Patent Application
20130019372
The present invention generally relates to lighting assemblies that are affixed to, and embellish, articles of clothing and, more particularly, to garments illuminated by such assemblies in response to motion by a wearer.
It is generally known to mount miniaturized lighting assemblies on garments for providing them with a more visually stimulating appearance. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,278,758 discloses a motion-responsive, water-resistant, lighting module having on-board, light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light through a light-transmissive overlay attached to a garment. However, as satisfactory as such lighting modules have been, the placement of the LEDs within the module limits the extent to which the emitted light is visible on the garment. Thus, a graphic design applied on the overlay can only be illuminated by the LEDs that are situated within the boundaries of the lighting module, which, in some applications, can encompass an area of less than two square inches.
It is also known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,325, to mount multiple LEDs outboard of a central actuation unit of a lighting assembly so that a larger area of a graphic design on a garment may be illuminated. However, as advantageous as such a lighting assembly can be, there are drawbacks in placing the LEDs outside the central actuation unit. For example, such a lighting assembly is not water-resistant and would be prone to damage if left on the garment during laundering. As a result, this lighting assembly must be removed from the garment prior to cleaning. In addition, the LEDs are connected to the central actuation unit by wires, and these wires flex repeatedly during wear. As a result, these wires are prone to cracking and breakage, especially during active wear, with consequent failure of the lighting assembly to function.
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a reliable, water-resistant, visually stimulating, eye-catching display over a wide area on a garment.
In keeping with the above object and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a sensor-responsive lighting module, which comprises a plurality of water-resistant, lighting units for emitting light; a water-resistant, control unit; and a plurality of water-resistant, encapsulated wire pairs, each wire pair extending over a predetermined length between the control unit and each lighting unit.
Each lighting unit includes a lighting enclosure molded of synthetic plastic material, for encapsulating a light emitting diode (LED) mounted on a generally planar lighting board within the lighting enclosure. Each lighting enclosure is comprised of a base portion and an upright lens portion that overlies the respective LED and that extends outwardly away from the respective base portion in a direction generally perpendicular to the respective lighting board. Each lighting enclosure is further comprised of a first strain relief portion that is molded of a one-piece construction with the respective base portion and the respective upright lens portion.
The control unit includes a control enclosure molded of synthetic plastic material, and comprised of a main portion for encapsulating a control processor, a battery, and a sensor or switch, preferably a motion-responsive switch, for connecting the battery to the control processor in response to actuation of the sensor, e.g., motion of the switch. The control enclosure is further comprised of a plurality of second strain relief portions that are molded of a one-piece construction with the main portion.
Each wire pair electrically connects the control processor to each LED to emit light in response to the actuation of the sensor. Each wire pair has a first wire end region extending through a respective first strain relief portion in a direction generally parallel to the respective lighting board within the respective lighting enclosure, and being encapsulated by the respective first strain relief portion to resist stress on the first wire end region. Each wire pair has a second wire end region extending through, and being encapsulated by, a respective second strain relief portion to resist stress on the second wire end region.
In a preferred embodiment, each upright lens portion has an outer curved surface for spreading and amplifying the light emitted from the respective LED that is overlain by the respective upright lens portion. In addition, the base portion and the first strain relief portion of each lighting enclosure have a common, generally planar, bottom surface. The control unit preferably includes a generally planar control board on which the control processor is mounted, and the control board is encapsulated by the main portion. The control processor is preferably operative for intermittently lighting the LEDs in a flashing pattern in response to the actuation of the sensor. The motion-responsive switch advantageously includes an electrically conductive coil spring mounted within an electrically conductive sleeve for movement between an open position in which the spring is spaced from the sleeve, to a closed position in which the spring contacts the sleeve. The predetermined lengths of the wire pairs can be the same or different.
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the module is juxtaposed with a panel having apertures at predetermined locations and extending through the panel. The panel can be a cover, or a garment component of the clothing article. For example, if the clothing article is a shirt, then the garment component is a shirt front. The cover can be an outer component of an appliqué or patch to be attached to the clothing article. The panel advantageously has a graphic design thereon. The graphic design can be any visual representation applied in any manner to the panel. Preferably, the apertures are situated relative to the graphic design to embellish the design with light during wear. Each upright lens portion extends through a respective aperture in the panel to conduct the emitted light outwardly past the panel. The module may further comprise a backing lying underneath the units and the wire pairs and being connected to the panel. The backing, together with the cover, sandwich the module therebetween and comprise the appliqué or patch that can be attached to the clothing article, preferably permanently, for example, by a heat-fused seal or by stitching.
In accordance with this invention, the molded enclosures insure that each unit is watertight, and that the garment can be laundered without removal of the module. The molded strain reliefs insure that the wire pairs will resist cracking and breakage during wear, especially by feeding each first wire end region through the respective first strain relief portions in a direction generally parallel to the respective lighting board within the respective lighting enclosure. The strain reliefs thus help position the wire pairs to lie generally flat relative to, and against, a wearer's body. The flashing lights create an eye-catching display whether the garment is worn by day or by night.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring now to the drawings, reference numeral 10 in
Reference numeral 20 in
Each lighting unit 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, and 50e, as shown for representative lighting unit 50a in
Each lighting enclosure 52 is comprised of a generally rectangular parallelepiped base portion 54 and an upright cylindrical lens portion 56 that overlies the respective LED and that extends outwardly away from the respective base portion 54 in a direction generally perpendicular to the respective lighting board 82. Each upright cylindrical lens portion 56 has a convexly curved outer surface 57 for spreading and amplifying the light emitted from the respective LED that is overlain by the respective upright lens portion 56. Each lighting enclosure 52 is further comprised of a first tapered strain relief portion 58 that is molded of a one-piece construction with the respective base portion 54 and the respective upright lens portion 56. The tapered strain relief portion 58 at least partially decreases in thickness in a direction away from the base portion 54 and shares a common generally planar bottom surface 59 with the base portion 54.
As best seen in
The control unit 60 further includes a generally planar, control printed circuit board 34 on which the control processor 36 is mounted, and the control board 34 is also encapsulated by the main portion 64. The control processor 36 is operative for intermittently lighting the LEDs 80a, 80b, 80c, 80d, and 80e in a flashing pattern in response to the actuation of the sensor 40. The sensor 40 can be a motion-responsive switch, in which case, the switch includes an electrically conductive outer sleeve 42 in which an electrically conductive coil spring 44 is mounted for movement between an open position in which the spring 44 is located out of physical conductive contact with the sleeve 42, and a closed position in which the spring 44 contacts the sleeve 42. Motion of the spring 44 is caused by movement of the wearer of the garment 10 and, to aid such spring motion, the free end of the cantilevered spring 44 can be weighted.
As described above, each wire pair 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, and 70e extends generally radially outwardly of the main portion 64 and electrically connects the control processor 36 to each LED to emit light in response to the actuation of the sensor 40. Each wire pair, as shown in
In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the module 20 of
As described so far, the apertured panel 12 bearing the graphic design 14 is a component of the garment 10, e.g., the shirt front. However, this panel can also be an outer cover of an appliqué or patch that is attached to the clothing article 10. Thus, as shown in
In a variant construction, the backing 96 could be eliminated, in which case, the cover 112 sandwiches the module 20 between itself and the clothing article 10. In another variant construction, the appliqué is attached below the clothing article 10, in which case, both the cover 112 and the clothing article 10 have aligned apertures through which each lens portion 56 protrudes.
In accordance with this invention, the molded enclosures 52 and 62 insure that each unit 50a, 50b, 50c, 50d, 50e and 60 is watertight, and that the clothing article 10 can be laundered without removal of the module 20. The molded strain reliefs 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e and 58 insure that the wire pairs 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, and 70e are water-tight and will resist cracking and breakage during wear, especially by feeding each first wire end region 90 through the respective first strain relief portions 58 in a direction generally parallel to the respective lighting board 82 within the respective lighting enclosure 52. The strain reliefs thus help position the wire pairs to lie generally flat relative to, and against, a wearer's body. The flashing lights create an eye-catching display whether the garment is worn by day or by night.
In use, even if a force presses the module 20 against the wearer, there is little discomfort, because the module 20 has no exposed rough edges and is cushioned by the pad 98 and/or by the backing 96 and/or by the garment 10 itself. As the wearer moves, the light emitted by the LEDs passes through the light-transmissive encapsulating lighting enclosure 52 and illuminates the graphic design 14.
It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. For example, the garment need not be a shirt as illustrated, but can be any clothing article, including hats and gloves. The number of lighting units, apertures and wire pairs need not be five as illustrated, but could be any number. The arrangement of the apertures need not be the annulus as illustrated, but could be any desired arrangement. The sensor need not be a motion-responsive switch 40 as illustrated, but could equally well be a sensor that detects sounds, light, or moisture, or any combination thereof. Thus, the sensor could actuate the LEDs when it detects sounds above a certain threshold, or when it detects light intensity levels indicative of nighttime instead of daytime, or when it detects water, for example, during swimming.
While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a sensor-responsive lighting module and article of clothing, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. By way of example, the panel 12 need not be apertured, but, in a variant construction, can be a non-apertured, light-transmissive panel that entirely overlies the module, in which case, the emitted light from the LEDs would pass through the light-transmissive material of the panel, rather than through apertures.
Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.
