Footwear with illuminated linear optics
First Claim
1. Illumination means removably attachable to footwear wherein the footwear includes front, rear and opposed side portions, said illumination means comprising a power source, at least one light source operatively connected to said power source, at least one side-glow fiber optic conduit having opposed end portions, a bracket assembly including means for holding and retaining said power source and said light source, said side-glow fiber optic conduit being capable of emitting light conducted therethrough radially outwardly through its circumferential periphery along substantially its entire length, at least one end portion of said side-glow fiber optic conduit being positioned and located adjacent to said light source, means for holding the one end portion of said side-glow fiber optic conduit adjacent said light source for directing light thereto, said side-glow fiber optic conduit being illuminated substantially along its entire circumferential periphery when said light source is illuminated, and means for removably attaching said bracket assembly to footwear, said side-glow fiber optic conduit extending adjacent to at least a portion of one side portion of the footwear when said bracket assembly is attached thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Illuminated footwear having a power source, at least one light source operatively connected to the power source, a switching circuit for selectively illuminating the light source, and a linear side-glow optical conduit positioned exteriorly on the footwear so as to be visible when illuminated, the linear optical conduit having opposed end portions and being capable of emitting light conducted therethrough radially outwardly from its circumferential periphery substantially along its entire length, at least one end portion of the linear optical conduit being positioned and located in close proximity to the light source so as to receive light therefrom when illuminated, the linear optical conduit being illuminated substantially along its entire length when the light source is selectively illuminated. In the preferred embodiment, the linear optical conduit extends substantially around the outer exterior front and side portions of the footwear, although other arrangements are also disclosed herein. An interchangeable filter member may also be positioned between the light source and the one end portion of the linear optical conduit positioned in close proximity thereto, the filter member determining the color of the light directed towards the linear optical conduit end portion. The main features of the present invention are also incorporated into a self-contained portable illumination unit which can be easily attached to and removed from a wide variety of footwear. All embodiments of the present invention are adaptable for use on and with a wide variety of different types and styles of footwear.
94 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. Illumination means removably attachable to footwear wherein the footwear includes front, rear and opposed side portions, said illumination means comprising a power source, at least one light source operatively connected to said power source, at least one side-glow fiber optic conduit having opposed end portions, a bracket assembly including means for holding and retaining said power source and said light source, said side-glow fiber optic conduit being capable of emitting light conducted therethrough radially outwardly through its circumferential periphery along substantially its entire length, at least one end portion of said side-glow fiber optic conduit being positioned and located adjacent to said light source, means for holding the one end portion of said side-glow fiber optic conduit adjacent said light source for directing light thereto, said side-glow fiber optic conduit being illuminated substantially along its entire circumferential periphery when said light source is illuminated, and means for removably attaching said bracket assembly to footwear, said side-glow fiber optic conduit extending adjacent to at least a portion of one side portion of the footwear when said bracket assembly is attached thereto.
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14. Illumination means removably attachable to footwear wherein the footwear includes front, rear and opposed side portions, said illumination means comprising a power source, at least one light source operatively connected to said power source, at least one fiber optic conduit having opposed end portions, a bracket assembly including means for holding and retaining said power source and said light source, said fiber optic conduit having a light transmitting core surrounded by a cladding made of a heat shrinkable material, said light transmitting core and said cladding being housed within a substantially clear, semi-rigid finish jacket, a uniform space existing between the inner periphery of said cladding and the outer periphery of said light transmitting core, said fiber optic conduit being capable of emitting light through its circumferential periphery along the length thereof, at least one end portion of said fiber optic conduit being positioned and located adjacent to said light source, means for holding the one end portion of said fiber optic conduit adjacent said light source for directing light thereto, said fiber optic conduit being illuminated along its entire length when said light source is illuminated, and means for removably attaching said bracket assembly to footwear, said fiber optic conduit extending adjacent to at least a portion of one side portion of the footwear when said bracket assembly is attached thereto.
Specification