With Wearing Apparel Or Body Support Patents (Class 362/570)
  • Patent number: 6877889
    Abstract: The invention related to a structure of luminous pet lead, comprising luminous collar and luminous lead, separately with multiple plastic optical fiber on outer layer and hollow tubule on inner layer, twisted into a long cable; one lamp box respectively connected to the both ends of the cable, and LED luminous source set in the box, LED light can shine through the cross section of plastic optical fiber; additionally, a battery holder set on the lamp box at one end, and battery holder power connected onto the lamp box at the other end through hollow tubule of twisting cable using electrical conductor so that single battery holder can enable LED at both ends of the cable luminous at the same time in order to enhance luminous brightness of plastic optical fiber, and enable pet collar or lead has lighting indication and decoration functions during night use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Baycom Opto-Electronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi-Tsung Peng, Wen-Chung Yen
  • Patent number: 6851844
    Abstract: A fiber optic fabric includes woven optical fibers, an opaque coating on the fibers and openings on the high points of the weave. The opaque coating prevents light leakage from the fibers and the openings allow light to be emitted from the fabric in a directed manner. The fabric is capable of emitting light at an angle relative to the surface of the fabric such that the light is not visible from every viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: James K. Guy
  • Publication number: 20040264175
    Abstract: A head-mounted illuminator, particularly suited to surgical, medical and dental applications, includes a housing with a hollow interior having a light-receiving end and a light-projecting end. An optical fiber or fiber bundle is used to carry light from the source of light into the interior of the housing through the light-receiving end, and a Fresnel lens, mounted in the light-projecting end of the housing, receives light from the optical fiber and projects the light into a field of view. The Fresnel lens is constructed from acrylic material, enabling the design to focus and concentrate visible light. In the preferred “grooves in” embodiment, the light-projecting end and the light-receiving end of the housing are connected with a threaded coupling, enabling the light-projecting end to be moved forward and backward relative to the light-receiving end to adjust the light projected into the field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventor: Charles T. Willoughby
  • Publication number: 20040252524
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed having a hollow tube having first and second ends, the first end attached to the second end to form a ring. An electrical light or a plurality of electrical lights may be located inside the hollow tube. The apparatus may include a battery for powering the electrical light. An elastic sleeve may be provided which surrounds the battery and holds the battery to the hollow tube. The one or more electrical lights may each include a light housing and a light bulb. The apparatus may have a first covering attached to an outside of the hollow tube. The first covering may at least partially cover the hollow tube so that the light housing and the light bulb are at least partially obscured. The first covering allows at least some light from the electrical light to be emitted through the first covering.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: Walter R. Dacheux
  • Publication number: 20040156215
    Abstract: An instrumented garment is disclosed. The garment includes a vest portion, comprising a front portion and a rear portion. The garment further includes a first light emitting device disposed on the rear portion and a second light emitting device disposed on the rear portion. The first light emitting device is capable of receiving a first signal, provided by a vehicle comprising one or more wheels. The second light emitting device is capable of receiving a second signal provided by that vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: William Wooldridge
  • Publication number: 20040136205
    Abstract: The invention related to a structure of luminous pet lead, comprising luminous collar and luminous lead, separately with multiple plastic optical fiber on outer layer and hollow tubule on inner layer, twisted into a long cable; one lamp box respectively connected to the both ends of the cable, and LED luminous source set in the box, LED light can shine through the cross section of plastic optical fiber; additionally, a battery holder set on the lamp box at one end, and battery holder power connected onto the lamp box at the other end through hollow tubule of twisting cable using electrical conductor so that single battery holder can enable LED at both ends of the cable luminous at the same time in order to enhance luminous brightness of plastic optical fiber, and enable pet collar or lead has lighting indication and decoration functions during night use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventors: Chi-Tsung Peng, Wen-Chung Yen
  • Patent number: 6712493
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for producing an animation effect are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first light reflecting member, a second light reflecting member, a first light source, a second light source, and means to intermittently activate the first and second light sources to produce an animation effect. The first light reflecting member comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the light from the first light source enters the first member through the first surface and exits the first member through the second surface. The second light reflecting member comprises a first surface and a second surface, wherein the light from the second source enters the second member through the first surface and exits the second member through the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignees: Tell Design, David Fisher Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Tell, David B. Fisher
  • Patent number: 6709142
    Abstract: The illuminated glove has an outside layer, an inside liner and a fibre-optic arrangement mounted there between. This fibre-optic arrangement comprises fibre-optic ribbons extending along the fingers of the glove under the outside layer. Portion of these ribbons are visible through openings in the outside layer. A light source is mounted at the base of the thumb. A power source including a battery and a pressure sensitive switch are mounted in the cuff of the glove. A plurality of optical fibres extend loosely over the back-of-the-hand portion and the hand-knuckle region of the glove between the light source and the fibre-optic ribbons. A slack or loose bend is provided in the plurality of optical fibres for reducing hand stiffness and fibre tension when the fingers of the glove are flexed. Preferably, the slack or the loose bend is an offset between and relative to the light source and the fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Inventor: Csaba Gyori
  • Publication number: 20040052091
    Abstract: A courtesy light device includes a housing removably coupled to a waist strap of a standard car seat belt. Various securing mechanisms are provided for coupling the housing to the waist strap. A light source is included in a flip portion of the housing. The flip portion may be moved from a closed position to an open position by rotating the flip portion upwardly away from a base of the housing. Light is projected from the light source out of the flip portion. The light source may also be included in the base itself, in which case the flip portion may be omitted from the housing. The device may be detached from the seat belt, used as a flashlight, or as an emergency flashing light, and reattached when completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventor: Peter Lee
  • Publication number: 20040037067
    Abstract: An illumination ring providing illumination of a wearer to nearby motorists. The illumination ring includes an elastomeric band having a light-emitting diode (LED) light source powered by a lithium battery. Both the LED light source and the lithium battery are affixed to the elastomeric band. The wear preferably wears the illumination ring on the individual's finger, thus providing illumination of the wearer to others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventor: Suzette H. Elwonger
  • Publication number: 20040032750
    Abstract: A finger-mounted light system includes an (LED) mounted in a casing adapted for strapping to one hand and operated by a light output control knob. A housing that includes a power source (e.g., battery) is strapped to the wrist and the LED casing is strapped to a finger, such that light emitted from the LED may be adjusted. A display is included on the housing for displaying the battery level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: R & H INDUSTRIES INC.
    Inventors: Harry L. Watts, Ronald E. Lisec
  • Publication number: 20030235048
    Abstract: The illuminated glove has an outside layer, an inside liner and a fibre-optic arrangement mounted there between. This fibre-optic arrangement comprises fibre-optic ribbons extending along the fingers of the glove under the outside layer. Portion of these ribbons are visible through openings in the outside layer. A light source is mounted at the base of the thumb. A power source including a battery and a pressure sensitive switch are mounted in the cuff of the glove. A plurality of optical fibres extend loosely over the back-of-the-hand portion and the hand-knuckle region of the glove between the light source and the fibre-optic ribbons. A slack or loose bend is provided in the plurality of optical fibres for reducing hand stiffness and fibre tension when the fingers of the glove are flexed. Preferably, the slack or the loose bend is an offset between and relative to the light source and the fingers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventor: Csaba Gyori
  • Publication number: 20030231513
    Abstract: A multifunctional shoe flashing device includes at least one casing, at least one battery, a substrate, a conductive wiring, a lighting device, an oscillation switch, and a control circuit. The conductive wiring has one end connected to the substrate and the other end protruding from the casing and connecting to the lighting device, which includes three lighting chips. When the casing is affected due to external forces, the control circuit is triggered to activate flashing of the lighting device in a sequential and non-overlapping manner within a predetermined time period by setting predetermined mixed color and time ratios.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventor: Meng Pi Wei
  • Publication number: 20030156429
    Abstract: A hair ornament includes multiple light-emitting diodes (LEDs) which are manufactured as a single component so that their combined output can be focused on the end of a bundle of optic fibers. The fibers may be woven in the hair or wig of a wearer of the ornament. For a preferred embodiment of the invention, three LEDs, each of which emits a primary color (generally red, green or blue), are provided. Each LED is coupled to a flasher circuit having both variable frequency and variable duty cycle. At low frequencies (i.e., less than about 18-20 flashes per second), the flashes are seen as discrete colors. However, as the frequencies are increased, only a single color is visible. The color of that single color can be varied over the visible spectrum by varying the duty cycles of the three LEDs. One use of the preferred embodiment is to adjust the projected color to coordinate with clothing of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Joel MacDonald
  • Publication number: 20030142510
    Abstract: A self-illuminating device, having a light source part and a light guide part. A light source is enclosed in an enclosure, which further accommodates a power source, to provide a voltage to the light source and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit adjusts and controls the power source supplied to the light source, so as to control brightness and color of the light source. The light guide part is preferably in a form of a plurality of light guide strips. Each of the light guide strips has one end received in the enclosure and coupled to the light source and the other end extending therefrom. Due to the light guide property, the light received at one end can be transmitted to the exposed other end of the light guide strips. Preferably, the exposed ends are arranged to display a desired pattern, design or logo.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Mao Yongzhong
  • Publication number: 20030142511
    Abstract: An image locking jewelry device designed to hide a customized image from view until the wearer reveals the image. The image unlocking jewelry device collectively including a lens mated to a casing and housing a liquid crystal display; circuitry placed inside the casing and capable of sending signals to the liquid crystal display; and an image positioned between the lens and said circuitry. Voltage is sent from the circuitry to the liquid crystal display in order to reveal the image held underneath the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Jose I. Villarreal, Linda F. Villarreal
  • Publication number: 20030137852
    Abstract: Flashing footwear includes at least one light source located within and/or on footwear so as to be visible directly or indirectly with the light pipe such as heel of the footwear or garment. A power source, such as a battery, provides sufficient power to light the light source. An inertia responsive spring mass electrical switch develops pulses that are directly related to the amount of force to cause illumination flashes in direct response to the force applied to the spring mass switch. The switch is actuated by the condition of motion of the footwear or garment so as to change between open and closed positions and count the number of times the switch is actuated and further to display that count as a set of either a division, multiple, addition, and/or subtraction of the number of times the spring mass makes electrical contacts and to further flash illuminate any number of lights in sequence based on a set count of spring mass electrical contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Carmen Rapisarda
  • Publication number: 20030107903
    Abstract: Simply stated, the Brake NOW! helmet mounted brake light represents a breakthrough in rider safety by effectively alerting drivers behind them of their intentions to slow down or stop. The simple concept of putting a highly visible LED brake light directly on the rider's helmet has never been addressed before.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: John Grant Melton
  • Patent number: 6558016
    Abstract: A motorcyclist garment with illuminated traffic signals for providing better and more visible rear lighting for motorcyclists. The motorcyclist garment with illuminated traffic signals includes a garment having a back side, a neck opening, and arm openings; and further includes a light-emitting assembly including light-emitting members being disposed in the back side of said garment, and also including wires and a power cord being connected to the light-emitting members, and further including a connector plug being attached to an end of the power cord and being adapted to plug into a power jack of a motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Edward C. Restauro
  • Patent number: 6508580
    Abstract: A personal security assembly for use in association with a mobility aide. The personal security assembly includes a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Cynthia J. Collins
  • Publication number: 20020141204
    Abstract: A light-emitting pen is formed by a front pen tube, a rear pen tube and a middle ring. A metal cap at a lower end of a resisting element in the rear pen tube is in contact with or not in contact with the metal button at a top end of the light-emitting element and a metal conductive wire at the same time. Then a light-emitting body emits light or does not emit light or a filler will move upwards or downwards. Moreover, the light-emitting body and the filler can be controlled in four different stages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Sheng-Siong Gao
  • Publication number: 20020122316
    Abstract: A full circle illumination band comprises an illumination device and a power-supply unit inside a housing, wherein two ends of a light-guiding core meet each other at the housing. In operation, light is emanated from one end of the housing to reach the other end of the same through the light-guiding cord and brighten the entire illumination band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventor: Oliver Hsieh
  • Patent number: 6431724
    Abstract: The invention is a bag having a glow stick incorporated into the hem of the bag. The glow stick is horizontal and extends across the majority of the bag's width. It provides a light source without an independent power source and makes the bag visible from a great distance in the dark. In this way, a driver will see the light of the bag and know that a person carrying the bag is also present. In such a way, the safety of the user is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventors: Thomas A. Tedham, Juli K. Tedham, Diane S. Brown
  • Publication number: 20020069905
    Abstract: A personal security assembly for use in association with a mobility aide. The personal security assembly includes a housing, an audio alarm, an alert light for drawing attention. In an embodiment, a secondary light is provided for lighting an area proximate the mobility aide to enhance visual perception.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Cynthia J. Collins
  • Patent number: 6340235
    Abstract: An adaptable electric accessory system comprising a receptacle having an interior compartment, an illumination apparatus, and a power source for supplying power to the apparatus. The system may be provided with an insert removably positioned in the interior compartment of the receptacle. The illumination apparatus may be mounted on the insert or container for illuminating the insert. A charging apparatus may be provided for providing power to the power source for recharging the power source and removable electric devices. The receptacle may include a flexible strap with a pair of forcible release assemblies each being connected between one of the ends of the strap and the receptacle for detecting a forcible removal of the receptacle from the person of the user. A timer mechanism may be provided for causing illumination of the illumination apparatus for a predetermined period of time upon the closing of an activating switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Inventor: Jimmy H. Bryan
  • Patent number: 6332692
    Abstract: A ground effect light system for roller blade, roller skate, or the like including a power source in the from of a battery pack mounted onto the roller blade or skate boot platform within a removal cartridge. A plurality of lights are mounted in a cartridge insertable within an existing wheel well upon removal of a skate wheel. Lights are emitted from a bulb or preferably LED's contained within a cartridge suspended within the wheel well of the skate platform frame illuminating the skate surface thereunder showing a design, one or more lines, rectangle, or other shapes from inbetween the wheels with light beams of selected colored lights. Upon activation, the lights shine upon the ground below the skater to indicate, highlight, and accent the presence of the roller blade skater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Creative Lighting, Inc.
    Inventor: Sullivan V. McCurdy
  • Patent number: 6302570
    Abstract: An illuminating device includes an electronic assembly, a light source, a switch, a housing and a bundle of optical fibers. The electronic assembly is coupled to a power source. The light source is coupled to the electronic assembly to emit light. The switch is coupled to the electronic assembly to activate the power source for controlling an illumination from the light source. The housing has a base and a cover. The base provides a rib guide to secure the light source and an area for holding the electronic assembly. The cover and the base, when coupled together via a coupling post, provide an aperture at one end of the housing. The bundle of optical fibers has a proximal end, a distal end and a longitudinal length. The proximal end is formed by the first ends of the optical fibers. The distal end is formed by the second ends of the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Fiber Optic Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Petell, Anthony Roberts
  • Patent number: 6267482
    Abstract: A safety garment having reflective properties and a multiple light assembly for lighting the safety garment. The reflective characteristics of the garment are carried out by the reflective material securely positioned on the garment. An electrical assembly is attached to the garment and comprises a battery, the multiple light assembly and a switch. The multiple light assembly is supported by the garment and sandwiched between the garment and the reflective material, making the multiple light assembly invisible when the multiple light assembly is not receiving power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: General Security Services Corporation
    Inventors: Whitney W. Miller, Wlodek Machaj
  • Patent number: 6217188
    Abstract: An illuminated display makes use of optical fibers and a programmable controller for varying the brightness intensities and colors emitted by color changeable LEDs through the optical fibers. The illuminated fiber optic display is carried on a planar surface and may be incorporated on an article of clothing. By using color-variable LEDs suitably connected to corresponding fiber optic bundles, eye-catching, color-changing displays can be created with fewer interconnections, fewer light sources, and fewer optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: ANI-Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry Lee Wainwright, David W. Karr, Stanley A. Bochenski, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5931559
    Abstract: Headgear having fiber optic lighting for illumination of the headgear to be worn on a person's head. The headgear includes a fiber optic lighting assembly having a light source and a plurality of fiber optic lines for transmitting light from the light source. The headgear includes an exterior surface wall having one or more grooves formed therein for holding the fiber optic lines therein. The headgear includes an interior surface wall having a first compartment for a receiving power source in the form of a battery pack and a second compartment for receiving the light source. An electrical conduit is used for connecting the battery pack to the light source. The headgear also includes an interior padding for covering the interior surface wall so as to protect the wearer's head from injury; and a closure strap having a tightening component mounted on the headgear for holding the headgear on the wearer's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Patricia Pfaeffle
  • Patent number: 5882110
    Abstract: An elongated, decorative, flexible light-transmitting assembly particularly useful for adorning wearing apparel. The assembly includes a source of light having a light-transmitting area. A length of clear flexible polymer has a first end adjacent the light-transmitting area and an elongated body having an outer surface and a remote end. The length has many marks formed inwardly from the outer surface to cause the light entering the first end to be reflected in an attractive manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Carmen C. Rapisarda
  • Patent number: 5775016
    Abstract: A illuminated safety guide is made up of a fixture including a housing and a super thin lighting element in the form of an electro-luminescent strip, a photo-luminescent panel, or a combination of an electro-luminescent strip and PL panel. When the EL strip and PL panel are combined, the resulting illuminated safety guide can still be seen even when power to the EL strip is cut-off, the patterns formed by the EL and PL strips being negatives of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventor: Tseng-Lu Chien