Illuminated soles and heels

• US 3,893,247 A
• Filed: 07/31/1974
• Issued: 07/08/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alfred Dana III
• Original Assignee: Alfred Dana III
• Inventors: Dana, Alfred III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawson, Patrick D.
• Application Number:
  US05/493,610
• Time in Patent Office: 342 Days
• Field of Search: 36/1,2.5R,2.5K,2.5AE
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources

Abstract

Shoes having illuminated portions thereof. An e.m.f. source is preferably disposed within a cavity in a platform sole of a shoe, and a light bulb and means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the light bulb from the source of e.m.f. are preferably disposed within a cavity in a transparent heel. The means for operatively connecting and disconnecting the light bulb from the e.m.f. source may include a tilt switch, a threeposition manually actuated switch, and a recharging switch when the e.m.f. source is rechargeable.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

a. a sole, b. an upper, c. a heel, d. a source of e.m.f., e. a light bulb adapted to be operatively connected to said e.m.f. source, f. a circuit operatively connecting said source of e.m.f. and said light bulb, g. means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said e.m.f. source from said light bulb dependent upon the relative orientation of said shoe, said means including a tilt switch disposed within said circuit operatively connecting said source of e.m.f. and said light bulb, and h. means for selectively connecting and disconnecting said tilt switch from said circuit operatively connecting said source of e.m.f. and said light bulb, said means including a manually actuated switch having a first position thereof wherein said tilt switch is inserted in said circuit and a second position thereof wherein said tilt switch is not inserted in said circuit and said source of e.m.f. and said light bulb are disconnected.

2. A shoe as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for allowing continuous operative connection of said e.m.f. source and said light bulb, said means comprising said manually actuated switch, said switch having a third position thereof wherein said tilt switch is not inserted in said circuit but where continuous connection between said e.m.f. source and said light bulb by said circuit is provided.

3. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said heel has a cavity formed therein, and further comprising means for mounting said tilt switch and said manually actuated switch within said heel cavity.

4. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said heel is formed of layers of transparent material, consecutive ones of said layers being of differently colored material.

5. A shoe as recited in claim 1 further comprising means for providing ready removal of said light bulb from said heel through the interior of said shoe upper.

6. A shoe as recited in claim 1 wherein said tilt switch comprises an undamped mercury switch for providing intermittent on and off flashing of said light bulb after initial tilting of said mercury switch.