Patent Abstract:
A lighting system for clothing, footwear, backpacks, and other accessories incorporates a battery, a switch, a counter circuit, a flasher and lamps or LEDs driven by the flasher. The switch has a tubular housing of electrical insulating material which may be round or square in cross section. A pair of electrical contact pins extend into the interior of the housing and are aligned longitudinally. The external ends of the contact pins are wired to the counter circuit and the battery. A free-floating contact bar of electrical conducting material normally resides on the bottom of the pins thus closing the switch and causing an input signal to the counter circuit and causing the lamps or LEDs to be illuminated momentarily. The contact pins can alternatively extend through the bottom of the housing and the contact bar may rest against the contact pins. An electrical timer circuit responsive to closing of the switch limits the flashing of the LEDs to one sequence of flashes until further movement of the switch causes it open and close again.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10/766,709 filed Jan. 27, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,347,577. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to garments, footwear, backpacks, and other accessories worn with lighting elements. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Garments and footwear with flashing lights have been popular for a number of reasons, including safety, an attractive appearance and simply for a novelty effect. 
     Lighting units for clothing and footwear have typically included a light source, such as one or more light-emitting diodes, a power source, such as a battery and a switch to cause the power source to be connected to the light or lights. Often such units will include electronic circuits which can control the time such lights are actually illuminated, which limits the power consumption, saving the battery. Short-term flashing often makes the display more visible, adding to the safety provided by the units. It also makes a more attractive eye-catching display. 
     A number of different types of lighting units or circuits have been described in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,158,922 to Dana III includes a mercury switch that responds to movements of the foot to turn a light on and off. A mercury switch operated system is also taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,009 to Rogers. 
     Various arrangements have been developed for minimizing battery drain. Applicant&#39;s earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,435 issued Dec. 19, 1995, now RE 37,220E, shows a light module with an LED having one terminal in contact with one side of a wafer battery, and the other terminal spaced away from the battery but including a weight which will cause the upper terminal to move by inertia in response to a shoe striking a surface to contact the battery to illuminate the LED. In this way, the LED is not illuminated and does not draw power from the battery when the module is at rest. Other modules for illuminating lights in footwear are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,408,764 and 5,932,975. U.S. Pat. No. 5,932,975 also includes microcircuits with a photosensitive switch to cause illumination to fade and then shut off entirely with full daylight. This is one of a number of battery-saving arrangements in the art. 
     One kind of switch in common usage is a spring switch which consists of an elongated coil of wire which has one end connected to one terminal in an electrical circuit and the opposite end cantilevered over a second terminal in the circuit. With the impact of the footwear against a surface or movement of body members carrying the switch, the spring will tend to bounce against the second terminal a number of times, thereby producing a series of positive or negative going electrical spikes or pulses. 
     Another type of switch which has been used in the above-described application is similar to a mercury switch but using a ball bearing which moves from an at-rest position where no contact is made with a second terminal to a position where the ball provides contact across two terminals, thereby closing a lighting circuit. 
     An objection which has been made to the systems described above is that once the illumination begins, it is quite regular and predictable during the period when illumination is taking place. It is believed that the desired effect would be considerably enhanced if the illumination were to be a more accurate light display of the shoe or garment movement rather than the distorted display produced by the spring-type switch trigger. 
     Mercury switches are currently considered unacceptable because of the toxic nature of mercury. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a switch for use with lighting systems for footwear and other clothing which provides a more accurate display rather than the controlled output of switches presently in use. 
     Another factor that is of considerable importance in this application, especially with children&#39;s shoes, is cost. The switch constitutes a significant part of the cost of such lighting systems, and it would be very desirable to reduce such cost. It is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide a switch suitable for use with shoes or clothing illumination systems which is significantly less expensive than those presently in use. 
     One further need is to provide a simple, low-cost switch that is not subject to inadvertent closed condition when the footwear or clothing happens to be in any random orientation as on a closet floor. This result has been achieved by employing switching logic in the module. This is the result of the use of a logic circuitry which responds to a switch closure to initiate one sequence of several pulses but will not continue sequencing until the switch opens and then recloses. This simplifies the switch design so that a closed contact condition only produces one sequence and then stops until the switch opens and recloses. No guards are required for preventing a closed switch condition to drain the battery. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The switch which applicant has devised for use in lighting systems for wearing apparel, including shoes, jackets, backpacks, and the like, is small and incorporated into a very simplified electrical circuit which provides output signals to one or more light sources, such as lamps or LEDs. The switch itself includes a tubular housing of insulating material, such as glass, plastic or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) tubing. Preferred cross sections of the housing may be circular, triangular, or rectangular (square). Other cross-sectional shapes, such as oval, may be used. A pair of longitudinally spaced contact pins extends into the housing leaving terminals on the outside which are connected into the circuit and conductive points inside the housing. 
     A free-floating bar of conductive material is carried inside the housing, spaced from the contact pins. The length of the bar is sufficient to span the contact pins so that, upon movement of the switch, the bar will tend to instantaneously bridge the contact pins, thereby sending an input signal to the circuit and causing the LEDs or other light source to be illuminated. Unlike the spring switch described above, which inherently provides a series of input pulses for each movement of a shoe, for example, the switch described above only provides one input pulse per bridging contact between the contact pins. There may be several such bridging contacts, but these can be quite instant on and off in response to such movement. 
     Since there is a possibility that the shoe or other clothing could be tossed into a closet or other location into a position where the bar remains bridged across the contact pins, the contact pins may have insulated sidewalls so that contact of the bar with the contact pins is limited to desired areas of the pin surface. 
     This result can also be obtained by employing switching logic in the module. This is the result of the use of a logic circuitry which responds to a switch closure to initiate one sequence of several pulses but will not continue sequencing until the switch opens and then recloses. This simplifies the switch design so that a closed contact condition only produces one sequence and then stops until the switch opens and recloses. No insulation on the contact pins is required for preventing a closed switch condition from draining the battery. 
     To retain the free-floating bar, end members are either attached to the housing or formed in the housing. By using the free-floating bar, both the spring and spring mount are eliminated, which adds to reliability, while also reducing size and cost. 
     In addition to the above features, the size and weight of the free-floating bar and housing cavity can be modified to vary switching characteristics and sensitivity of the switch. The switch characteristics, particularly response time, may be modified by placing a non-conductive liquid in the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This invention may be more clearly understood with the following detailed description and by reference to the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shoe, shown in phantom, with a lighting system including a switch according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged side view of the lighting system shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view, partly in phantom, of a substantial part of the lighting system of  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view, with a portion broken away, of an alternative embodiment of the switch shown in  FIGS. 4-6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of an individual wearing a shirt or jacket, including flexible lighting strips and employing the switch of this invention; 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged fragmentary view of the encircled portion of  FIG. 8  designated with numeral  9 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing of an electrical lighting circuit usable with the lighted shoe of  FIGS. 1 and 2  or the flexible lighting strips of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a more detailed schematic of the system of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the switch of the invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a longitudinal sectional view of the switch of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the switch of the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 ; and 
         FIG. 17  is a rear view of an individual wearing a backpack including flexible lighting strips similar to those of  FIG. 8  and employing the switch of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a shoe  10  is shown having an electrical circuit board  12 , including a battery  14  and a switch  16  embedded into its heel. Connected to the electrical circuit board  12  are pairs of wires  18 ,  20 , and  22  terminating in light sources, such as LEDs  24 ,  26 , and  27 , respectively, which are located on or in the shoe  10  such that they are readily visible and will attract attention of those nearby. 
       FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the shoe  10  of  FIG. 1  showing the circuit board  12 , the battery  14 , switch  16 , wires  18  to LED  24 , and wires  20  to LED  26 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged side elevational view of the electrical circuit board  12 , which is secured to the battery  14 . Switch  16  of this invention is secured to the circuit board  12  and includes a contact bar  36 , contact pins  28  and  30  secured to wires  32  and  34 , respectively, connected to circuit board  12  (see  FIG. 4 ). Only contact pin  28  and wire  32  are visible in this view. Also connected to circuit board  12  are wires  18 ,  20 , and  22  connected to LEDs  24 ,  26 , and  27 , respectively. 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the circuit board  12  and switch  16 . Since battery  14  is actually under circuit board  12 , it is not visible in this view and is shown in phantom. Wires  18 ,  20 , and  22  are shown in fragmentary form connected to circuit board  12 . Contact pins  28  and  30  are shown connected to circuit board  12  by means of wires  32  and  34 . Shown in phantom within switch  16  is contact bar  36 , discussed below and better disclosed in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . This view shows the structure of switch  16 , including a housing  38 , which may be of glass or other insulating material, such as plastic or PVC tubing. Embedded in the sidewall of housing  38  are contact pins  28  and  30 , which are longitudinally aligned. Freely movable within housing  38  is a contact bar  36  of electrical conducting material which is of sufficient length to bridge contact pins  28  and  30 , even if one end of contact bar  36  is against one of end walls  39  of housing  38 . While end walls  39  are shown as separate plug members, any suitable closures for the ends of housing  38  can be used. With movement of switch  16 , contact bar  36  will move to the position shown in dashed outline where it momentarily closes a connection between contact pins  28  and  30 . 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 . This view shows a hollow, cylindrical housing  38  with contact pin  28  through its sidewall and contact bar  36  resting on the bottom of the housing. A view of contact bar  36  in dashed outline depicts the alternate position of contact bar  36  contacting contact pins  28  and  30  following movement of switch  16 . Pins  28  and  30  may each have an insulating coating on the pin portion or insulating collars  29  to prevent the contact bar  36  from lodging above the pin heads  28 H and  30 H. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment  16   a  of the switch of  FIGS. 1-6 . In this embodiment, the housing  40  has a square cross section and is arranged in a diamond-like configuration with contact bar  42  sitting in a V-shaped groove at the bottom of the housing. A portion of the end of housing  40  is broken away to show contact bar  42  in housing  40 . As in the case of switch  16 , bar  42  will tend to move upwardly in case switch  16 A is moved and make contact with contact pins  44  and  46 . The tubular housing of switch  16  could be of other cross sections, such as oval, so long as the sidewalls do not interfere with movement of the contact bar toward and away from the contact pins. 
       FIG. 8  is a front view of an individual  48  wearing an article of wearing apparel, specifically a shirt or jacket  50  having light-transmitting strips  52  and  54 , preferably of plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC), secured to its sleeves. Details of this garment and lighting strips are described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,755 of this inventor. Light-transmitting strips  52  and  54  are illuminated by lamps or LEDs connected to a circuit board  12  or a similar board, including a switch  16  or a switch  16 A, as shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and  7 , respectively. Upon movement of the individual wearing the shirt of jacket  50 , the contact bar  36  or  42  ( FIG. 5  or  FIG. 7 ) will close the circuit on circuit board  12  causing illumination of the lamps or LEDs  60  and  62  ( FIG. 9 ), which causes light to travel through strips  52  and  54 . 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion  9  of  FIG. 8 . The sleeve of jacket  50  includes light-transmitting strips  52  and  54  ends of which are in close proximity to LEDs  60  and  62 . LEDs  60  and  62  are connected to circuit board  12  such that movement of the individual  48 , and particularly of his arms, will cause momentary closure of switch  16  resulting in illuminating of LEDs  60  and  62 . This momentary illumination of the LEDs will cause light-transmitting strips  52  and  54  to be illuminated also. An identical arrangement will illuminate strips similar to strips  52  and  54  on the surface of a backpack. Articles of clothing referred to herein are deemed to include backpacks wherein such illumination will provide a particularly effective safety measure. Other such indirect lighting arrangements may include fiber optic strands which pick up light from LEDs and transmit it wherever desired. 
       FIG. 10  is a schematic drawing of the electrical system of  FIGS. 1-4 . Switch  16  is shown including contact pins  28  and  30  and contact bar  36 . Contact pins  28  and  30  are connected through bar  36  whenever it bounces upward and makes contact with both such pins. A battery  14  is connected to a counter circuit  56 , which could be a CD4516 cmos counter and which responds to a signal from switch  16  by sending an input signal to an LED flasher unit  58  which drives LEDs or lamps  24 ,  26 , and  27 . Battery  14  is also connected to flasher unit  58 . Counter circuit  56  or an additional counter may include means responsive to initiation of a lighting signal for counting a given period and then disconnecting power to flasher unit  58 . In this way, the battery  14  is protected from unwanted power drain in the event shoe  10  or jacket  50  happens to be left in a position in which contact bar  36  or  42  bridges contact pins  28  and  30  or contact pins  44  and  46 . 
       FIG. 11  is a somewhat more detailed schematic drawing of the electrical system of  FIG. 10 . Output signal from switch  16  appears at terminal  15  of cmos counter  56  (CD4516) and also at terminal  2  of the timer  57  (7555). Counter  56  provides output pulses to an LED flasher unit  58  which drives lamps or LEDs  24 ,  26 , and  27 . The input signal from switch  16  causes timer  57  to begin counting for a given period after which it sends a reset pulse from its terminal  3  to input terminal  1  of flasher unit  58 , which resets counter  56  to a zero output state, thereby causing the LEDs to stop flashing. 
     The preferred embodiment of the invention employs: 
     Cmos synchronous programmable 4-bit counter of Texas Instruments Type CD4516; 
     Cmos presettable up/down counter Type 74C160 of Texas Instruments; 
     National Semiconductor Timer Type LM555/LM555C timer; 
     Type T-13/4 LEDs of Kingbright Electric Co. 
     3V lithium battery, Type CR-2032. 
     It will be recognized that the described system may be varied in a number of ways. In particular, the number and arrangement of light sources on or around a shoe could involve either more or less than three light sources. All the light sources may be on the shoe or some may be elsewhere on the wearer&#39;s clothing. 
     This unit not only provides a selectable flashing rate by circuit component selection but also responds to a switch closure to provide one pulse sequence but does not run continuously. The switch must open and reclose to start each flashing sequence. This prevents battery drain if the switch remains closed indefinitely. 
       FIGS. 12 and 13  show another embodiment of my switch  16   b  in which the housing could be made of PVC material or other plastic. This switch  16   b  incorporates a cylindrical plastic housing  68  having metal contact members  70  formed around its ends. The housing  68  is closed at its ends with plugs  71 . Contact members  70  include interior contacts  72 , which interact with free moving bar  36  and exterior extensions  73  to contacts  74 . Contacts  74  connect with counter circuit  56  as described above. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the switch of  FIG. 16 . In this embodiment, the housing  78  is generally cylindrical with contact pins  80  and  82  extending through the bottom of the sidewall of the housing. Contact pins  80  and  82  are connected to circuit board  12  by means of wires  84  and  86 . Contact bar  90 , which is of electrical conducting material, is freely movable within housing  78  and is of sufficient length to bridge contact pins  80  and  82 . This is alternate embodiment is significantly more sensitive than that shown in  FIGS. 1-6 . 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 . This view shows the housing  78  with one embedded contact pin  82  visible. Contact bar  90 , which is of sufficient length to bridge the longitudinally aligned contact pins, is freely movable in housing  78 . While at rest, contact bar  90  is closing the connection between the contact pins  80  and  82 . 
     Because of the action of the counter circuit  56  discussed above in relation to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , an initial contact of bar  90  with pins  80  and  82  will start counter circuit  56  counting for a given time or number of cycles energizing LEDs  24 ,  26 , and  27 . After the given time or number of cycles has passed, counter circuit shuts off, the LEDs stop flashing, and there is no more drain on the battery. 
       FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  16 - 16  of  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 17  is a rear view of an individual  100  carrying a backpack  102 . Secured to backpack  102  are flexible lighting strips  52 ′ and  54 ′ which are, or may be, similar or identical to lighting strips  52  and  54  of  FIG. 8 . Lighting strips  52 ′ and  54 ′ are illuminated by lamps connected to a circuit such as that shown in  FIGS. 1-6  and  7  and possibly including the circuit of  FIG. 11  or a similar circuit. Movement of individual  100  results in closing the circuit on circuit board  12 , causing illumination of lamps or LEDs  60  and  62  resulting in lighting strips  52 ′ and  54 ′. 
     Advantages of the above switch are: 
     1. Provides momentary contact resulting in instant lighting effects rather than a set pattern of flashes. 
     2. Is more reliable than other switches used in systems for illuminating shoes, etc. 
     3. Lower in cost because of fewer parts, no springs, and no precision positioning of parts, or adjustment during manufacture. 
     4. In combination with the above-described electrical system, it avoids unintended battery drain by switch closures due to position of switch when the garment is not being worn. 
     The above-described embodiments of the present invention are merely descriptive of its principles and are not to be considered limiting. The scope of the present invention instead shall be determined from the scope of the following claims including their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8