Abstract:
A glove and illuminating indicating system is provided. The system includes a reed switch in the middle finger of the glove, a magnet connected to the thumb of the glove, and a lighting means. The system is configured such that bringing the reed switch and the magnet within a threshold distance from each other causes the reed switch to effect illumination of the lighting means.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a glove including digits and an illuminating indicating system. The glove is preferably to be used by a cyclist to act as an indicator when the cyclist makes a hand signal. 
     GB 420,208 discloses a glove to be used as an indicator having a first contact member attached to the middle finger of the glove, and a second contact member attached to the thumb of the glove. The first and second contact members are both connected to an electric light bulb on the back of the glove. When the first and second contact members are brought into contact with one another, a circuit is completed to effect illumination of the electric light bulb. A problem with this glove is that the contact members will be subject to much wear by being brought into contact with each other. Another problem is that the contact members will need to be kept clean so that dirt does not stop the circuit being completed. If the contact members get wet, such as when the glove is used in the rain, then moisture can accidentally cause the circuit to be completed. Also, moisture and salts can cause the contact members and other metal elements to corrode. Furthermore, the contact members should be of a reasonable size to maximize the chance of positive contact. This means that the contact members should have a shape to match the rounded shape of a finger or thumb tip. If the contact members are made smaller then they can be made to be flatter but this means that the user must be more accurate in bringing the contact members into contact with one another. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a glove to alleviate at least one of the above-mentioned problems. 
     According to the present invention there is provided a glove including digits and an illuminating indicating system, the system including a proximity switch connected to one digit of the glove, a proximity switch actuator connected to another digit of the glove, and a lighting means, the system being configured such that bringing the proximity switch and the proximity switch actuator within a threshold distance from each other causes the proximity switch to effect illumination of the lighting means. By the system having a proximity switch and a proximity switch actuator, illumination of the lighting means is effected without the need to have contact members making physical contact. The digits comprise the fingers and thumb of the glove. The glove may be a mitten wherein one digit is the thumb and another digit houses all the fingers of the wearer of the user. 
     At least part of the illuminating indicating system may be removable from or releasably attached to the glove. All of the illuminating indicating system other than the proximity switch actuator may be removable from or releasably attached to the glove. Preferably, the proximity switch is connected to a finger of the glove and the proximity switch actuator is in, on or connected to the thumb of the glove. 
     The glove preferably includes a power source for providing power to illuminate the lighting means, and connection means connecting the proximity switch to the lighting means. The power source, the lighting means, the proximity switch and the connection means may form a single unit removably attached to the glove. This unit may be removed from the glove so that the glove can be washed. 
     The glove may include pocket means which houses at least part of the illuminating indicating system. The pocket means may house the proximity switch and the connection means. The pocket means may house the power source and the lighting means. 
     The glove may include a casing for holding the power source and the lighting means. The casing may comprise two portions that fit together. The two casing portions may be held together by the pocket means, and this reduces the cost of manufacture and assembly as no fixings such as screws are required. The pocket means may comprise resilient material enabling the two casing portions to be held together by the pocket means when the casing is inserted in the pocket means. 
     A plurality of the digits may each have a proximity switch or proximity switch actuator holding means so that the proximity switch or proximity switch actuator can be held by any one of the holding means. The holding means may comprise a conduit in a digit of the glove. The proximity switch may be in a said conduit and the conduit may be connected to the pocket means. 
     Preferably, the proximity switch comprises a reed switch and the proximity switch actuator comprises a magnet. 
     The threshold distance is preferably not more than 5 cm apart and may not be more than 2 cm apart. The threshold distance may be not more than 15 mm apart. 
     The illuminating indicating system may include a plurality of proximity switches, the system being configured such that each proximity switch causes the lighting means to illuminate in a different manner, such as a different colour, when said proximity switch is closed. Each proximity switch may be arranged to be located on a different digit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of a glove and an illuminating indicating system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of the illuminating indicating system; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a modified glove and illuminating indicating system; 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view taken along lines  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a modified view of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of another modified glove and illuminating indicating system; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of yet another modified glove and illuminating indicating system; 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of a further modified glove and illuminating indicating system to be placed in the glove; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the glove of  FIG. 8  with the illuminating indicating system placed therein; 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are isometric views of a casing forming part of the illuminating indicating system of  FIGS. 8 and 9  with the casing shown open and closed, respectively; 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are sectional views taken along lines  12 - 12  and  13 - 13 , respectively of  FIG. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a plan view of a short-fingered version of the glove of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  of the accompanying drawings, a glove  1  and an illuminating indicating system  2  is provided. The system  2  includes a reed switch  3  strapped to the middle finger  4  of the glove  1 , and a magnet  5  strapped to the thumb  6  of the glove  1 . A circuit board  7  containing an array of light emitting diodes (LEDs)  8  is located on the back of the glove  1  and the reed switch  3  is connected to the array of LEDs  8  by a pair of wires  9  strapped to the glove  1 . A cell battery  10  is located on the circuit board  7  to provide power to illuminate the LEDs  8 . 
     The electrical circuit for the glove  1  is illustrated in  FIG. 2  wherein the battery  10  and reed switch  3  are in series. Each LED  8  is connected in parallel to the battery  10  and reed switch  3  and has an accompanying resistor  11 . Only three of the LEDs  8  and resistors  11  are shown in the figure. 
     In use, a user wearing the glove  1  brings his thumb  6  and middle finger  4  towards each other so that when the reed switch  3  and magnet  5  are within a threshold distance from each other, the reed switch  3  is closed causing the LEDs  8  to illuminate. The LEDs  8  preferably produce amber light when illuminated. In order to flash the LEDs  8  the user repeatedly brings his thumb  6  and middle finger  4  towards and away from each other, and the speed of performing this dictates the rate of flashing. 
     In a modification illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a flexible tubular passage or pocket  12  is provided along the back of the middle finger  4  of the glove  1  to house the reed switch  3  and the wire connection  9  to the circuit board (not shown). The circuit board and battery (not shown) are held in a protective casing  13  and the LEDs  8  are mounted in the casing  13 . A removable cover  14  is provided in the casing  13  for access to the battery and the casing  13  is held by detachable fastening means  15 , such as Velcro®, to the back of the glove  1 . If the glove  1  is to be washed, the casing  13  containing the circuit board, the LEDs  8  and the battery is removed from the back of the glove  1  and when the casing  13  is removed the connected reed switch  3  is also removed by being pulled out of the tubular pocket  12 . The magnet  5  on the glove  1  is not affected by being washed. 
     In a modification illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the pocket  16  extends over the casing  13  and is transparent so that light from the LEDs  8  can be seen. 
     In another modification illustrated in  FIG. 6 , each of the fingers of the glove  1  has a pocket  17  for holding the reed switch  3  so that the user can choose which finger to use to cause the LEDs  8  mounted in the casing  13  to illuminate. One pocket  17  is shown as holding the reed switch  3  and the other pockets  17  shows in dotted line the outline of where the reed switch  3 ′ could be placed. 
     In yet another modification illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the illuminating indicating system  20  has two reed switches  21 ,  22  wherein one reed switch  21  is located on the forefinger  23  of the glove  1  and another reed switch  22  is located on the middle finger  4 . Each reed switch  21 ,  22  is connected by respective wiring  24 ,  25  to the circuit board (not shown) housed in the casing  26 . Two sets of LEDs  27 ,  28  are mounted in the casing  26  wherein one set is to produce red light and the other set is to produce green light. When the user wearing the glove  1  brings his thumb  6  and forefinger  23  towards each other the forefinger reed switch  21  is closed causing the red LEDs  27  to illuminate red light and when the user brings his thumb  6  and middle finger  4  towards each other the middle finger reed switch  22  is closed causing the green LEDs  28  to illuminate green light. 
     In a further modification illustrated in  FIGS. 7 to 13 , the glove  30  has a double layer  31 ,  31 ′ of resilient material for the back of the glove  30  and the back of the fingers. A pocket  33  is formed between the two layers  31 ,  31 ′ in the back of the glove  30  and the pocket  33  is open at the end  40  where a hand is to be inserted into the glove  30 . At the opposite end of the pocket  33  are two conduits, tubes or channels or tether channels  34 ,  34 ′ formed between the two layers  31 ,  31 ′ with one conduit  34  extending up towards the end of the forefinger digit  23  of the glove  30  and the other conduit  34 ′ extending up towards the end of the middle finger  4  of the glove  30 . 
     The pocket  33  is arranged to receive the protective casing  35 . The protective casing  35  is formed of two portions  36 ,  36 ′ which each have corresponding tongues  37  and grooves  38  to enable the two portions  36 ,  36 ′ to fit together. The casing  35  has the LEDs  8  extending from it and the casing  35  houses the circuit board and battery (not shown) wherein the LEDs  8  are connected to the circuit board. The cable connection  9  extends from the circuit board in the casing  35  to the reed switch  3 . 
     The reed switch  3  is inserted into either the forefinger or middle finger conduit  34 ,  34 ′ depending on the preference of the user (shown in middle finger conduit  34 ′ in  FIGS. 9 and 12 ) and the protective casing  34  is inserted into the pocket  33  so that the LEDs  8  protrude through holes  39  in the outer layer  31  of the back of the glove  30 . The resilient nature of the material of the layers  31 ,  31 ′ ensures that the two portions  36 ,  36 ′ of the casing  35  are held together. The casing  35  and the connected reed switch  3  are removed from the glove  30  when the glove  30  is to be washed or when the battery is to be changed. For the latter, when the casing  35  is removed its two portions  36 ,  36 ′ are simply separated in order to replace the battery. 
     This arrangement provides protection for the electrical elements from water. 
     A short-fingered version of the glove  50  of  FIGS. 7 to 13  is illustrated in  FIG. 14 . The glove  50  has one conduit  51  from the pocket  33  and is bent beneath the truncated forefinger digit  52  of the glove  50  so that there is enough length for the reed switch and attached cable (not shown). 
     Whilst particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.