Nighttime glove

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the present invention, there is provided an illuminated glove in which is incorporated a fibre-optic arrangement.
This fibre-optic arrangement is thin and flexible over the back-of-the-hand portion and the hand-knuckle region of the glove.
The fibre-optic arrangement has extensible sections therein for reducing flexion stiffness and fibre tension.
The glove according to the present invention has the appearance of an ordinary glove when the illumination feature is unlit.
In use, it has the feeling, flexibility and endurance of an ordinary glove.
The mystical aspect of this glove when lit in the dark is thereby undiminished.
Broadly, in accordance with one feature of the present invention, there is provided a glove having an outside layer, a wrist band, at least one finger, a back-of-the-hand portion and a hand-knuckle region between the wrist band and the finger.
A fibre-optic arrangement is mounted under the outside layer.
This fibre-optic arrangement is affixed to the outside layer and comprises a fibre-optic ribbon extending along the finger.
A portion of this ribbon is visible through an opening in the outside layer.
A light source is mounted near the wrist band, and a plurality of optical fibres extend loosely over the back-of-the-hand portion and the hand-knuckle region, from the light source to the fibre-optic ribbon.
The glove according to the present invention further comprises a slack or a loose bend in the plurality of optical fibres for allowing a flexion of the finger without applying any tension on the light source.
Preferably, the slack or the loose bend is an offset between and relative to the light source and the finger.
In a further aspect of the present invention, the fibre-optic arrangement illuminates openings on all four fingers and the thumb of the glove.
Although the plurality of optical fibres in this aspect of the invention contains five bundles with a loose bend in each one, this fibre-optic arrangement has been found particularly advantageous for maintaining the flexibility of the glove substantially the same as a common non-illuminated glove