Abstract:
An article of footwear is provided having an array of light sources and a loudspeaker wherein the light sources are illuminated in a flashing pattern in response to activation of a motion switch, and in another mode of operation triggered by operation of a manual switch both the light sources and loudspeaker cycle through a series of discrete sequences of flashes and beeps culminating with only one light source remaining illuminated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to articles of footwear, and, more particularly, to a shoe having an array of light sources such as LEDs and a loudspeaker wherein the LEDs are activated by operation of an inertia switch and both the LEDs and loudspeaker are activated by operation of a manual switch in a series of sequential flashes and beeps that culminate with only one LED illuminated. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    For a number of years, articles of footwear and various items of clothing have been sold with decorative arrays of light sources such as light emitting diodes LEDs) and/or a loudspeaker capable of producing sounds. This has been particularly popular in children&#39;s shoes where the LEDs are arranged to complement other design elements of the shoe such as cartoon characters, toy cars and the like. 
         [0003]    In a typical design of a children&#39;s shoe of the type noted above, a module including a plastic housing is placed in a cavity usually formed in the heel area of the shoe. The module mounts a battery, a switch and, conventionally, an integrated circuit which is connected by wires to LEDs positioned along the outsole, upper or tongue of the shoe. The integrated circuit may also be capable of generating a signal which operates a loudspeaker, typically mounted in the upper or tongue of the shoe in the general area of the LEDs. Systems of this type are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,525,487; 6,286,975; 6,012,822; 5,969,479; 5,894,201; 5,812,063 and others. 
         [0004]    The integrated circuits employed in modules for children&#39;s shoes and other applications are activated by one or more switches carried on or otherwise coupled to the module. In some designs, the switch turns on and off in response to the application of an inertial force, pressure or motion. Spring switches such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. RE37,220 and 5,909,088 are a popular choice for children&#39;s shoes because they are reliable, noiseless and movable from a neutral or off position to a closed or on position in response to walking, running or other motion of the shoe. Pressure switches such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,159,768; 5,649,376; 5,855,080 and 5,714,706 are also employed and they operate in response to the application of a weight, e.g. when the shoe makes contact with a surface. 
         [0005]    Another type of switch employed in children&#39;s shoes and similar applications is a manually activated switch such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,894,686; 6,278,378 and 5,813,148. Manual switches are used to turn on and off the light source carried by the shoe, to select different modes of operation for the integrated circuit associated with the shoe, e.g. different flashing sequences or other operations, and for other purposes. Some systems, such as disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,148, employ both manual and inertial switches to activate light sources and/or sound sources associated with the shoe. In the &#39;148 system, the manual switch turns on and off a light source, and also causes a controller including an integrated circuit to activate a particular mode of operation. One of the modes of operation enables an inertia or pressure sensitive switch, which then operates to activate the light source in a selected flashing sequence. 
         [0006]    All of these arrangements involve either the “automatic” activation of the lights sources and/or loudspeaker in the sense that an inertia, pressure, motion or similar switch operates without manual intervention, or, alternatively, manual switches associated with the shoe are operated to activate the light sources and/or loudspeakers. In either case, a switch or switches carried by the shoe cause the light sources or loudspeaker to operate. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    This invention is directed to an article of footwear having an array of light sources such as LEDs and a loudspeaker wherein the LEDs are activated by operation of an inertia switch and both the LEDs and loudspeaker are activated by operation of a manual switch in a series of sequential flashes and beeps that culminate with only one LED illuminated. 
         [0008]    In the presently preferred embodiment, an article of footwear such as a shoe is provided with an array of different colored LEDs and at least one loudspeaker coupled to a light module having a housing within which a battery, integrated circuit (IC) and a motion switch are located. A manually-operated switch is connected to the light module, and is preferably mounted to the upper. In one mode of operation, the LEDs illuminate in a flashing pattern in response to movement of the shoe. When the manual switch is activated, the IC is effective to cause the LEDs and the loudspeaker to cycle through at least two sequences of operation. Each sequence of operation involves illuminating the LEDs in a flashing pattern and causing the loudspeaker to beep. Initially, in a first sequence of operation, both the LEDs and loudspeaker flash and beep at a relatively rapid pace followed by a second sequence of operation in which the flashes and beeps are slower. Any number of such operational sequences may be employed. At the end of a final sequence of operation, only one of the LEDs remains illuminated, preferably in a flashing pattern, and the loudspeaker sounds a number of beeps, both to signify that such one LED is the “winner” for the enjoyment of the child wearing the shoe. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shoe having a light module which is connected to an array of LEDs and to a loudspeaker both mounted to the upper of the shoe; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a schematic circuit diagram of one embodiment of the electrical circuit associated with the shoe of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    Referring now to the drawings, an article of footwear such as a shoe  10  is shown having an outsole  12  connected to an upper  14  including a tongue  16 . It should be understood that any other article of footwear is considered within the scope of this invention, and the shoe  10  is shown for purposes of illustration. As such, the term “upper” is meant to broadly encompass essentially any shoe element mounted to the outsole of an article of footwear such as the straps of a sandal, etc. 
         [0013]    A light module  18  having a housing  19  preferably made of plastic is mounted in the heel  20  of the shoe  10 . A cavity (not shown) is hollowed out of the heel  20  to receive the module  18 , over which the sock liner or insole of the shoe  10  is secured. As schematically illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the module  18  is connected by wires  22  to an array of LEDs  24 ,  26  and  28  mounted to the upper  14  of the shoe  10 , and by a wire  30  to a loudspeaker  32  which is also carried by the upper  14 . A manually-operated push button switch  34  is preferably mounted to the upper  14 , and connected by a wire  36  to the module  18 . The particular location or arrangement of the LEDs  24 ,  26  and  28  on the shoe  10  is a matter of choice, and it is contemplated they could be placed on the outsole  12 , the upper  14  the tongue  16  or in essentially any other position on the shoe  10 . The loudspeaker  32  is preferably mounted to the tongue  16  or some area of the upper  14 , rather than on the outsole  12 . 
         [0014]    In the presently preferred embodiment, each of the LEDs  24 ,  26  and  28  illuminates in a different color, i.e. red for LED  24 , green for LED  26  and yellow for LED  28 , for example. It should be understood that essentially any number of LEDs could be employed, and different colors may be chosen instead of, or in addition to, red, green and yellow. As discussed below in connection with a description of the operation of the shoe  10 , the different colored LEDs  24 - 28  enhance the visual enjoyment of the shoe  10  and allow the LEDs  24 - 28  to be readily distinguished from one another. Additionally, the LEDs  24 - 28  are shown in  FIG. 1  mounted to one side of the upper  14  that is devoid of design elements. It is contemplated that the LEDs  24 - 28  may be positioned in association with various design elements such as cartoon characters, toy cars and the like. 
         [0015]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an electrical circuit  38  is schematically depicted which includes a battery  40 , a spring switch  42 , an integrated circuit (IC)  44 , the LEDs  24 ,  26  and  28 , the loudspeaker  32  and the manual, push button switch  34 . For purposes of the present discussion, the IC  44  is considered a “controller.” The battery  40 , IC  44  and spring switch  42  are preferably mounted inside of the housing  19  of the module  18 . In one presently preferred embodiment, the spring switch  42  is connected by a line  46  to the IC  44 , which, in turn, is connected by line  48  to the battery  40 . As noted above, wires  22  connect the IC  44  with the LEDs  24 - 28 , which, in turn, are connected via line  50  to the battery  40 . The manual push-button switch  34  is connected to the IC  44  by wire  36 , and the loudspeaker  32  is connected to the IC  44  by wire  30 , as discussed above. 
         [0016]    The electrical circuit  38  operates as follows. In response to motion of the shoe  10 , such as by walking or running, the spring switch  42  is actuated and the IC  44 , in turn, causes the LEDs  24 - 28  to illuminate, preferably in a flashing pattern. Such flashing pattern may involve sequential lighting of the LEDs  24 - 28 , flashing on and off in unison, flashing for a predetermined number of times etc. While a spring switch  42  is depicted in  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that any other type of motion or inertia switch may be employed or a pressure switch mounted to the bottom surface of the outsole  12  in position to engage the surface upon which the wearer of the shoe  10  is walking or running. 
         [0017]    The interactive aspect of the shoe  10  of this invention is realized when the wearer of the shoe  10  depresses the manual, push button switch  34 . In response to pressing on the push button switch  34 , the IC  44  is effective to operate the LEDs  24 - 28  and the loudspeaker  32  in a series of discrete, consecutive modes or sequences. A first sequence of operation may include the IC  44  causing the LEDs  24 - 28  to illuminate in a flashing pattern in which they turn on and off at a rapid rate a number of times, accompanied by sounding of the loudspeaker  32  at substantially the same rate. The speed at which the LEDs  24 - 28  turn on and off, and at which the loudspeaker  32  “beeps” or otherwise sounds, may vary as desired. Further, the LEDs  24 - 28  may turn on and off in essentially any sequence, or in unison, and the number of times the LEDs turn on and off and the loudspeaker  32  sounds may be  3 ,  5 ,  10  or any other number. A second sequence of operation may include the IC  44  causing the LEDs  24 - 28  to illuminate in a flashing pattern in which they turn on and off at a rate that is slower than that of the first mode of operation, accompanied by sounding of the loudspeaker  32  at substantially the same rate. 
         [0018]    The number of sequences of operation discussed above may be varied as desired. Preferably, although not necessarily, the speed or frequency at which the LEDs  24 - 28  turn on and off, and at which the loudspeaker  32  sounds, progressively decreases from the first sequence of operation to those sequences of operation that follow until the final sequence of operation is reached. In the presently preferred embodiment, at the end of the final sequence of operation only one of the LEDs  24 ,  26  or  28  is illuminated, in a flashing pattern or otherwise, accompanied by sounding of the loudspeaker  32  a selected number of times. 
         [0019]    The operation of the shoe  10  of this invention has the effect of a “race” to denote a “winning” LED  24 ,  26  or  28 . The progressive decrease in the frequency with which the LEDs  24 - 28  flash and the loudspeaker  32  sounds ultimately ends in the final sequence of operation where the only LED  24 ,  26  or  28  that remains illuminated signifies that it is the winning LED. As noted above, the LEDs  24 - 28  are of different color, and this enhances visualization of the “race” and assists the wearer of the shoe  10  in readily identifying the winning LED. 
         [0020]    Once the IC  44  has operated the LEDs  24 - 28  and the loudspeaker  32  through each of a number of sequences of operation, culminating with the final sequence, the shoe  10  functions normally, e.g. with the LEDs  24 - 28  flashing in response to motion of the shoe  10 , until such time as the manual push button switch  34  is again depressed to resume the “race” for the “winning” LED. 
         [0021]    While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.