Active labels for garments

• US 6,279,170 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1996
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mil Digital Labeling Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Victor Chu
• Inventors: Chu, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Application Number:
  US08/770,712
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 406/610.4, 406/610.2, 40/15, 404/48, 405/46, 407/16, 401/240.2, 404/42, 224/6, 224/4, 290/5, 362/103
• US Class Current: 2/246
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/085 Luminous ornaments
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2003/0282 for textiles, e.g. clothing
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/208 Electronic labels, Labels integrating electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers

Abstract

A label for a garment including an electronic display such as a liquid crystal display for displaying label information. The label information may include a company name or logo that identifies the source of the garment, product information such as the material content of the garment or care instructions, and manufacturer information. The label information can be contained in multiple screen images which can be stepped through by pressing a button or touch-sensitive area of the display. The display can also be programmed to display a series of related images in sequence to produce an animated logo.

Claims

1. A label for a garment comprising:

a) a base adapted to be affixed to a garment;

b) an electronic display panel affixed to said base; and

c) a programmable circuit operatively connected to said display panel, said programmable circuit being programmed to output label information to said display panel for display thereon.

2. The label according to claim 1 wherein said display panel is a liquid crystal display.

3. The label according to claim 2 wherein said liquid crystal display includes a backlight.

4. The label according to claim 3 further including a power switch to alternately turn the power to said backlight on and off.

5. The label according to claim 2 further including a plurality of screen images associated with said display panel which can be selectively displayed on the display panel by the user.

6. The label according to claim 5 further including an input device to manually change the screen image.

7. The label according to claim 5 wherein said screen images include a logo screen.

8. The label according to claim 5 wherein said screen images include at least one product information screen.

9. A method for labeling a garment comprising:

a) providing an electronic display;

b) programming said display to display label information; and

c) attaching said display to a garment.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the electronic display is a liquid crystal display.

11. The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of programming said display comprises programming the display to display multiple screen images.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the electronic display includes an input device to manually change said screen images.

13. The method according to claim 11 wherein said screen images change automatically without input from the user.

14. The method according to claim 12 wherein said input device comprises a pressure-activated button on said display.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein said input device comprises a touch screen.

16. An improved article of clothing comprising:

a) a body covering garment; and

b) a programmable label including an electronic display attached to said garment, wherein said programmable label is programmed to display label information.

17. The clothing article of claim 16 wherein said display is a liquid crystal display.

18. The clothing article of claim 17 wherein said label is programmed to display multiple screen images on said display.

19. The clothing article of claim 18 wherein said label further includes an input device to allow the user to manually change the screen image on said display.

20. The clothing article of claim 19 wherein said input device is a pressure-activated button.

21. The clothing article of claim 19 wherein said input device is a touch screen.