The instant disclosure relates generally to illuminated wearing apparel, and in particular, to an article of wearing apparel such as a headgear including a hat or visor, or other headgear, having an illuminated and/or illuminable decorative piece.
Wearing apparel has long been a way for a wearer to express his or her personality and/or to advertise or promote a business, school, sports team, or other such organization. As such, people commonly wear apparel having decorative designs attached thereto, printed, painted, or sewed thereon, or otherwise incorporated within the wearing apparel. The use of illuminating devices incorporating a light emitting diode (LED) for illuminating a decoration or design on wearing apparel such as hats, shirts, shoes, or other wearable articles, is also well known. However, it is common for wearing apparel with illuminating devices to require connection to a rechargeable battery or to require new or recharged batteries to continue functioning as desired.
Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a way for wearing apparel having illuminating devices to light a decoration or design to charge the illuminating device without taking away from an aesthetic quality of the wearing apparel. Additionally, the wearing apparel needs to be durable and/or allow for normal wear and tear despite the charging feature.
An embodiment of this disclosure provides an article of wearing apparel having a decorative illuminable assembly, the article of wearing apparel including a crown section with a bottom edge, a bill section attached at one end to the bottom edge of the crown section, a decorative illuminable assembly secured to the crown section, and a charging port attached to or integrated with the crown section. The decorative illuminable assembly has a design shape, at least one light emitting diode, and a power switch which connects the at least one light emitting diode with a rechargeable battery disposed in a hidden, inside portion of the wearing apparel. The charging port is configured to allow charging of the rechargeable battery via electronic connection of a mobile device charger with the rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, the article of wearing apparel is a baseball cap or visor, and the charging port is positioned centrally on a frontward facing portion of the crown section under the decorative illuminable assembly when the bill section is facing the front of a wearer. Another embodiment of the disclosure further includes a port cover configured to cover the charging port from an outside atmosphere.
Another embodiment of this disclosure provides a decorative illuminable assembly for a wearable apparel which includes a design shape, at least one light emitting diode, a power switch that connects the at least one light emitting diode with a rechargeable battery, and a charging port configured to allow charging of the rechargeable battery via electronic connection of a mobile device charger with the rechargeable battery. In an embodiment, the design shape is alphanumeric or graphical content, a company logo, brand name, or other promotional, fashion, or design insignia. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the decorative illuminable assembly further includes a port cover configured to cover the charging port from an outside atmosphere.
Having thus described examples of the disclosure in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the views. The particular objects and features of the instant disclosure as well as the advantages related hereto will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
The following description of the disclosed embodiments of this disclosure is intended to enable someone skilled in the prior art to make and use that which is disclosed, but is not intended to limit the claims to these particular exemplary embodiments.
With initial reference to
Also included in
In various embodiments of the disclosure, the wearing apparel may be a hat, such as a baseball cap, visor, cowboy hat, beanie, or any such accessory a wearer might put on their head. In other embodiments, a wearing apparel can be a shirt, jacket, shorts, pants, shoes, belt, or other article of clothing or accessory a person or animal might wear.
In an embodiment, the decorative illuminable assembly 110 may be attached to the crown section 102 via embroidered stitching around an edge thereof which is sewn so as to extend through a fabric of the crown section. In other embodiments, the decorative illuminable assembly may secure to the crown section 102 via hot glue, a pin, staple, a hook and loop fastener, or other adhesive or fastening mechanism. In an embodiment, the decorative illuminable assembly is permanently affixed to the wearing apparel. Alternatively, in another embodiment, the decorative illuminable assembly is removably attached to the article of wearing apparel.
In various embodiments of the disclosure, the design shape 112 may include alphanumeric or graphical content, a company logo, brand name, or any other decorative, promotional, fashion, or design insignia.
As shown in
Referring to
In an embodiment, the article of wearing apparel 200 may further include port covers 222 and 224 which are made of a weatherproof or waterproof material. The port cover or covers comprise a flexible, hanging piece of material attached to an area adjacent to the charging port or ports and are able to bend over and insert into the corresponding charging ports. Port covers 222 and 224 are able to substantially prevent outside air and humidity to enter into the charging ports from the surrounding atmosphere. That is, when it is raining outside or when the wearing apparel is exposed to high levels of humidity, a wearer is able to prevent water and other debris from entering and potentially damaging the charging ports when the port covers are inserted into the charging ports compared to when the charging ports are open and/or the port covers are not in an inserted position.
In various embodiments, port covers 222 and 224 may remain in an open, uninserted position, or may be inserted into the charging ports in a closed position. In an embodiment, the port cover is removably attachable to the article of wearing apparel, while in another embodiment the port cover is not removable or detachable from the article of wearing apparel. In some embodiments, a port cover may be positioned to the side of a corresponding charging port such that the flexible flap surrounding the port cover bends in a sideways direction to allow insertion of the port cover to cover and close, or to open a charging port. Alternatively, a port cover may be positioned above or below a corresponding charging port such that the flexible flap bends in an up and down direction to cover or open a charging port. The flexible flap may be made of a rubber material.
Referring now to
As discussed above regarding
In an embodiment of the disclosure, the decorative illuminable assembly 300 may include more than one charging port. In another embodiment, each of the multiple charging ports may have a corresponding port cover, as discussed above regarding claim 1.
Different examples and aspects of the article of wearing apparel and decorative illuminable assembly are disclosed herein that include a variety of components, features, and functionality. It should be understood that the various examples and aspects of the wearing apparel and decorative illuminable assembly disclosed herein may include any of the components, features, and functionality of any of the other examples and aspects disclosed herein in any combination, and all of such possibilities are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Many modifications and other examples of the disclosure set forth herein will come to mind to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210030096 A1 | Feb 2021 | US |