# US 11,029,016 B2 · Lighted display system with interchangeable cover element for a hat

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- Number: US 11,029,016 B2
- Document ID: US11029016B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/835,825
- Filed: 2020-03-31
- Published: 2020-11-12
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-05-10
- Assignees: Holicap, Inc.
- Applicants: Holicap, Inc.
- Inventors: Travis Anton Bryant
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029016B2

## CPC

- F21V 33/0008: {Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts}
- G09F 21/023: {fixed on clothing}
- A42B 1/248: Insignia, logos, emblems or the like
- F21K 9/235: Details of bases or caps, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within bases or caps (F21K9/238 takes precedence)
- F21K 9/237: Details of housings or cases, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the bases; Arrangement of components within housings or cases (F21K9/238 takes precedence)
- F21K 9/238: Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
- G09F 13/08: using both translucent and non-translucent layers
- F21W 2121/06: for personal wear
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- G09F 2013/222: {with LEDs}
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G09F: DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- A42B: HATS; HEAD COVERINGS (headbands A41D20/00; head-scarves A41D23/00)
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED

## Abstract

A lighting system for a hat includes a front housing containing lighting elements that mates with a back plate positioned on the inside of the hat. Driver circuitry controls operation of the LEDs for various lighting modes, and a cover for the front housing is translucent and designed in the shape of a recognizable logo or other design. Electric power comes from a battery located on the back plate, and is provided through the hate using prongs or projections that pass through the hat, from the back plate to a circuit connector in the front housing. The circuit connector is electrically coupled to circuitry on a circuit board in the front housing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light assembly for a hat, the light assembly having a changeable display element that is illuminated by the light assembly, comprising:
a back plate configured to be mounted inside the hat, the back plate having:
a first side and a second side;
a plurality of conductive prongs extending from the first side;
a driver circuit board disposed on the second side that is electrically connected to at least two of the plurality of prongs;
a front housing having:
a back wall;
a sidewall extending forward from the back wall, the sidewall defining a front window and front edge at a forward perimeter of the side wall;
the sidewall and the back wall defining an interior space;
a plurality of prong receptacles formed in the interior space, each one of the prong receptacles defining a channel through the back wall that is configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive prongs and having a conductive contact configured to make electrical contact with a received conductive prong passing into the channel;
a light circuit board disposed in the interior space adjacent the back wall and having a light emitting element disposed thereon, wherein the light emitting element is electrically connected to at least two of the prong receptacles; and
a cover retention feature at the front edge of the side wall configured to retain a cover over the window.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of conductive prongs and the plurality of prong receptacles are configured such that when the back plate and front housing are aligned and pressed together, with each of the plurality of conductive prongs passing into a respective one of the plurality of prong receptacles, a distal end of each of the plurality of prongs extends beyond an exit of the respective one of the prong receptacles, and wherein the conductive contact of each prong receptacle is located at the exit, and wherein electrical contact is made by bending the distal end of each of the conductive prongs into contact with the electrical contact.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one support prong extending from the first side of the back plate that interfaces with a prong receptacle in the front housing at an opening at the back wall of the front housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the driver circuit that is operable to activate and deactivate the driver circuit, the switch being coupled by wires that allow the switch to be remotely located in the hat from the driver circuit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a pad that is configured to cover the driver circuit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rigid cover that is disposed over the driver circuit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, wherein the back plate is curved.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The light assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the prong receptacles includes a retaining clip disposed in a slot in the prong receptacle, the retaining clip being conductive and having a bottom end that extends into the channel so as to be in contact with the respective conductive prong.

### Claim 9

A light assembly for a hat, comprising:
a back plate configured to be mounted inside the hat, the back plate having a plurality of conductive prongs extending from a first side of the back plate and a power course electrically coupled to two of the plurality of conductive prongs;
a front housing having a back wall, a sidewall extending forward from the back wall, the sidewall defining a front window and front edge at a forward perimeter of the side wall, the sidewall and the back wall defining an interior space;
a light circuit board disposed in the interior space adjacent the back wall and having a light emitting element disposed thereon, the light circuit board further including a plurality of prong receptacles, each one of the prong receptacles defining an opening through the light circuit board that is configured to receive a corresponding one of the plurality of conductive prongs and having a conductive contact configured to make electrical contact with a received conductive prong passing through the opening, wherein the light emitting element is electrically connected to at least two of the prong receptacles; and
a cover configured to fit over the front of the front housing that includes a translucent cover member.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The light assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality prong receptacles include opposing reed members positioned around the respective opening for each one of the plurality of prong receptacles.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The light assembly of claim 9, wherein the plurality of conductive prongs and the plurality of prong receptacles are configured such that when the back plate and front housing are aligned and pressed together, with each of the plurality of conductive prongs passing into a respective one of the plurality of prong receptacles, a distal end of each of the plurality of prongs extends beyond an exit of the respective one of the prong receptacles, and wherein the conductive contact of each prong receptacle is located at the exit, and wherein electrical contact is made by bending the distal end of each of the conductive prongs into contact with the electrical contact.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The light assembly of claim 9, wherein the back plate comprises at least two retention holes, the front housing includes at least two retention posts at a back side of the front housing, wherein each one of the at least two retention posts is positioned to correspond with a respective one of the retention holes in the back plate.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The light assembly of claim 12, wherein each of the retention posts pass through the respective one of the retention holes and is melted over on a back side of the back plate to retain the back plate to the front housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The light assembly of claim 9, wherein the front housing have cover have a shape that corresponds to an outline of a logo.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The light assembly of claim 9, wherein the cover and translucent cover member are removable from the front housing.