Motion-responsive illuminated garment

1. A motion-responsive illuminated garment, comprising:

a) 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 LED to power the latter to emit light;

b) a flexible overlay having a periphery entirely connected to the garment 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

c) a heat-fused seal extending around the periphery of the overlay and sealing the overlay to the garment, for resisting entry of water to the module.

2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is made of a material selected from a group consisting of cotton, wool, silk, and nylon.

3. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the garment is a shirt.

4. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module has a planar surface juxtaposed with the overlay, and an opposite planar surface juxtaposed with the garment.

5. The garment 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 garment of claim 5 , wherein additional LEDs are operatively connected to the processor for flashing all the LEDs in a pattern.

7. The garment 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 garment of claim 1 , wherein the lighting module includes a planar support, and wherein the at least one light source is a light emitting diode having LED has planar electrodes mounted flush with the planar support.

9. The garment of claim 1 , and a sealed, flexible envelope in which the module is sealingly contained.

10. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the module is rounded.

11. A motion-responsive illuminated garment, comprising:

a) 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 LED to power the latter to emit light;

b) a flexible overlay having a periphery entirely connected to the garment 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

c) means for resisting entry of water to the module, the resisting means including a sealed, flexible envelope in which the module is sealingly contained, and a synthetic plastic, light-transmissive, material for encapsulating the module.

12. A motion-responsive illuminated garment, comprising:

a) 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 LED to power the latter to emit light;

b) a flexible overlay having a periphery entirely connected to the garment 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

c) a flattened disk in which the module is encapsulated in a synthetic plastic, light-transmissive, material, for resisting entry of water to the module.