GB2496539A

GB2496539A - Attachment of lighting to fabric and clothing

Info

Publication number: GB2496539A
Application number: GB201300856A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Simon Weatherall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-01-17
Filing date: 2013-01-17
Publication date: 2013-05-15
Also published as: GB201300856D0

Abstract

Electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting stripes 4e are attached to fabric or clothing by means of a flexible sleeve 4b, track or tube (7c, figure 6) or through a hole (6b, figure 7) in a self fixing popper (6d, 6e). The wire, cable or stripe is preferably removable. The wire, cable or stripe may allow a users body shape to be seen in the dark for road safety and sporting purposes. Also disclosed is the use of a tag system to implement a lighting tag game, using mobile phone built in devices and applications to control a lighting sequence on a piece of clothing using electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting stripes for lighting clothing, and lights that change colour or sequence based on a set of programmable rules and outcomes.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. . PROPERTY OFFICE Applicalion No. GBI3(X3856.O RTIIVI Dare:18 February 20H The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro. Bluetooth. WiFi Intellectual Property Office is an operaling name of Ihe Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk Mobile Controls and Attachments For Light Up Clothing.

Background

This invention has created some improvements on existing products to make it easier to fix electroluminescent wire/sheet. fibre optic cable and slip lighting to fabric. It also allows these lights to be powered and controlled by means of a mobile device such as a mobile phone or heart rate monitor. It allows peoples' body shape to be seen in the dark for road safety, fitness and sports. When people currently take part in activities in the dark they are normally only lit up by a single light which does not show an individual's silhouette. This is a problem for things such as cycling as the individual is lit up but not fully seen. Joining the lights to fabric is currently a problem as there is no easy way and detaching them once attached with a product like glue is very difficult and not practical.

Statement of Intention

Individuals are far safer when they wear light up clothing. Having multiple functions, it is also great fun for game situations. When the individual runs faster, works at a different intensity, moves differently, makes a certain noise or becomes in danger the EL Wire! sheet or fibre optic cable (lights) within the clothing may change colour, flash or blink.

This can be powered and operated using a mobile device such as a smart phone or heart rate monitor which will have applications controlling the lights. This could also have another portable! built in power supply. The fixings of the wire will use a zip style or uniquely designed fixing which I have invented and allows the lights to become detached for washing the clothing with ease.

Advantages of the Invention The wire is attached using a fixing such as a zip, velcro, tubing, poppers or velcro to allow the users to make them detachable for washing purposes.

Individual garments can be attached together using a connection system allowing every garment to be powered using one power supply.

Mobile applications can activate the lighting sequences by use of programmed applications by developers.

Lights are fixed down the arms and legs in single, double or tripple lines using the glowfaster design. This will allow the users limbs to be lit individually displaying their movement patterns.

The lights link into a mobile device or a device using GPS, bluetooth, accelerometer or music and will give it a diverse set of features for games and for safety.

It wUl give a clear intuitive signal of an outcome such as an individuals work rate u&ng the lighting system.

Drawing 1 This drawing shows how the EL Wire lighting system for the cloths will be operated and powered using a mobile device or power source.

Figure 1 Shows a mobile phone or alternatively a power supply which will control and power the lights such as the EL wire or fibre optic cable. This power supply can be used to power the device by means of a battery, solar power, other heat energy or this could be powered by the movement of the person kinetic energy. The power supply could be stored in the trainers of an individual's clothing but if require only one will be used to power every garment the person chooses to wear. An example of the sorts of things which may be controlled with the mobile devices would be that the lights turn onloff or change colour when an individual reaches a certain heart rate or work rate or if the individual is in danger the lights will flash.

Figure 2 Shows a headphone socket or power output socket, this can be used to power or operate the lights using a current or sound signal.

Figure 3 Shows the data input! output port on mobile devices can be used to control the lights and also to power them. Algorithms will be used to operate the mobile devices features such as accelerometer, GPS and wifi with the aim of controlling the lights (El Wire) or (tithe optic cable) to flash, blink, turn off/on or change colour. An inverter to increase power may also be used to boost the power from the device. The device can be attached to the person's clothing or remotely controlled by the person using bluetooth, radio control or wifi.

Figure 4 Shows the Electroluminescent wire or fibre optic cable which will be attached to an individuaVs clothing. The lighting will be attached using a zip attachment, popper attachment which has been designed and shown in Drawing X or the piping attachment shown in drawing V. Drawing 2 & 3 These drawings shows an overview of the layout for the glowfaster clothing which will be lit using the El Wire, fibre optic cable and other lights, it also shows a possible setup of where everything will be laid out on the person. The top consists of a single wire spanning from one cuff to the other passing up over the sholders.

Figure Ia & 2a This shows a typical place where a mobile device can be attached to the clothing to control and power the lights, it can be removed so the dothirig is powered / controed remotely from a central location. It can even control more than one person's lighting sequence for things like games which could be created and programmed. The circuit boards and power supplytsupplies can also be attached to this type of area. The key is that one power supply and control unit can be used to power every light in the circuit or on the person.

Figure lb Shows the EL wire, fibre optic cable and lights attached to the clothing this can be attached using any of the Glowfaster' attachment methods stated in drawing 5','drawing 6' and drawing 7'. This is one of the main features of this patent as it is how the connection is made between joining the lights to clothing, so lighting of the user is achieved. Each piece of clothing can have any design but the key feature is that the garments can be seen in the dark by lighting them up and thus using one of our joining methods for the EL wire, fibre optic lights or other lights. The user's body shape will be or can be visible with this lighting. The connective stip can also be light enhancing as seen in figure 2b with the chest circle being more prominent.

The clothing will include a light up hat, gloves, trousers, tops and shoes. These can be controlled as individual units or as one complete unit. Each piece of clothing can be controlled using a mobile device or circuit board to produce a certain lighting outcome for the user/users. The lighting on the upper body consists of a single lighting wire or strip which spans across the arms and shoulders or arms and chest. The lights on the legs are 2 separate strips which run down both legs. The lights are positioned so that they illuminate the side of the user and the back view.

The clothing can be used for things such as running, cycling, games and sports providing safety for individuals at work and at home. The key is that the lights become the focus for the safety feature on the garment not other reflective stripes.

The lights can be used as a gauge of work rate or speed in a fitness environment, or as an indication of danger when used as a safety device. They can be placed in any design to best suit the needs of the user. The lighting design of the circle on the chest of the users Figure 2b' can sync in time with the users heart rate and my be a different color to the other lights. This is a key design feature of the Glowfaster' brand. EL wire, fibre optic cable or LED's can be used to give the clothing its lighting effect. Other individual elements of clothing may also light different colours at different times to give the user different indications in conjunction with mobile phone or device applications.

S

If used in a team or games environment individuals may light up at different times or flash and glow dependent on certain outcomes.

Figure ic This shows the join of the two garments as seen in drawing 4' this will allow the suit to be lit by one power source. The tag Figure id can be added or removed when required for tag rugby in the dark. If the tag is removed then the users lights will go out.

This attachment can be seen in more detail in drawing 4', This connection may not be required on all clothing but is an added extra if required. This connection may also be placed on the front of the garment.

Figure id This show a tag which can be added for the gaming element with the suits, this tag can be seen in more detail on drawing 4, Figure 3a' this will connect the clothing and will have a wiring system which when it is removed it will break an electric current thus switching off or changing light sequences. It is an improvement of the current tag which are used during tag rugby and using it as a switch mechanism, It may also light up to make it visible, Drawing 4 This Drawing shows how each individual piece of clothing will be connected using a singular power source throughout the entire body, It shows a popper or conductive velcro connection which can be made to break the circuit of lights for games. It also has a tag attachment for games which when the tag is removed it will switch off or alter a lighting sequence.

Figure 3a Shows a light up tag with popper or conductive velcro attachments Figure Se' to create a electric circuit. Figure 3e can connect to the connections Figure 3c' which also uses conductive attachments to form a complete circuit. The tag itself may also light up.

Figure 3b Shows connection wires from the piece of clothing which contains the controlling device, power supply or lights. This connection wire will be connected to the conductive pads or control pad to create a connection between the items of clothing or tag Figure 3a'; this will create a complete circuit between Figure 3d' and Figure 3f joining two items together using just one power source.

The Conductive connections wiU also be colour coded for users to identity the corresponding connections easily.

Drawing 5 This is one of the key improvements which makes our product innovative; it shows a flexible sleeve or track which can house the lighting wire such as electroluminescent wire. This enables users to easfly remove the wire for washing a garment. It may house more than one wire.

Figure 4e This Shows a lighting wire such as EL wire, fibre optic cable or or other strip light which can be zipped or threaded into a precise groove Figure 4c' thus fixing it to the garment, but making it removable.

Figure 4a Shows a zip attachment which can be placed around the lighting wire to allow ease when inserting or removing Figure 4e' from Figure 4c'. This may be made of light up or reflective material and is a key to the design working.

Figure 4b Shows a flexible sleeve which is made from rubber, pvc, plastic, latex, transparent or color enhancing material which will house the lighting wire. It is moulded to the shape as seen in the picture. Figure 4c' size depend on the size of the wire it is housing; it may also have more than one wire housing groove as shown in Figure 4d. These will be moulded into the sleeve when using multiple lighting wires. It may enhance the light emitted from the original lighting wire or be made of a reflective material. It can be stitched, glued, velcroed or attached to any item of clothing or fabric as seen in Figure 4d'. It is an improvement of what already exists as this currently only includes stitching and glueing the wire directly onto the clothing or fabric which means it cant be removed for washing a garment or fabric.

Drawing 6 Shows a rubber, plastic, pvc, latex or light emmiting transparent tube or sleeve which is fixed to a garment, fabric or material to act as a runway for electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting strips. It has a groove which will allow a zipping effect to enable the lights to be removed for washing of the fabric or clothing.

Figure 7a Shows a slit which is cut into a piece of tubing which will allow a zipping effect when Figure 7b' is inserted. Figure 7a' will act as a track for sliding Figure 7b' along it.

This will draw the electroluminescent wire Figure 7e' along the tube Figure 7c'.

Figure 7c This shows a piece of rubber tubing which will act as protection and as a light fitting for the electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable and strip lighting. It may be made of a light enhancing material or may even be made reflective. It may be made of pvc, plastic.

latex or rubber but will be flexible enough to move with a fabric where required. It is stitched to a fabric using holes which will be made as shown in Figure 7d'. It may also be joined to the fabric Figure Bc' using other methods of tixing such as glue. The holes for the stitching are not a compulsory item with this design.

Drawing 7 This self fixing popper is an improvement of a current popper allowing users to thread electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting strips through a hole Figure 6b'.

The fixing will allow users to easily remove lights Figure 6a' 6b' & 6d' from the other side of the popper Figure Bc' Be' & 61". This will mean that the electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable and lighting strips can be removed and added for washing with ease.

Figure 6b Shows a custom made cap which will fix popper cap Figure 6d'. This will allow lighting wire Figure Ba' to be passed through section Figure 6b'. Figures Ba,6b,6d,6e,6f can come in various colours and be made from plastic, pvc, metal and rubber. These items can also be transparent and be made with a material which may be reflective or will help increase emitting light.

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. Attaching electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting stripes to fabric or clothing using an improved method shown in Drawing 5, 6, & 7.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. Using a tag system to implement a lighting tag game as shown in drawing 4.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. Using the mobile phones built in devices and applications to control a lighting sequence on a piece of clothing using electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable or lighting stripes for lighting clothing.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. Lights which change colour or sequence based on a set of programmable rules or outcomes incorporating & including elements from claim I,2 & 3.amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. Powering and operating lights attached to clothing u&ng a programmable mobe device worn by the user, displaying a visual light source as a configured output for the user based on programmable options, with the light source being an attachment of electroluminescent wire, a fibre optic cable or a lighting stripe to fabric or clothing by a removable insertion of the wire, cable or stripe into an eyelet that is detachably attached to the fabric or clothing known as the host attachment',
2. The light source will be powered and operated using a mobile device as referred to in claim 1, such as a mobile phone.
3. The clothing as referred to in claim 1 is for running, cycling, fitness and exercising, gym classes, road safety, children, walking, games, fun and socialising.
4. The mobile device will be programmable as referred to in claim 1, whereby smart applications can configure light sequencing outputs.
5. Smart applications as referred to in claim 4 will gain inputs from GPS, st' accelerometers, heart rate sensors, movement sensors, sound and light sensors in 0 order to configure lighting outputs for the user as per claim 1.CO
6. The inputs as referred to in claim 5 will be directly connected to a mobile device Q using open or encrypted bluetooth, wifi, or infra-red signal.
7. The light source as referred to in claim I and 2 will be electroluminescent wire, fibre optic cable, or LED lighting film.
8. The host attachment for the light source as referred to in claim I is fixed to the clothing using a method for attachment illustrated in drawing 5, 6 and 7.
9. The host attachment as referred to in claim I and shown in drawings 5, 6 and 7 can be sewn and attached directly to any clothing garment at any position post-manufacture, thereby avoiding the need for unnecessary seams or fixings.
10. The host attachment as referred to in claim 8 and 9 has minimal impact on flexibility based on the users movement therefore does not compromise flexibility or comfort when worn for activities in claim 3.
11. The host attachment as referred to in claim 1, 8, 9 and 10 also allows multiple attachments to be fixed directly alongside each other.
12. The host attachment as referred to in claim 8 and 9 and illustrated in drawing 6 differs and improves on the carrier/attachment in patent (WO 03/007740 A3) whereby the attachment must be fixed into a seam by means of an additional portion attached to the first tubular portion, or using additional fixing methods.
13. The host attachment as referred to in claim 8 and illustrated in drawing 6 differs and improves on patent (WO 03/007740 A3) as described in claim 10, as the additional portion' in this patent inhibits movement and flexibility of the tubular section along one plane which will affect the usability and comfort for the user through their movement.
14. The host attachment referred to in claim 8 and illustrated in drawing 6 differs and improves on patent (WO 03/007740 A3) as described in claim 11 as the additional portion' in this patent does not allow for multiple fixings to be attached directly alongside one another without lifting of the tubular section or by increasing risk of snagging and restrictions in the users movement and comfort whilst wearing the attachment on clothing, as described in claim 13.
15. The host attachment as referred to in claim I and shown in drawing 5, can have multiple grooves (figure 4c) to allow for multiple light source wires.
16. The host attachment a referred to in claim I and shown in drawing 7 has a secure connection by means of the 3 pins as illustrated in figure 6f and allows the wire to be easily threaded holding the wire within the whole attachment.(0
17. The attachment as referred to in claim 16 and illustrated in drawing 7 differs and improves on the attachment in patent (US 2012/0063124 Al) as the connection is more secure by means of the 3 pins as illustrated in figure Sf compared to figure 4, O 5 or 6 as in patent (US 2012/0063124 Al),
18. The attachment referred to in claim 17 and drawing 7 also shows how the wire is (0 held within the whole attachment which decreases risk of snagging, which can be O seen in patent (US 2012/0063124 A1)figure 3,22.
19. The attachment referred to in claim 16 and drawing 7 offers a quick release method of the attachment so that the garment can be washed without risk of breaking or hooking when washing a garment as you may incur with attachment which can be seen in patent (US 2012/0063124 AI)figure 3,22.
20. The attachments as referred to in claim 9 and illustrated in drawings 5 and 6 allow the electroluminescent wire to be fed into the host attachment by means of a zipper' method as illustrated by drawing 6 figure 7b and drawing 5 figure 4e.
21. The zipper method referred to in claim 20 can be a custom made unit or piece of material designed to aid the insertion of light source wire as described in claim 7.
22. The programmable options as referred to in claim 1 can configure gaming' which will provide a lighting sequence output.
23. The gaming' referred to in claim 22 includes a tag type game which incorporates drawing 2 figure ld, and drawing 4 methods of implementation.
24. The tag game referred to in claim 23 is programmed so that the light source will go out or change colour or sequence when a tag is removed.
25. The gaming referred to in claim 22 can incorporate sensors from claim 5, and can include multiple users via connection methods stated in claim 6.
26. All items of clothing used by a user as referred to in claim 1 can be activated, operated and controlled using a single power source.
27. Clothing with light sources as referred to in claim 1 can be used for indoor exercise classes, activities and gaming including dancing, incorporating claims 1-26.
28. Lighting on clothing as referred to in daim 1 can be displayed in multiple colours such as blue, green, red, yellow, orange, and white, and can blink, flash, and glow at a range of frequencies dependant incorporating any or multiple claims from 1-27.
29. Smart applications as referred to in claim 5 can include maximum heart rate calculations, speed and distance calculations and body statistics based on an individual user or group of users.
30. A light in synchronisation with a user's heartbeat using a heart rate sensor as referred to in claim 5, can be displayed on the clothing as illustrated in drawing 3 figure 2b in any shape such as a circle, and can also be displayed using any lights positioned anywhere on the clothing.
31. All claims stated from I -30 can interact with one another to support the intentions ct') and outputs of claim 1. Co</claim-text>