Abstract:
Apparel, such as hats, headbands and gloves have one or more pockets, each holding an illumination device, and a pouch holding a battery, switch and circuitry for controlling the illumination display. Different color LEDs are used to distinguish the direction of travel of a wearer of the apparel under conditions of poor visibility.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to apparel, for example, sports apparel as used by runners, the apparel being actively illuminated to render the wearer more conspicuous during conditions of poor visibility. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    On average in the United States, a pedestrian is injured in an automobile accident every eight minutes. Even worse, a pedestrian is killed every 111 minutes. Between 1995 and 2010, pedestrian fatalities ranged from about 4,000 to over 5,000 per year, and pedestrian injuries ranged from about 70,000 to over 80,000. Statistics show, as expected, that most of the accidents occurred at night, on urban roads, and, surprisingly, at locations other than intersections. 
         [0003]    Runners are especially vulnerable to serious road accidents involving motor vehicles. However, the odds of being injured or killed can be greatly reduced if proper precautions are exercised. High on the list of effective precautions is the wearing of high visibility sportswear which combines the advantages of modern fabrics with active, self-contained illumination devices to create a highly visible pedestrian, easily seen by motorists. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The invention concerns illuminated apparel. In one example, an article of apparel comprises a flexible substrate. A pocket is positioned on the substrate. An illumination device is positioned within the pocket. A light transmitting area is positioned overlying the illumination device, and a power source is operatively associated with the illumination device. In a particular example, the light transmitting area comprises an opening in the substrate. An open mesh may overlie the opening. 
         [0005]    In another example, an article of illuminated apparel comprises a flexible substrate. A pocket is positioned on the substrate. An opening is positioned overlying the pocket. An illumination device is positioned within the pocket. The illumination device faces the opening for projecting light outwardly therefrom. A power source is operatively associated with the illumination device. In a particular example embodiment, the opening is in the substrate. An open mesh may overlie the opening. 
         [0006]    The article may further comprise a pouch mounted on the substrate, the power source being positioned within the pouch. The power source may comprise an electrical battery. A pair of electrical conductors may extend between the electrical battery and the illumination device forming an electrical circuit. A switch may be positioned within the pouch, the switch being operatively associated with the electrical circuit for opening and closing the circuit. 
         [0007]    By way of example the article may further comprise a lining attached to the substrate. The electrical conductors may be captured between the lining and the substrate. Furthermore, a snare may be mounted on the substrate, and the electrical conductors may be captured by the snare and thereby retained to the substrate. 
         [0008]    In a particular example, the illumination device comprises at least one light emitting diode. In another example, the illumination device comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes encapsulated within a transparent polymer layer. Electronic circuitry may be positioned within the pouch, the circuitry being operatively associated with the switch, the electrical conductors, the electrical battery and the light emitting diodes for controlling illumination of the light emitting diodes in a plurality of lighting patterns. For example, the lighting patterns may be selected from the group consisting of flashing on and off, constantly on, and constantly off. The light emitting diodes may be mounted on one side of a backing lamina. The electrical conductors may be mounted on an opposite side of the backing lamina. In a particular example, the electrical conductors are retained to the opposite side of the backing lamina by a cinch surrounding the backing lamina and the transparent polymer layer. The backing lamina may have first and second ends oppositely disposed. A pair of electrical terminals is mounted on the backing lamina at the first end, the electrical terminals being electrically connected to the light emitting diodes, the electrical conductors being electrically connected to the electrical terminals. The cinch may be positioned surrounding the backing lamina and the transparent polymer layer at the second end of the backing lamina. 
         [0009]    In one example embodiment, the article of illuminated apparel comprises a hat. An example hat may comprise a crown defining an internal volume, the crown having a perimeter defining an opening into the internal volume. A band is attached to the perimeter and surrounds the opening. A first pocket is positioned on the band. A first opening is positioned overlying the first pocket. A first illumination device is positioned within the first pocket and faces the first opening for projecting light outwardly therefrom. An electrical battery is operatively associated with the first illumination device. In a particular embodiment, the first opening is in the band. The example may further comprise an open mesh overlying the first opening. The example hat may further comprise a pouch mounted on the band. The electrical battery is positioned within the pouch. 
         [0010]    In another example, the article of illuminated apparel comprises a headband. In a particular embodiment, the headband comprises a flexible substrate loop. A first pocket is positioned on the substrate loop. A first opening in the substrate loop is positioned overlying the first pocket. A first illumination device is positioned within the first pocket and faces the first opening for projecting light outwardly therefrom. An electrical battery is operatively associated with the first illumination device. In a particular embodiment, the opening is in the substrate loop. The embodiment may further comprise an open mesh overlying the first opening. The example headband may further comprise a pouch mounted on the substrate loop. The electrical battery is positioned within the pouch. 
         [0011]    In another example, the article of illuminated apparel comprises a glove for receiving a hand, the hand having a palm and a back. In a particular embodiment, the example glove comprises a palm substrate positionable overlying the palm and a back substrate positionable overlying the back. The back substrate is attached to the palm substrate in overlying relation and forms a cavity therebetween. A pocket is positioned on the back substrate. An opening overlies the pocket. An illumination device is positioned within the pocket and faces the opening for projecting light outwardly therefrom. A power source is operatively associated with the illumination device. In a particular example, the opening is in the back substrate. An open mesh may overlie the opening. The example glove may further comprise a wrist skirt attached to the palm substrate and the back substrate. A pouch may be mounted on the wrist skirt, the electrical battery being positioned within the pouch. A pair of electrical conductors may extend between the electrical battery and the illumination device forming an electrical circuit. A switch may be positioned within the pouch. The switch is operatively associated with the electrical circuit for opening and closing the electrical circuit. A snare may be attached to one of the palm and back substrates. The electrical conductors are captured by the snare. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top view of an example illumination device assembly used with the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the illumination device assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an isometric front view of an example illuminated hat according to the invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a sectional view taken at line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an isometric rear view of the illuminated hat shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is a sectional view taken at line  4 A- 4 A of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a partial cut-away isometric front view of the illuminated hat shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 6 and 7  are isometric front and rear views, respectively, of an example illuminated headband; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a back facing view of an example illuminated glove; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a palm facing view of the glove shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a partial cut-away view of the glove shown in  FIG. 8 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a back facing view of an example fingerless illuminated glove; 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a palm facing view of the fingerless glove shown in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 13  is a back facing view of an example illuminated mitten glove; 
           [0026]      FIG. 14  is a palm facing view of an example illuminated combination mitten/finger glove; 
           [0027]      FIG. 15  is a back facing view of the combination mitten/finger glove shown in  FIG. 14 ; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 16  is a detailed view of a portion of the headband shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an example illumination device assembly  10  usable with illuminated apparel according to the invention, it being understood that other types of illumination device assemblies are also feasible. Illumination device assembly  10  comprises an illumination device  12 , in this example, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  14  mounted on one side of a backing lamina  16  and encapsulated within a transparent polymer layer  18 . Exposed electrical terminals  20  extend from the opposite side of the backing lamina  16  affording electrical connection to the LEDs by a pair of electrical conductors  22 . It is found advantageous to position terminals  20  at one end of the backing lamina  16  and run the electrical conductors  22  lengthwise along the lamina to its opposite end. A cinch  24  is then used to retain the conductors to the backing lamina  16 , the cinch  24  being positioned surrounding the backing lamina and the polymer layer  18 . Cinch  24  may be, for example, a heat shrinkable plastic band which cinches the conductors  22  to the backing lamina  16 . Cinching the conductors at a point away from the terminals  20  help mitigate stress on the conductor-terminal connection to guard against fatigue failure. 
         [0030]    Assembly  10  further includes a power source for the LEDs, in this example, an electric battery  26  mounted on a circuit board  28  having electronic circuitry  30 . A switch  32  is also mounted on the circuit board  28 . Electrical conductors  22  are connected to the circuit board  28 . Circuitry  30  is operatively associated with the switch  32 , the electrical conductors  22 , the battery  26  and the LEDs  14  to form an electrical circuit between the battery  26  and the LEDs  14  that is controlled by the switch and the circuitry. The switch  32 , in conjunction with the circuitry  30 , operates as a selector for controlling illumination of the LEDs in a plurality of lighting patterns. For example, the LEDs may flash on and off at one or more frequencies, may be constantly on, or off, the selection being controlled by actuating the switch a number of times in succession. For example, starting from the condition wherein the LEDs  14  are off, a first click of the switch  32  will set the LEDs flashing rapidly, a second click will slow the rate of flashing, a third click will cause the LEDs to remain constantly on, and a fourth click will shut the LEDs off. Other combinations of illumination are also feasible. Variable illumination functions of this nature are effected by commercially available integrated circuits and thus need not be explained in any detail here. 
         [0031]    One example of illuminated apparel according to the invention is a hat  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Hat  34  comprises a crown  36  which defines a volume  38 . A perimeter  40  of the crown defines an opening  42  to the volume  38 . A flexible substrate  44 , in this example comprising a band  46 , is attached to the perimeter  40  and surrounds the opening  42 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , a pocket  48  is positioned on the substrate  44 . Pocket  48  is formed, for example, by attaching a layer of material  50  to the substrate, for example by stitching or adhesive. The illumination device  12  is positioned within the pocket  48  and a light transmitting area is positioned overlying the illumination device. In this example, the light transmitting area comprises an opening  52  in the substrate  44  (band  46 ) overlying the pocket  48 . As part of the light transmitting area, an open mesh  54  overlies the opening  52  and helps retain the illumination device  12  within the pocket  48  while still allowing light to project outwardly from the pocket  48 . 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , hat  34  also comprises a pouch  56  mounted on the band  46 . In this example, the pouch  56  is located diametrically opposite to the pocket  48  and holds the circuit board  28 , battery  26  and switch  32 . The switch  32  is actuated through the band  46  in normal use, but, as shown in  FIG. 5 , pouch  56  is provided with an opening  58  allowing the circuit board  28  to be removed to replace the battery  26 . Hook and loop fasteners may be used to secure the opening  58  in the closed position. Pouch  56  is shown in cross section in  FIG. 4A , and in this example comprises a layer of material  60  attached to the band  46 , for example, by stitching or adhesive. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 4A , the example hat  34  has a second pocket  62  also positioned on the band  46 . Second pocket  62  is positioned diametrically opposite to the first pocket  48 , and, as shown in cross section in  FIG. 4A , comprises a layer of material  64  attached to the band  46 . A light transmitting area, in the form of an opening  66  in the band is positioned overlying the pocket  62 , and an open mesh  68  overlies the opening  66  to form part of the light transmitting area and help retain a second illumination device  70  within the pocket  62 . Conductors  22  extend between the second illumination device  70  and the circuit board  28 , switch  32  and battery  26 , forming another electrical circuit. A liner  74  is attached to the band  46 , the conductors  22  and  72  being captured between the liner and the band and presenting a neat appearance, with no visible conductors. 
         [0034]    In this example, similar to the first illumination device  12 , the second illumination device  70  comprises LEDs  14  mounted on a backing lamina  16  and encapsulated within a transparent polymer layer  18  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The circuitry  30  and the battery  26  and switch  32  are operatively associated with the second illumination device  70  and control its lighting pattern as described above for the first illumination device  12 . It is advantageous to have different color LEDs in the first and second pockets. For example, white LEDs may be positioned in the first pocket  48 , and red LEDs may be positioned in the second pocket  62 . When the hat  34  is then worn with the white LEDs facing frontward (the direction of travel) and the red LEDs facing rearward (as is customary on vehicles) the direction of motion of the wearer is readily determinable at a distance and in conditions of poor visibility. 
         [0035]    Another example of illuminated apparel according to the invention is a headband  76 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Headband  76  comprises a flexible substrate loop  78 . Similar to the hat  34 , headband  76  has two pockets  80  and  82  arranged diametrically opposite to one another. Illumination devices  84  and  86  are positioned respectively in pockets  80  and  82 . Light transmitting areas comprising openings  88  and  90  are positioned in the substrate loop overlying the pockets  80  and  82 . Open mesh  92  and  94  overlies the openings  88  and  90  and helps retain the illumination devices  84  and  86  within the pockets  80  and  82  while still allowing light to project outwardly therefrom. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 16 , headband  76  also comprises a pouch  96  mounted on the substrate loop  78 . In this example, the pouch  96  is located diametrically opposite to the pocket  80  and holds the circuit board  28 , battery  26  and switch  32  operatively associated with the illumination devices  84  and  86 . The switch  32  is actuated through the substrate loop  78  in normal use, but the pouch is provided with an opening  58  (similar to that shown in  FIG. 5  for the hat  34 ) allowing the circuit board  28  to be removed to replace the battery  26 . Hook and loop fasteners may be used to secure the opening in the closed position. 
         [0037]    Conductors  98  extend between the illumination devices  84  and  86  and the circuit board  28 , switch  32  and battery  26 , forming an electrical circuit. A liner  100  is attached to the substrate loop  78 , the conductors  98  being captured between the liner and the loop and presenting a neat appearance, with no visible conductors. 
         [0038]    In this example headband  76 , similar to the hat  34 , the first and second illumination devices  84  and  86  comprises LEDs  14  mounted on a backing lamina  16  and encapsulated within a transparent polymer layer  18  (see  FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The circuitry  30  and the battery  26  and switch  32  are operatively associated with the illumination devices  84  and  86  and control their lighting pattern as described above for the first illumination device  12 . It is advantageous to have different color LEDs in the first and second pockets. For example, white LEDs may be positioned in the first pocket  80 , and red LEDs may be positioned in the second pocket  82 . When the headband  76  is then worn with the white LEDs facing frontward (the direction of travel) and the red LEDs facing rearward (as is customary on vehicles) the direction of motion of the wearer is readily determinable at a distance and in conditions of poor visibility. 
         [0039]    Another example of illuminated apparel according to the invention comprises a glove  102  as shown in  FIGS. 8-10 . Glove  102  is formed of a back substrate  104  (which overlies the back of a wearer&#39;s hand) attached to a palm substrate  106  to form a cavity  108  for receiving the hand of a wearer. In this example glove  102 , a pocket  110  is positioned on the back substrate  104 . (Pocket  110  has the same structure as the pocket illustrated in  FIG. 3A .) An illumination device  112  is positioned within pocket  110 , and a light transmitting area comprising an opening  114  in the back substrate  104  is positioned overlying the pocket  110 . An open mesh  116  is attached to the back substrate  104  overlying the opening  114  to help retain the illumination device  112  within the pocket  110 . In this example glove the illumination device  112  is arranged to project light substantially perpendicular to the back substrate  104 . 
         [0040]    The illumination device  112  in this example again comprises a plurality of LEDs  14  mounted on a backing lamina  16  and encapsulated within a transparent polymer layer  18  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Electrical conductors  22  form a circuit between the LEDs and the battery  26 , switch  32  and circuit board  28 . The circuitry  30  on the circuit board in conjunction with the switch  32  and battery  26  controls the lighting pattern of the LEDs as described above. As shown in  FIG. 10  the battery, switch and circuit board are contained within a pouch  118  mounted on a wrist skirt  120  that is attached to the back substrate  104  and palm substrate  106 . (Pouch  118  has the same structure as the pouch illustrated in  FIG. 4A .) Electrical conductors  22  extend from the pouch  118  through the cavity  108  and into the pocket  110  to connect the illumination device  112  to its power and control source. A snare  122  is positioned within cavity  108  and is attached to one of or both the back substrate  104  and the palm substrate  106 . For example, the snare  122  may be sewn into the seam  124  between the back and palm substrates as shown in  FIG. 10 . The snare  122  captures and secures the conductors  22  within the cavity  108  to prevent interference when the gloves are donned. Switch  32  may be actuated through the material forming the wrist skirt  120 . 
         [0041]    Various illuminated glove embodiments are feasible.  FIGS. 8-10  show a full glove  102  having a plurality of finger sheaths  126  and a thumb sheath  128  attached to the back and palm sheaths  104  and  106 . Full illuminated gloves are advantageous for running or cycling in cold weather. “Fingerless” illuminated gloves  130 , as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  are adapted for use in hot weather. Another illuminated glove embodiment  132 , illustrated in  FIGS. 13-15 , comprises a mitten, and includes a finger compartment  134 . The finger compartment  134  may be attached to the back substrate  104  and the palm substrate  106  to form a traditional mitten as shown in  FIG. 13 . Alternately, as shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the finger compartment  134  may be attached only to one of the back or palm substrates  104  and  106 , and removable from the fingers by extracting the fingers and folding the finger compartment back to free the fingers when dexterity is required. By way of example,  FIG. 15  shows the finger compartment  134  attached to the back substrate  104  and folded back to free the fingers of the wearer. It is understood that the finger compartment may be used with either full or fingerless gloves. 
         [0042]    Illuminated apparel according to the invention may comprise substrates formed of woven, non-woven and knitted materials and fabrics. Synthetic and natural fibers, as well as blends and combinations of the two fibers, can be used to advantage to form the materials and fabrics used in the illuminated apparel according to the invention. 
         [0043]    Illuminated apparel as disclosed herein is expected to increase the visibility of runners and thereby reduce the number of injuries and fatalities suffered.