Motion-responsive illuminated stocking
A stocking is illuminated with flashing lights in response to movement by a wearer and is protected against water damage.
1. A motion-responsive illuminated stocking, comprising:
a) a covering having a foot portion closely fitted on and around, and entirely covering, a foot of a wearer;
b) a lighting module for emitting light in response to motion by the wearer, the module including a battery in the module for supplying electrical power, at least one light emitting diode (LED) in the module, and a motion-responsive switch in the module for connecting the battery to the at least one light source to power the LED to emit light;
c) a flexible overlay having a periphery entirely connected to the covering and bounding therewith a compartment in which the module is received and permanently held, the overlay being transmissive to the light emitted by the module, the overlay having a graphic illuminated by the emitted light; and
d) means for resisting entry of water to the module.
2. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the covering is a knitted material selected from a group consisting of cotton, wool, silk, and nylon.
3. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the covering has a leg portion closely fitted around a part of a leg of the wearer, and wherein the overlay is attached to the leg portion of the covering.
4. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module has a planar surface juxtaposed with the overlay, and an opposite planar surface juxtaposed with the covering.
5. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module includes a processor for flashing the at least one LED when the battery is connected to the at least one LED by the motion-responsive switch.
6. The stocking of claim 5 , wherein additional LEDs are operatively connected to the processor for flashing all the LEDs in a pattern.
7. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the motion-responsive switch includes a coil spring mounted within a sleeve for movement between an open position in which the spring is spaced from the sleeve, to a closed position in which the spring contacts the sleeve.
8. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module includes a planar support, and wherein the at least one LED has planar electrodes mounted flush with the planar support.
9. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the resisting means includes a heat-fused seal extending around the periphery of the overlay and sealing the overlay to the covering.
10. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the resisting means includes a sealed, flexible envelope in which the module is sealingly contained.
11. The stocking of claim 1 , wherein the resisting means includes a flattened disk in which the module is encapsulated in a synthetic plastic, light-transmissive, material.
12. The stocking of claim 3 , wherein the leg portion includes an end portion on which the overlay is attached, the end portion being foldable to a folded position to form an annular cuff on which the overlay is exteriorly viewable, and the end portion being unfolded to an unfolded position in which the overlay is concealed from view.
13. A motion-responsive illuminated stocking, comprising:
a) a covering having a foot portion and a leg portion closely fitted on and around, and entirely covering, a foot and at least a part of a leg, respectively, of a wearer, the leg portion being foldable to form an annular cuff;
b) a lighting module for emitting light in response to motion by the wearer, the module including a battery in the module for supplying electrical power, a plurality of light sources in the module, a processor in the module, and a motion-responsive switch in the module for connecting the battery to the processor and the light sources to cause the light sources to flash light in accordance with a pattern determined by the processor;
c) a flexible overlay having a periphery entirely connected to the cuff and bounding therewith a compartment in which the module is received and permanently held, the overlay being transmissive to the light flashed by the light sources, the overlay having a graphic illuminated by the emitted light; and
d) means for resisting entry of water to the module, including a sealed envelope in which the module is sealingly contained.
14. The stocking of claim 13 , wherein the covering is constituted of knitted yarn.
15. The stocking of claim 13 , wherein the resisting means includes a flattened disk in which the module is encapsulated in a synthetic plastic, light-transmissive, material.
16. The stocking of claim 13 , wherein the module is rounded.