Apparel item with integrated lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12011052-B2
Application number	US-202318379236-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel item having an integrated lighting system and method of forming the apparel item having the integrated lighting system. The integrated lighting system comprises a power supply unit affixed to the apparel item, one or more light arrays having visible light sources affixed to the apparel item, and one or more conductive traces affixed to the apparel item, where the conductive traces extend from the power supply unit to the light arrays and electrically couple the two such that the light arrays are powered when the power supply unit is operating.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for joining a first panel of material with a second panel of material for an apparel item having an integrated lighting system, the method comprising:
positioning a first light array at a first area of the first panel of material;
positioning a power supply unit at a second area of the first panel of material;
electrically coupling a first conductive trace, having a first end and a second end, to the power supply unit on the first panel of material;
extending the first conductive trace from the power supply unit to a first junction structure located at a third area of the first panel of material, wherein at the first junction structure the second end of the first conductive trace is electrically coupled to a first end of a second conductive trace and a first end of a third conductive trace; and
after extending the first conductive trace, joining the first panel of material with the second panel of material for the apparel item.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first junction structure comprises an electrically conductive material positioned between a first and second electrically insulating layer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first junction structure includes one or more channels or openings that are configured for receiving the second end of the first conductive trace, the first end of the second conductive trace, and the first end of the third conductive trace.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first junction structure comprises an electrically conductive material, a first electrically insulating layer, and second electrically insulating layer, and wherein the method further comprising:
bonding the second electrically insulating layer to the first panel of material and the first electrically insulating layer by applying heat to at least the first junction structure, wherein the bonding causes sealing and electrical insulation of the first joint structure.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first trace and the second trace are one of a pair of positive traces or negative traces, and wherein the third trace is opposite of the first trace and the second trace.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first trace is one of, a conductive wire, a conductive yarn, a screen-printed conductive path, a conductive fiber, or a fiber optic cable.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the apparel item is configured for an upper torso of a wearer, and wherein the apparel item comprises at least one of, a torso portion, a first long sleeve portion, or a second long sleeve portion.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first light array is positioned on the first long sleeve portion of the first area such that it extends from a posterior aspect of the first long sleeve portion, around a lateral aspect of the first long sleeve portion, to an anterior aspect of the first long sleeve portion.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising positioning a second light array on the second long sleeve portion such that it extends from a posterior aspect of the second long sleeve portion, around a lateral aspect of the second long sleeve portion, to an anterior aspect of the second long sleeve portion.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising positioning each of the first light array and the second light array near a cuff end of the first long sleeve portion and the second long sleeve portion respectively.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising positioning a second light array positioned on a central back area of the torso portion.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, positioning one or more portions of reflective material at one of the first panel or the second panel.

13. An apparel system comprising:
a first light array positioning at a first area of a first panel of material for an apparel item;
a power supply unit positioned at a second area of the first panel of material;
a first conductive trace, having a first end and a second end;
a second conductive trace having a first end and a second end;
a third conductive trace having at least a first end;
a power supply unit on the first panel of material that is electrically coupled to the first end of the first conductive trace; and
a first junction structure located at a third area of the first panel of material, wherein the first junction structure includes the second end of the first conductive trace, and wherein at the first junction structure the second end of the first conductive trace is electrically coupled to the first end of the second conductive trace and the first end of a third conductive trace.

14. The apparel system of claim 13 , wherein the first junction structure comprises an electrically conductive material positioned between a first and second electrically insulating layer.

15. The apparel system of claim 13 , wherein the first junction structure includes one or more channels or openings that are configured for receiving the second end of the first conductive trace, the second end of the second conductive trace, and the first end of the third conductive trace.

16. The apparel system of claim 13 , wherein the first junction structure comprises an electrically conductive material, a first electrically insulating layer, and second electrically insulating layer, and wherein the second electrically insulating layer is bonded to the first panel of material and the first electrically insulating layer, wherein the bonding causes sealing and electrical insulation of the first joint structure.

17. The apparel system of claim 13 , wherein the first trace and the second trace are one of a pair of positive traces or negative traces, and wherein the third trace is opposite of the first trace and the second trace.

18. The apparel system of claim 13 , wherein the first trace is one of, a conductive wire, a conductive yarn, a screen-printed conductive path, a conductive fiber, or a fiber optic cable.

19. A method of manufacturing an apparel item, the method comprising:
positioning a first light at a first area of a first panel of material of the apparel item;
positioning a power supply unit at a second area of the first panel of material;
coupling a first end of a first conductive trace to the power supply unit;
extending the first conductive trace from the power supply unit to a first junction structure located at a third area of the first panel of material, wherein at the first junction structure a second end of the first conductive trace is coupled to a first end of a second conductive trace and a first end of a third conductive trace; and
after extending the first conductive trace, joining the first panel of material with a second panel of material of the apparel item.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first junction structure comprises an electrically conductive material positioned between a first and second electrically insulating layer.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Carbo Jr Jorge E
• Fisher Kimberly R
• Fockele Alice
• Koshkaroff Iustinia
• Morgan Amir H
• Pezzimenti Luke A

Classifications

• F21Y2115/15

  Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED] · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• A41D27/00

  Details of garments or of their making (buttons, pins, buckles, slide fasteners or the like A44B) · CPC title

• A41D13/01 Primary

  with reflective or luminous safety means {(visible signalling arrangements G08B5/00)} · CPC title

• F21V33/0008 Primary

  Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts · CPC title