Illuminated article of apparel

• US 5,649,758 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 07/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lami Products, Inc. (Jacent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lami Products, Inc. (Jacent, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dion, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/471,783
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103, 362/104, 362/800, 362/190, 362/196, 362/198, 362/276, 362/802, 132/273, 132/275, 273/58 B, 273/58 C, 273/58 G
• US Class Current: 362/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 8/004 with decorative arrangements or form
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 8/34 Hair-braid holders; Hair-plait holders
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An article of apparel which includes at least one LED which is intermittently and repetitively turned on. In one form, a hollow ball or shell contains an LED and a digital pulser comprising a battery and a digital oscillator for passing successive pulses of current through the LED. Preferably the shell is made in two separable and halves, to permit easy access to the interior to turn it on or off manually, to repair it, or to replace the battery. In another form, the invention comprises a linear series of LED'"'"'s on a strip which can be fastened between the laces and tongue of a shoe, the LED'"'"'s being successively turned on momentarily to produce the appearance of light moving along the strip.

Claims

1. An intermittently illuminated article of apparel, comprising:

flasher means comprising at least one light-emitting diode, a battery, and pulsar means connected to said battery and said diode, for intermittently and repetitively passing current from said battery through said diode to produce a series of flashes of light therefrom;

support means mountable on the hair of a wearer by an elastic member connected thereto, and said support means including a hollow ball made from at least two separable and reassemblable sections, said hollow ball containing said diode, said battery and said pulsar means and further comprising attachment means for securing said hollow ball to said elastic member; and

wherein said pulsar means comprises means for generating sequential pulses of voltage, and means for supplying said pulses of voltage to said diode.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein said sections are configured so that they can be snapped together and pulled apart readily by the user.

3. The article of claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprises a passage extending through the ball to receive the elastic band.

4. An illuminated item of apparel, comprising:

a translucent outer shell including at least two separable and ressemblable sections;

an elastic ponytail holding member connected to said shell;

a light-emitting diode within said shell; and

a battery and switch means mounted within said shell for supplying said light-emitting diode with intermittent pulses of current to cause repetitive pulses of light to be emitted from said shell.

5. The illuminated item of claim 4, wherein switch means comprises a motion switch, mechanical on-off switch, or both.

6. The illuminated item of claim 5, wherein said switch means is manually activated.

7. The illuminated item of claim 6, wherein said switch means comprises a motion sensor.

8. An illuminated hair ornament comprising a pair of fasteners connected by a thin connecting member, said fasteners comprising first and second polymeric shells having first and second cavities therein;

said first and second cavities containing a first and second light source respectively;

said ornament further comprising a battery and flasher means electrically connected to said first and second light sources to produce repetitive pulses of light to be emitted from said first and second polymeric shells.

9. The hair ornament of claim 8, wherein said thin connecting member comprises an elastic component.

10. The illuminated hair ornament of claim 8, wherein said first light source comprises a light emitting diode.

11. The illuminated hair ornament of claim 8, wherein said flasher means comprises a timing chip.

12. An illuminated hair ornament comprising a pair of translucent polymeric shells connected by an elastic string-like member, said polymeric shells comprising first and second light sources contained therein;

said hair ornament further comprising the battery and flasher means electrically connected to said first and second light sources, said flasher means causing said light sources to produce repetitive pulses of light to be emitted from said translucent shells.