Blinking-light LED device

• US 5,456,032 A
• Filed: 03/02/1994
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melvin Kennedy, Susan Matsumoto
• Original Assignee: Melvin Kennedy, Susan Matsumoto
• Inventors: Matsumoto, Susan, Kennedy, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANSEN, JAMES ORVILLE
• Application Number:
  US08/204,955
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 40/636, 40/442, 40/444, 40/447, 40/594, 40/1.5, 40/452, 40/559, 362/103, 362/276, 36/137, 200/61.48, 200/61.52, 200/244
• US Class Current: 40/636
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/02 by a carrier person or animal

Abstract

A self-sufficient, blinking-light LED device formed by a decoratively-shaped casing having a LED projecting from its face, the casing being attachable to the shoe of an individual or elsewhere on his person whereby as the individual walks or jogs, the resultant changes in velocity cause the LED to be intermittently activated to create strobe light effects which attract attention. Housed in the casing is a D-C power source connected through an acceleration-sensitive make-and-break switch to the short leads of the LED, one of which forms the fixed contact of the switch. The movable contact is defined by a cantilevered flat spring having a weight attached to its free end. A change in velocity causes the spring contact to flex to momentarily engage the fixed contact to close the switch and activate the LED.

Claims

1. A self-sufficient, blinking-light LED device comprising:

A. a casing attachable to a shoe of an active individual, said casing having an outer face and an LED mounted thereon, said LED having a pair of short leads;

B. a D-C power source provided with positive and negative terminals for the LED housed within the casing, one of said terminals being connected to one of said LED leads; and

C. an acceleration sensitive make-and-break and-break switch connecting said power source to said LED whereby movement of the individual causes a change in velocity causing the switch to close momentarily to briefly activate the LED, said switch having a movable contact defined by a cantilevered flat spring connected to the other terminal and having a weight attached to its free end whereby said movement causes said spring to flex and engage a fixed contact defined by the other LED lead which is bent over.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the casing is molded of synthetic plastic material and is provided with a face section that is joined to a complementary rear section.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the rear section is provided with a double-faced adhesive tape whereby the device may be adhered to a shoe of the individual or another suitable surface.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3 whereon said casing has a heart shape.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3 further including an adapter having a shape generally corresponding to that of the rear section and is adherable thereto, said adapter having a tab extension provided with a hole so that the device can be tied to a shoelace.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said D-C power supply is formed by a pair of series-connected miniature battery cells.

7. A device as set forth in claim 7, further including a current-limiting resistor interposed between said one of said leads and said one of said terminals.