Fabric with illuminated changing display

• US 4,875,144 A
• Filed: 09/14/1987
• Issued: 10/17/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lite-Ups, LLC
• Original Assignee: Harry L. Wainwright
• Inventors: Wainwright, Harry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US07/096,557
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/108, 362/252, 362/806, 362/808, 362/811
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/085 Luminous ornaments
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0005 the light guides being of the fibre type G02B6/0003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A fabric illuminated by the outer ends of a large number of optical fibers associated with the outer surface of the fiber in a manner to form an illuminated changing display of several figures. The fibers extend along the inner surface of the fabric, and the inner ends of a plurality of fibers are gathered into several bundles each of which engages a connector housing having a plurality of light sources. The light sources connect with a power source and an electronic control device which sequentially causes each light source to be activated in a programmed manner. Each illuminated light source emits light to the inner ends of fibers of the light sources associated bundle of fibers. The light travels through each fiber of the bundle to the outer ends of the fibers thereof where the light is emitted sequentially with the light from the ends of fibers of other bundles in the manner programmed by the electronic control device to form an illuminted changing decorative display of several figures.

Claims

1. A fabric with an illuminated animated display including a first frame and a second frame and comprising:

(A) a fabric outer surface;

(B) a first plurality of flexible optical fibers each having a first end a second end;

(C) a second plurality of flexible optical fibers each having a first end and a second end;

(D) said first plurality of optical fibers gathered into a first bundle;

(E) said second plurality of optical fibers gathered into a second bundle;

(F) a portion of said second ends of said first bundle of optical fibers secured to said fabric and extending to said fabric outer surface to form at least a portion of said first and second frames of said display;

(G) a portion of said second ends of said second bundle of optical fibers secured to said fabric and extending to said fabric outer surface to form at least a portion of said second frame of said display;

(H) a first light source means adjacent said first ends of said first bundle of optical fibers to emit light to said first ends and through said fibers to sequentially illuminate said second ends forming at least a portion of said first and second frames of said display on said fabric outer surface;

(I) a second light source means adjacent said first ends of said second bundle of optical fibers to emit light to said first ends and through said fibers to sequentially illuminate said second ends forming at least a portion of said second frame of said display on said fabric outer surface to create the appearance of animation of said display.

2. The fabric of claim 1 further including circuit means connecting each said first and second light source means to a power source means and program control means to energize each said light source means in a sequential manner to illuminate in a sequential manner at least a portion of said first frame and said second frame of said display on said fabric to create the appearance of animation of said display.

3. A fabric with an illuminated animated display including a first frame, a second frame and a third frame and comprising:

(A) a fabric outer surface;

(B) a first plurality of flexible optical fibers each having a first end and a second end;

(C) a second plurality of flexible optical fibers each having a first end and a second end;

(D) a third plurality of flexible optical fibers each having a first end and a second end;

(E) said first plurality of optical fibers gathered into a first bundle;

(F) said second plurality of optical fibers gathered into a second bundle;

(G) said third plurality of optical fibers gathered into a third bundle;

(H) a portion of said second ends of said first bundle of fibers secured to said fabric to form at least a portion of said first, second and third frames of said display;

(I) a portion of said second ends of said second bundle of fibers secured to said fabric to form at least a portion of said second and third frames of said display;

(J) a portion of said second ends of said third bundle of fibers secured to said fabric to form at least a portion of said third frame of said display;

(K) a first light source means adjacent said first ends of said first bundle of optical fibers to emit light to said first ends and through said fibers to said second ends forming at least a portion of said first, second and third frames of said display on said fabric;

(L) a second light source means adjacent said first ends of said second bundle of optical fibers to emit light to said first ends and through said fibers to said second ends and forming at least a portion of said second and third frames of said display on said fabric;

(M) a third light source means adjacent said first ends of said third bundle of optical fibers to emit light to said first ends and through said fibers to said second ends forming at least a portion of said third frame of said display on said fabric;

(O) circuit means connecting each said first, second and third light source means to a power source means and program control means to energize each said light source means in a sequential manner to illuminate in a sequential manner at least a portion of said first, second and third frames of said display on said fabric to create the appearance of animation of said display.