GB2343361A - A glove with illuminating light - Google Patents

Abstract

A glove 10, particularly for cyclists, includes an electric light (12) and an electric battery (14), and two electrical contacts (16, 18) arranged to be touched together to switch the light on by completing an electrical circuit between the battery and the electric light.

Description

Glove with illuminated light The present invention relates to a glove which is provided with a light, and which is particularly useful for a cyclist in giving signals to other road users.

It is known for a cyclist to wear, on the hand or arm, a device which includes a light and can be used to give signals to other road users, or simply to make other road users aware of the cyclist's presence. However, the devices of this type which have been proposed previously are either of relatively complicated construction, relatively difficult to use, or of limited effectiveness in use.

I have now devised a glove which includes a light and alleviates the above-described problems.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a glove which includes an electric light and an electric battery, and two electrical contacts arranged to be touched together to complete an electrical circuit in which current passes from the battery to the electric light.

Preferably the electric light is mounted on the back of the hand part of the glove. Preferably the battery is mounted on the back of the hand part of the glove.

Preferably one of the contacts is positioned on the thumb part (preferably on the inside of the thumb part, adjacent its tip). Preferably the second contact is positioned on one of the finger parts of the glove: preferably this is the forefinger part of the glove. Preferably the second contact extends around the finger part, adjacent its tip.

In use, it is an easy matter for the user to bring his thumb and finger together for the two electrical contacts to touch and so cause illumination of the light.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a glove, seen from the back of the hand; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the back of the glove of Figure 1 ; FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the palm of the glove of Figure 1; and FIGURE 4 is a view of the glove showing its electrical contacts being brought together to illuminate the electric light of the glove.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a glove 10 which has, mounted on the back of the glove, an electric light within a generally dome-shape housing 12. Also, the glove has a'i battery mounted within a battery housing 14 alongside the housing 12.

The glove 10 furthermore has a pair of electrical contacts on its exterior, one contact 16 being provided on the inside of the thumb part of the glove and the other contact 18 being provided on the forefinger part of the glove, adjacent its top, either as a ring around the finger (as shown in Figures 1 and 3) or on the side of the finger (as shown in Figures 2 and 4). Electrical leads 20,22 extend from the contacts 16,18 to the battery and to the electric light, respectively. The electrical leads 20,22 may extend over the outer surface of the glove, adhered or otherwise secured to the glove along their lengths: instead, the electrical leads may extend within the material of the glove or between two layers of material of the glove.

It will be appreciated that the glove is arranged so that if the two contacts 16,18 are touched together, as shown in Figure 4, an electrical circuit is completed, via the contacts, for current to flow from the battery and through the electric light, to illuminate the latter.

In wearing the glove, it, is an easy matter for the wearer to bring his thumb and forefinger together so that the two contacts 16,18 touch and the electric light is illuminated.

The housing 12 of the electric light is either transparent or translucent and may be coloured (e. g. red) so that the light given out from it will be correspondingly coloured.

The glove accordingly provides a simple but effective means for a cyclist to give clear, illuminated signals to other road users, or otherwise simply to ensure that other road users are made aware of his or her presence.

Claims (9)

1. Claims 1) A glove which includes an electric light and an electric battery, and two electrical contacts arranged to be touched together to complete an electrical circuit in which current passes from the battery to said electric light.
2. 2) A glove as claimed in claim 1, in which said electric light is mounted on the back of the hand part of the glove.
3. 3) A glove as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said battery is mounted on the back of the hand part of the glove.
4. 4) A glove as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a first of said contacts is positioned on the thumb part of the glove.
5. 5) A glove as claimed in claim 4, in which said first contact is positioned on the inside of said thumb part, adjacent the tip thereof.
6. 6) A glove as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which the second contact is positioned on one of the finger parts of the glove.
7. 7) A glove as claimed in claim 6, in which said second contact is positioned on the forefinger part of the glove.
8. 8) A glove as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which said second contact extends around said finger part, adjacent the tip thereof.
9. 9) A glove substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.