Dynamoelectric shoes

• US 5,167,082 A
• Filed: 09/05/1991
• Issued: 12/01/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shi-Hiu Chen
• Original Assignee: Shi-Hiu Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Shi-Hiu
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US07/755,221
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 36/137, 36/139, 36/2.6, 219/211
• US Class Current: 36/2.6
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/42 where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1853 driven by intermittent forces

Abstract

A dynamoelectric shoe has a shoe sole that confines a watertight compartment. A pressure-operated electric generator is provided inside the watertight compartment adjacent to a heel portion of the shoe sole. The electric generator produces a voltage signal when pressure is repeatedly applied on the shoe sole during use. An electrical socket is mounted on the shoe sole and a rechargeable battery cell is wired to the electrical socket and is charged by the voltage signal from the electric generator means. The dynamoelectric shoe can be used to operate a portable wireless telephone, a portable radio, a light device to aid the user at night, or a heating device to warm the user'"'"'s foot during winter.

Claims

1. A dynamoelectric shoe, comprising:

a shoe sole confining a watertight compartment;

a pressure-operated electric generator means provided inside said watertight compartment adjacent to a heel portion of said shoe sole, said electric generator means producing a voltage signal when pressure is repeatedly applied on said shoe sole during use; and

a power outlet means including an electrical socket mounted on said shoe sole and a rechargeable battery cell means wired to said electrical socket and to said electric generator means, said rechargeable battery cell means being charged by said voltage signal from said electric generator means, wherein said rechargeable battery cell means comprises;

a rechargeable battery cell connected to said electrical socket;

a battery charger circuit means receiving said voltage signal from said electric generator means so as to charge said rechargeable battery cell,

a charging control means including means for deactivating said battery charger circuit means so as to stop charging of said rechargeable battery cell when the voltage across said battery cell exceeds a predetermined limit; and

a supplementary current supplying circuit means for providing additional current to said electrical socket when a plug is inserted into said electrical socket.

2. The dynamoelectric shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electric generator means comprises:

a base plate;

a press plate having a horizontal press portion and an inclined portion extending rearwardly from said press portion, one end of said inclined portion being pivoted on said base plate;

a compression spring provided between said inclined portion and said base plate to bias said press plate away from said base plate;

a driving shaft extending downward from said press portion;

a speed increasing gear assembly rotatably actuated by upward and downward movement of said driving shaft when pressure is repeatedly applied on said press portion during use; and

an alternator means having a rotor rotatably driven by said gear assembly so as to produce said voltage signal.

3. The dynamoelectric shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric generator means further comprises a rectifier circuit means connected to said alternator means so as to rectify said voltage signal.

4. The dynamoelectric shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said charging control means further comprises:

means for detecting if said plug is inserted into said electrical socket; and

means for deactivating said supplementary current supplying circuit means when said plug is not inserted into said electrical socket.