Garment with an electroluminescent circuit

• US 6,116,745 A
• Filed: 11/02/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Gluck
• Original Assignee: Gordon Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yei, Wu Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/184,256
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/105, 362/106, 362/103, 313/502, 313/510, 313/512
• US Class Current: 362/105
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 1/248 Insignia, logos, emblems or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal

Abstract

An illuminated display panel for a garment including an electroluminescent circuit having an electrical microchip, a plurality of resistors, a plurality of semiconductor rectifiers, and an electroluminescent display element, all being connected to the electrical microchip; and a battery compartment with miniature flat batteries contained therein. The illuminated display panel for a garment further includes a display label having indicia thereon and being attached to the electroluminescent display element by gluing, stitching, sewing, stapling, epoxy, cementing or combinations thereof. The electroluminescent display element is attached to the garment by gluing, stitching, sewing, stapling, epoxy cementing or combinations thereof. The electroluminescent display element is electrically connected to the electroluminescent circuit by one or more soldered connection points; and a pair of connection wires electrically connects the one or more soldered connection points to the electroluminescent circuit.

Claims

1. An illuminated display panel for a garment, comprising:

a) an electroluminescent circuit including an electrical microchip, a plurality of resistors, a plurality of semiconductor rectifiers, and an electroluminescent display element, all being connected to said electrical microchip;

b) power source means being a battery compartment for receiving batteries therein;

said power source means being connected to said electroluminescent circuit;

c) a display label having indicia thereon and being attached to said electroluminescent display element by first attachment means;

said display label including an embroidered stenciled patch having openings therein for receiving therethrough the illumination from said electroluminescent display element;

d) second attachment means for attaching said electroluminescent display element to the garment; and

e) first means for electrically connecting said electroluminescent display element to said electroluminescent circuit.

2. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power source means include one or more miniaturized watch batteries for supplying power to said electroluminescent circuit.

3. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first attachment means for attaching said display label to said electroluminescent display element includes stitching, gluing, stapling, epoxy, cementing or combinations thereof.

4. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second attachment means for attaching said electroluminescent display element to the garment includes stitching, gluing, stapling, epoxy, cementing or combinations thereof.

5. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein first means for electrically connecting said electroluminescent display element to said electroluminescent circuit include one or more soldered connection points.

6. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 5, wherein said electroluminescent circuit further includes a first pair of connection wires and said one or more soldered connection points;

said first pair of connection wires being electrically connected to said one or more soldered connection points.

7. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 2, wherein said battery compartment includes two of said miniaturized watch batteries.

8. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said battery compartment includes a second pair of connection wires;

said second pair of connection wires for electrically connecting said battery compartment to said electroluminescent circuit.

9. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electroluminescent circuit has physical dimensions of 25 mm in length, 15 mm in width, and 2.5 mm in thickness for providing a streamline configuration thereto.

10. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said battery compartment has physical dimensions of 35 mm in length, 12 mm width, and 5 mm in thickness for providing a streamline configuration thereto.

11. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, where said garment is selected from the group consisting of hats, baseball caps, ski hats, helmets, shorts, pants, jeans, jackets, T-shirts, shirts, sweatshirts, sporting apparel, ski apparel, camping gear, backpacks, tote bags, and fanny packs.

13. A display panel for a garment in accordance with claim 1, wherein said power source means include one or more miniaturized watch batteries for supplying power to said electroluminescent circuit.

12. An illuminated display panel for a garment, comprising:

a) an electroluminescent circuit including an electrical microchip, a plurality of resistors, a plurality of semiconductor rectifiers, and an electroluminescent display element, all being connected to said electrical microchip;

b) power source means being a battery compartment for receiving batteries therein;

said power source means being connected to said electroluminescent circuit;

c) a display label having indicia thereon and being attached to said electroluminescent display element by first attachment means;

said display label being a cutout form of letters or other indicia having an embroidered stenciled patch having openings therein for receiving therethrough the illumination produced by said electroluminescent display element;

d) second attachment means for attaching said electroluminescent display element to the garment; and

e) first means for electrically connecting said electroluminescent display element to said electroluminescent circuit.