权利要求：
EMBODIMENTS IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A giowing apparatus comprising: an outer membrane defining a permeable container comprising an interior cavity, a light transmitting portion, and a permeable portion operable to pass an activating fluid into the interior cavity through the outer membrane; and a bioluminescent composition that is contained in the interior cavity and operable to emit a bioluminescent light through the light transmitting portion when exposed to the activating fluid in the interior cavity.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer membrane comprises a biodegradable material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a cellulose, regenerated cellulose, or cellulose acetate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the activating fluid in the interior cavity; and the permeable container biodegrades when exposed to the activating fluid for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the activating fluid comprises water; the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the water in the interior cavity; and
the permeable container biodegrades when exposed to the water for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bioluminescent composition is sealed in the interior cavity of the permeable container with a biodegradable adhesive.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the biodegradable adhesive comprises cyanoacrylate or PVA.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent composition is sealed in the interior cavity of the permeable container with a biodegradable thermoplastic.
9. A method of manufacturing the apparatus of claim 8, the method comprising: melting an amount of biodegradable thermoplastic; placing the amount of biodegradable thermoplastic onto one or more surfaces of the permeable container; and pressing the one or more surfaces together to form a seal with the melted amount of biodegradable thermoplastic; allowing the melted amount of biodegradable thermoplastic to cool; and containing the bioluminescent composition in the interior cavity with the seal.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the permeable container or the bioluminescent composition comprise a pigment.
11. The apparatus claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent composition comprises microcapsules.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the microcapsules contain separate amounts of the bioluminescent composition.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the microcapsules are operable to release the separate amounts at different times after exposure to the activating fluid in a time-release manner.
14. The apparatus claim 1, wherein the bioluminescent composition comprises bodies comprising a liposome, a micelle, a reverse micelle, a vesicle, a nanoemulsion, or a microemulsion.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the bodies contain separate amounts of the bioluminescent composition.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bodies are operable to release the separate amounts at different times after exposure to the activating fluid in a time-release manner.
17. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a second outer membrane that surrounds the outer membrane.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second outer membrane encloses the outer membrane and is breakable to expose the outer membrane to the activating fluid.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second outer membrane comprises a waterproof, friable shell.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the waterproof, friable shell is breakable when exposed to a predetermined amount of water pressure.
21. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a biodegradable frame operable to support the glowing apparatus from another object.
22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable frame comprises a lamp frame comprising a handle operable to support the glowing apparatus.
23. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising an attachment element operable to attach the glowing apparatus to another object.
24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the attachment element comprises a clip, a hook, or an eyelet.
25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the attachment element comprises a laser-cut item, a water-cut item, or a 3D printed item.
26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the attachment element is operable to attach the glowing apparatus to a fishing line.
27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activating fluid is non-aqueous.
28. A giowing apparatus comprising: an outer membrane defining an impermeable container comprising a port, a sidewall defining an interior cavity, and a light transmitting portion; a permeable membrane or plug operable to close the port; and
a bioluminescent composition that is contained in the interior cavity and operable to emit a bioluminescent light through the light transmitting portion when exposed to an activating fluid passed through the permeable membrane and into the interior cavity.
29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the permeable membrane or plug is adhered to the sidewall with a biodegradable adhesive.
30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the impermeable container comprises a second port and the glowing apparatus comprises a non-permeable membrane or plug operable to close the second port.
31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the non-permeable membrane or plug is biodegradable.
32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the non-permeable membrane or plug comprises a bio plug.
33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the non-permeable membrane or plug comprises an attachment element.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the attachment element comprises a clip, a hook, or an eyelet.
34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the attachment element is biodegradable.
35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the attachment element is attached to the outer membrane with a clamp or an adhesive.
36. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the outer membrane comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic or a thermoformable biopolymer.
37. The apparatus of claim 28, comprising a waterproof, friable shell surrounding the outer membrane.
38. A giowing system: the apparatus of claim 1; a second outer membrane defining a light transmitting impermeable tube comprising a first port, a second port, and a sidewall defining a second interior cavity; a perforated plug that closes the first port and is selectively operable to admit the activating fluid into the light transmitting impermeable tube when the first port is closed; and a cap that seals the second port and is removable to allow for insertion of the glowing apparatus of claim 1 into the second interior cavity.
39. The system of claim 38, wherein the second outer membrane acts as a protective sheath for the glowing apparatus of claim 1 and contains the activating fluid in the second interior cavity.
40. The system of claim 38, wherein the cap is threaded onto the light transmitting impermeable tube.
41. The system of claim 39, wherein the cap comprises a mesh or perforations.
42. The system of claim 41, comprising a gel that expands to block the mesh or perforations after being exposed to an amount of the activating fluid.
43. The system of claim 38, wherein the cap comprises an attachment element operable to attach the second outer membrane to another object.
44. The system of claim 43, wherein the attachment element is made from a biodegradable material.
45. The system of claim 44, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a biodegradable polymer, a bone or bone fragment, a metal, or wood.
46. The system of claim 38, wherein the attachment element is operable to attach the apparatus of claim 1 to a person.
47. A giowing system comprising: the apparatus of claim 1; a light transmitting flexible polymeric element comprising a pouch; and a permeable object operable to contain the apparatus of claim 1 in the pouch and admit the activating fluid into the pouch with the apparatus of claim 1.
48. The system of claim 47, wherein the permeable object comprises a natural or synthetic cloth.
49. The system of claim 47, wherein the permeable object comprises a closure mechanism operable to receive and contain the apparatus of claim 1.
50. The system of claim 47, wherein the closure mechanism comprises a button, an eyelet, a snap, or a zipper.
51. The system of claim 47, wherein the pouch is formed out of a flexible clear polymer.
52. The system of claim 47, wherein the permeable object comprises a natural or synthetic cloth and the flexible clear polymer is stitched to the natural or synthetic cloth to form the closure mechanism.
53. The system of claim 47, wherein the permeable object comprises attachment loops.
54. A giowing composition comprising: an enzyme, enzyme formula, or enzyme mixture; and a polymer capable of retaining an activating fluid under ambient conditions, the enzyme, enzyme formula, or enzyme mixture being mixable with the polymer to form a bioluminescent gel operable to emit a bioluminescent light when exposed to the activating fluid.
55. The composition of claim 54, wherein the polymer comprises a hydrophilic polymer and the activating fluid comprises water.
56. The composition of claim 54, wherein the polymer is formable to define a permeable container.
57. Agiowing apparatus comprising: an outer membrane defining an impermeable container with an interior cavity and a light transmitting portion; a perforation in the outer membrane; and a bioluminescent composition that is contained in the interior cavity and operable to emit a bioluminescent light through the light transmitting portion when exposed to an activating fluid passed through the perforation in the outer membrane and into the interior cavity.
58. The apparatus of claim 57, comprising an attachment element operable to attach the outer membrane to another object.
59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the attachment element comprises a biodegradable material.
60. The apparatus of claim 58 or 59, wherein the attachment element comprises a clip, a hook, or an eyelet.
61. The apparatus of claim 58 or 59, wherein the attachment element is operable to attach the glowing apparatus to a fishing line.
62. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the outer membrane comprises a biodegradable material.
63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic or a thermoformable biopolymer.
64. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein: the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the activating fluid in the interior cavity; and the impermeable container biodegrades when exposed to the activating fluid for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
65. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the activating fluid comprises water;
the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the water in the interior cavity; and the impermeable container biodegrades when exposed to the water for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
66. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the bioluminescent composition is sealed in the interior cavity of the impermeable container with a biodegradable adhesive.
67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the biodegradable adhesive comprises cyanoacrylate or PVA.
68. Agiowing apparatus comprising: an outer membrane defining a permeable container comprising an interior cavity, a light transmitting portion, and a permeable portion operable to pass an activating fluid into the interior cavity through the outer membrane, the interior cavity comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, and opening between the first and second chambers, and the permeable portion being operable to pass an activating fluid into the first chamber; a water-blocking gel that is located in the first chamber; a bioluminescent composition that is located in the second chamber and operable to emit a bioluminescent light through the light transmitting portion when exposed to the activating fluid passed in the second chamber; the water-blocking gel being movable by the activating fluid when passing into the second chamber through the opening and expandable to seal one of the permeable portion and the opening after being exposed to the activating fluid.
69. The apparatus of claim 68, comprising an attachment element operable to attach the outer membrane to another object.
70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the attachment element comprises a biodegradable material.
71. The apparatus of claim 69 or 70, wherein the attachment element comprises a clip, a hook, or an eyelet.
72. The apparatus of claim 69 or 70, wherein the attachment element is operable to attach the glowing apparatus to a fishing line.
73. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the outer membrane comprises a biodegradable material.
74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the biodegradable material comprises a biodegradable thermoplastic or a thermoformable biopolymer.
75. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein: the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the activating fluid in the interior cavity; and the impermeable container biodegrades when exposed to the activating fluid for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
76. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the activating fluid comprises water; the bioluminescent composition emits the bioluminescent light for a reaction time when exposed to the water in the interior cavity; and
the impermeable container biodegrades when exposed to the water for an exposure time greater than the reaction time.
77. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the bioluminescent composition is sealed in the interior cavity of the impermeable container with a biodegradable adhesive.
78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the biodegradable adhesive comprises cyanoacrylate or PVA.