Lighted safety apparel and method

Abstract

A lighted apparel article is provided. It includes at least one lamp coupled to a power source. The power source includes a device operable to convert incident light into electrical energy that is coupled to an energy storage device that is rechargeable to store electrical energy for later use to power the lamp. A controller is coupled to the energy storage device and the lamp and is operable to selectively control the transmission of electrical energy from the storage device to the lamp.

1 . An apparel article for illuminating an area adjacent of a person to improve their visibility, the article including:
 at least one panel having at least one illumination device associated therewith and visible when illuminated, the panel being constructed for carriage and exposure on a human;   a power source coupled to the illumination device to selectively provide electrical energy thereto, said power source including an electrical energy storage device and a photovoltaic device coupled to the energy storage device to provide energy thereto for storage; and   a controller coupled to the power source and the illumination device and operable to permit selective transfer of stored energy in the energy storage device to selectively illuminate the illumination device.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the article having a front said panel and a rear said panel, said panels being part of a vest. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the energy storage device including a rechargeable battery. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the illumination device including at least one LED. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein there being a plurality of said LED's mounted to both the front panel and the rear panel. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the controller being operable to effect flashing of the LED's. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein the controller being operable to effect a steady illumination of the LED's. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the photovoltaic device being in the form of a flexible panel. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the photovoltaic device including a photovoltaic module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the vest including a pair of arm straps with a neck opening therebetween and the straps, front panel and rear panel each having a plurality of illuminating devices thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein there being at least one photovoltaic device mounted on an outside surface of the rear panel. 
     
     
         12 . A method of illuminating a person for safety, the method including:
 placing an article of apparel on a person, the article having at least one panel with at least one exposed illuminating device;   supplying electrical energy to the illuminating device from an energy storage device;   prior to supplying the electrical energy to the illuminating device, supplying electrical energy to the storage device and storing supplied energy in the storage device, the supplied energy being energy converted from light to electrical energy by a photovoltaic device carried by the article.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the illuminated device being illuminated in a flashing manner. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein there being a plurality of illuminating devices exposed for illumination. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the article being a vest with a front panel and a rear panel, each having a plurality of illuminating devices that are selectively illuminated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the supplying of energy occurring during wearing of the article by the person. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the supplying of energy occurring while the article is not on a person.