Patent Publication Number: US-2019174863-A1

Title: Footwear With Kinetically Activated Auditory Effects

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to the field of footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Footwear such as shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals and other types of footwear typically include common features such as a sole, uppers, a tongue and laces, and/or other features. Historically, such footwear is passive and does not interact with the wearer or the environment. Therefore, what is desired is footwear which provides dynamic auditory effects and other output based on kinetic events and other sensed conditions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides dynamic footwear which provides auditory effects based on kinetic events and other sensed conditions. In one embodiment, the footwear can include a power source, an electronic controller coupled to the power source, a memory coupled to the controller and operable to store an audio program, an output device coupled to the controller, where the output device includes a speaker, and a sensor coupled to the controller, the sensor being operable to sense a sensed condition comprising a pressure, force, stress, deformation, velocity, acceleration, shock or temperature, or a combination thereof. 
     The sensor is operable to send an activation signal to the controller corresponding to a level the sensed condition, and the controller has an activation mode wherein when the level of the sensed condition is within a predetermined range, the controller is operable to cause the output device to generate a predetermined activation output, where the activation output including playback of the audio program on the speaker, which can occur for a predetermined period of time. 
     In other embodiments, the sensor is disposed in a sole of the footwear, such as below a heel supporting portion of the sole. 
     The footwear can include a pair of left and right footwear and the output device includes a first speaker in the left footwear and a second speaker in the right footwear. The controller can be operable to synchronize output from the first and second speakers. The controller can include a first controller in the left footwear and a second controller in the right footwear and the first and second controllers are operable to intercommunicate wirelessly. 
     The sensor can include a first sensor in the left footwear and a second sensor in the right footwear; and each of the first and second sensors are operable to independently sense the sensed condition and to send the activation signal to the controller. 
     The controller can have a controlled mode wherein the controller is operable to cause the speaker to play a user-selected audio program from a plurality of audio programs stored in the memory or an audio program received via the wireless communication device; and the controller is selectively settable in the activation mode or the controlled mode. 
     The footwear can include lighting elements and the activation output can include illumination of the lighting elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of an article of footwear constructed in accordance with the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic of component of the footwear of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the footwear  10  includes common features such as a sole  16 , uppers, a tongue and laces, and/or other features. The sole  16  can include an outsole, midsole, and insole. 
     The footwear  10  includes electronic components which can include a power source  30 , charger  24 , controller  12 , amplifier  24 , speaker(s)  14 , memory  22 , wired and/or wireless communication  26 , sensor(s)  28 , lighting controller  32 , and lighting elements  17  (e.g., LEDs). The charger  34  can include a wired or wireless (e.g., inductive) charger, which can include components within and external to the footwear  10 . 
     The speakers  14  are preferably integrated and permanently mounted in the footwear, such as above the heal portion, in the “quarter” of the footwear (although other locations are possible). The footwear  10  can include a pair of speakers in each one of a pair of left and right footwear, with one speaker on each side of the footwear. Other configurations are also possible, such as one speaker in only one of the pair, one speaker in each one of the pair, and other combinations. Preferably, the speakers  14  are substantially flush with the upper of the footwear. The other electronic components can be included in one or both of the left and right footwear. 
     The controller  12  and components thereof are preferably contained and protectively sealed within the footwear  10 , for example in the sole  16  (or midsole). However, the controller  12  (and/or components thereof) can also be disposed or dispersed in other portions of the footwear such as the upper  18 . The controller  12  is operable to cause the speakers  14  to play a predetermined audio program (e.g., a song) upon the occurrence of an activation event. As an example, the predetermined audio program can be a shortened segment of a song, such as a 20 second segment of a song. The activation event can be any predetermined kinetic event or another type of event. For example, the activation event can be a predetermined pressure, force, stress, deformation, velocity, acceleration, shock, temperature, and any combination thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the controller  12  can include a processor  20 , and can include and/or be couple to the memory  22 , amplifier  24 , wired/wireless communication  26 , sensor(s)  28 , lighting controller  32  and power source  30 . The processor can consist of or comprise digital components and/or analog components. The sensor  28  is preferably disposed in (or on) the sole of the footwear below the heel of the user and is operable to sense pressure (or force) applied by the foot of the user to the sole. The controller  12  is connected to the memory  22 , which can store audio data or files for playback. The processor  20  is also connected to and controls the amplifier  24  which drives the speakers  14 . The power source  30  is operable to provide power to the various components of the footwear  10  and can be a battery (e.g., rechargeable or replaceable), or a kinetic power source, or another suitable source. The wireless communication  26  (e.g., Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi, or other) can be operable for receiving audio data for storage and playback, for communication with mobile communication devices or other footwear, for communication between the processor and amplifier/speaker, for firmware updates, and for other uses. 
     The sensor  28  is operable to sense a sensed condition which can consist of or comprise a pressure, force, stress, deformation, velocity, acceleration, shock or temperature, or a combination thereof, or another condition, and the sensor is operable to send an activation signal to the controller corresponding to a presence or a level of the sensed condition. The sensor may be in the form of a switch which is temporarily closed upon the occurrence of an activation event (i.e., a sensed condition within a predetermined level or range). 
     The controller  12  is operable to receive the activation signal from the sensor and, if such activation event is within a predetermined range (e.g., at least a predetermined threshold level), the controller  12  is operable to cause an activation output which can include causing a predetermined audio program stored in the memory  22  to play from the speakers  14 . 
     The sensor may be in the form of a switch which is temporarily closed upon the occurrence of an activation event. 
     The controller  12  can have various selectable modes. For example, the controller  12  can have an activation mode wherein the controller responds to activation events, as described above, or a controlled mode wherein the device is operable to play full-length user-selectable audio programs stored in memory, or a speaker mode wherein the device acts as a wireless speaker and receives audio data via the wireless communication (e.g., streaming audio via Bluetooth). Preferably the plurality of audio programs can be transferred from an external source to the memory  22  via the wired and/or wireless communication  26 . 
     In the activation mode, the activation output can vary depending on the level or range of the sensed condition. For example, the memory  22  can store a plurality of audio programs including first and second audio programs and the activation output can comprise the first audio program when the sensed condition is in a first range and the second audio program when the sensed condition is in a second range. 
     Further, while the effects discussed above relate to audio effects, other effects can be generated by the footwear, including visual (e.g., lighting) effects. In particular, the activation output can include illumination of lighting elements  17 . The controller  12  can be controlled, wirelessly, from a mobile device and to switch between various modes of operation. 
     The footwear  10  can include left and right footwear, and the electronic components described herein can be distributed among or duplicated in each of the left and right footwear. Controllers in each of the left and right footwear can intercommunicate wirelessly to synchronize activation and/or to synchronize activation outputs (e.g., playback of audio files on each footwear). Sensors in each of the left and right footwear can be operable to independently sense the sensed condition and to send an activation signal to the controller. 
     The specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended claims in determining the full scope of the invention.