Illuminated article of wearing apparel with afterglow

• US 5,323,492 A
• Filed: 11/06/1992
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Adem
• Original Assignee: Robert Adem
• Inventors: DeMars, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Biefeld, Diana L.
• Application Number:
  US07/972,849
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 2/185 R, 2/186, 2/199, 2/196, 2/209.1, 2/209.2, 2/422, 40/541, 40/542, 40/544, 252/700, 362/34, 362/84, 362/103, 362/104, 362/105, 362/106, 362/107, 362/108
• US Class Current: 2/209.13
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/004 Decorative arrangements or effects
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/24 with means for attaching articles thereto, e.g. memorandum tablets or mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/242 Means for mounting detecting, signalling or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/244 Means for mounting lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 2/06 using chemiluminescence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal

Abstract

The including of an engaging recess with an article of human wearing apparel, such as a cap, that has a specific exterior ornamental configuration. An elongated, illuminatable, plastic, light tube is to be snapped into an elongated groove formed on the wearing apparel and is to be snugly retained thereby. The light tube is to be flexible so as to accommodate to the specific shape of groove. The illuminatable tube includes a liquid substance which is to be activatable which will cause the tube to glow for a period of time. Also, the body of the tube will contain a separate light activatable substance which can be used to cause the tube to emit light after expiration of the light from the liquid substance.

Claims

1. An article of wearing apparel comprising:

a housing, said housing adapted to fit onto a portion of the body of a human, said housing having a specific ornamental exterior configuration;

an elongated illuminating tube being in the form of a body having a hollow interior chamber, said elongated illuminating tube being flexible permitting bending to any desired configuration, said hollow interior chamber including an activatable liquid substance, said activatable liquid substance being selectly activatable so as to emit light for a first period of time, said body being impregnated with a light activatable substance which will cause said body to emit light after expiration of said first period of time for a second period of time; and

connection means formed on said housing, said connection means securely engaging said elongated illuminating tube, said activatable liquid substance being activated to cause said elongated illuminating tube to glow, said tube being engaged with said housing and said housing being capable of being worn by a human.

2. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said light activatable substance is reactivatable after expiration of said second period of time.

3. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said second period of time is shorter than said first period of time.

4. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said connection means comprises an elongated groove, said elongated illuminating light tube being snappingly engagable with said elongated groove, said elongated illuminating light tube being removable from said elongated groove.

5. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said elongated groove outlines said specific ornamental exterior configuration.

6. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 5 wherein:

said housing includes indicia, said elongated groove connecting with said indicia, said elongated illuminating tube causing illumination of said indicia.

7. The article of wearing apparel as defined in claim 6 wherein:

said article of wearing apparel comprises headwear.