Abstract:
A jacket that is configured to provide a visual effect and a sound effect. The jacket includes a body having a pair of sleeves and a hood. A plurality of removable light chains are secured to the body in an ornamental orientation. The jacket further includes at least one audio speaker that is operable to produce sound effects such as play music. A controller is disposed within the body of the jacket and is operable to provide control of the jacket and the production of the visual effect and the sound effects. The controller is embodied as a conventional controller with manual interfaces or is embodied such that it is wirelessly coupled with a software application stored on an external device such as a smartphone. A power supply is included to provide the necessary power to operate the jacket.

Description:
PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C Section 119(e) &amp; 37 C.F.R. Section 1.78 
       [0001]    This nonprovisional application claims priority based upon the following prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled: Jacket, Application No.: 62/035,958 filed Aug. 11, 2014, in the name of Evelyn Payne, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to novelty clothing, more specifically but not by way of limitation but a jacket that includes the ability to play a plurality of audio data files and further includes decorative lighting. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Millions of people around the world celebrate Christmas. Christmas is one of the largest holidays of the year in terms of participation. During the Christmas season people will decorate their houses, throw parties and engage in other festive activities. Music and lights will also be used in displays around the community as a part of the celebration of the birth of Christ. 
         [0004]    During the holiday season people will also wear decorative, or themed, attire. Holiday sweaters and similar articles of clothing are very popular amongst all ages. While some existing technology does provide lighted holiday sweaters, currently no article of clothing is available that provides lights and holiday music wherein elements required to produce the lights and holiday music are integrated into an article of clothing such as but not limited to a jacket. 
         [0005]    Accordingly there is a need for a holiday themed article of clothing that includes integrated lights and audio producing capabilities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is the object of the present invention to provide an article of clothing wherein the article of clothing is operable to produce visual and audial effects. 
         [0007]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an article of clothing operable to produce visual and audial effects that is holiday themed. 
         [0008]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a holiday themed jacket operable to provide audial and visual effects wherein the visual effects are produced utilizing detachable lights. 
         [0009]    An additional object of the present invention is to provide an article of clothing that is holiday themed wherein the clothing is configured to provide visual and audial effects that includes a controller operable to provide a user interface to control the article of clothing. 
         [0010]    Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an article of clothing that is holiday themed wherein the controller is configured to be integrated into the system or an application on a smartphone. 
         [0011]    Still another object of the present invention is to provide an article of clothing that is holiday themed wherein the article of clothing is operable to produce visual and audial effects that is cost effective. 
         [0012]    To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is front view of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the components of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the method of use of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a jacket  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
         [0018]    An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0019]    It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0020]    References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
         [0021]    Referring in particular to  FIG. 1  herein, the jacket  100  is illustrated therein in its preferred embodiment. The jacket  100  is conventional in its exterior construction having a body  10  with an integrated sleeves  20  and hood  30 . The jacket  100  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as but not limited to cotton. The jacket  100  includes a seam  40  that provides a means to divide the body  10  along the front portion  11  so as to facilitate the donning of the jacket  100  by a user. While the preferred embodiment described herein is a jacket  100 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the jacket  100  could be constructed as a sweatshirt or other similar article of clothing. 
         [0022]    The jacket  100  further includes a lower perimeter light chain  50  proximate the bottom  9  of the body  10 . The lower perimeter light chain  50  is manufactured from a plurality of light emitting sources such as but not limited to light emitting diodes. The lower perimeter light chain  50  is surroundably mounted to the body  10  utilizing suitable durable techniques. The lower perimeter light chain  50  is further configured to be releasably secured to the body  10  in order to be removed for cleaning of the jacket  100 . The lower perimeter light chain  50  is operably coupled to the controller  90 . As is further discussed herein the controller  90  provides operation of the lights  49  within the lower perimeter light chain  50 . 
         [0023]    A second light chain  60  and third light chain  70  are surroundably mounted each opposing sleeve  20  proximate the ends  21  thereof. The second light chain  60  and third light chain  70  are operably coupled to the controller  90  and are controlled therewith. A fourth light chain  75  is present along the edge  31  of the hood  30 . The fourth light chain  75  is similar in construction to the second light chain  60  and third light chain  70  and is also operably coupled to the controller  90 . While a lower perimeter light chain  50 , second light chain  60 , third light chain  70  and fourth light chain  75  have been disclosed herein in the preferred embodiment of the jacket  100 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the jacket  100  cold be constructed with various quantities of light chains having as few as one or more than four. In one preferred embodiment, the light chains  5  are secured within a decorative element such as but not limited to fur and the light chains  5  are releasably secured to the jacket  100 . 
         [0024]    Secured within the hood  30  utilizing suitable durable techniques are audio speakers  110 . The audio speakers  110  are conventional audio speakers that are operable to emit audio sounds such as but not limited to music. The audio speakers  110  are operably coupled to the controller  90  and function to provide sound to a wearer of the jacket  100  and/or to individuals proximate thereto. While two audio speakers  110  have been illustrated herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the jacket  100  could include various quantities of audio speakers  100 . 
         [0025]    The controller  90  includes the necessary electronics to store, receive, transmit and manipulate data so as to facilitate the operation of the jacket  100 . The controller  90  is mounted within the jacket  100  such that it is concealed and it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the controller  90  could be mounted such that the controller  90  is accessible to a user via pocket  120 . The controller  90  is contemplated to have a first embodiment and a second embodiment. In its first embodiment, the controller  90  is a conventional controller having a plurality of switches and/or button that facilitate the activation of the light chains  5  and sound to be broadcast via the audio speakers  130 . In its second embodiment, the controller  90  is a software application downloaded to a conventional smartphone or similar device wherein the software application communicates wirelessly to the transceiver  91  integrated in the controller. The transceiver  91  is configured to communicate to a smartphone having a software application via Bluetooth or other suitable technique. In its second embodiment, the controller  90  is programmed via the software application to operate the audio and visual effects provided by the light chains  5  and audio speakers  110 . The controller  90  is operably coupled to the aforementioned light chains and the audio speakers  110  utilizing conventional techniques such as but not limited to wires. 
         [0026]    A power supply  130  is secured proximate the controller  90  and functions to provide the necessary power to operate the jacket  100 . While no particular power supply  130  is required, good results have been achieved utilizing a lithium ion battery. 
         [0027]    Referring in particular to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart of the operation of the jacket  100  is summarized therein. In step  301 , a jacket  100  is provided to a user typically through a conventional channel of commerce such as but not limited to store. Subsequent to step  301 , the user will be directed to the appropriate resource to download the software application operable to facilitate communication with the controller  90 , in step  303 . Step  304 , the user will engage the software application interface to program the jacket  100  to display either a visual effect and/or a sound effect via the light chains  5  or audio speakers  110  respectively. The controller  90  is further operable to provide simultaneous operation of the lights chains  5  and audio speakers  110 . In step  306 , the user will engage the controller  90  to choose the desired effect to produce. Step  308 , the user will place the jacket  100  in its operational mode wherein the jacket  100  will display both its programmed audio and visual effects. 
         [0028]    In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.