Strapped footwear with decorative lighting

• US 5,052,131 A
• Filed: 10/26/1989
• Issued: 10/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul Rondini
• Original Assignee: Paul Rondini
• Inventors: Rondini, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US07/426,774
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 36/137, 36/2.6, 36/139, 36/11.5, 362/103
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/102 leaving the heel of the foot bare A43B3/106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources

Abstract

Footwear having a combination strap and decorative lighting fully encased in transparent tubing providing multifunctional footwear suitable for a variety of occasions including leisure and night clubs having a battery, lights encased in a transparent tubing connecting to a battery timed switch for flashing the lights and battery compartment located in the sole of the sandal in a compartment which is closed by a fastener and means for opening and closing the circuit. The combination pliable strap for fixing the foot to the footwear and decorative lighting cover can be employed in a variety of configurations to construct a wide diversity of footwear constructed in accordance with the invention.

Claims

1. An article of decorative footwear comprising:

(a) a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion;

(b) at least one water resistant decorative strap having a first end and a second end and a section therebetween having a substantially hollow cross sectional configuration composed of a translucent or transparent non electrically conductive plastic material for positioning or securing the footwear to the foot;

(c) a plurality of LED light emitting sources encased in said substantially hollow cross sectional configuration of said decorative strap of a translucent or transparent non electrically conductive plastic material;

(d) terminals for a power source for supplying power to said plurality of LED light emitting sources;

(e) a circuit for connecting said terminals for said power source to said plurality of LED light emitting sources, a first portion of said circuit disposed in said sole and a second portion of said circuit disposed in said water resistant decorative strap of a translucent or transparent electrically non conductive plastic material;

(f) anchoring means for sealing said first end and said second end of said water resistant decorative strap and said first portion of said circuit in said sole; and

(g) a switch for connecting and disconnecting said terminals to said circuit.

2. The article of decorative footwear of claim 1 further comprising a timer switch for alternatively activating said plurality of LED light emitting sources.

3. The article of decorative footwear of claim 2 wherein said timer switch is an RC circuit.

4. The article of decorative footwear of claim 2 wherein said timer switch is a timer chip.

5. The article of decorative footwear of claim 1 wherein said decorative strap is an environmentally sealed strap of a circular or oval shaped cross section.

6. The article of decorative footwear of claim 1 further comprising a flat circular battery disposed in the heel portion of said sole.

7. The article of decorative footwear of claim 1 wherein said heel portion of said sole includes a flap for separating said upper heel portion from said lower heel portion to provide access to a battery compartment.

8. The article of decorative footwear of claim 7 further comprising a fastener for fastening said upper heel portion to said lower heel portion.

9. The article of decorative footwear of claim 8 wherein said fastener for fastening said upper heel portion to said lower heel portion further comprises said switch for connecting and disconnecting said power source to said circuit.

10. The article of decorative footwear of claim 1 wherein said decorative strap of translucent or transparent electrically non conductive plastic material includes a malleable strand for imparting retention shape to said decorative strap.

11. An illuminative decorative sandal comprising:

(a) a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion said heel portion having a foot bearing surface and a ground bearing surface and a compartment for a power source disposed between said footing bearing surface and said ground bearing surface;

(b) at least one decorative strap having a first end and a second end composed of a translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive plastic material for securing said sole to the foot of the wearer and protecting a circuit and a light emitting source disposed inside said decorative strap from the skin of the wearer and the environment;

(c) a light emitting source providing a plurality of discrete points of light encased inside said decorative strap of a translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive plastic material;

(d) anchoring means for sealing said first end and said second end of said decorative strap in said sole;

(d) a power source disposed in said heel portion of said sole for supplying power to said light emitting source;

(f) a circuit for connecting said light emitting source to said power source; and

(g) a switch disposed in said heel portion of said sole for connecting and disconnecting said power source to said circuit.

12. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 11 wherein said light emitting source is intermittently activated to provide a flashing display for said plurality of discrete points of light.

13. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 12 wherein said switch in said heel portion of said sole functions as a mechanical closure for opening and closing said compartment for said power source.

14. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 12 having a plurality of decorative straps containing a plurality of light emitting sources for independently flashing each of said plurality of discrete points of light.

15. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 14 wherein said plurality of straps are of a oval, circular or rectangular hollow cross section tubular material.

16. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 15 wherein said plurality of straps extend from the toe portion of said sandal rearward toward said heel portion of said sole.

17. The illuminative decorative sandal of claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of straps extend laterally across the toe portion of said sole.

18. A decorative strapped sandal comprising:

(a) a sole having a toe portion and a heel portion said heel portion having a heel bearing surface and a ground bearing surface and a compartment disposed intermediate said heel bearing surface and said ground bearing surface for receiving a power source;

(b) a first substantially hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap having a first end and a second end anchored and sealed in said sole at or near said toe portion and extending back toward said heel portion and anchored to seal said first hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap in said sole intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion;

(c) a second substantially hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap joining said first hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap at or near said toe portion and extending back toward said heel portion and anchored to seal said second hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap in said sole intermediate said heel portion and said toe portion;

(d) at least one light emitting source encased inside said first hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap and said second hollow translucent or transparent water resistant electrically non conductive decorative strap;

(e) a circuit for connecting said at least one light emitting source to terminals for a power source disposed in said heel portion of said sole; and

(f) a combination switch and mechanical closure for closing said heel bearing surface to said ground bearing surface of said sole and for opening and closing said compartment for receiving a power source and connecting said circuit to said power source.

19. The decorative strapped sandal of claim 18 further comprising a timer circuit for alternatively activating said at least one light emitting source.

20. The decorative strapped sandal of claim 18 wherein said compartment for said power source is water resistant.

21. The decorative strapped sandal of claim 18 further comprising a circular battery power source.