Patent Document

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of applications Ser. No. 10/766,709 filed Jan. 27, 2004, and Ser. No. 11/432,466 filed May 10, 2006 by the applicant herein and priority is claimed from the earliest filing dates of these patent applications. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to lighting structures for attachment to garments such as shoes, jackets and other clothing. Such garments have enjoyed significant commercial success, particularly in footwear. Lighted footwear is shown in the following U.S. Patents:  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,435 MODULE TO PROVIDE LIGHT WITH INTERMITTENT MOVEMENT, Dec. 19, 1995, now REISSUE Patent RE 37,220, Jan. 12, 2001;  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,486;  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,755;  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,110;  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,017,128 FOOTWEAR WITH FLASHING LIGHTS, Jan. 25, 2000;  
         [0008]     and in the above-referenced co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 10/776,709 and 11/432,466.  
         [0009]     Lighted shoes may utilize one or more LEDs which may be turned on by a motion sensitive switch. One such switch utilized a coil spring having one end secured to, for example, one track of an integrated circuit, and having its other end suspended over a separate conductor track. Motion of the shoe caused the spring to bounce up and down, making multiple contacts with the separate conductor track. Each such contact caused one or more LEDs to be momentarily illuminated. Such spring-type switches are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,056 SPRING MOUNTED LIGHT, May 29, 2001; U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,721 MOTION SENSITIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ASSEMBLY SWITCHED ON AND OFF BY THE OSCILLATION OF A HELICAL SPRING, Aug. 27, 1996; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,618 MOTION SENSITIVE LIGHT AND BATTERY ASSEMBLY SWITCHED ON AND OFF BY THE OSCILLATION OF A HELICAL SPRING, May 16, 2006; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,721.  
         [0010]     The electrical circuit for controlling one or more LEDs connected to a battery requires, for enhanced visual effects, one or more batteries, a control circuit, usually on a circuit board, a switch, and one or more LEDs. When the battery, switch and circuit board assembly are connected together as a unit, the unit becomes somewhat bulky, e.g., one inch by three-eighths inch by one inch. This is an important factor, particularly when the light system is attached to clothing such as jackets or trousers where the battery is expected to have a useful life which may be equivalent to the life of the clothing itself. Other embodiments include timing and lighting control circuits to provide certain patterns of light flashes, which may add to the volume of the system.  
         [0011]     There is a definite need and desire for lighting and other electronic systems for attachment to wearing apparel that provides greater flexibility than with currently available lighting and other electronic systems. There is also a need for self-powered lighting and other electronic systems sewn or otherwise attached to a garment such as a jacket with light emission or another electronic function from one or more places on the garment. Marks or slits in the outer surface of the systems such as strips extending between elements of the system may interrupt light passing through the system, causing the marks or slits to emit light. Such strips are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,882,110 and 5,649,755, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.  
         [0012]     Another need in the clothing and electronics fields is for lighting and other electronic systems free from known containments such as mercury, lead or solder of any type which might leach out over the years and enter the water supply. Applicant&#39;s co-pending application Ser. No. 11/432,466 disclosed several embodiments of solder-free and/or lead free electrical connections which may be used with mercury-free batteries to provide environmentally acceptable lighting fixtures for shoes and clothing. This &#39;466 application also teaches a switch structure usable with the present invention and which can be made in a smaller package than the spring switches of applicant&#39;s patents referred to above.  
         [0013]     There is a definite need and desire for lighting and other electronic systems which provide greater flexibility for use on shoes and other clothing than existing systems provide.  
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     This invention provides sealed, preferably flexible, lighting and other electronic systems for attachment to shoes and other articles of clothing that may include two or more hollow housing portions of transparent or translucent material with one or more electronic components inside these housings. The systems preferably include a bottom member (or potting/sealant) which may be attached to, and worn for the normal useful life, e.g., several years, of a garment. Such systems may be removable and replaceable, if desired. Each system may include two or more hollow, housing portions joined by a connection device, e.g., wiring, or wiring inside a molded, sealed, hollow housing. Such hollow housing portions may be ornamental in shape; for example, these portions may take the shape of a flower including a stamen and petal portions. One or more of the hollow housing portions may be large enough inside to hold at least one LED or other lighting device for illuminating the ornamental portion(s), or at least one of the other components used to provide power for one or more LEDs, e.g., one or more batteries, a switch, and control circuitry, to activate lighting of the LEDs, or other electronic components such as transducers, displays, and electromechanical devices. The switch may be motion-activated, manually activated, or both motion-activated and manually-activated. If a lighting or other system requires a plurality of one or more of these components, the components may be distributed over all or part of the housing portions of the system to minimize weight and/or volume imbalances that might otherwise arise. This distribution of components allows the system to be smaller, and more comfortable to a wearer.  
         [0015]     The connection devices between the hollow portions may include channels for holding wiring for the electrical elements of the system and may also provide a surface for enhanced lighting effects. The connector devices may also hold the housing portions together, simplifying assembly/manufacturing.  
         [0016]     The electrical operating elements of the system may include, in addition to lighting elements such as light emitting diodes, a battery, e.g., a coin-shaped battery, a control circuit on an electronic circuit board or in the form of an integrated circuit, and an electromechanical motion responsive switch or accelerometer.  
         [0017]     In some embodiments, each housing may be sealed and preferably includes a flange around most of its periphery for sewing or otherwise attaching the housing to a garment. Alternatively, the housing may be attached to garments by hook and loop fasteners for removal for cleaning or washing of the garment.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the LEDs are illuminated when the article of clothing to which the system is attached is worn. If a system ceases operating before the garment has reached the end of its useful life, the system may be removed, and another system may be attached in its place.  
         [0019]     Preferably, each system attaches at at least two separate spaced portions on a garment to minimize the bulk of the system, and to exhibit attractive, flashing light from several areas of the garment. The system&#39;s connection devices, which are preferably exposed to LED illumination, may also emit light from slits or marks on their outer or inner surfaces, or both, where, e.g., the connection devices are hollow, molded channels. These lighting systems, when attached to garments, make the garments more comfortable and more attractive, and provide moving illumination for a wearer, day or night. Some embodiments of the system may comprise one or more lighted toys. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     This invention may be better understood from the following Detailed Description of the Drawings with reference to the drawings, in which:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an individual wearing a jacket having decorative lighting systems attached to the sleeves of the jacket;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the decorative lighting system of  FIG. 1  for attachment to a garment;  
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  is an exploded sectional drawing of the connection device that forms part of the system shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the system of  FIG. 2  showing a bottom member of the system separated from the housing of the system;  
         [0025]      FIG. 4  is a top view showing the system in phantom and distribution of electrical parts in the system of  FIGS. 1-3 ;  
         [0026]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C are sectional views taken along lines  5 A- 5 A,  5 B- 5 B and  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 4 , respectively;  
         [0027]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of an embodiment of an electrical system for use in the lighting system of  FIGS. 1-5 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the lighting systems of this invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal sectional view of the system of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the system of  FIG. 7  with the upper housing or cover in phantom showing the distribution of electrical parts within the system of  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0031]      FIG. 10  is a schematic of the electrical circuitry of  FIGS. 7-9 , showing the placement/positioning of the electrical components of the circuitry;  
         [0032]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of thee first embodiment of the invention showing a plurality of magnets for attaching the housing of the lighting system to the bottom member;  
         [0033]      FIG. 12  is a transverse sectional view of the housing in the first and second embodiments, showing a manually operated switch for activating the LEDs instead of a motion-activated switch;  
         [0034]      FIG. 12A  is a transverse sectional view of the housing in the first and second embodiments showing a coiled, flexible, stress/strain-reduced connection assembly of the interconnecting conductors of the circuitry;  
         [0035]      FIG. 13  shows flex circuitry such as Kapton flexible ribbon circuits in the electrical systems of  FIGS. 1-10  that allow for flexing with slack loops to allow repeated bending and stretching and to minimize failure from broken circuits;  
         [0036]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a decorative lighting system similar to the system shown in  FIG. 1 , here including heart-shaped housing portions, for attachment to a garment;  
         [0037]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a decorative lighting system similar to the system shown in  FIG. 1 , here including a branched, non-linear array of flower-shaped housings, for attachment to a garment;  
         [0038]      FIG. 16  is a front elevational view of a shirt, belt, and pants having decorative lighting systems of differing shapes attached to the sleeves and front of the shirt, and to the pocket, belt and legs of the pants, according to the invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 17  is a side elevational, cross-sectional view of a lighting system that includes two housing portions joined to one another solely by electrical wiring or other conductors;  
         [0040]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a decorative lighting system similar to the system shown in  FIG. 1 , here including a non-linear array of flower-shaped housings, for attachment to a garment, and showing LEDs placed to illuminate the connection devices through marks, slits and striations of the connection devices; and  
         [0041]      FIGS. 19-22  are perspective views of decorative lighting systems similar to the system shown in  FIG. 1 , here including toy airplane-shaped, toy pick-up-shaped, star-shaped, and athletic ball-shaped housing portions, respectively, for attachment to a garment. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0042]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 ,  FIG. 1  shows an individual I wearing a jacket J having sleeves S. Attached to the sleeves are decorative light systems  10 , which may be stitched or otherwise attached to sleeves S. Systems  10  include housings or bodies, which may be made of a flexible molded transparent or translucent plastic such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or a polymeric rubber. Systems  10  include edge flanges  1 OF (see  FIG. 2 ) for receiving adhesive or stitching for attaching systems  10  to sleeves S. Lighting systems  10  include decorative end portions  12  and  16 , and decorative middle portion  14 . Adjacent portions  12 / 14  and  14 / 16  are connected to one another by molded, hollow connection devices  26 / 28  to form a unitary, sealed, self-contained electrically illuminated system that may be one molded unit, with electrical components distributed throughout the housings of the system for attachment to a garment such as jacket J.  
         [0043]     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 17 , adjacent housing portions  14 A and  16 A can be joined to one another by electrical wiring  28 A alone, without a molded, hollow connection devices around the wiring.  
         [0044]     Portions  12 ,  14  and  16  are formed into flowers that extend above the level of connection devices  26  and  28  much like a flower extends above its stem. Portions  12 ,  14 , and  16  may each enclose one or more light emitting diodes, hereinafter designated LEDs. LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24  are placed inside portions  12 ,  14 , and  16 , as indicated by the dashed lead lines in  FIG. 2 , and are positioned to emit light outward from the center or stamen portion, and from the petals of the flowers, or into the connection devices  26 ,  28  or both, as  FIG. 5A  shows; see also  FIGS. 3-6 . Alternatively, one or more of the LEDs could extend through openings to the outside of system  10 . The system is visible from the front, rear and particularly from the side of the jacket J, and may flash in response to movement of a wearer&#39;s arms, e.g., while walking or running. The flashing lights may also provide a degree of safety to persons wearing such garments, especially at night, and with electrical components distributed throughout the housings to reduce the size of the hollow regions inside the housings of the system, and to increase the wearer&#39;s comfort.  
         [0045]      FIG. 2  provides a perspective view of lighting system  10 , in the form of a single molded part, shown apart from, and ready for attachment to a garment. System  10  includes three flower-shaped portions  12 ,  14  and  16 , each of which includes a centrally located stamen portion  18  inside which an LED or lamp  20 ,  22  or  24 , and preferably at least one LED, is positioned. The LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24  are shown in better detail in  FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C, and appear in  FIG. 2  as dashed lines because they are located inside portions  12 ,  14  and  16 .  FIG. 2A  is a sectional view taken along line  2 A- 2 A of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0046]     Extending between flower shaped housing portions  12  and  14  and between flower shaped housings  14  and  16  are molded connection devices  26  and  28 , respectively, including internal channels  26 C and  28 C, shown as dashed lines in  FIG. 2 . Leads connecting the electrical elements of system  10  pass between portions  12 ,  14  and  16  through channels  26 C and  28 C (see  FIG. 2 ). Connection devices  26  and  28  may be formed in the shape of flower stems to enhance the decorative effect of system  10 .  
         [0047]      FIGS. 3, 4 ,  5 ,  5 A,  5 B,  5 C and  6  show additional views of system  10 . In  FIG. 3 , bottom closure member  30  is separated from system  10  as indicated by the arrows directed toward the assembled location of member  30  instead of bottom  30 , a flexible potting/filler material may be used. Such materials act as a heat sink when a garment bearing the system is washed and dried. Such as a common cloth dryer which can heat up to 180° F. Member  30  acts as a closure for system  10 , and is preferably flexible and made of the same material as system  10 &#39;s other portions, but need not be transparent or translucent. Member  30  may also be made of flexible magnetic material, or include magnets, as shown in  FIG. 11 , as is used in refrigerator magnets, so that lighting system  10  may be held by magnetic attraction to any ferromagnetic material which may be sewn or otherwise attached to a garment, e.g., sleeves S. As an alternative, magnets may be secured to sleeves S, and ferromagnetic material may be contained within system  10  on its underside.  
         [0048]     Member  30  is attached to the bottom surface of the housing for lighting system  10  along the under side of portions  12 ,  14  and  16  and connection devices  26  and  28  that include internal channels  26 C and  28 C so that system  10  is sealed from the ingress of moisture or other unwanted substances. Sealing may be accomplished by bonding with an adhesive, by sonic welding, by magnets (see  FIG. 11 ), or another known method of joining plastic parts, or by using a filler/potting material/sealer instead.  
         [0049]     The electrical circuitry components of fixture  10  (see  FIG. 4 ) are distributed among housing portions  12 , 14  and  16  to reduce size and increase wearer comfort. These housings contain the various electrical components to power and control the illumination of the LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24 , namely, battery  32  for powering the system, switch  44  responsive to motion for activation of the LEDs, and a control circuit on circuit board  38  for operating the circuit, thus illuminating LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24 . Suitable control circuits of the type disclosed in the above referenced patents may be located on a circuit board, e.g., circuit board  38 .  
         [0050]     As  FIG. 12  shows, the circuitry in flower-shaped housing portion  12  may include manually-operable switch  44 A instead of motion-activated switch  44 .  
         [0051]      FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C are sectional views, on an enlarged scale, taken along lines  5 A- 5 A,  5 B- 5 B and  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 4 . To distribute their weight and volume, the electrical components, e.g., LEDs, batteries, and control circuits, may be separated and distributed among portions  12 ,  14  and  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 5A  and  6 , a coin-type battery  32 , e.g., a 2030 lithium battery, is positioned in portion  12  along with LED  24 . Such batteries may have upper and lower faces of opposite polarity. In such cases, electrical leads  36  providing power to the circuit are connected to the opposite polarity faces of battery  32  by solder-free mechanical means as disclosed in the co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/432,466. Insulated leads  36  extend through channel  28 C, as indicated by dashed lines in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , to portion  14  (see  FIG. 5B ), where LED  22  and control circuitry on a circuit board  38  or in the form of a PC board or an integrated circuit may be located (see  FIG. 5B , which is a sectional view taken along line  5 B- 5 B of  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0052]      FIG. 5B  shows the interior of portion  14  including LED  22  atop the printed circuit board  38 , which may include conductive tracks, and either an integrated circuit or discrete components, making up a timing or light control circuit, as desired. Joined to circuit board  38  are power leads  36  from battery  32  and power distribution leads  46 ,  34  and  48  to the LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24 , respectively. Extending from circuit board  38  are leads  40  extending through channel  26 C to motion responsive switch  44 , located inside portion  16 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 5C , a sectional view of portion  16  taken along line  5 C- 5 C of  FIG. 4 , shows leads  40  and  42  connected to switch  44 , and lead  46  connected to LED  20 . All these leads extend through channel  26 C from circuit board  38 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 6  is a side elevational view of the circuitry outside system  10 , and is also shown in  FIG. 4  by dashed lines surrounding the circuitry, illustrating the separation of the circuitry components, reducing volume and weight, and providing comfortable, small size, distributed attractive illumination.  FIGS. 4 and 6  show LED  20  inside portion  12 , with switch  44 , and powered over leads  46 ; switch  44  closures are signaled to the control circuit on board  38  over leads  40 ,  42 .  
         [0055]     Illumination from LED  20  is visible from the top of portion  12 , and may also be directed through channel  26 C. See  FIG. 5A , and LED  24   a  in phantom lines. A plurality of discontinuities in the top of connection devices  26  and  28 , e.g., generally transverse slits  60 S (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), interrupt the passage of light through the connection devices  26  and  28 . Light passing into connection devices  26 C and  28 C from adjacent LEDs causes slits  60 S to disperse and emit flashing light when LEDs  20 ,  22 , and  24  flash. This structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,110 which is incorporated by reference herein.  
         [0056]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of system  10  as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . As described above, switch  44  is connected through leads  40 ,  42  to circuit board  38 . Battery  32  is connected through leads  36  to circuit board  38 . Output leads  34 ,  46  and  48  from circuit board  38  connect to, and provide power to LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24 .  
         [0057]     In operation, when switch  44  is activated, either manually or in response to movement of the system, the control circuit contained on circuit board  38  activates LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24  in a desired sequence and duration. LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24  need not be lighted, avoiding battery usage, when the system is at rest. Switch  44  may be located in portion  12  or  16 , near the elbow and forearm of jacket J in  FIG.1 , to take advantage of the high incidence of movement at those locations.  
         [0058]     Leads  36  are connected to circuit board  38 . Switch  44  is connected to circuit board  38  such that, when switch  44  senses motion or user activation, it sends a signal to the control or timing circuit on circuit board  38 , and current flows through leads  34 ,  46  and  48  to cause LEDs  20 ,  22  and  24  to be illuminated in the pattern and duration provided by the timing and control circuit.  
         [0059]     FIGS. and  7 - 10  illustrate an alternate embodiment of lighting system  50 .  FIG. 7  is a perspective view including two lighted ornamental portions or elements in the form of flower housings  52  and  54 , enclosing LEDs  56  and  58 , respectively, each represented by dashed lines  56  and  58  in  FIG. 7 . Extending between flower housings  52  and  54  is molded connection device  60  with channel  60 C inside. Light fixture  50  includes flange  60 F for attachment to a garment. Connection device  60  has slits  60 S on its upper surface for emitting light that passes into connection device  60 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of system  50 , showing the regions  52 C and  54 C inside of flower portions  52  and  54  and connection device  60 C. Flower-shaped portion  52  contains a control circuit on board  62  with switch  44  attached, as shown in  FIG. 9 . Flower-shaped portion  54  contains a battery  66 , which may be identical to battery  32 . Connection device  60 C carries two pairs of wires, one pair connecting circuit board  62  and its control circuit to battery  66 , and another pair connecting LEDs  56  and  58  to circuit board  62 .  
         [0061]      FIGS. 9 and 10  are schematic diagrams, which illustrate the electrical circuitry inside system  50 . LED  58  is connected through leads  68  to circuit board  62 . LED  56  is connected to the circuit board  62  on the rear face (not shown) of circuit board  62 . Battery  66  is connected through leads  72  and  74  to circuit board  62 . Operation of the circuit of  FIGS. 8 and 9  is essentially the same as described above in connection with  FIG. 6 .  FIG. 10  also shows that LEDs  56  and  58  may be positioned, as shown at  56   a  and  58   a , to direct light into connection device  50 .  
         [0062]     The advantages of the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-10  are that the bulk and weight of the electronics are separated into two housings, reducing overall size, and allowing the system to be applied to many garments or other products with a high degree of visibility and attractiveness.  
         [0063]     Connection device  60  may include discontinuities, e.g., a plurality of notches or slits  60 S, which interrupt and emit light coming from LEDs  56  and  58 . If the control circuit on the circuit board  62  alternately lights the LEDs  56  and  58 , this produces an attractive alternate racing light effect. The same feature may be embodied in the lighting system  10  of  FIGS. 1-5  if connection devices  26  and  28  have similar notches or slits.  
         [0064]     In both the first and second embodiments, the flanges  60 F and  10 F of the molded housing extend outward (see  FIGS. 2 and 7 ), to allow attachment to a garment or object by sewing through the edge region of the lighting system without piercing the system, thus maintaining the integrity of its sealing.  
         [0065]     The concepts of  FIGS. 1-10  may be applied to other toy images such as hearts (see  FIG. 14 ), airplanes (see  FIG. 19 ), pick-up trucks (see  FIG. 20 ), stars (see  FIG. 21 ), and athletic balls that are alike or differ from one another (see  FIG. 22 ). These same concepts may also be embodied in branched, non-linear shapes such as the branched flower arrangement shown in  FIG. 15 , and the flower array shown in  FIG. 18 . In these embodiments, LEDs may be placed to cause light to be emitted from any desired area, such as from the center of hearts  130 ,  131 , and  132  in  FIG. 14 , from one or more of the petals of the flowers  140 ,  141 ,  142 ,  143 , and  144  of the flower array of  FIG. 15 , from the cockpits of planes  150 ,  151  and  152  of  FIG. 19 , and from the roof fixture on the pick-up trucks  160 ,  161 , and  162  of  FIG. 20 . These lighting systems can be attached to garments of all kinds, such as the pants, shirt, and belt shown in  FIG. 16 , and to back packs, purses, and footwear.  
         [0066]      FIG. 12A  shows that lead  36  may connect to LED  24  through coiled loop, slack strain and flex relief wiring  100  to minimize the risk that lead  36  will break after repeated flexing/bending.  
         [0067]      FIG. 13  shows that the electrical components  120 ,  121  and  122  of the circuitry in  FIGS. 4 and 5 A,  5 B, and  5 C can be connected with flexible circuit  104 , and that the flexible circuit may include curved, stress-relief sections  101 ,  102 , and  103  to minimize the risk of breaking circuit  104  after repeated flexing/bending. Advantageously, this relief wiring may be located in an open/void region inside a housing to allow stretching, which provides relief from stretching/bending/flexing of a garment to which the system is attached.  
         [0068]     Other changes and modifications in the lighting systems described here may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 5