Apparel having removably supporting communication elements

Abstract

Apparel comprising communications elements which are removably attachable to the apparel, and which may be dynamic in nature. The apparel may comprise fasteners such hook and loop material, snap fasteners, buttons, magnets, and others. The communications elements may comprise graphic elements such as letters, numbers, symbols, and depictions of people, animals, recognizable objects, light emitting elements, sound emitting elements, and any combination of the foregoing elements. The communications elements may comprise corresponding fasteners that enable attachment to and ready removal from the apparel. Light and sound emitting elements may be provided with variable output features, such as variation in light and sound levels, frequency of intermittent operation, and the like. Control of variation may be at the discretion of the person wearing the apparel bearing such light and sound emitting elements.

1 . In combination, an article of apparel and selectively removable associated communications elements, comprising
 an article of apparel having an outer surface and at least one first fastener disposed selectively to engage and release an object; and   at least one communications element having at least one second fastener which is engageably compatible with the first fastener, wherein at least one of the at least one communications element is disposed to emit at least one of light and sound.   
   
   
       2 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said communications element is disposed to emit light at a plurality of selectively variably characteristics. 
   
   
       3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the communications element is disposed to emit light in intermittent pulses, and the selectively variable characteristics comprise frequency of pulses of emitted light. 
   
   
       4 . The combination of  claim 2 , further comprising a manual controller disposed on one of the article of apparel and a said communications element, wherein the manual controller is disposed to control variation of the selectively variable characteristics of emission of light from the communications element. 
   
   
       5 . The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the manual controller is a pushbutton. 
   
   
       6 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the first fastener comprises a plurality of strips of hook and loop material disposed on the exterior surface of the article of apparel, and wherein each said strip of hook and loop material is spaced apart from every other strip of hook and loop material. 
   
   
       7 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the communications element comprises an electrical power source and at least one light emitting diode connected to the electrical power source. 
   
   
       8 . The combination of  claim 1 , wherein at least one said communications element is disposed to emit sound at a plurality of selectively variably characteristics. 
   
   
       9 . The combination of  claim 8 , wherein the selectively variable characteristics comprise frequencies of emitted sounds. 
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , further comprising a manual controller disposed on one of the article of apparel and a said communications element, wherein the manual controller is disposed to control variation of the frequency of emitted sounds from the communications element. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the manual controller is a pushbutton. 
   
   
       12 . In combination, an article of apparel and selectively removable associated communications elements, comprising
 an article of apparel having an outer surface and at least one first fastener disposed selectively to engage and release an object; and   a plurality of communications elements each having at least one second fastener which is engageably compatible with the first fastener, wherein the communications elements are dimensioned and configured to be mountable simultaneously to the article of apparel.   
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein each one of the communications elements is one of the group comprising letters, numbers, graphic representations of known objects, and conventional symbolic shapes. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the communications elements comprise a selection of letters which when appropriately ordered spell out words.