Harness for lighted sport article

Abstract

A harness ( 10 ) for illuminating an article is provided. The harness ( 10 ) includes elongate members ( 12 ) of elastic material that can be releasably secured to an exterior surface of the article. The elongate members ( 12 ) include light stick securing portions ( 19 ) to releasably secure a light stick such as a chemi-luminescent light stick ( 20 ).

1 . A harness for attachment of lights to an article, comprising: 
 at least two elongate members having opposed interior and exterior surfaces defining a wall therebetween and opposed ends, each of the members having a hole through the wall, the hole being of a size to securably hold a light source, wherein one of the surfaces is a substantially planar surface;    a first elongate connecting member securably attached to one end of each of the elongate members; and    a second elongate connecting member securably attached to the other end of each of the elongate members;    wherein the elongate members and the connecting members have elasticity to releasably secure the harness over an external surface of the article.    
   
   
       2 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate members have a plurality of holes for securably holding a light source.  
   
   
       3 . The harness of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate members have at least four holes for securably holding a light source.  
   
   
       4 . The harness of  claim 1 , further including a pocket for securably holding a light source; wherein a portion of the pocket is connected to the interior surface of at least one of the elongate members.  
   
   
       5 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate members have an elastic portion.  
   
   
       6 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate members are elastic members made from elastic material selected from the group consisting of a natural rubber, a synthetic rubber, an elastic plastic or an elastic textile.  
   
   
       7 . The harness of  claim 1 , further including a light source capable of releasable securement to the harness by frictional engagement with portion of the elongate members proximal to the holes.  
   
   
       8 . The harness of  claim 7 , wherein the light source is a chemi-luminesent light stick.  
   
   
       9 . The harness of  claim 7 , wherein the light source is an electro-luminescent, battery-operated light stick.  
   
   
       10 . The harness of  claim 7 , wherein the light source is an incandescent, battery-operated light stick.  
   
   
       11 . The harness of  claim 9 , wherein the harness further includes a battery securing portion.  
   
   
       12 . The harness of  claim 10 , wherein the harness further includes a battery securing portion.  
   
   
       13 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a play toy  
   
   
       14 . The harness of  claim 1 , wherein the article is a sport article.  
   
   
       15 . The harness of  claim 13 , wherein the sport article is a ball.  
   
   
       16 . An illuminated play toy comprising: 
 a play toy having an exterior surface;    an elastic harness covering a portion of the exterior surface of the play toy and releasably attached to the play toy, the elastic harness comprising:    at least two elongate members having opposed interior and exterior surfaces defining a wall therebetween and opposed ends, each of the members having a hole through the wall, the hole being of a size to securably hold a light source, wherein one of the surfaces is a substantially planar surface;    a first elongate connecting member securably attached to one end of each of the elongate members;    a second elongate connecting member securably attached to the other end of each of the elongate members; and    a light stick securably attached to portions of the elongate members proximal to the holes.    
   
   
       17 . The play toy of  claim 15 , wherein the play toy is a sport article.  
   
   
       18 . The play toy of  claim 15 , wherein the sport article is a ball.  
   
   
       19 . The play toy of  claim 13 , wherein the light stick is a chemi-luminescent light stick.  
   
   
       20 . The play toy of  claim 13 , wherein the light stick is selected from the group consisting of a chemi-luminescent light stick, an electro-luminescent light stick or an incandescent light stick.  
   
   
       21 . A method for illuminating a play toy comprising: 
 forming an elastically deformable harness having resilient elongate members;    providing a plurality holes through the elongate members of the harness;    providing light stick for securement to the harness;    weaving the light stick through the holes to secure the light stick to the harness; and    placing the harness over an exterior surface of the play toy to releasably secure the harness to the play toy.    
   
   
       22 . A harness for illuminating an article comprising: 
 elastic, light-emitting elongate members securably attached to one and the other to form a harness,    wherein the harness is releasably slidable over the article.    
   
   
       23 . The harness of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic, light emitting members comprise light sources interconnected to elastic harness portions.  
   
   
       24 . The harness of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic, light-emitting members comprise elastic, light sources.  
   
   
       25 . The harness of  claim 22 , wherein the elastic, light-emitting members include replaceable light sources.  
   
   
       26 . The harness of  claim 25 , wherein the replaceable light sources are refillable.