Removable flashing light housing for an athletic shoe

• US 5,473,518 A
• Filed: 02/25/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Clark B. Foster, Terry M. Haber, William H. Smedley
• Original Assignee: Clark B. Foster, Terry M. Haber, William H. Smedley
• Inventors: Foster, Clark B., Smedley, William H., Haber, Terry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/201,853
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 36/132, 36/136, 36/137, 36/139, 362/103, 362/104, 362/186, 362/190, 362/191, 362/234, 362/396
• US Class Current: 362/103
• 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

A flashing light housing that is adapted to be removably attached to the rear (i.e. heel) of any shoe, such as, for example, a sneaker, sport shoe, training shoe, or the like, without requiring factory alterations to the shoe. A manually accessible light control switch is operable by the wearer to selectively control the energization of a flashing light source that is carried at the interior of the housing. An attachment hook extends from the housing to fit over the top of and around the heel of the shoe, whereby the housing will be suspended from the heel. A resilient attachment band is connected to and extends outwardly and in opposite directions from the flashing light housing. The attachment band is adapted to be fastened to the sole of the shoe at each of a first side and an opposite side thereof, whereby to hold the housing against the heel. By virtue of the foregoing, the flashing light housing is characterized by a large viewing area that is easily visible to on-lookers.

Claims

1. For attachment to a shoe having a toe portion at one end, a heel portion at the opposite end and a sole extending between the toe and heel portions, a light housing comprising:

a voltage source;

a light source;

electronic circuit means to connect said voltage source to said light source;

lens means surrounding said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means, said lens means having an opening extending therethrough;

manually operable switch means connected in said electronic circuit means and being movable between closed and opened switch positions to either energize said light source or disable said light source;

a movable switch control button located at a manually accessible side of said lens means, such that a movement of said switch control button in a first direction moves said switch means to said closed switch position to energize said light source, and a movement of said switch control button in an opposite direction moves said switch means to said opened switch position to disable said light source;

a switch arm extending through the opening in said lens means and connected between said movable switch control button at the manually accessible side of said lens means and said switch means at the opposite side of said lens means, said switch arm translating a movement of said switch control button into a corresponding movement of said switch means to said closed or opened switch positions;

first attachment means by which to suspend said lens means from the heel of the shoe; and

second attachment means by which to couple said lens means to each of a first side and an opposite side of the shoe at locations between the toe and heel portions thereof.

2. The light housing recited in claim 1, further comprising a base to support said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means, said lens means being attached to said base with said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means located therebetween.

3. The light housing recited in claim 2, wherein said first attachment means includes an attachment hook extending from said base and adapted to be positioned over the top of the heel of the shoe by which said lens means is suspended from said heel.

4. The light housing recited in claim 1, wherein said second attachment means includes an attachment band connected to said lens means and having first and second ends projecting outwardly from said lens means, said light housing further comprising means by which to respectively attach said first and second ends of said attachment band to the first and opposite sides of the shoe.

5. The light housing recited in claim 4, wherein said lens means has at least one slot formed therein, said attachment band connected to said lens means through said at least one slot.

6. The light housing recited in claim 4, wherein said means to attach said first and second ends of said attachment band to the first and opposite sides of the shoe include first and second fasteners connected to respective ones of said first and second ends of said attachment band.

7. The light housing recited in claim 6, wherein said first and second fasteners are threaded screws.

8. The light housing recited in claim 1, wherein said light source includes at least one light emitting diode.

9. The light housing recited in claim 1, wherein said voltage source includes at least one AAA battery.

10. The light housing recited in claim 1, wherein said manually operable switch means includes elongated striker means connected between said switch arm at said opposite side of said lens means and said electronic circuit, said striker means adapted for back and forth movements relative to said circuit means in response to the movements of said switch control button in said first and opposite directions to either energize or disable said light source.

11. For attachment to a shoe having a toe portion at one end, a heel portion at the opposite end, and a sole extending between the toe and heel portions, a light housing comprising:

a voltage source;

a light source;

electronic circuit means to connect said voltage source to said light source;

a base at which to support said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means;

lens means attached to said base to surround said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means;

manually operable switch means connected in said electronic circuit means and being movable between closed and opened switch positions to either energize said light source or disable said light source;

attachment means connected to said lens means and adapted to be connected to the sole of the shoe at each of a first side and an opposite side thereof in order to secure said lens means and said base against the heel of the shoe; and

first and second threaded screws extending through said attachment means for receipt by respective ones of said first and second sides of the sole for connecting said attachment means to the sole and securing said lens means and said base against the heel of the shoe.

12. The light housing recited in claim 11, further comprising an attachment hook extending from said base and adapted to be positioned over the top of the heel of the shoe by which to suspend said lens means from said heel.

13. The light housing recited in claim 11, further comprising:

a movable switch control button located at a manually accessible side of said lens means, such that a movement of said switch control button in a first direction moves said switch means to said closed switch position to energize said light source, and a movement of said switch control button in an opposite direction moves said switch means to said opened switch position to disable said light source; and

a switch arm extending through said lens means and connected between said movable switch control button at the manually accessible side of said lens means and said switch means at the opposite side of said lens means, said switch arm translating a movement of said switch control button into a corresponding movement of said switch means to said closed or opened switch positions.

14. In combination:

a shoe having a toe portion at one end, a heel potion at the opposite end and a sole extending between the toe and heel portions; and

a light housing having a base and a voltage source, a light source and an electronic circuit to connect said voltage source to said light source to energize said light source, said base supporting said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit, said light housing comprising;

lens means surrounding said base and thereby enclosing said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit supported by said base,

first attachment means coupled to said lens means and attached to the heel of said shoe by which to suspend said lens means from said heel, and

second attachment means coupled to said lens means and attached to the sole of said shoe by which to secure said lens means against the heel of said shoe.

15. The combination recited in claim 14, wherein said light housing also comprises manually operable circuit control means extending from a manually accessible location at one side of said lens means to said electronic circuit at an opposite side of said lens means, said circuit control means being movable between first and second positions to either connect or disconnect said light source to said voltage source.

16. For attachment to a shoe having a toe portion at one end, a heel portion at the opposite end, and a sole extending between the toe and heel portions, a light housing comprising:

a voltage source;

a light source;

electronic circuit means to connect said voltage source to said light source;

a base at which to support said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means;

lens means attached to said base to surround said voltage source, said light source and said electronic circuit means;

manually operable switch means connected in said electronic circuit means and being movable between closed and opened switch positions to either energize said light source or disable said light source;

attachment means connected to said lens means and adapted to be connected to the sole of the shoe at each of a first side and an opposite side thereof in order to secure said lens means and said base against the heel of the shoe;

first and second connectors extending through said attachment means for receipt by respective ones of said first and second sides of the sole for connecting said attachment means to the sole and securing said lens means and said base against the heel of the shoe; and

an attachment hook extending from said base and adapted to be positioned over the top of the heel of the shoe by which to suspend said lens means from said heel.