U.S. patent application number 11/903005 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for lighting systems for attachment to wearing apparel.
Invention is credited to Carmen Rapisarda.
Application Number | 20080019120 11/903005 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38971260 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080019120 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rapisarda; Carmen |
January 24, 2008 |
Lighting systems for attachment to wearing apparel
Abstract
A lighting system for wearing apparel and the like includes a
sealed housing of flexible light transmitting material with at
least two hollow regions interconnected by a section having an
opening therein communicating between the hollow regions, a battery
in one of the hollow regions, at least one light source in each
hollow region for light emission through the surface of the
housing, a motion responsive switch or a user-activated switch or
both contained within one of the hollow regions, light controls
contained within one of the hollow regions connected to the
battery, the switch and the light sources for controlling the
activation of the light sources responsive to operation of the
switch, the weight and volume of the battery, light control means
and switch being distributed among the hollow regions.
Inventors: |
Rapisarda; Carmen; (Apple
Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WAGNER, ANDERSON & BRIGHT, LLP
3541 OCEAN VIEW BLVD
GLENDALE
CA
91208
US
|
Family ID: |
38971260 |
Appl. No.: |
11/903005 |
Filed: |
September 19, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11432466 |
May 10, 2006 |
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11903005 |
Sep 19, 2007 |
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10766709 |
Jan 27, 2004 |
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11903005 |
Sep 19, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 3/325 20130101;
A41D 27/085 20130101; H05K 2201/10787 20130101; A43B 1/0036
20130101; H05K 2201/10393 20130101; H05K 2203/0173 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/103 |
International
Class: |
F21V 21/08 20060101
F21V021/08 |
Claims
1. A lighting system for attachment to garments, footwear, back
packs, purses, belts, accessories and wearing apparel comprising:
at least two housing portions, and connectors extending between and
connecting said at least two housing portions said connectors
comprising electrical wiring, or sealed, hollow housings for
electrical wiring that extend between said hollow housing portions;
one or more batteries inside said housing portions; one or more
light sources inside said housing portions for light emission
through the surface of said housing; a motion responsive switch or
a user-activated switch or both inside said housing portions; and
light control circuitry connected to said battery, said switch and
said light sources for controlling the activation of said light
sources responsive to operation of said switch, wherein the weight
and volume of said battery, light control circuitry and said switch
are distributed among said housing portions.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing portions are hollow,
and are made of light transmitting material.
3. The lighting system of claim 1 herein said housing portions have
ornamental shapes, and are illuminated by said light sources.
4. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said housing portions are
two in number, and said battery and light control circuitry are
distributed throughout said housing portions.
5. The lighting system of claim 4 wherein said housing portions
each take the shape of a vehicle.
6. The lighting system of claim 6 wherein said housing portions
take the shape of a locomotive and railroad cars and said light
sources are distributed among said locomotive and at least one
railroad car.
7. The lighting system of claim 4 wherein said light sources are
distributed among said housing portions, and said housing portions
take the shape of an airplane, an airport runway, and an airport
control tower.
8. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said housing portions are
at least 3 in number and said battery, said light control circuitry
and said switch are distributed throughout said housing
portions.
9. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein light sources are inside
each of said housing portions.
10. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said light sources are
LEDs.
11. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said connector portion
includes discontinuities in the surface thereof that emit light
from at least one of said light sources.
12. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said connector portions
include a channel for electrical wiring that electrically connect
said battery, lighting control circuitry, switch and light
sources.
13. The lighting system of claim 12 wherein said switch is inside
one of said housing portions and is activated by movement of the
switch.
14. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said
housing portions includes edge flanges thereon for securing said
system to a garment.
15. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said housing portions
are flower-shaped.
16. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said
housing portions takes the shape of a vehicle.
17. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said housing portions
take the shape of one or more toys.
18. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein said motion responsive
switch is inside one of said housing portions.
19. The lighting system of claim 18 wherein said light control
circuitry is inside one of said housing portions and is
electrically connected to said LEDs.
20. The lighting system of claim 19 wherein said switch and said
battery are inside different housing portions.
21. A lighting system for wearing apparel comprising: at least two
sealed housing portions shaped like one or more toys, and made of
flexible, light transmitting material: and, inside said housing
portions, a battery; a switch; at least one light emitting source;
and an electrical circuit, said switch, said light emitting source
and said electrical circuit being connected to said battery such
that activation of said switch causes said light emitting source to
illuminate said toy.
22. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said garment includes a
sleeve, said housings are attached to said sleeve, and motion of
said sleeve causes illumination of said toy.
23. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said toy takes the
shape of a truck.
24. The lighting system of claim 21 wherein said toy takes the
shape of a train and a plurality of light sources are distributed
along said train.
25. A system for attachment to a garment comprising: at least two
discrete hollow housing units containing lighting components, and
connected to one another with electrical conductors, said
electrical connectors including stress relief components.
26. The system of claim 25 wherein said stress relief components
are located inside one or more of said housing units.
27. The system of claim 26 wherein said stress relief components
are slack regions or wiring coils in the connectors.
28. A system for attachment to a garment comprising: at least two
discrete hollow housing units containing lighting components, and
connected to one another with electrical conductors, said hollow
housing units including potting/sealant material to insulate said
components.
29. A lighting and electronic system for attachment to garments,
wearing apparel, and accessories, comprising: at least two housing
portions with cavities for electronic components interconnected
with electrical conductors, said conductors having stress relief
components at said interconnections.
30. The system of claim 28 wherein one or more of said stress
relief components is located in a void region.
31. A lighting and electronic system for attachment to garments,
wearing apparel, and accessories, comprising: at least two
interconnected housing portions for lighting and electronic
components, said housing portions including potting material to
insulate said components.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of applications
Ser. No. 10/766,709 filed Jan. 27, 2004, and Ser. No. 11/432,466
filed May 10, 2006 by the applicant herein and priority is claimed
from the earliest filing dates of these patent applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to lighting structures for attachment
to garments such as shoes, jackets and other clothing. Such
garments have enjoyed significant commercial success, particularly
in footwear. Lighted footwear is shown in the following U.S.
Patents:
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,435 MODULE TO PROVIDE LIGHT WITH
INTERMITTENT MOVEMENT, Dec. 19, 1995, now REISSUE Patent RE 37,220,
Jan. 12, 2001;
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,486;
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,755;
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,110;
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,128 FOOTWEAR WITH FLASHING LIGHTS, Jan.
25, 2000;
[0008] and in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent
applications Ser. Nos. 10/776,709 and 11/432,466.
[0009] Lighted shoes may utilize one or more LEDs which may be
turned on by a motion sensitive switch. One such switch utilized a
coil spring having one end secured to, for example, one track of an
integrated circuit, and having its other end suspended over a
separate conductor track. Motion of the shoe caused the spring to
bounce up and down, making multiple contacts with the separate
conductor track. Each such contact caused one or more LEDs to be
momentarily illuminated. Such spring-type switches are shown in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,056 SPRING MOUNTED LIGHT, May 29, 2001; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,550,721 MOTION SENSITIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ASSEMBLY
SWITCHED ON AND OFF BY THE OSCILLATION OF A HELICAL SPRING, Aug.
27, 1996; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,618 MOTION SENSITIVE LIGHT AND
BATTERY ASSEMBLY SWITCHED ON AND OFF BY THE OSCILLATION OF A
HELICAL SPRING, May 16, 2006; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,721.
[0010] The electrical circuit for controlling one or more LEDs
connected to a battery requires, for enhanced visual effects, one
or more batteries, a control circuit, usually on a circuit board, a
switch, and one or more LEDs. When the battery, switch and circuit
board assembly are connected together as a unit, the unit becomes
somewhat bulky, e.g., one inch by three-eighths inch by one inch.
This is an important factor, particularly when the light system is
attached to clothing such as jackets or trousers where the battery
is expected to have a useful life which may be equivalent to the
life of the clothing itself. Other embodiments include timing and
lighting control circuits to provide certain patterns of light
flashes, which may add to the volume of the system.
[0011] There is a definite need and desire for lighting and other
electronic systems for attachment to wearing apparel that provides
greater flexibility than with currently available lighting and
other electronic systems. There is also a need for self-powered
lighting and other electronic systems sewn or otherwise attached to
a garment such as a jacket with light emission or another
electronic function from one or more places on the garment. Marks
or slits in the outer surface of the systems such as strips
extending between elements of the system may interrupt light
passing through the system, causing the marks or slits to emit
light. Such strips are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,882,110 and
5,649,755, the disclosures of which are incorporated by
reference.
[0012] Another need in the clothing and electronics fields is for
lighting and other electronic systems free from known containments
such as mercury, lead or solder of any type which might leach out
over the years and enter the water supply. Applicant's co-pending
application Ser. No. 11/432,466 disclosed several embodiments of
solder-free and/or lead free electrical connections which may be
used with mercury-free batteries to provide environmentally
acceptable lighting fixtures for shoes and clothing. This '466
application also teaches a switch structure usable with the present
invention and which can be made in a smaller package than the
spring switches of applicant's patents referred to above.
[0013] There is a definite need and desire for lighting and other
electronic systems which provide greater flexibility for use on
shoes and other clothing than existing systems provide.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] This invention provides sealed, preferably flexible,
lighting and other electronic systems for attachment to shoes and
other articles of clothing that may include two or more hollow
housing portions of transparent or translucent material with one or
more electronic components inside these housings. The systems
preferably include a bottom member (or potting/sealant) which may
be attached to, and worn for the normal useful life, e.g., several
years, of a garment. Such systems may be removable and replaceable,
if desired. Each system may include two or more hollow, housing
portions joined by a connection device, e.g., wiring, or wiring
inside a molded, sealed, hollow housing. Such hollow housing
portions may be ornamental in shape; for example, these portions
may take the shape of a flower including a stamen and petal
portions. One or more of the hollow housing portions may be large
enough inside to hold at least one LED or other lighting device for
illuminating the ornamental portion(s), or at least one of the
other components used to provide power for one or more LEDs, e.g.,
one or more batteries, a switch, and control circuitry, to activate
lighting of the LEDs, or other electronic components such as
transducers, displays, and electromechanical devices. The switch
may be motion-activated, manually activated, or both
motion-activated and manually-activated. If a lighting or other
system requires a plurality of one or more of these components, the
components may be distributed over all or part of the housing
portions of the system to minimize weight and/or volume imbalances
that might otherwise arise. This distribution of components allows
the system to be smaller, and more comfortable to a wearer.
[0015] The connection devices between the hollow portions may
include channels for holding wiring for the electrical elements of
the system and may also provide a surface for enhanced lighting
effects. The connector devices may also hold the housing portions
together, simplifying assembly/manufacturing.
[0016] The electrical operating elements of the system may include,
in addition to lighting elements such as light emitting diodes, a
battery, e.g., a coin-shaped battery, a control circuit on an
electronic circuit board or in the form of an integrated circuit,
and an electromechanical motion responsive switch or
accelerometer.
[0017] In some embodiments, each housing may be sealed and
preferably includes a flange around most of its periphery for
sewing or otherwise attaching the housing to a garment.
Alternatively, the housing may be attached to garments by hook and
loop fasteners for removal for cleaning or washing of the
garment.
[0018] Preferably, the LEDs are illuminated when the article of
clothing to which the system is attached is worn. If a system
ceases operating before the garment has reached the end of its
useful life, the system may be removed, and another system may be
attached in its place.
[0019] Preferably, each system attaches at at least two separate
spaced portions on a garment to minimize the bulk of the system,
and to exhibit attractive, flashing light from several areas of the
garment. The system's connection devices, which are preferably
exposed to LED illumination, may also emit light from slits or
marks on their outer or inner surfaces, or both, where, e.g., the
connection devices are hollow, molded channels. These lighting
systems, when attached to garments, make the garments more
comfortable and more attractive, and provide moving illumination
for a wearer, day or night. Some embodiments of the system may
comprise one or more lighted toys.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] This invention may be better understood from the following
Detailed Description of the Drawings with reference to the
drawings, in which:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an individual wearing
a jacket having decorative lighting systems attached to the sleeves
of the jacket;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the decorative lighting
system of FIG. 1 for attachment to a garment;
[0023] FIG. 2A is an exploded sectional drawing of the connection
device that forms part of the system shown in FIG. 2;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the system of FIG. 2
showing a bottom member of the system separated from the housing of
the system;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a top view showing the system in phantom and
distribution of electrical parts in the system of FIGS. 1-3;
[0026] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are sectional views taken along lines
5A-5A, 5B-5B and 5C-5C of FIG. 4, respectively;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an electrical
system for use in the lighting system of FIGS. 1-5;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the
lighting systems of this invention;
[0029] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the system of
FIG. 7;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the system of FIG. 7 with the
upper housing or cover in phantom showing the distribution of
electrical parts within the system of FIG. 7;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a schematic of the electrical circuitry of FIGS.
7-9, showing the placement/positioning of the electrical components
of the circuitry;
[0032] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of thee first embodiment of
the invention showing a plurality of magnets for attaching the
housing of the lighting system to the bottom member;
[0033] FIG. 12 is a transverse sectional view of the housing in the
first and second embodiments, showing a manually operated switch
for activating the LEDs instead of a motion-activated switch;
[0034] FIG. 12A is a transverse sectional view of the housing in
the first and second embodiments showing a coiled, flexible,
stress/strain-reduced connection assembly of the interconnecting
conductors of the circuitry;
[0035] FIG. 13 shows flex circuitry such as Kapton flexible ribbon
circuits in the electrical systems of FIGS. 1-10 that allow for
flexing with slack loops to allow repeated bending and stretching
and to minimize failure from broken circuits;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a decorative lighting
system similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, here including
heart-shaped housing portions, for attachment to a garment;
[0037] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a decorative lighting
system similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, here including a
branched, non-linear array of flower-shaped housings, for
attachment to a garment;
[0038] FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a shirt, belt, and
pants having decorative lighting systems of differing shapes
attached to the sleeves and front of the shirt, and to the pocket,
belt and legs of the pants, according to the invention;
[0039] FIG. 17 is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of a
lighting system that includes two housing portions joined to one
another solely by electrical wiring or other conductors;
[0040] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a decorative lighting
system similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, here including a
non-linear array of flower-shaped housings, for attachment to a
garment, and showing LEDs placed to illuminate the connection
devices through marks, slits and striations of the connection
devices; and
[0041] FIGS. 19-22 are perspective views of decorative lighting
systems similar to the system shown in FIG. 1, here including toy
airplane-shaped, toy pick-up-shaped, star-shaped, and athletic
ball-shaped housing portions, respectively, for attachment to a
garment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, FIG. 1 shows an individual I
wearing a jacket J having sleeves S. Attached to the sleeves are
decorative light systems 10, which may be stitched or otherwise
attached to sleeves S. Systems 10 include housings or bodies, which
may be made of a flexible molded transparent or translucent plastic
such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polymeric rubber. Systems 10
include edge flanges 1OF (see FIG. 2) for receiving adhesive or
stitching for attaching systems 10 to sleeves S. Lighting systems
10 include decorative end portions 12 and 16, and decorative middle
portion 14. Adjacent portions 12/14 and 14/16 are connected to one
another by molded, hollow connection devices 26/28 to form a
unitary, sealed, self-contained electrically illuminated system
that may be one molded unit, with electrical components distributed
throughout the housings of the system for attachment to a garment
such as jacket J.
[0043] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 17, adjacent housing
portions 14A and 16A can be joined to one another by electrical
wiring 28A alone, without a molded, hollow connection devices
around the wiring.
[0044] Portions 12, 14 and 16 are formed into flowers that extend
above the level of connection devices 26 and 28 much like a flower
extends above its stem. Portions 12, 14, and 16 may each enclose
one or more light emitting diodes, hereinafter designated LEDs.
LEDs 20, 22 and 24 are placed inside portions 12, 14, and 16, as
indicated by the dashed lead lines in FIG. 2, and are positioned to
emit light outward from the center or stamen portion, and from the
petals of the flowers, or into the connection devices 26, 28 or
both, as FIG. 5A shows; see also FIGS. 3-6. Alternatively, one or
more of the LEDs could extend through openings to the outside of
system 10. The system is visible from the front, rear and
particularly from the side of the jacket J, and may flash in
response to movement of a wearer's arms, e.g., while walking or
running. The flashing lights may also provide a degree of safety to
persons wearing such garments, especially at night, and with
electrical components distributed throughout the housings to reduce
the size of the hollow regions inside the housings of the system,
and to increase the wearer's comfort.
[0045] FIG. 2 provides a perspective view of lighting system 10, in
the form of a single molded part, shown apart from, and ready for
attachment to a garment. System 10 includes three flower-shaped
portions 12, 14 and 16, each of which includes a centrally located
stamen portion 18 inside which an LED or lamp 20, 22 or 24, and
preferably at least one LED, is positioned. The LEDs 20, 22 and 24
are shown in better detail in FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C, and appear in
FIG. 2 as dashed lines because they are located inside portions 12,
14 and 16. FIG. 2A is a sectional view taken along line 2A-2A of
FIG. 2.
[0046] Extending between flower shaped housing portions 12 and 14
and between flower shaped housings 14 and 16 are molded connection
devices 26 and 28, respectively, including internal channels 26C
and 28C, shown as dashed lines in FIG. 2. Leads connecting the
electrical elements of system 10 pass between portions 12, 14 and
16 through channels 26C and 28C (see FIG. 2). Connection devices 26
and 28 may be formed in the shape of flower stems to enhance the
decorative effect of system 10.
[0047] FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 5A, 5B, 5C and 6 show additional views of
system 10. In FIG. 3, bottom closure member 30 is separated from
system 10 as indicated by the arrows directed toward the assembled
location of member 30 instead of bottom 30, a flexible
potting/filler material may be used. Such materials act as a heat
sink when a garment bearing the system is washed and dried. Such as
a common cloth dryer which can heat up to 180.degree. F. Member 30
acts as a closure for system 10, and is preferably flexible and
made of the same material as system 10's other portions, but need
not be transparent or translucent. Member 30 may also be made of
flexible magnetic material, or include magnets, as shown in FIG.
11, as is used in refrigerator magnets, so that lighting system 10
may be held by magnetic attraction to any ferromagnetic material
which may be sewn or otherwise attached to a garment, e.g., sleeves
S. As an alternative, magnets may be secured to sleeves S, and
ferromagnetic material may be contained within system 10 on its
underside.
[0048] Member 30 is attached to the bottom surface of the housing
for lighting system 10 along the under side of portions 12, 14 and
16 and connection devices 26 and 28 that include internal channels
26C and 28C so that system 10 is sealed from the ingress of
moisture or other unwanted substances. Sealing may be accomplished
by bonding with an adhesive, by sonic welding, by magnets (see FIG.
11), or another known method of joining plastic parts, or by using
a filler/potting material/sealer instead.
[0049] The electrical circuitry components of fixture 10 (see FIG.
4) are distributed among housing portions 12,14 and 16 to reduce
size and increase wearer comfort. These housings contain the
various electrical components to power and control the illumination
of the LEDs 20, 22 and 24, namely, battery 32 for powering the
system, switch 44 responsive to motion for activation of the LEDs,
and a control circuit on circuit board 38 for operating the
circuit, thus illuminating LEDs 20, 22 and 24. Suitable control
circuits of the type disclosed in the above referenced patents may
be located on a circuit board, e.g., circuit board 38.
[0050] As FIG. 12 shows, the circuitry in flower-shaped housing
portion 12 may include manually-operable switch 44A instead of
motion-activated switch 44.
[0051] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are sectional views, on an enlarged
scale, taken along lines 5A-5A, 5B-5B and 5C-5C of FIG. 4. To
distribute their weight and volume, the electrical components,
e.g., LEDs, batteries, and control circuits, may be separated and
distributed among portions 12, 14 and 16. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5A
and 6, a coin-type battery 32, e.g., a 2030 lithium battery, is
positioned in portion 12 along with LED 24. Such batteries may have
upper and lower faces of opposite polarity. In such cases,
electrical leads 36 providing power to the circuit are connected to
the opposite polarity faces of battery 32 by solder-free mechanical
means as disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/432,466. Insulated leads 36 extend through channel 28C, as
indicated by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 5, to portion 14 (see FIG.
5B), where LED 22 and control circuitry on a circuit board 38 or in
the form of a PC board or an integrated circuit may be located (see
FIG. 5B, which is a sectional view taken along line 5B-5B of FIG.
4).
[0052] FIG. 5B shows the interior of portion 14 including LED 22
atop the printed circuit board 38, which may include conductive
tracks, and either an integrated circuit or discrete components,
making up a timing or light control circuit, as desired. Joined to
circuit board 38 are power leads 36 from battery 32 and power
distribution leads 46, 34 and 48 to the LEDs 20, 22 and 24,
respectively. Extending from circuit board 38 are leads 40
extending through channel 26C to motion responsive switch 44,
located inside portion 16.
[0053] FIG. 5C, a sectional view of portion 16 taken along line
5C-5C of FIG. 4, shows leads 40 and 42 connected to switch 44, and
lead 46 connected to LED 20. All these leads extend through channel
26C from circuit board 38.
[0054] FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the circuitry outside
system 10, and is also shown in FIG. 4 by dashed lines surrounding
the circuitry, illustrating the separation of the circuitry
components, reducing volume and weight, and providing comfortable,
small size, distributed attractive illumination. FIGS. 4 and 6 show
LED 20 inside portion 12, with switch 44, and powered over leads
46; switch 44 closures are signaled to the control circuit on board
38 over leads 40, 42.
[0055] Illumination from LED 20 is visible from the top of portion
12, and may also be directed through channel 26C. See FIG. 5A, and
LED 24a in phantom lines. A plurality of discontinuities in the top
of connection devices 26 and 28, e.g., generally transverse slits
60S (see FIGS. 2 and 3), interrupt the passage of light through the
connection devices 26 and 28. Light passing into connection devices
26C and 28C from adjacent LEDs causes slits 60S to disperse and
emit flashing light when LEDs 20, 22, and 24 flash. This structure
is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,110 which is incorporated by
reference herein.
[0056] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of
system 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-5. As described above, switch 44 is
connected through leads 40, 42 to circuit board 38. Battery 32 is
connected through leads 36 to circuit board 38. Output leads 34, 46
and 48 from circuit board 38 connect to, and provide power to LEDs
20, 22 and 24.
[0057] In operation, when switch 44 is activated, either manually
or in response to movement of the system, the control circuit
contained on circuit board 38 activates LEDs 20, 22 and 24 in a
desired sequence and duration. LEDs 20, 22 and 24 need not be
lighted, avoiding battery usage, when the system is at rest. Switch
44 may be located in portion 12 or 16, near the elbow and forearm
of jacket J in FIG.1, to take advantage of the high incidence of
movement at those locations.
[0058] Leads 36 are connected to circuit board 38. Switch 44 is
connected to circuit board 38 such that, when switch 44 senses
motion or user activation, it sends a signal to the control or
timing circuit on circuit board 38, and current flows through leads
34, 46 and 48 to cause LEDs 20, 22 and 24 to be illuminated in the
pattern and duration provided by the timing and control
circuit.
[0059] FIGS. and 7-10 illustrate an alternate embodiment of
lighting system 50. FIG. 7 is a perspective view including two
lighted ornamental portions or elements in the form of flower
housings 52 and 54, enclosing LEDs 56 and 58, respectively, each
represented by dashed lines 56 and 58 in FIG. 7. Extending between
flower housings 52 and 54 is molded connection device 60 with
channel 60C inside. Light fixture 50 includes flange 60F for
attachment to a garment. Connection device 60 has slits 60S on its
upper surface for emitting light that passes into connection device
60.
[0060] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of system 50,
showing the regions 52C and 54C inside of flower portions 52 and 54
and connection device 60C. Flower-shaped portion 52 contains a
control circuit on board 62 with switch 44 attached, as shown in
FIG. 9. Flower-shaped portion 54 contains a battery 66, which may
be identical to battery 32. Connection device 60C carries two pairs
of wires, one pair connecting circuit board 62 and its control
circuit to battery 66, and another pair connecting LEDs 56 and 58
to circuit board 62.
[0061] FIGS. 9 and 10 are schematic diagrams, which illustrate the
electrical circuitry inside system 50. LED 58 is connected through
leads 68 to circuit board 62. LED 56 is connected to the circuit
board 62 on the rear face (not shown) of circuit board 62. Battery
66 is connected through leads 72 and 74 to circuit board 62.
Operation of the circuit of FIGS. 8 and 9 is essentially the same
as described above in connection with FIG. 6. FIG. 10 also shows
that LEDs 56 and 58 may be positioned, as shown at 56a and 58a, to
direct light into connection device 50.
[0062] The advantages of the embodiment of FIGS. 7-10 are that the
bulk and weight of the electronics are separated into two housings,
reducing overall size, and allowing the system to be applied to
many garments or other products with a high degree of visibility
and attractiveness.
[0063] Connection device 60 may include discontinuities, e.g., a
plurality of notches or slits 60S, which interrupt and emit light
coming from LEDs 56 and 58. If the control circuit on the circuit
board 62 alternately lights the LEDs 56 and 58, this produces an
attractive alternate racing light effect. The same feature may be
embodied in the lighting system 10 of FIGS. 1-5 if connection
devices 26 and 28 have similar notches or slits.
[0064] In both the first and second embodiments, the flanges 60F
and 10F of the molded housing extend outward (see FIGS. 2 and 7),
to allow attachment to a garment or object by sewing through the
edge region of the lighting system without piercing the system,
thus maintaining the integrity of its sealing.
[0065] The concepts of FIGS. 1-10 may be applied to other toy
images such as hearts (see FIG. 14), airplanes (see FIG. 19),
pick-up trucks (see FIG. 20), stars (see FIG. 21), and athletic
balls that are alike or differ from one another (see FIG. 22).
These same concepts may also be embodied in branched, non-linear
shapes such as the branched flower arrangement shown in FIG. 15,
and the flower array shown in FIG. 18. In these embodiments, LEDs
may be placed to cause light to be emitted from any desired area,
such as from the center of hearts 130, 131, and 132 in FIG. 14,
from one or more of the petals of the flowers 140, 141, 142, 143,
and 144 of the flower array of FIG. 15, from the cockpits of planes
150, 151 and 152 of FIG. 19, and from the roof fixture on the
pick-up trucks 160, 161, and 162 of FIG. 20. These lighting systems
can be attached to garments of all kinds, such as the pants, shirt,
and belt shown in FIG. 16, and to back packs, purses, and
footwear.
[0066] FIG. 12A shows that lead 36 may connect to LED 24 through
coiled loop, slack strain and flex relief wiring 100 to minimize
the risk that lead 36 will break after repeated
flexing/bending.
[0067] FIG. 13 shows that the electrical components 120, 121 and
122 of the circuitry in FIGS. 4 and 5A, 5B, and 5C can be connected
with flexible circuit 104, and that the flexible circuit may
include curved, stress-relief sections 101, 102, and 103 to
minimize the risk of breaking circuit 104 after repeated
flexing/bending. Advantageously, this relief wiring may be located
in an open/void region inside a housing to allow stretching, which
provides relief from stretching/bending/flexing of a garment to
which the system is attached.
[0068] Other changes and modifications in the lighting systems
described here may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the following claims.
* * * * *