding a cap to the outer case in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(4) Embodiment of the present invention will be explained hereinbelow with reference to drawings. It should be noted that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiment described hereinbelow.

(5) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chemical illuminant in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention.

(6) The illustrated chemical illuminant 10 includes an outer case 1, three ampoules 3, a pair of compositions 5 and 6, and a spacer 2.

(7) The outer case 1 has a length in a certain direction, and has sealable opposite ends situated in the certain direction or in a lengthwise direction thereof. The outer case 1 is cylindrical. The outer case 1 is sealed at opposite ends thereof with caps 11 and 12.

(8) The spacer 2 is solid and cylindrical, and is arranged coaxially with and in the outer case 1. The spacer 2 is formed at a periphery thereof with three recess 21 in each of which the ampoule 3 is supported. Each of the recesses 21 extends in a lengthwise direction of the spacer 2 to thereby define a groove.

(9) Each of the caps 11 and 12 has a circular bottom, and an annular wall standing at the periphery of the circular bottom. The bottoms of the caps 11 and 12 make contact with opposite sides of the spacer 2 when the caps 11 and 12 are attached to the outer case 1.

(10) FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1.

(11) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a space 4 is formed between the spacer 2 and an inner surface of the outer case 1. The space 4 is filled with an oxidizer liquid 6 as one of the compositions by which light is emitted. Each of the ampoules 3 supported in the recess 21 is filled with a fluorescent liquid 5 as the other of the compositions.

(12) In the chemical illuminant 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, since the fluorescent liquid 5 and the oxidizer liquid 6 are separated from each other by the ampoules 3 when the chemical illuminant 10 is not in use, light emission is not generated. On the other hand, when the chemical illuminant 10 is used, the outer case 1 is folded such that the ampoules 3 are broken in the outer case 1 and the fluorescent liquid 5 contained in the ampoules 3 is mixed with the oxidizer liquid 6 filling the space 4 therewith. Thus, there is generated light emission. The light emission is generated at an area where the ampoules 3 are disposed and at an area such as the space 4 where the compositions exist. Thus, the light emission is generated along a circumferential periphery of the chemical illuminant 10, ensuring that light emission is generated in a broad area, specifically, an entirety of inside of the outer case 1.

(13) By designing the spacer 2 to be made of a foaming material by which light is scattered, light is scattered by the spacer 2, and accordingly, the chemical illuminant 10 provides apparently a high intensity of light emission.

(14) Furthermore, since the spacer 2 absorbs an internal pressure, the outer case 1 is hardly influenced by fluctuation of the internal pressure, ensuring that the outer case 1 can be prevented from being deformed in a shape thereof.

(15) For instance, the spacer 2 may be designed to be solid and made of polypropylene (PP), and have a diameter of 30 mm and a length of 20 cm, in which case, the resultant chemical illuminant 10 has a weight of about 60 grams. If a chemical illuminant were enlarged in a size with a shape being kept conventional, the resultant chemical illuminant would have a weight of about 140 grams. Thus, the chemical illuminant 10 including the spacer 2 could have a weight half of that of the conventional chemical illuminant.

(16) In the chemical illuminant 10, each of the ampoules 3 may be designed to have a length equal to that of the spacer 2, in which case, the compositions can be mixed with each other over a full length of the chemical illuminant 10, and accordingly, light emission can be uniformly accomplished in a short period of time.

(17) Furthermore, the spacer 2 is designed to have a length equal to a length of the space 4 in a lengthwise direction of the outer case 1, and the movement of the spacer 2 and the ampoules 3 in a lengthwise direction of the outer case 1 is restricted by the caps 11 and 12. Thus, the spacer 2 and the ampoules 3 both housed in the outer case 1 are allowed to move only slightly, ensuring that the chemical illuminant 10 can be prevented from being damaged while being carried.

(18) In a fabrication of the chemical illuminant 10, firstly the cap 11 is welded to the outer case 1. Then, the outer case 1 is caused to stand such that the cap 11 is located downside, and then, the spacer 2 is inserted centrally into the outer case 1 through an open upper end of the outer case 1. Then, the three ampoules 3, each filled with the fluorescent liquid 5, are inserted into the recesses 21 formed at the periphery of the spacer 2. Then, the oxidizer liquid 6 is poured into the space 4 formed between the spacer 2 and the outer case 1. Then, the cap 12 is welded to the open end of the outer case 1 to complete the chemical illuminant 10.

(19) FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the step of welding the cap 12 to the outer case 1.

(20) After the spacer 2, the ampoules 3, and the oxidizer liquid 6 are inserted into the outer case 1 having a lower end having been already sealed with the cap 11, the cap 12 is fit into the outer case 1 through an open end, and then, a portion 13 at which the cap 12 makes contact with the outer case 1 is welded to thereby seal the open end of the outer case 1.

(21) By fabricating the chemical illuminant 10 in accordance with the above-mentioned process, only an area 13 (see FIG. 3) at which the outer case 1 makes contact with the caps 11 and 12, that is, an area of an inner periphery of the outer case 1 is welded, ensuring that the caps 11 and 12 can be stably and firmly welded to the outer case 1 to prevent leakage of the liquid 6 out of the outer case 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(22) The chemical illuminant can be used in various purposes as a chemical illuminant having a broad light-emission area. For instance, the chemical illuminant may be used as a concert light, a warning light, and an indicating lamp, similarly to a conventional chemical illuminant, and accordingly, is industrially quite useful.

(23) While one or more embodiments of the present invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the subject matter encompassed by way of the present invention is not to be limited to those specific embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended for the subject matter of the invention to include all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as can be included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

(24) The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-225413 filed on Nov. 5, 2014 including specification, claims, drawings and summary is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.