Garment and garment accessories having luminescent accents and fabrication method therefor

Abstract

A garment provided with luminescent decoration includes a garment body and a length of piping supported thereon as a sleeve of mesh material that receives a length of flexible cable that can emit visible light therefrom. A power source is supported by the garment body and, when active, causes the cable to emit light that can pass through the piping so as to be seen by an observer. The piping can frame a portion of the garment body, can form a design feature or can be a portion of the garment body. The cable may be an electroluminescent wire, and the power source may be an alternating current source. The power source may be supported in a pouch on the garment body. The piping can have a mesh size of about one-sixteenth inches square. A method of forming a garment having light emitting accents is also disclosed.

1 . A garment adapted to be worn and including light emitting accents visible to an observer, comprising: 
 (A) a garment body;    (B) a length of piping supported on said garment body, said piping constructed as a sleeve of mesh material of a selected mesh size so as to have a sidewall formed by loosely woven strands and having an open interior;    (C) a length of flexible cable received in the interior of said sleeve, said cable being of a type that can emit visible light therefrom; and    (D) a power source supported by said garment body and operative when in an active state to cause said length of cable to emit light therefrom such that light can pass through said piping thereby to be visible to an observer.    
   
   
       2 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said piping frames a portion of said garment body.  
   
   
       3 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said piping forms a design feature on said garment.  
   
   
       4 . A garment according to  claim 3  wherein said garment body has an independent decorative element formed thereon, said piping being associated with said decorative element so as to cooperate with said decorative element thereby to form a decorative design.  
   
   
       5 . A garment according to  claim 4  wherein said decorative element is formed by a piece of fabric material.  
   
   
       6 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said piping forms a portion of said garment body.  
   
   
       7 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said mesh size is such as to have mesh openings of about {fraction (1/16)} th  inch by {fraction (1/16)} th  inch (1.6 mm by 1.6 mm).  
   
   
       8 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said garment body includes a light reflecting portion, said piping and said cable being disposed adjacent to said light reflecting portion.  
   
   
       9 . A garment according to  claim 1  including a pouch secured to said garment body, said pouch sized and adapted to receive and support said power source.  
   
   
       10 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said cable is an electroluminescent wire that produces light in response to an applied electric current, said power source operative to produce an electric current and in electrical communication with said electroluminescent wire.  
   
   
       11 . A garment according to  claim 10  wherein said power source produces and alternating electric current.  
   
   
       12 . A garment according to  claim 11  wherein said power source is a battery operated inverter.  
   
   
       13 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said cable is formed substantially of a non-toxic material.  
   
   
       14 . A garment according to  claim 1  wherein said garment body includes a frame portion formed of a stiff wire, said piping extending coextensively with said wire and being supported thereby.  
   
   
       15 . A garment adapted to be worn and including light emitting accents visible to an observer, comprising: 
 (A) a garment body;    (B) a length of flexible electroluminescent wire supported by said garment body, said electroluminescent wire operative to produce visible light in response to an applied electric current;    (C) an electric power source supported by said garment body and in electrical communication with said electroluminescent wire such that, when in an active state, said power source causes said length of electroluminescent wire to emit light therefrom; and    (D) a pouch secured to said garment body, said pouch sized and adapted to receive and support said electric power source.    
   
   
       16 . A garment according to  claim 15  wherein said garment body includes piping supported thereon, said piping constructed as a sleeve of mesh material of a selected mesh size so as to have a sidewall formed by loosely woven strands and having an open interior, said electroluminescent wire being disposed in said sleeve.  
   
   
       17 . A garment according to  claim 16  wherein said mesh size is such as to have mesh openings of about {fraction (1/16)} th  inch by {fraction (1/16)} th  inch (1.6 mm by 1.6 mm).  
   
   
       18 . A garment according to  claim 15  wherein said electroluminescent wire frames a portion of said garment body.  
   
   
       19 . A garment according to  claim 15  wherein said electroluminescent wire forms a design feature on said garment.  
   
   
       20 . A garment according to  claim 19  wherein said garment body has a decorative element formed thereon, said electroluminescent wire being associated with said decorative element so as to cooperate with said decorative element thereby to form a decorative design.  
   
   
       21 . A garment according to  claim 15  wherein said garment body includes a light reflecting portion, said electroluminescent wire being disposed adjacent to said light reflecting portion.  
   
   
       22 . A garment according to  claim 15  wherein said power source produces and alternating electric current.  
   
   
       23 . A garment according to  claim 22  wherein said power source is a battery operated inverter.  
   
   
       24 . A garment adapted to be worn and including light emitting accents visible to an observer, comprising: 
 (A) a garment body;    (B) a length of piping supported on said garment body, said piping constructed as a sleeve of mesh material of a selected mesh size having mesh openings of about {fraction (1/16)} th  inch by {fraction (1/16)} th  inch (1.6 mm by 1.6 mm) so as to have a sidewall formed by loosely woven strands and having an open interior;    (C) a length of flexible electroluminescent wire received in the interior of said sleeve, said electroluminescent wire operative to produce visible light in response to an applied electric current; and    (D) an electric power source supported by said garment body and in electrical communication with said electroluminescent wire such that, when in an active state, said power source causes said length of electroluminescent wire to emit light therefrom.such that light can pass through said piping thereby to be visible to an observer.    
   
   
       25 . A garment according to  claim 24  including a pouch secured to said garment body, said pouch sized and adapted to receive and support said electric power source.  
   
   
       26 . A garment according to  claim 24  wherein said piping frames a portion of said garment body.  
   
   
       27 . A garment according to  claim 24  wherein said piping forms a design feature on said garment.  
   
   
       28 . A garment according to  claim 27  wherein said garment body has an independent decorative element formed thereof, said piping being associated with said decorative element so as to cooperate with said decorative element thereby to form a decorative design.  
   
   
       29 . A garment according to  claim 24  wherein said garment body includes a light reflecting portion, said piping being disposed adjacent to said light reflecting portion.  
   
   
       30 . A garment according to  claim 24  wherein said power source produces and alternating electric current.  
   
   
       31 . A garment according to  claim 30  wherein said power source is a battery operated inverter.  
   
   
       32 . A method of forming a garment so as to have light emitting accents, comprising: 
 affixing a piping to a portion of the garment as a sleeve having an interior wherein said piping has a sidewall formed by loosely woven strands;    placing a length of flexible cable in the interior of said sleeve wherein said cable is of a type that can emit visible light therefrom; and    causing said cable to emit light.    
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said piping is affixed to said garment by sewing said piping at a seam between two garment portions.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said piping is affixed to said garment along with an associated independent decorative element adjacent thereto.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said cable is an electro-luminescent wire and the step of causing said cable to emit light is accomplished by applying an electric current to said wire.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 32  wherein said piping has a mesh size so as to have mesh openings of about {fraction (1/16)} th  inch by {fraction (1/16)} th  inch (1.6 mm by 1.6 mm).