Abstract:
A shoe having an outsole and an upper associated with the outsole and configured to cover a user&#39;s foot. The outsole and the upper together provide an exterior surface. A plurality of illuminating devices are located along an exterior surface of the shoe where they are exposed. The plurality of illuminating devices are placed along the exterior of the shoe to generally form an arrangement of illuminating devices around the exterior of the shoe. A source of electrical energy is connected to the light source for illuminating the illuminating devices upon detection of motion of the shoe. The source is configured to light the illuminating devices according to a predetermined sequence wherein the arrangement provides the illusion of a point of light moving around the shoe, with simultaneous illumination of adjacent illuminating devices, so that only two illuminating devices on a side of the shoe are simultaneously lit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates to shoes. More specifically, the invention relates to shoes having lights with an improved light display pattern.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Children have taken a liking to shoes having illumination of one type or another incorporated into them. Typically, the shoe contains light emitting diodes (LEDs) in its upper or along its sole and a battery and energizing circuitry in its heel. When the child, while walking or running, steps on the heel, the circuitry momentarily provides an electrical potential across the LED to illuminate it. Where the shoe contains multiple LEDs, the circuitry may illuminate them in a predetermined sequence. To a measure, the illuminated shoe represents a novelty, but when worn at night, it makes the wearer more visible, and thus provides the child with a measure of safety.  
         [0003]     To this end, because the lights largely represent a novelty, lights that display in a pleasing or interesting pattern are most desirable.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention comprises a shoe having an outsole and an upper associated with the outsole so as to provide an exterior surface. A plurality of illuminating devices are located along an exterior surface of the shoe where they are exposed. The plurality of illuminating devices are placed along the exterior of the shoe to generally form an arrangement of illuminating devices around the exterior of the shoe. A source of electrical energy is connected to the light source for illuminating the illuminating devices upon detection of motion of the shoe. The source is configured to light the illuminating devices according to a predetermined sequence wherein the sequence provides the illusion of a point of light moving along and/or around the shoe through simultaneous illumination of illuminating devices. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the toe and one side of an illuminated shoe constructed in accordance with and embodying the present invention;  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the toe and the opposite side of the illuminated shoe, with the shoe upper being partially broken away to show the interior of the shoe;  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a timing diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a timing diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a timing diagram according to a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a timing diagram according to an additional embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a timing diagram according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a timing diagram according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]     While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.  
         [0014]     Referring now to the drawings, a shoe A ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) has an outsole  12  and a upper  14  which is attached to the outsole  12 , the upper  14  being configured to receive and fit over the user&#39;s foot. The outsole  12  has several illuminating devices illustrated as  15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19 , and  20  installed on it. These illuminating devices  15 - 20  momentarily cast illumination when the shoe A is subject to an impact, such as when the user brings the outsole  12  into contact with pavement or a floor. The illuminating devices  16 - 20  project outwardly from the side of the outsole  12  and, when illuminated, are highly visible. Illuminating device  15  projects from the rear of the outsole  12 . Illuminating devices  16 ′- 20 ′ (not shown) are provided on the opposite side (instep side) of the outsole  12  in corresponding locations to illuminating devices  16 - 20 . Indeed, the illuminating devices are not only visible when viewed from directly on, but also when viewed at a considerable angle.  
         [0015]     The outsole  12  is molded from an elastomer which gives it a good measure of flexibility and some resilience, yet enough stiffness to support the user without significant deformation. It includes a heel portion  22 , which underlies the user&#39;s heel, and a foreportion  24 , which underlies the rest of the user&#39;s foot, including the toes, ball and arch. The heel portion  22  contains a cavity  26  ( FIG. 2 ) for housing an energizing unit to be described.  
         [0016]     The outsole  12  has an insole  28  ( FIG. 2 ) attached to it. Indeed, the insole  28  covers substantially the entire outsole  12  and provides the surface upon which the user&#39;s foot actually rests. The insole  28  also covers and completely closes the cavity  26  in the heel portion  22  of the outsole  12 .  
         [0017]     In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the upper  14  has a vamp  34  which extends over the foreportion  24  of the outsole  12  and quarters  36  which extend along the heel portion  22  and forwardly to merge with the vamp  34 . The quarters  36  aid in creating an opening  38  that receives the user&#39;s foot. Opening  38  extends forwardly into the vamp  34  where its front edge is defined by the rear edge of a tongue  40 . Along the opening  38  the vamp  34  is provided with eyelets  42  through which a lace  44  passes. Finally, the upper  14  contains a liner  46  which lies along the inside surfaces of the vamp  34  and quarters  36 , being attached to them. The vamp  34  and quarters  36  can be cut from leather, canvas or other suitable synthetic or man-made materials as known in the art, whereas the liner  46  is normally cut from cloth but can be made of other suitable synthetic or man made materials.  
         [0018]     The upper  14  contains apertures in panels of the vamp  34  and in the quarters  36  that open outwardly, that is in the region of the vamp  34  and the quarter  36  that lie along the outside of the user&#39;s foot. The liner  46  lies behind each of the apertures, so the interior of the shoe A is not exposed through the apertures. The illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ fit into the space between the liner  46  and the vamp  34  or quarter so that the illuminating portion of the devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ extend through the apertures to be visible on the outside of the shoe A. The apertures thus allow the illuminating devices to be inserted through the upper  14 .  
         [0019]     The illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ are most preferably light emitting diodes (LEDs). The illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ have wires connected to them, and the wires lead to the cavity  26  in the outsole  12 , passing between the upper  14  and the liner  46 , so that they remain isolated from the user&#39;s foot.  
         [0020]     The outsole cavity  26  contains a modular energizing unit  48  for momentarily impressing an electrical potential across the several illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′, either in unison or sequentially, to illuminate the illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′. This potential and the electrical current, which flows through the illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ as a consequence, derive from a small battery that forms part of the energizing unit  48 . In addition, the energizing unit  48  has electrical circuitry that includes a motion-sensitive switch. Such switches are well known in the art. The switch may, for example, constitute nothing more than a small coil spring of numerous convolutions that is fastened firmly at one end and projects horizontally in a cantilevered manner over a contact plate, from which it is normally separated. However, when the spring is subjected to a vertically directed force, such as would derive from a walking or running impact imparted to the module, the spring is deflected against the contact. When this occurs, the circuitry momentarily places the illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ across an electrical potential that is ultimately derived from the battery. The potential causes current to pass through each illuminating device  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ and illuminate it. The circuitry in the energizing unit  48  can correspond to the circuitry disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,009 issued to Nicholas A. Rodgers on Jul. 18, 1989, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0021]     According to the present invention, the circuitry of unit  48  momentarily impresses on each illuminating device  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ an electrical potential of sufficient magnitude to illuminate the illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ only momentarily. The momentary burst of light is preferably of a specific sequence that provides the illusion of movement of the light around the shoe A. Specifically, the illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ are illuminated according to  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , illuminating devices  15 - 20  and  16 ′- 20 ′ are sequentially lit such that at least two illuminating devices are lit at the same time except for the illuminating device  15 , which is lit first by itself. Specifically, first, only illuminating device  15  is lit; then only illuminating devices  15 ,  16  and  16 ′ are lit. Next, only illuminating devices  16 ,  17 ,  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit. After that, only illuminating devices  17 ,  18 ,  17 ′ and  18 ′ are lit. Then, only illuminating devices  18 ,  19 ,  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit. Next, only illuminating devices  19 ,  20 ,  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit. Finally, only illuminating devices  20  and  20 ′ are lit. In this manner, the shoe A gives the appearance of light moving from the rear to the front of the shoe A. The timing diagram of  FIG. 3  could be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0022]     In an alternative embodiment of that shown in  FIG. 3 , the timing diagram of  FIG. 4  is shortened to provide that at no point in the timing diagram are less than two illuminating devices illuminated on either side of the shoe. In that regard, in  FIG. 4 , first only illuminating devices  15 ,  16  and  16 ′ are lit. Next, only illuminating devices  16 ,  17 ,  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit. Then, only illuminating devices  17 ,  18 ,  17 ′ and  18 ′ are lit. After that, only illuminating devices  18 ,  19 ,  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit. Finally, only illuminating devices  19 ,  20 ,  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit. In this manner, the shoe A gives the appearance of light moving from the rear to the front of the shoe A through a shortened sequence. It would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the timing diagram of  FIG. 4  could be reversed without departing from the scope of the present invention to give the appearance of light moving from the front to the rear of the shoe.  
         [0023]     In another alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , light appears to be traveling around the shoe. Specifically, first only illuminating device  20 ′ is lit. Next, only illuminating devices  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit. Then, only illuminating devices  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  17 ′ and  18 ′ being lit. After that, only illuminating devices  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  15  and  16 ′ being lit then followed by only illuminating devices  15  and  16  being lit. Next, only illuminating devices  16  and  17  are lit. Finally, only illuminating devices  17  and  18  are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  18  and  19  being lit, then only illuminating devices  19  and  20  being lit, and after that only illuminating device  20  being lit.  
         [0024]     In a fourth alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the timing sequence of  FIG. 5  is modified such that fewer than two illuminating devices are never illuminated on the shoe at any given point. In this regard, first only illuminating devices  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit. Next, only illuminating devices  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  17 ′ and  18 ′ being lit. Then, only illuminating devices  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  15  and  16 ′ being lit next followed again by only illuminating devices  15  and  16 . After that, only illuminating devices  16  and  17  are lit. Finally, only illuminating devices  17  and  18  are lit, followed by only illuminating devices  18  and  19  being lit, then only illuminating devices  19  and  20  being lit.  
         [0025]     In a fifth alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the illuminating devices are lit in a pattern that makes it appear that two points of light are traveling around the shoe in opposite directions. In that regard, first only illuminating devices  19 ,  20 ,  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit, then only illuminating devices  18 ,  19 ,  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit, next only illuminating devices  17 ,  18 ,  17 ′ and  18 ′ are lit, after which only illuminating devices  16 ,  17 ,  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit, then only illuminating devices  15 ,  16  and  16 ′ are lit, thereafter only illuminating devices  16 ,  17 ,  16 ′ and  17 ′ are lit, then only illuminating devices  17 ,  18 ,  17 ′ and  18 ′ are lit, next only illuminating devices  18 ,  19 ,  18 ′ and  19 ′ are lit, and finally only illuminating devices  19 ,  20 ,  19 ′ and  20 ′ are lit. The timing diagram of  FIG. 7  may also be modified to that of  FIG. 8 , wherein the diagram is begun and ended with only illuminating devices  20  and  20 ′ being lit.  
         [0026]     The illumination devices can include elements that provide a cover about or around the LED, such as the diffusing element  42  depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,930,921 to Howard Sorofman, et al., issued on Aug. 3, 1999, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Any element covering the LED could very from being highly diffusing or providing little diffusion.  
         [0027]     The illuminating devices  16  need not be confined to the upper  14  of the shoe A, but can be located along any exposed surface of the shoe A. This includes the side and end surfaces of the outsole, such as for example, in a way such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,088 to Tseng Chien, issued on Feb. 4, 1997, the contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Many other ways of mounting the illuminating devices and covering them as known in the art can also be employed within the scope of the invention.  
         [0028]     Moreover, illuminating devices  16 ′- 20 ′ on the shoe instep may be omitted for cost savings. Finally, the number of illuminating devices may be selected for an appropriate compromise between cost and illuminating effect.  
         [0029]     While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.