Footwear

• US 20090107009A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ashton Walter Bishop, Gavin Larkin, Scott Michael Callaghan
• Original Assignee: Ashton Walter Bishop, Gavin Larkin, Scott Michael Callaghan
• Inventors: Bishop, Ashton Walter, Callaghan, Scott Michael, Larkin, Gavin
• Application Number:
  US12/299,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20090107009A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/114
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0027 made at least partially from a material having special colours
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/00 Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements

Abstract

In a first broad form, the present invention provides an apparatus for use with a shoe having a sole, the apparatus including: at least one display adapted for mounting on a surface of the shoe; and a means of adjusting the at least one display between at least a first and a second colour state.

Claims

1-40. -40. (canceled)

41. An apparatus for use with a shoe having a sole, the apparatus including:

at least one display adapted for mounting on a surface of the shoe; and

a means of adjusting the at least one display between at least a first and a second colour state, the display including a polymer material that is adapted to change colour when a charge is applied to the polymer material.

42. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 wherein the display includes at least one of:

(a) an Electro-Chromic Polymer (ECP) type display; and

(b) a Controlled Release Polymer (CRP) type display.

43. An apparatus as claimed in claim 42 wherein when the CRP is exposed to an electrical charge, a dye is released which permanently alters the colour of the polymer.

44. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 wherein the display is adapted for mounting on to an outward-facing surface of the shoe.

45. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 including a processing device for controlling the adjustment of the display between the at least first and second colour states.

46. An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the processing device is operatively connected with the display and is adapted to provide a control signal to the display which controls adjustment of the display between colour states.

47. An apparatus as claimed in claim 45 wherein the processing device is user-programmable.

48. An apparatus as claimed in claim 47 wherein the processing device is programmable by a user via a user-interface including at least one of:

(a) a key pad;

(b) a graphical user interface;

(c) a joystick;

(d) a mouse;

(e) a switch; and

(f) a button.

49. An apparatus as claimed in claim 48 wherein the user-interface includes at least one of a mobile phone, PDA, and a notebook computer.

52. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 wherein the adjustment means includes at least one of:

(i) an automatic adjustment means; and

(ii) a manual adjustment means.

53. An apparatus as claimed in claim 52 wherein the automatic adjustment means includes:

a sensor adapted for sensing an operating characteristic of the shoe and outputting an output sensor signal in response to the sensed operating characteristic; and

a processing device adapted for receiving the output sensor signal and providing a control signal in response to the received output sensor signal, whereby the display is adapted to receive the control signal and adjust between the first and second colour states by reference to the received control signal.

54. An apparatus as claimed in claim 53 wherein the operating characteristic which triggers an adjustment in the display includes at least one of:

(I) a detection of pressure being applied to the sole of the shoe;

(II) a detection of a threshold amount of deterioration in a cushioning capacity of the sole; and

(III) a detection of a colour characteristic of an adjacent environment relative to the shoe.

55. An apparatus as claimed in claim 54 wherein where the operating characteristic which triggers and adjustment in the display includes a detection of a colour characteristic of an adjacent environment relative to the shoe, the colour characteristic includes at least one of:

(a) a colour characteristic of an item of clothing worn by the user of the shoe; and

(b) a colour characteristic of physical surroundings in which the shoe is located.

56. An apparatus as claimed in claim 54 wherein, where the operating characteristic relates to a detection of a threshold amount of deterioration in a cushioning capacity of the sole, the present invention further includes:

a means of determining a degree of deterioration in a cushioning capacity of the sole; and

a means of comparing the degree of deterioration in the cushioning capacity against a predetermined threshold value, wherein an output signal is generated which is indicative of the comparison; and

whereby, the display is adapted to receive the output signal and change state between at least the first colour state and the second colour state in response to the received output signal, wherein when the output signal indicates that the determined deterioration in the cushioning capacity is less than the threshold value, the display outputs the first colour state, and, when the output signal indicates that the determined deterioration in the cushioning capacity is greater than the threshold value, the display outputs the second colour state

57. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56 wherein the threshold value of deterioration in the shoe is measured in terms of at least one of:

(i) a distance travelled by the shoe in use;

(ii) a number of impacts absorbed by the sole; and

(iii) a force of impact.

58. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56 wherein the threshold value of deterioration in the shoe is pre-programmed into the processor device.

59. An apparatus as claimed in claim 54 including a colour detection device for detecting the colour characteristic of the adjacent environment relative to the shoe.

60. An apparatus as claimed in claim 59 wherein the colour detection device includes at least one of:

(a) a colourimeter; and

(b) a light wand.

61. An apparatus as claimed in claim 54 including at least one sensor adapted for detecting when pressure is being applied to the sole of the shoe.

62. An apparatus as claimed in claim 61 wherein the sensor includes at least one of:

(a) a pressure sensor; and

(b) a piezo-electric sensor.

63. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 including a plurality of sensors.

64. An apparatus as claimed in claim 63 wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned in proximity in a mid-sole of the shoe.

65. An apparatus as claimed in claim 63 wherein each of the plurality of sensors are associated with at least one of a plurality of displays mounted on the shoe, and each display is independently adjustable between at least a first and a second colour state, by reference to a sensor output signal produced by a sensor associated with the display.

66. An apparatus as claimed in claim 41 including a means of automatically adjusting the display between colour states by reference to an output signal from a timing device.

67. An apparatus as claimed in claim 66 wherein the means of automatically adjusting the display, automatically adjusts the display between colour states when an output signal is detected from the timing device indicating that a countdown has ended.

68. An apparatus as claimed in claim 56 wherein the predetermined threshold value against which the degree of cushioning capacity of the sole is compared, is adjustable depending upon a specific weight of the user.

69. An apparatus as claimed in claim 68 wherein the predetermined threshold value is adjusted by the processing device.

70. An apparatus as claimed in claim 68 wherein the user'"'"'s weight is able to be entered into the processing device for processing via the user interface.

50. An apparatus as claimed in 48 wherein the user interface is able to be operatively connected to the processing device via cable.

51. An apparatus as claimed in 48 wherein the user interface is able to be operatively connected to the processing device via a wireless communication link including at least one of:

(a) a Bluetooth connection;

(b) a Wi-Fi connection; and

(c) an Infra-red connection.

71. A shoe including:

a sole; and

at least one display disposed on a surface of the shoe; and

a means of adjusting the at least one display between at least a first and a second colour state, the display including a polymer material that is adapted to change colour states when a charge is applied to the polymer material.

72. A shoe including:

a sole; and

a means of determining a degree of deterioration in a cushioning capacity of the sole; and

a means of comparing the degree of deterioration in the cushioning capacity against a predetermined threshold value, wherein an output signal is generated which is indicative of the comparison; and

a display which is adapted to receive the output signal and change state between at least a first colour state and a second colour state in response to the received output signal, wherein when the output signal indicates that the detennined deterioration in the cushioning capacity is less than the threshold value, the display outputs the first colour state, and, when the output signal indicates that the determined deterioration in the cushioning capacity is greater than the threshold value, the display outputs the second colour state.

73. An apparatus for use with a shoe having a sole, the apparatus including:

a means of measuring a degree of pressure being applied to the sole; and

a means of comparing the degree of pressure being applied to the sole against a predetermined pressure threshold value, wherein an output signal is generated which is indicative of the comparison; and

a display adapted for mounting to a surface of the shoe, wherein the display is adapted to receive the output signal and change state between at least a first colour state and a second colour state in response to the received output signal, wherein when the output signal indicates that the determined degree of pressure being applied to the sole is less than the threshold value, the display outputs the first colour state, and, when the output signal indicates that the determined degree of pressure being applied to the sole is greater than the threshold value, the display outputs the second colour state.

74. A shoe including:

a sole; and

a means of measuring a degree of pressure being applied to the sole; and

a means of comparing the degree of pressure being applied to the sole against a predetermined pressure threshold value, wherein an output signal is generated which is indicative of the comparison; and

a display adapted for mounting to a surface of the shoe, wherein the display is adapted to receive the output signal and change state between at least a first colour state and a second colour state in response to the received output signal, wherein when the output signal indicates that the determined degree of pressure being applied to the sole is less than the threshold value, the display outputs the first colour state, and, when the output signal indicates that the determined degree of pressure being applied to the sole is greater than the threshold value, the display outputs the second colour state.

75. An apparatus for use with a shoe having a sole, the apparatus Including:

a sensor for detecting a colour characteristic of an adjacent surface relative to the shoe, wherein the sensor outputs a sensor signal indicative of the detected colour characteristic; and

a display adapted for mounting to a surface of the shoe, wherein the display is adapted to receive the sensor signal and adjust to a colour state which approximates the detected colour characteristic.

76. An apparatus as claimed in claim 75 wherein the sensor includes at least one of:

(I) a colourimeter;

(II) a “

light wand”

; and

(III) an optical sensor.

77. A shoe including

a sole;

and

a sensor for detecting a colour characteristic of an adjacent surface relative to the shoe, wherein the sensor outputs a sensor signal indicative of the detected colour characteristic; and

a display adapted for mounting to a surface of the shoe, wherein the display is adapted to receive the sensor signal and adjust to a colour state which approximates the detected colour characteristic.

78. A method including the steps of:

(i) mounting at least one display on a surface of a shoe; and

(ii) adjusting the at least one display between at least a first and a second colour state, the display including a polymer material that is adapted to change colour states when a charge is applied to the polymer material.