Electrically chargeable garment

Claim 2

An electrically chargeable garment usable on a wearer's legs for repelling animals from the wearer, said device being energized by a power source and comprising: a pair of leggings to be worn on the wearer's legs, each said legging comprising: a first layer of substantially non-conductive material and having an outwardly facing surface; and at least one pair of electrical terminals of opposite polarity disposed on said outwardly facing surface, said electrical terminal being selectively connected to the power source; and means for attaching said leggings to a wearer.

Claim 3

The garment of claim 1 wherein said terminals comprise a pair of closely spaced wires.

Claim 4

The garment of claim 1 and further including a second layer of substantially moisture proof material positioned to confront the wearer's legs and attached to said first layer.

Claim 5

The garment of claim 1 wherein each said legging has inner and outer leg portions and wherein each said inner leg portion is characterized by a lack of said electrical terminals for substantially preventing electrical shorting between said leggings.

Claim 6

The garment of claim 4 wherein said terminals comprise: a pair of closely spaced wires.

Claim 7

The garment of claim 5 wherein said pair of wires is arranged on said outer layer in a serpentine pattern.

Claim 8

The garment of claim 1 wherein said means for attaching comprises: a waist belt to be worn about the wearer's waist; and means for adjustably supporting said leggings from said waist belt, said means for adjustably supporting enabling said leggings to be supported such that said electrical terminals are below the reach of the wearer's hand so as to enable the wearer to avoid being unintentionally shocked by said garment by contact between the wearer's hands and said terminals.

Claim 9

The garment of claim 7 wherein each said legging has inner and outer leg portions and wherein each said inner leg portion is characterized by a lack of said electrical terminals for substantially preventing electrical shorting between said leggings.

Claim 10

The garment of claim 8 wherein said power source produces a voltage differential in the range of about 3000 to 4000 volts between said wires of opposite polarity.

Claim 11

The garment of claim 7 wherein said power source produces a voltage differential in the range of about 3000 to 4000 volts between said wires of opposite polarity.

Claim 12

The garment of claim 1 wherein said power source produces a voltage differential in the range of about 3000 to 4000 volts between said wires of opposite polarity.

Claim 13

The garment of claim 11 wherein said power source includes a rechargeable battery.

Claim 14

The garment of claim 1 wherein at least one of said leggings further includes means for accommodating a range of leg sizes.

Claim 15

An electrically chargeable garment usable on a wearer's legs for repelling animals from the wearer by providing an electrical shock to the animals, said garment comprising: a pair of leggings to be worn on the wearer's legs, each said legging having an outer surface and including: a conductive array of electrical contacts of opposite electrical polarity, said conductive array being disposed on said outer surface of each said legging, facing at least forwardly; and a source of electrical power, said source being selectively electrically connected to said electrical contacts, wherein an animal will receive an electrical shock when it touches said electrical contacts.

Claim 16

An electrically chargeable garment usable on a wearer's legs for repelling animals from the wearer by providing an electrical shock to the animals, said garment comprising: a pair of leggings to be worn on the wearer's legs, each said legging having an outer surface and including: a conductive array of electrical contacts of opposite electrical polarity, said conductive array being disposed on said outer surface of each said legging, facing at least forwardly; and a source of electrical power, said source being selectively electrically connected to said electrical contacts, wherein an animal will receive an electrical shock when it touches said electrical contacts.

Claim 17

The garment of claim 14 wherein said conductive array comprises a pair of closely spaced wires, said wires being of opposite electrical polarity.

Claim 18

The garment of claim 15 wherein said pair of wires is closely spaced and attached to said legging in a generally serpentine pattern.

Claim 19

The garment of claim 14 wherein said conductive array also faces laterally outwardly and away from the area between the wearer's legs.

Claim 20

The garment of claim 14 wherein said garment includes means for disposing said electrical power source at or about the wearer's waist level.

Claim 21

The garment of claim 14 wherein said conductive array comprises a plurality of separate pairs of electrical contacts of opposite polarity.

Claim 22

The garment of claim 14 wherein an audible sound is generated whenever said power source is in an on condition, said audible sound providing a warning to the animals such to avoid the wearer.

Claim 23

The garment of claim 14 wherein said conductive array follows a twisting path on said outer surface.

Claim 24

The garment of claim 14 wherein said conductive array comprises a fabric having a conductive outer surface layer.

Claim 25

The garment of claim 22 wherein said fabric includes a non-conductive substrate that is attached to said outer legging surface and an outwardly facing conductive layer that is attached to said non-conductive substrate.

Claim 26

The garment of claim 22 wherein said conductive array comprises a plurality of closely spaced, oppositely charged members.

Claim 27

The garment of claim 24 wherein each said member comprises a fabric including a non-conductive substrate that is attached to said outer legging surface and an outwardly facing conductive layer that is attached to said non-conductive substrate.

Claim 30

The method of claim 26 and further including the step of activating a perceptible signal during charging of the garment, said signal generally remaining perceptible to the animal while the garment is charged, thereby warning the animal that the garment is charged so as to warn the animal that a distance should be maintained between the animal and the person so as to define a clear path.

Claim 31

The method of claim 26 wherein said garment is suspended from the lower half of the person's body so as to leave the person's hands free for other activities.