Illuminating system

• US 5,188,447 A
• Filed: 01/21/1992
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General LED, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Marpole International, Inc. (Anything Technologies Media, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chiang, Lee, Ratcliffe, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yeung, James C.
• Application Number:
  US07/822,742
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 362/103-109, 362/800, 36/137
• US Class Current: 362/103
• 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 3/36 with light 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: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A member made from a suitable material such as a polyurethane epoxy designed to withstand impact against an object is provided as a support member. For example, the member may constitute an insert disposed on or in the heel of a shoe but a wide variety of other applications are possible. A suitable member such as a piezoelectric member is disposed on the support member to produce a signal when the support member is impacted against the object or when the impact is released. This signal is amplified by an amplifier which is powered by a suitable source such as a battery. The amplified signals are introduced to a light emitting member such as a light emitting diode which provides an illuminated indication of the impact of the support member against the object. A member such as a resistance may be disposed in the circuit with the battery and the amplifier to limit the current flow through the amplifier during the times that the piezoelectric member is energized.

Claims

1. In combination for providing a visual display,

first means having properties of being impacted against an object and of withstanding each impact of the first means against the object,

second means disposed in the first means and having properties of generating a signal upon each impact of the first means against the object,

third means disposed in the first means and responsive to each signal generated by the second means for amplifying such signal, and

fourth means disposed in the first means responsive to each amplified signal generated by the third means for providing an illumination indicating each impact of the first means against the object.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

the second means including a piezoelectric member.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 2,

the fourth means including at least one light-emitting diode and the third means being responsive only to each signal generated by the second means for amplifying such signal.

4. In a combination as set forth in claim 3,

the first means being shaped to conform to the heel of a shoe and the second means, the third means and the fourth means being disposed in the first means.

5. In combination for providing a visual display,

first means having properties of being impacted against an object and of withstanding each impact of the first means against the object,

a piezoelectric member disposed in the first means and having properties of generating a signal upon each impact of the first means against the object,

second means disposed in the first means and responsive to each signal generated by the piezoelectric member for amplifying such signal, and

third means disposed in the first means and responsive to each amplified signal for providing a visual indication of each impact of the first means against the object.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5,

the third means including a light emitting diode.

7. In a combination as set forth in claim 6,

a source of energy,

means associated with the source of energy and the second means for limiting the current through the second means during each time that the first means impacts the object.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

the source of energy is a battery and

the current-limiting means includes a resistance.

9. In a combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein

the first means includes an insert on the heel of a shoe.

10. In a combinations as set forth in claim 7 wherein

the current-limiting means includes a diode.

11. In combination,

a shoe heel constructed to be impacted against the ground,

support means disposed in the shoe heel and shaped to define an insert on the shoe heel and having properties of withstanding the impact of the heel of the shoe against the ground,

a piezoelectric member disposed in the support means and having properties of becoming strained to generate a signal upon each impact of the shoe heel against the ground,

means disposed in the support means and having properties of emitting light upon becoming energized, and

means disposed in the support means and responsive to the signal generated by the piezoelectric member for energizing the light-emitting means.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the support means being made from a glass epoxy and the light-emitting means including a light-emitting diode.

13. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

the energizing means for the light-emitting diode including an amplifier disposed in the support means.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

the energizing means including an amplifier for amplifying the signal generated by the piezoelectric member, and

means associated with the amplifier and disposed in the support means for insuring that any current through the amplifier is at a low level during the time that the piezoelectric member is not being energized.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

the support means being made from a glass epoxy and the light-emitting means including a light-emitting diode,

the energizing means being operative to energize the light-emitting means only upon each impact of the support means against the ground.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

the energizing means being operative to energize the light-emitting means only upon each impact of the support means against the ground.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 15,

the light-emitting means including a light-emitting diode.

17. In combination, a member constructed to be impacted against an object and to withstand such impact,

support means disposed in the support means and made from a material having properties of withstanding each impact of the member against the object,

piezoelectric means disposed in the support means and having properties of producing a signal upon each impact of the member against the object,

means disposed in the support means and having properties of emitting light, and

means disposed in the support means and responsive to each signal from the piezoelectric means for energizing the light-emitting means to obtain the emission of light by the light-emitting means.

19. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

the energizing means including an amplifier disposed in the support means and responsive to each signal from the piezoelectric means for amplifying such signal and for energizing the light-emitting means in accordance with such amplified signal to obtain the emission of light by the light-emitting means.

20. In a combination as recited in claim 19,

the energizing means including an amplifier and a source of energy disposed in the member, and

means disposed in the support means and associated with the amplifier and the energy source for limiting the current from the energy source through the amplifier during each time that the piezoelectric member is energized.