Lighting systems for attachment to wearing apparel

Abstract

A lighting system for wearing apparel and the like includes a sealed housing of flexible light transmitting material with at least two hollow regions interconnected by a section having an opening therein communicating between the hollow regions, a battery in one of the hollow regions, at least one light source in each hollow region for light emission through the surface of the housing, a motion responsive switch or a user-activated switch or both contained within one of the hollow regions, light controls contained within one of the hollow regions connected to the battery, the switch and the light sources for controlling the activation of the light sources responsive to operation of the switch, the weight and volume of the battery, light control means and switch being distributed among the hollow regions.

1 . A lighting system for attachment to garments, footwear, back packs, purses, belts, accessories and wearing apparel comprising: 
 at least two housing portions, and connectors extending between and connecting said at least two housing portions said connectors comprising electrical wiring, or sealed, hollow housings for electrical wiring that extend between said hollow housing portions;    one or more batteries inside said housing portions;    one or more light sources inside said housing portions for light emission through the surface of said housing;    a motion responsive switch or a user-activated switch or both inside said housing portions; and    light control circuitry connected to said battery, said switch and said light sources for controlling the activation of said light sources responsive to operation of said switch, wherein the weight and volume of said battery, light control circuitry and said switch are distributed among said housing portions.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said housing portions are hollow, and are made of light transmitting material.  
     
     
         3 . The lighting system of  claim 1  herein said housing portions have ornamental shapes, and are illuminated by said light sources.  
     
     
         4 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said housing portions are two in number, and said battery and light control circuitry are distributed throughout said housing portions.  
     
     
         5 . The lighting system of  claim 4  wherein said housing portions each take the shape of a vehicle.  
     
     
         6 . The lighting system of  claim 6  wherein said housing portions take the shape of a locomotive and railroad cars and said light sources are distributed among said locomotive and at least one railroad car.  
     
     
         7 . The lighting system of  claim 4  wherein said light sources are distributed among said housing portions, and said housing portions take the shape of an airplane, an airport runway, and an airport control tower.  
     
     
         8 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said housing portions are at least 3 in number and said battery, said light control circuitry and said switch are distributed throughout said housing portions.  
     
     
         9 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein light sources are inside each of said housing portions.  
     
     
         10 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said light sources are LEDs.  
     
     
         11 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said connector portion includes discontinuities in the surface thereof that emit light from at least one of said light sources.  
     
     
         12 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said connector portions include a channel for electrical wiring that electrically connect said battery, lighting control circuitry, switch and light sources.  
     
     
         13 . The lighting system of  claim 12  wherein said switch is inside one of said housing portions and is activated by movement of the switch.  
     
     
         14 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein one or more of said housing portions includes edge flanges thereon for securing said system to a garment.  
     
     
         15 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said housing portions are flower-shaped.  
     
     
         16 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said housing portions takes the shape of a vehicle.  
     
     
         17 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said housing portions take the shape of one or more toys.  
     
     
         18 . The lighting system of  claim 1  wherein said motion responsive switch is inside one of said housing portions.  
     
     
         19 . The lighting system of  claim 18  wherein said light control circuitry is inside one of said housing portions and is electrically connected to said LEDs.  
     
     
         20 . The lighting system of  claim 19  wherein said switch and said battery are inside different housing portions.  
     
     
         21 . A lighting system for wearing apparel comprising: 
 at least two sealed housing portions shaped like one or more toys, and made of flexible, light transmitting material: and, inside said housing portions, a battery; a switch; at least one light emitting source; and an electrical circuit, said switch, said light emitting source and said electrical circuit being connected to said battery such that activation of said switch causes said light emitting source to illuminate said toy.    
     
     
         22 . The lighting system of  claim 21  wherein said garment includes a sleeve, said housings are attached to said sleeve, and motion of said sleeve causes illumination of said toy.  
     
     
         23 . The lighting system of  claim 21  wherein said toy takes the shape of a truck.  
     
     
         24 . The lighting system of  claim 21  wherein said toy takes the shape of a train and a plurality of light sources are distributed along said train.  
     
     
         25 . A system for attachment to a garment comprising: at least two discrete hollow housing units containing lighting components, and connected to one another with electrical conductors, said electrical connectors including stress relief components.  
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said stress relief components are located inside one or more of said housing units.  
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26  wherein said stress relief components are slack regions or wiring coils in the connectors.  
     
     
         28 . A system for attachment to a garment comprising: at least two discrete hollow housing units containing lighting components, and connected to one another with electrical conductors, said hollow housing units including potting/sealant material to insulate said components.  
     
     
         29 . A lighting and electronic system for attachment to garments, wearing apparel, and accessories, comprising: at least two housing portions with cavities for electronic components interconnected with electrical conductors, said conductors having stress relief components at said interconnections.  
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  wherein one or more of said stress relief components is located in a void region.  
     
     
         31 . A lighting and electronic system for attachment to garments, wearing apparel, and accessories, comprising: at least two interconnected housing portions for lighting and electronic components, said housing portions including potting material to insulate said components.