Optical signalling device, especially for an item of clothing

• US 5,921,674 A
• Filed: 03/19/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FDI Finanzdienstleistungsinstitut AG
• Original Assignee: FDI Finanzdienstleistungsinstitut AG
• Inventors: Koczi, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): TSO, LAURA K
• Application Number:
  US08/809,232
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/105, 362/106, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/800
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/085 Luminous ornaments
• 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: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal

Abstract

The invention relates to an optical signalling device, more particularly for an article of clothing, consisting of at least two actively illuminating light sources 5, which are preferably designed to emit light of different colors and are connected to a control circuit 3 for activating the light sources 5 in a predetermined rhythm, the control circuit 3 being connected to a switch, key 2 or the like for its manual activation and/or deactivation. To obtain an optical signalling device which can be activated not only manually, but also externally, the light sources 5 can be activated manually (switch position I) or by remote control (switch position II). Via the remote control system the light sources 5 can be activated via a receiver 4. As a result, many identical optical signalling devices can be activated simultaneously by a coordinator or automatically at, for example, mass (heavily attended) events, so that an enhanced optical effect is achieved. According to one feature of the invention, the colors of the light sources 5 can correspond to those of certain clubs, organizations or nationalities.

Claims

1. A combination comprising a plurality of identical optical signaling devices for producing purely aesthetic or entertaining optical effects each having a plurality of light sources, control circuit means connected to each of said optical signaling devices for activating said light sources, manual activating and deactivating means for manually activating and deactivating said control circuit means, and remote control system means adapted to send a control signal to said optical signaling devices for simultaneously activating and deactivating in synchronism a plurality of said optical signaling devices for producing said optical effects.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said signals are high frequency, infrared light or acoustic signals.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said light sources of each of said optical signaling devices emit light of predetermined color combinations.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said light sources are covered with different colors.

5. The optical signaling devices of claim 1, wherein said light sources are simultaneously activated in synchronism in a matrix to optically form symbols or graphics.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein said optical signaling devices are baseball caps.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said optical signaling devices are items of clothing.

8. A combination comprising a plurality of identical optical signaling devices for producing purely aesthetic or entertaining optical effects each having a plurality of light sources which emit light of predetermined color combinations, control circuit means connected to each of said optical signaling devices for activating said light sources, manual activating and deactivating means for manually activating and deactivating said control circuit means, and remote control system means adapted to sand a high frequency, infrared light or acoustic control signal to said light sources for simultaneously activating and deactivating in synchronism a plurality of said optical signaling devices in a matrix to optically form symbols or graphics.