ILLUMINATED GARMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

• US 20160073706A1
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Big Skeleton Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Big Skeleton Incorporated
• Inventors: Hartnett, Andrew G., Hartnett, Emily K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/01 with reflective or luminous safety means visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/104 Cycling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2673 on parts worn by the driver, e.g. clothes, gloves or bags, specially adapted to provide auxiliary vehicle signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/114 Vehicle acceleration or deceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/50 Arrangements to reconfigure features of lighting or signalling devices, or to choose from a list of pre-defined settings
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 35/00 Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof fuel tanks forming part of cycle frames B62K11/00; tanks in general B60K ; closure caps for fuel tanks B60K15/0406
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A garment (e.g., vest) designed to be worn over a motorcyclist'"'"'s outer clothing with high intensity LED lighting installed on front and rear surfaces thereof and motion-sensing circuitry and corresponding software that detects motorcycle deceleration and controls the sequence, color and/or intensity of the LED lighting. A small, light battery pack installed in the garment powers the system. The motion-sensing circuitry and software detects that the motorcycle is decelerating when the driver releases or reduces the throttle, downshifts and/or applies the brakes. Responsive to the driver releasing or reducing the throttle, downshifting, applying the brakes and/or riding on upward-directed terrain, the electronics and software change the color output of LEDs on the rear surface of the garment to red. The electronics of the garment are sealed in watertight assemblies.

Claims

1. A garment comprising:

one or more light arrays on at least a rear of said garment;

one or more motion sensors configured to monitor movements of said garment on a motorcycle or bicycle;

a signal processor configured to manage data from said one or more sensors;

a light array controller configured to transmit control signals to said one or more light arrays responsive to signals from said processor;

a power supply configured to power said one or more light arrays, said one or more sensors, said signal processor and/or said light array controller; and

wherein said processor is configured to transmit a deceleration signal to said light array controller responsive to said one or more motion sensors sensing a deceleration of said motorcycle or bicycle and wherein said light array controller is configured to instruct said one or more light arrays to illuminate in an all red state notifying other traffic that said motorcycle or bicycle is decelerating.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said garment is a vest.

3. The garment of claim 1 wherein said light array is formed of LEDs.

4. The garment of claim 1 further comprising one or more of the following:

intensity selector;

pattern display selector; and

color selector.

5. The garment of claim 1 wherein said one or more sensors monitor movement of the garment in three dimensions, including angular movement.

6. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a light array on a front surface of said garment.

7. The garment of claim 1 wherein said water sensitive components are contained in water tight assemblies.

8. A system comprising:

a garment;

one or more light arrays attachable to said garment;

one or more motion sensors configured to monitor movements of said garment on a motorcycle or bicycle, said one or more sensors attachable to said garment;

a signal processor configured to manage data from said one or more sensors, said signal processor attachable to said garment;

a light array controller configured to transmit control signals to said one or more light arrays responsive to signals from said signal processor, said light array controller attachable to said garment;

a power supply configured to power said one or more light arrays, said one or more sensors, said processor and/or said light array controller, said power supply attachable to said garment; and

wherein said processor is configured to transmit a deceleration signal to said light array controller responsive to said one or more motion sensors sensing a deceleration of said motorcycle or bicycle and wherein said light array controller is configured to instruct said one or more light arrays to illuminate in an all red state notifying other traffic that said motorcycle or bicycle is decelerating.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said garment is a vest.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said light array is formed of LEDs.

11. The system of claim 8 further comprising one or more of the following:

intensity selector;

pattern display selector; and

color selector.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said one or more sensors monitor movement of the garment in three dimensions, including angular movement.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising a light array on a front surface of said garment.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein said water sensitive components are contained in water tight assemblies.

15. A method comprising:

configuring an illuminated garment to include at least (i) one or more light arrays on a rear of said garment;

(ii) one or more motion sensors;

(iii) a signal processor configured to manage data from said one or more sensors and (iv) a light array controller configured to transmit control signals to said one or more light arrays responsive to signals from said signal processor;

via said one or more motion sensors, sensing movement of said garment when worn by a user riding a motorcycle or bicycle; and

responsive to said signal processor receiving data from said one or more motion sensors indicating said motorcycle or bicycle is decelerating, transmitting said data to said light array controller thereby triggering said one or more light arrays to illuminate in all red state notifying other traffic that said motorcycle or bicycle is decelerating.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said illuminated garment to include a garment in the form of a vest.

17. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said illuminated garment to include one or more light arrays in the form of LEDs.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said illuminated garment to include one or more of the following:

intensity selector;

pattern display selector; and

color selector.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said illuminated garment to include one or more sensors monitoring movement of the garment in three dimensions, including angular movement.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising configuring said illuminated garment to include a light array on a front surface of said garment.