Patent ID: 7497037
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
1. Footwear comprising: a sole having a front and a back; a light source disposed in the front of the sole; a foot sensor disposed in the sole that upon detecting the presence of a foot in the footwear operates a switch to cause a control circuitry to activate and to receive a foot present signal; a light sensor disposed in the sole and adapted to detect, upon activation of the control circuitry, the amount of ambient light adjacent the footwear; and said control circuitry that is responsive first to the foot present signal and second to the light sensor maintains the light source in the ON state while the foot sensor detects the presence of a foot in the footwear and while the light sensor detects ambient light below a threshold light level, and that maintains the light source in the ON state for a predetermined period of time after a foot is removed from the footwear and before the control circuitry ceases operation.