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Washable lighted garment with light effect material

  • US 9,557,049 B1
  • Filed: 08/03/2016
  • Issued: 01/31/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of manufacture, comprising:

  • a garment; and

    a lighting unit affixed to the garment, wherein said lighting unit comprises;

    a light effect material having an inner surface and an outer surface with a plurality of dispersive elements;

    a transparent space proximate the inner surface;

    one or more light emitting diodes (“

    LEDs”

    ), each of the one or more LEDs having a light emitting die that emits light when it is energized; and

    electronics for turning on an electrical circuit which includes the one or more LEDs to cause each light emitting die of the one or more LEDs to emit light;

    wherein the transparent space maintains the light effect material at a preselected distance from the one or more LEDs and each light emitting die is substantially parallel to the light effect material so that light emitted from each light emitting die is dispersed by the plurality of dispersive elements so as to create a light material viewing effect;

    wherein the light material viewing effect is created for a viewer viewing light emitted from each light emitting die through a first viewing path that begins with each light emitting die, then goes through the transparent space, then goes through the inner surface, then goes through the outer surface, then goes to the viewer;

    wherein a non-light material viewing effect is created for the viewer viewing light emitted from each light emitting die through a second viewing path in which the light effect material has been removed and the second viewing path begins with each light emitting die, then goes through the transparent space, then goes to the viewer;

    wherein the viewer perceives the light material viewing effect to extend over a wider area than the non-light material viewing effect when the first viewing path and the second viewing path have an identical preselected distance; and

    wherein the garment can be soaked in water and the lighting unit will still function after the garment has been soaked in water.

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