Abstract:
A shoe which emits a high intensity narrow spectrum light out the bottom of the sole and sanitizes the floor directly underneath from staph bacteria.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/198,310 filed Aug. 26, 2008 now abandoned. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     Figures 
       FIG. 1  Shoe Side Configuration A 
       FIG. 2  Shoe Bottom Configuration A 
       FIG. 3  Shoe Back Configuration A 
       FIG. 4  Shoe Side Configuration B 
       FIG. 5  Shoe Bottom Configuration B 
       FIG. 6  Shoe Back Configuration B 
       FIG. 7  Shoe Side Configuration C 
       FIG. 8  Shoe Bottom Configuration C 
       FIG. 9  Shoe Back Configuration C 
       FIG. 10  Non Line Drawing Embodiment of the Shoe 
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           10  High Intensity LED Module 
           11  Battery 
           12  Remote Control Switch 
           13  Timer 
           14  Pushbutton 
           15  Power Adapter Socket 
           16  Relay 
           17  Heat Sink 
           18  Reflective Surface 
           19  Opaque Surface 
           20  Wavelength Transmissive Polymer 
           21  Micro lens 
           22  Fiber Optic Strands 
           23  Floor Proximity Sensor 
           24  Indicator LED 
           25  Motion Sensor 
       
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In November 2010 the applicant has learned that studies are showing that light at 405 nm (violet) just above the ultraviolet cutoff (400 nm) are proving effective at inactivating staph bacteria (staphylococcus aureus) and MRSA (methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus), (University of Strathclyde, Light Technology Combats Hospital Infections, Photonics Spectra Newsletter, Nov. 15, 2010). 
     Since the applicant was already working on a shoe which emits light out the bottom of the sole for sanitization purposes, the applicant has decided to move forward with development of a shoe product which emits light at 405 nm and sanitizes the floor from staph bacteria and MRSA intended for nosocomial healthcare professionals. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS.  1 ,  2 , and  3   
     Configuration A 
       FIG. 1  shows the side profile of the shoe in configuration A. In this configuration a single LED module  10  in the heel of the shoe irradiates downward onto a reflector  18 . The module  10  can have one or several LED chips in it. The light is reflected into a cavity in the sole and then reflected downward by a reflective coating  18  at the top of the sole. The light then propagates through the transmissive polymer  20  and onto the floor. The foot is shielded from the light by opaque barrier  19 . 
     The circuit is powered by battery  11  in the heel. Control electronics including timer  13 , remote control switch  12 , and pushbutton  14  are shown in the heel. Since high intensity LED modules can run currents too high for ICs, a relay  16  is used and is shown in the heel. Since these same modules can produce considerable heat, a heat sink  17  is used and is integrated into the heel. 
     Even though the light emanating from the bottom of the sole can be seen, additional indication means may be needed and so an indicator LED  24  is shown at the top of the toe. 
     In order to conserve power and as an additional safety interlock a floor proximity sensor  23  may be used and is shown integrated into the toe. 
     As a means of recharging the battery  11  and/or powering the circuit, a power adapter socket  15  is used and is shown in the heel of the shoe. 
       FIG. 2  shows the bottom of the sole in configuration A. The sole is made of the transmissive polymer  20 . Columns made of this polymer in the sole provide support and create a cavity within the sole. The top of this cavity is coated with a reflective material  18 . The light from the LED module  10  is reflected by reflector  18  into the cavity and then reflected again downward through the transmissive polymer  20  and onto the floor. Heat sink  17  dissipates the heat from the module. 
       FIG. 3  shows the back of the heel of the shoe in configuration A. LED module  10  is shown irradiating downward onto reflector  18 . Position of battery  11  and control electronics components is shown. The sole made of transmissive polymer  20  is shown with internal support columns and top reflective coating  18 . 
     FIGS.  4 ,  5 , and  6   
     Configuration B 
       FIG. 4  shows the side profile of the shoe in configuration B. In this configuration several LED modules  10  are integrated directly into the sole. These modules are shown irradiating the floor directly. The foot again is shielded from any light by opaque barrier  19 . The circuit is powered by battery  11  in the heel. Since the current to drive all the emitters may be too high for ICs, a relay  16  is used and is shown in the heel. Control electronics and power adapter plug  15  are once again shown in the heel. 
       FIG. 5  shows the bottom of the sole in configuration B. The LED modules  10  are shown integrated into the sole. The top of the cavities in the sole that house the emitters may be coated with reflective material  18 . 
     Individual heat sinks  17  are shown for each module and are integrated into the side of the sole. 
       FIG. 6  shows the back of the heel in configuration B. LED modules  10  are shown in cavities in the sole and the top of these cavities are coated with reflective material  18 . 
     Position of battery  11 , relay  16 , and control electronics are once again shown. 
     FIGS.  7 ,  8 , and  9   
     Configuration C 
       FIG. 7  shows the side profile of the shoe in configuration C. In this configuration a single LED module  10  is used and is shown in the heel of the shoe. The module illuminates fiber optic strands  22  embedded in the sole of the shoe. A micro lens  21  difuses the light evenly onto all the strands. These fiber optic strands are side emitting and so the light propagates through the sole made of transmissive polymer  20  and onto the floor. The foot is once again shielded from any light by opaque barrier  19 . Location of power and control electronics is unchanged from configurations A and B. 
       FIG. 8  shows the bottom of the sole in configuration C. The side emitting fiber optic strands  22  are shown running the length of the sole and are embedded in the transmissive polymer  20 . The single LED module  10  which illuminates them is shown in the heel. Location of heat sink  17  is once again shown. 
       FIG. 9  shows the back of the heel in configuration C. The single LED module  10  which illuminates side emitting fiber optic strands  22  through micro lens  21  are shown. Location of battery  11  and control electronics are shown and are unchanged from configurations A and B. 
     FIG.  10   
       FIG. 10  shows a non line drawing embodiment of the proposed shoe. Germtron™, the applicant&#39;s proprietary brand name is shown embossed on the product along with original artwork. 
     The sole of the shoe shown is an actual working prototype and shows LEDs embedded in a light transmissive sole. 
     The battery and control electronics are shown to be in the heel of the shoe. For aesthetic purposes the shoe is designed to appear to be an ordinary sneaker. This is of course until the light is turned on and illuminates the floor. 
     Operation 
     The proposed shoe is intended to have the physical characteristics and appearance of an ordinary sneaker. The germicidal function of the shoe is intended to be conveyed via graphics and logos on the shoe. 
     The battery and control electronics do add bulk and weight to the shoe however that is intended to be minimized as much as technology permits. 
     Although a consumer version is certainly plausible the target customers for this product are nosocomial healthcare professionals and administrators who are concerned about the spread of staph bacteria and MRSA through footwear at their facilities. 
     The shoe would be purchased as one would purchase an ordinary shoe based on size, gender, and style. In a rechargeable embodiment the shoes would come with a plug in or induction recharger. The user of the shoe would charge up the shoe and then wear it as they would an ordinary shoe. 
     During the course of the users rounds there would be times when they would want to activate the sanitizing function in order to either sanitize the floor or the outside bottom of the sole. This would be for instance when the user is about to enter a surgical or recovery room. They would then either press the push button on the shoe or the button on a keyfob remote to turn on the sanitizing light. Automatic activations by fixed remote control transmitters or sensors on board the shoe do fall under the scope of the functionality of the device. The light emitted onto the floor is directly actinic and inactivates staph bacteria by either damaging their DNA or exciting molecules within the bacteria. The kill ratio for the device is a function of time so the longer the light is on the more of the staph bacteria is inactivated. 
     Once the sanitizing cycle is activated its duration is governed by a timer in the shoe. Additional controls such as the floor proximity sensor, foot presence sensor, and motion sensor can be integrated to activate or deactivate sanitizing cycles in order to conserve power and as safety interlocks. 
     The user can wear the shoe throughout the course of their day and then remove the shoes and plug them in or set them on the induction recharger in order to recharge them. 
     An indicator LED may be integrated into the shoe to indicate the status of sanitizing cycles or the integrity of battery charge or both.