Source: {"pile_set_name": "USPTO Backgrounds"}

Each individual is created with the capacity to perceive, understand, appreciate and enjoy various forms of entertainment. Different types and forms of entertainment are found in nearly all aspects of life. From the first breath of an infant until the last breath of an elder, each person encounters situations consisting of differing forms of entertainment throughout the span of life. Some forms and types of entertainment help pass the time and provide a pleasurable experience to those partaking, while other forms and types of entertainment, when coupled with other beneficial ventures and/or activities, assist in producing a desired result. As such, entertainment is ubiquitous and is found in almost every endeavor and activity of life. Whether at work or at play, people of all ages love to entertain and be entertained.
Especially commonplace among children, teenagers and young adults are the engagement of activities and/or the use of devices which provided entertainment such as playing video games, participating in extra-curricular activities and watching television, movies and cartoons. These younger individuals depend heavily upon activities that engage the imagination of the mind. As such, one form and/or type of entertainment that engages children and young adults is the ability to imagine (i.e., to pretend). Children are drawn to the world of make believe. Hence, the world of pretend has given rise to superheroes that can undertake activities that mere mortals cannot do in their own strength. For example, many young individuals imagine themselves as having the ability to possess extraordinary powers such as having the ability to be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and leap tall buildings in a single bound.
The capacity to pretend is limitless for young individuals, however many times external objects are needed to help jumpstart the young individuals' creative juices. Often times, devices, gadgets, articles, games and programs are used to aid young individuals' ability to imagine. With the aid of such objects, young peoples' minds can become engaged in the world of pretend and they and their friends can have fun together as they entertain themselves.
A particular extraordinary ability that many young individuals' imagine having is the ability to run extremely fast. For centuries, societies have rewarded fast runners. For example, Olympic Games are played to determine the world's fastest runner. Running is not only a sport; it can be a person's claim to fame. However, having the label of world's fastest man/woman is a not a reality for most people; it is something that most only dream about. In their world of pretend, children and young adult tend to imagine that they are extraordinary, having superhuman abilities that enable them to run fast—faster than normal. They may picture themselves as the fastest man or woman on earth, running so fast indeed that the rubber on their shoes begins to smoke.
Smoke that billows from a shoe because of extreme heat and friction cause by extreme, rapid movement brings to life the imagination of young children and adults that they are superhuman. Having this superhuman ability is an entertainment form that a person—particularly a young person—can enjoy individually or together with family and/or friends. For example, a young person could engage his or her friends to jokingly convince them that the shoes are smoking because of the young person's superhuman running abilities. Also, a group of individuals, each wearing shoes that smoke, could couple the smoking shoes with their imaginations for entertainment purposes, allowing the individuals to pretend and use their imagination. Thus, shoes from which smoke emanates can be utilized for many different purposes—especially for entertainment purposes.
What is needed is a device that aids in providing entertainment for children and adults alike which allows the world of imagination of superhuman strengths to come alive. More specifically, what is needed is a device that can be worn on an individual's foot such as, but not limited to, a shoe from which smoke/heat/vapor emanates thereby providing an allusion that the wearer of the device possesses supernatural mobility and strength which enables the wearer to run at superhuman speeds.
A device for providing continuous and/or intermittent smoke/vapor which emanate from an external covering of the human foot, having at least one embodiment disclosed herein, is a novel invention that meets the needs described in the aforementioned paragraphs, while also providing many substantial advantages such as, but not limited to, the ability to easily and effectively interface with an ordinary shoe and the ability to cause the smoke to intermittently and/or continuously emanate from the device based upon actions/inactions of the user of the device.
An embodiment of the present invention can interface with an ordinary shoe. Thus, an embodiment can include a running shoe, such as, but not limited to, a tennis shoe, which enhances a user's ability to utilize the present invention for entertainment purposes. While any type of footwear may be suitable, a running shoe has more significance in the world of a young person's imagination and may provide a better entertainment experience. Therefore, a running shoe may be more desirable. However, it should be understood that while embodiments of the present invention can include, be integrated with and utilize an external foot covering such as, but not limited to, a shoe having any form or type, subsequently hereafter this paper will describe a running shoe (i.e., a tennis shoe) for purposes of explanation and example.
Moreover, an embodiment of the present invention permits a user of the invention to regulate the amount of smoke/vapor that emanates from a shoe via the actions of the user. The more steps a user takes when employing the device, the greater amount of smoke/vapor that emanates from the device. On the other hand, a reduction of successive steps taken by the user of the device will results in a corresponding reduction of the emanation of smoke/vapor. As such, the present invention includes a mechanism for regulating the amount of emanating smoke/vapor. The mechanism activates as a user takes a step. As steps become more rapid, the emanating smoke increases. However, when the user stands still, the device ceases emanating smoke/vapor. Thus, the present invention can include the novel function of permitting continuous emanating of smoke/vapor as a user continuously runs or walks or intermittent emanation of smoke as when a user walks/runs, stops, then continues running/walking, and so on.
Elements of an embodiment of the present invention includes, without limitation, a tube having one end thereof connected to one end of an exhaust pipe, wherein both the tube and exhaust pipe are positioned within a shoe or other similar external foot covering. The exhaust pipe includes, without limitation, an atomizer which creates smoke/vapor. The other end of the exhaust pipe protrudes through a portion of the shoe, thereby allowing smoke to pass through the exhaust pipe and emanate from the exterior of the shoe. Emanating smoke from the exterior of the shoe provides the allusion that the shoe is smoking due to the extreme and rapid movements of the user.
Specifically as a user of the invention/device walks or runs, the user's downward weight onto the shoe squeezes the tube that is within the shoe which forces air out of the tube and through the shoe exhaust pipe. Then, the user's weight shifts to the other foot, which removes the downward pressure on the tube, thereby causing smoke/vapor that is created by an atomizer within the exhaust pipe to rush into the tube from the shoe exhaust pipe. The user then shifts his or her weight again and applies downward pressure back onto the shoe and thus onto the tube, causing the smoke that is within the tube to pass through the exhaust pipe and out of the end portion of the exhaust pipe that protrudes from the shoe. As the smoke exits the exhaust pipe, it appears to emanate from the side or bottom of the shoe.
Again, the user's weight shifts, again causing a low pressure in the tube so that smoke/vapor produced from the atomizer in the exhaust pipe rushes into the tube. Then, the weight shifts again, pushing the smoke/vapor out of the tube, through the exhaust pipe and out of the end portion of the exhaust pipe protruding out of the shoe. This process repeats itself over and over as the user of the invention/device walks or runs.