Motion activated illuminating footwear and light module therefor

• US 5,408,764 A
• Filed: 02/01/1994
• Issued: 04/25/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: East Malling Services, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: East Malling Services, Ltd.
• Inventors: Wut, Siu B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fidei, David T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US08/189,969
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 36/137, 36/139, 36/136, 362/103, 362/802
• 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 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources

Abstract

Motion activated illuminating footwear includes a heel having a transparent portion; and a light module positioned within the heel, the light module including two light emitting diodes (LEDs) for providing illumination, the LEDs being located so as to be visible exteriorly of the heel through the transparent portion thereof and the LEDs having positive and negative terminals, a printed circuit board supporting the LEDs, a battery for supplying power to the LEDs, leads connecting the positive terminals of the LEDs to the battery, a switch which alternately provides contact between the battery and the negative terminal of the LEDs upon movement of the footwear, the switch including a coil extension spring electrically connected with the negative terminals of the LEDs, for intermittently contacting the battery as a result of movement of the footwear, the spring having a first end supported by the printed circuit board and being electrically connected by the printed circuit board to the negative terminals of the LEDs, and an opposite second free end extending above and out of contact with the battery when the footwear is not moving and intermittently contacting the battery as a result of movement of the footwear, such that the battery is disconnected from the negative terminal of the LEDs upon upward motion of the spring and the battery is connected to the negative terminal of the LEDs upon downward motion of the spring so as to cause illumination of the LEDs.

Claims

1. A light module for use in a heel of footwear, comprising:

light source means for providing Illumination, said light source means having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

power supply means for supplying power to said light source means;

lead means for constantly connecting said first terminal of said light source means to said power supply means; and

switch means, separate from said lead means, for alternately providing electrical connection between said power supply means and said second terminal of said light source means upon movement of said module, said switch means including a coil extension spring having a first end electrically connected with one of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means, and an opposite second free end extending out of electrical connection with the other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means when said module is not moving and intermittently being electrically connected with the other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means as a result of movement of said module, such that said power supply means is electrically disconnected from said second terminal of said light source means upon upward motion of said coil extension spring and said power supply means is electrically connected to said second terminal of said light source means upon downward motion of said coil extension spring

wherein said light source means is illuminated upon electrical connection of said coil extension spring with said other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means.

2. A light module according to claim 1, wherein said light source means includes at least one light emitting diode.

3. A light module according to claim 1, wherein said light source means includes two light emitting diodes.

4. A light module according to claim 1, further including printed circuit board means for supporting said light source means, and said first end of said coil extension spring is supported by said printed circuit board means, said first end of said coil extension spring being electrically connected via said printed circuit board means to said second terminal of said light source means.

5. A light module according to claim 1, further including weight means supported by said second free end of said coil extension spring to enhance the electrical connection of said second free end with said other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means during said intermittent electrical connection.

6. A light module according to claim 1, further including casing means for holding said light source means, power supply means, lead means and coil extension spring.

7. A light module according to claim 1, further including transparent lens casing means for protecting said light source means and for enhancing the degree of illumination of said light source means.

8. A light module according to claim 1, wherein said power supply means includes a battery.

9. Footwear, comprising:

a heel having a transparent portion; and

a light module positioned within said heel, said light module including;

light source means for providing illumination, said light source means being located so as to be visible exteriorly of said heel through said transparent portion thereof and said light source means having first and second terminals of opposite polarity;

power supply means for supplying power to said light source means;

lead means for constantly connecting said first terminal of said light source means to said power supply means; and

switch means, separate from said lead means, for alternately providing electrical connection between said power supply means and said second terminal of said light source means upon movement of said footwear, said switch means including a coil extension spring having a first end electrically connected with one of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means, and an opposite second free end extending out of electrical connection with the other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means when said footwear is not moving and intermittently being electrically connected with the other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means as a result of movement of said footwear, such that said power supply means is electrically disconnected from said second terminal of said light source means upon upward motion of said coil extension spring and said power supply means is electrically connected to said second terminal of said light source means upon downward motion of said coil extension spring

wherein said light source means is illuminated upon electrical connection of said coil extension spring with said other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means.

10. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light source means includes at least one light emitting diode.

11. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light source means includes two light emitting diodes.

12. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light module further includes printed circuit board means for supporting said light source means, and said first end of said coil extension spring is supported by said printed circuit board means, said first end of said coil extension spring being electrically connected via said printed circuit board means to said second terminal of said light source means.

13. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light module further includes weight means supported by said second free end of said coil extension spring to enhance the electrical connection of said second free end with said other of said second terminal of said light source means and said power supply means during said intermittent electrical connection.

14. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light module further includes casing means for holding said light source means, power supply means, lead means and coil extension spring, said casing means being positioned within said heel.

15. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said light module further includes transparent lens casing means for protecting said light source means and for enhancing the degree of illumination of said light source means.

16. Footwear according to claim 9, wherein said power supply means includes a battery.

17. Motion activated illuminating footwear, comprising:

a heel having a transparent portion; and

a light module positioned within said heel, said light module including;

light source means for providing illumination, said light source means being located so as to be visible exteriorly of said heel through said transparent portion thereof and said light source means having first and second terminals of opposite polarity,

printed circuit board means for supporting said light source means,

battery means for supplying power to said light source means,

lead means for constantly connecting said first terminal of said light source means to said battery means,

a coil extension spring, separate from said lead means, for alternately providing electrical connection between said battery means and said second terminal of said light source means upon movement of said footwear, said coil extension spring being electrically connected with said second terminal of said light source means, for intermittently contacting said battery means as a result of movement of said footwear, said coil extension spring having;

a first end supported by said printed circuit board means, said first end of said coil extension spring being electrically connected via said printed circuit board means to said second terminal of said light source means, and

an opposite second free end extending out of electrical connection with said battery means when said footwear is not moving and intermittently being electrically connected with said battery means as a result of movement of said footwear, such that said battery means is electrically disconnected from said second terminal of said light source means upon upward motion of said coil extension spring and said battery means is electrically connected to said second terminal of said light source means upon downward motion of said coil extension spring so as to cause illumination of said light source means.

18. Footwear according to claim 17, wherein said light module further includes weight means supported by said second free end of said coil extension spring to enhance the electrical connection of said second free end with said battery means during said intermittent electrical connection.

19. Footwear according to claim 17, wherein said light module further includes casing means for holding said light source means, battery means, lead means and coil extension spring, said casing means being positioned within said heel.

20. Footwear according to claim 17, wherein said light module further includes transparent lens casing means for protecting said light source means and for enhancing the degree of illumination of said light source means.