Apparel item with integrated lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019200690-A1
Application number	US-201716315813-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2016
Publication date	Jul 4, 2019
Grant date	—

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

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A method of forming an apparel item having an integrated lighting system, the method comprising: providing at least a first panel of material having a first surface and a second surface; affixing at least a first light array to the first surface of the first panel of material at a first area, the light array having a first end, a second end, and an intervening portion extending between the first end and the second end; affixing a first set of conductive traces to at least a portion of the first surface of the first panel of material such that a first end of the conductive traces is electrically coupled to the first end of the first light array; and subsequent to affixing the first set of conductive traces to the portion of the first surface of the first panel of material, joining at least a portion of the first panel of material with at least one additional panel of material to form the apparel item, wherein the at least one additional panel of material is devoid of light arrays and conductive traces.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising affixing a power supply unit to the first panel of material.

23 . The method of claim 22 , electrically coupling a second end of the first set of conductive traces to the power supply unit.

24 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first light array and the first set of conductive traces are affixed to the first panel of material using a polymer layer.

25 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first light array comprises a series of discrete visible light sources.

26 . The method of claim 25 , further comprising forming openings in the first panel of material.

27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first light array is affixed to the first surface of the first panel of material such that the discrete visible light sources are aligned with the openings in the first panel of material.

28 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first surface of the first panel of material faces inwardly when the apparel item is in an as-worn configuration.

29 . The method of claim 22 , wherein the first panel of material comprises two discrete layers with a space between the two layers.

30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the first light array and the first set of conductive traces are positioned between the two layers of the first panel of material.

31 . A multi-panel apparel item having an integrated lighting system, the apparel item comprising: a first panel of material having an inner-facing surface and an outer-facing surface; a first light array affixed to the first panel of material; one or more conductive traces affixed to the first panel of material, the one or more conductive traces having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the one or more conductive traces is electrically coupled to the first light array; and one or more additional panels of material affixed to the first panel of material to form the apparel item, the one or more additional panels of material devoid of light arrays and conductive traces.

32 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 31 , further comprising a power supply unit affixed to the first panel of material.

33 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 32 , wherein the second end of the one or more conductive traces is electrically coupled to the power supply unit.

34 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 31 , wherein the first panel of material comprises a first layer and a second layer.

35 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 34 , wherein the first light array and the one or more conductive traces are positioned between the first layer and the second layer of the first panel of material.

36 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 31 , wherein the one or more additional panels of material form a greater percentage of the apparel item than the first panel of material.

37 . A multi-panel apparel item having an integrated lighting system, the multi-panel apparel item comprising: at least a first panel of material having a first surface and a second surface, wherein: a first light array is affixed to the first surface of the first panel of material, a power supply unit is affixed to the first panel of material, and a first set of conductive traces is affixed to at least a portion of the first surface of the first panel of material, the first set of conductive traces having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the conductive traces is electrically coupled to the first light array and the second end of the conductive traces is electrically coupled to the power supply unit; and at least a second panel of material coupled to the first panel of material to form the apparel item, the second panel of material devoid of light arrays, power supply units, and conductive traces.

38 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 37 , wherein the apparel item is configured for an upper torso of a wearer.

39 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 37 , wherein the apparel item is configured for a lower torso of a wearer.

40 . The multi-panel apparel item of claim 37 , wherein the first light array and the first set of conductive traces are each flexible.

41 - 100 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• A41D13/01 Primary

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

• A41D1/005

  with embedded cable or connector · CPC title

• 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