Abstract:
An upper body garment with improved visibility includes a high-visibility face that is one of the front or back faces of the garment. The high-visibility face includes a first light emitter on a right shoulder portion and a second light emitter on a left shoulder portion. The high-visibility face further includes a first light emitter pattern formed by the first and second light emitters that grabs attention and visibly diverges when approached. The high-visibility face further includes a third light emitter that identifies the wearer.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The system described herein generally relates to the field of apparel. More specifically, the system relates to high visibility apparel. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    High-visibility clothing has applications in a number of fields, including air travel, construction, hunting, and on roadways. Modern roadways are primarily designed for motor vehicle use, and the risk of collisions between vehicles and non-motor vehicle operators as well as low visibility vehicles (such as motorcycles) is unacceptably high. Motorists&#39; primary attention on other motor vehicles on the road, the poor visibility of smaller motorized and non-motorized objects, and the discrepancy in speed between motor vehicles and non-motor vehicles are also factors that increase the risk of these collisions. As fuel costs and interest in physical fitness have increased, the number of bicyclists and pedestrians on roadways has also increased. This has increased the potential for collisions. These collisions are devastating for the pedestrian/bicyclist/motorcyclist and road workers because they are completely exposed and unprotected. 
         [0003]    In order to prevent such collisions, pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists and road workers frequently wear high visibility clothing or add high visibility components to their bikes, particularly at night. These high visibility clothes or components typically comprise bright colors, reflectors, or lights. However, these systems typically rely on single points of steady or flashing lights (or reflections) that may appear random or arbitrary to motorists traveling at speed. It is difficult for motorists to discern the difference and origin of the various forms of reflections and emitted lights on the roadway. Therefore, motorists&#39; ability to determine the speed, distance, size, and identity of the cyclist/pedestrian/worker employing these systems is extremely limited. 
         [0004]    There remains a need in the art for a recognition and visibility-increasing system for workers, motorcyclists and low-speed travelers. The system relies on a specific and recognizable pattern of emitting lights that allow motorists to quickly determine the identity of the wearer as well as the speed, distance, size, and direction of travel. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0005]    An upper body garment with improved visibility includes a high-visibility face that is one of the front or back faces of the garment. The high-visibility face includes a first light emitter on a right shoulder portion and a second light emitter on a left shoulder portion. The high-visibility face further includes a first light emitter pattern formed by the first and second light emitters that grabs attention and visibly diverges when approached. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, the high-visibility face further includes a third light emitter that identifies the wearer. In some embodiments, the third light emitter includes a triangular LED cluster. In some embodiments, the third light emitter includes a line of LEDs. In some embodiments, the light emitters include LEDs. In some embodiments, the light emitters include LED clusters. In some embodiments, the third light emitter is on an abdominal portion of the high visibility face. In some embodiments, the first and second light emitters include triangular LED clusters. In some embodiments, the light emitters include LED ribbons. In some embodiments, the first and second light emitters are at the widest points of the shoulders of the high-visibility face. In some embodiments, both the front and back faces of the garment are high-visibility faces. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a partially transparent view of the back of a high visibility garment according to one embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a diagram of the LED array of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is an exploded transparent view of the power and control circuitry of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a disassembled view of a portion of the garment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the electronics of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a partially transparent view of a high visibility garment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a partially transparent view of a high visibility garment according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a partially transparent view of the back of a high visibility garment  12  according to one embodiment. Garment  12  (a jacket in this embodiment) comprises material  13  and visibility system  10 . In this embodiment, visibility system  10  comprises LEDs  14 , switch  18 , a power source  16 , and electrical connections  20 . 
         [0016]    In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , LEDs  14  are arranged in three triangular clusters. The first and second clusters are located at the widest points of the shoulders, to maximize their distance from each other and their height on garment  12 . The first and second light clusters are highly visible in order to quickly grab the attention of passing motorists. The two shoulder clusters will appear to diverge as a motorist approaches garment  12 , and will appear to converge as the motorist moves away from garment  12 . This optical effect allows the motorist to quickly assess the relative speed, direction, and distance of the wearer. Such information is not conveyed to a motorist by a single point of light. 
         [0017]    The third LED cluster is located in an abdominal region (or mid/lower back) and identifies the wearer. The visible identification provided by the third LED cluster allows motorists to modify their behavior based on the wearer&#39;s presumed behavior, further enhancing safety. In this embodiment, the third cluster is a triangle identifying the wearer as a bicyclist. However, it may identify the wearer as another type of user, such as the examples mentioned herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , LED ribbons  22  connect the clusters together to enhance visibility and aid in identification. 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows the power and control circuitry of system  10 . These include, switch  18 , power source  16 , and electrical connections  20 . In some embodiments, switch  18  is a simple on/off switch. 
         [0019]    In other embodiments, switch  18  has additional functionality like the ability to toggle between different brightness, flash pattern settings, still pattern settings, or colors. In some embodiments, a wearer can toggle these settings to select different visible identification or visibility setting, depending on the intended activity. In some embodiments, an adapter is connected to system  10  to connect it to smart phones or other devices to allow users to control power, brightness, patterns, color, and flashing capabilities through an application. 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a disassembled view of a portion of garment  12 . As can be seen, garment  12  comprises outer material  13 , LED ribbon  22 , and lining  28 . LED ribbon  22  comprises electrical conductors  26  and LEDs  14 . Outer material  13  comprises openings  24  that provide an unobstructed area for LEDs  14  to emit light. 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view taken on line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 1 , which shows the structure of  FIG. 4  as assembled. Openings  24  in outer material  13  provide clearance for LEDs  14 . LED ribbon  22  is disposed between outer material  13  and lining  28 . LED ribbon  22  may be coupled to outer material  13 , lining  28 , or both. In this embodiment, lining  28  contours around the profile of LED ribbon  22 . As can be seen, LEDs  14  and wiring components are incorporated into the design of garment  12  (jacket, vest, performance clothing etc.), and are sewn in to be as low profile and seamless as possible. 
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of the electronics of system  10 . Power source  16  (a battery in this embodiment) provides current through electrical connections  20  and LED ribbon conductor  26  to LEDs  14 . Switch  18  opens and closes the circuit to turn LEDs  14  on and off. The system described herein may be wired using  18  AWG wire. 
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a partially transparent view of a high visibility garment  32  (a shirt in this embodiment) featuring a second lighting pattern  30 . This embodiment features a second pattern  30  of three triangular LED clusters with no LEDs  14  between the clusters. Wiring connections  34  electrically connect the clusters. This unique pattern may identify the wearer as a cyclist, pedestrian, runner, or operator of a low-speed small vehicle (i.e. an ATV, moped, personal transporter, or scooter). The clusters may comprise LED ribbons  36 , or individual LEDs  14  connected to each other. 
         [0024]      FIG. 8  is a partially transparent view of a high visibility garment  32  (a shirt in this embodiment) featuring a third lighting pattern  38 . This embodiment features the shoulder light clusters for high visibility and to communicate speed, distance, and direction to motorists. It also features an LED ribbon  42  in the abdominal area that has a horizontal linear LED  14  pattern. This pattern may indicate that the wearer is, for example, a runner. However, it could signify any of the other types of wearers, including the examples mentioned herein. Electrical connections  40  connect identity cluster with the speed/distance/direction cluster. In this embodiment, the shoulder clusters  42  are constructed from LED ribbons  42 . As can be seen from the various embodiments, the LEDs  14  may be features on the back or front of the garment  12 , or both. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  is similar to that of  FIG. 8 , but without the LED ribbon  42 . 
         [0025]    Although the invention has been described with reference to embodiments herein, those embodiments do not limit the invention. Modifications to those embodiments or other embodiments may fall within the scope of the invention.