Washable lighted garment with light effect material
First Claim
Patent Images
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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Abstract
A light effect material is used to create a viewing effect visible to a viewer on the opposite side of the light effect material than one or more LEDs which emit light which is dispersed by dispersive elements on the outer surface of the light effect material. A transparent space is used to space the LEDs apart from the dispersive elements of the light effect material and light emitting dies of the LEDs are substantially parallel to the light effect material.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An article of manufacture, comprising:
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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; andelectronics 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for creating a light material viewing effect in a garment, comprising:
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activating a switch of a lighting unit affixed to the garment that provides a signal to a control device for turning on an electrical circuit which includes one or more light emitting diodes (“
LEDs”
), one or more electrical connectors, the control device and a power source to cause the one or more LEDs to emit light which passes through a light effect material having a plurality of dispersive elements so as to create the light material viewing effect;wherein each of the one or more LEDs emits light from a light emitting die that is maintained at a preselected distance from the light effect material and is substantially parallel to the light effect material so as to create the light material viewing effect; wherein the light material viewing effect is created for a viewer viewing light emitted from the light emitting die through a first viewing path that begins with the light emitting die, then goes through a transparent spacing layer, then goes through an inner surface of the light effect material, then goes through an outer surface of the light effect material, then goes to the viewer; wherein a non-light material viewing effect is created for the viewer viewing light emitted from the light emitting die through a second viewing path in which the light effect material has been removed and the second viewing path begins with the light emitting die, then goes through the transparent spacing layer, then goes to the viewer; and 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.
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17. A process for manufacturing a garment with a lighting unit which can be washed without removing the lighting unit and the lighting unit will still create a light material viewing effect after the garment with the lighting unit has been washed, comprising:
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assembling an electrical assembly, comprising the steps of; electrically connecting a switch and a power source to a control device and waterproofing the switch and the power source; and electrically connecting one or more light emitting diodes (“
LEDs”
) to the control device;assembling the lighting unit by positioning the one or more LEDs relative to a light effect material and a transparent spacing layer so that the transparent spacing layer maintains the light effect material at a preselected distance from the one or more LEDs and a light emitting die of each of the one or more LEDs is substantially parallel to the light effect material so that light emitted from each light emitting die is dispersed by the light effect material 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 spacing layer, then goes through the light effect material, 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 spacing layer, then goes to the viewer; and 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 securing the lighting unit to the garment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification