Slipper with musical and rhythmic stimulation

• US 6,315,571 B1
• Filed: 11/10/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chosun International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chosun International, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Min Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin-Wallace, Valencia
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/437,282
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 601/46, 846/00, 844/64.R, 844/68, 844/70.R, 844/65, 362/103, 434/247, 434/250, 434/258, 434/255, 434/307.R, 434/307.A, 434/308, 434/309, 434/365, 482/3, 482/74, 482/479, 482/900
• US Class Current: 434/250
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/10 Low shoes , e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/101 Slippers, e.g. flip-flops or thong sandals
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/48 with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/22 Dancing
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0015 Dancing

Abstract

A training shoe is disclosed. The shoe, preferably a soft shoe such as a slipper is designed to emit audio and/or physical stimuli which assists the user in learning dance or other steps. The shoe comprises electromechanical members which are responsive to electrical output signals to control movement to guide a user to perform the appropriate dance steps. In preferred embodiments, the shoe also comprises a loudspeaker through which music is played. In alternate embodiments, the electromechanical members are responsive to audio stimuli such as the music from the loudspeaker on the shoe or from other musical sources.

Claims

1. An item of footwear, comprising:

(a) a footwear base, comprising a heel and sole portion;

(b) an upper secured to said footwear base, said upper and said footwear base together forming a shoe body configured and dimensioned to be worn on the foot of a person;

(c) an electromechanical member, mechanically attached to said shoe body;

(d) an electronic control circuit having at least one electrical output terminal, said electrical output terminal providing a respective electrical output signal, said electromechanical member responsive to said electrical output signal output by said electrical output terminal to create a mechanical movement adapted to be felt by said person wearing said item of footwear; and

(e) an information storage device coupled to said electronic control circuit, said information storage device being able to send a block of information to said electronic control circuit, said block of information being transformed into said electrical output signal output by said electrical output and coupled to said electromechanical member to create said mechanical movement adapted to be felt by said person wearing said item of footwear.

2. An item of footwear as in claim 1, further comprising a loudspeaker and wherein said block of information comprises music information and beat information having a defined temporal relationship with respect to said music information, said music information being provided as a signal to said loudspeaker.

3. An item of footwear as in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) second output terminal on said control circuit; and

(g) a loudspeaker coupled to said second output terminal on said control circuit, wherein said block of information comprises music information and beat information associated with said music information, said music information being provided at said second output terminal as a signal to said loudspeaker.

4. An item of footwear as in claim 3, capable of communication with a second item of footwear having similar characteristics, said item of footwear and said second item of footwear each further comprising:

(h) a respective signal emitting device driven by its respective control circuit to periodically emit a signal indicating operation of said respective control circuit; and

(i) a respective signal receiving device for receiving a respective signal from the other control circuit in the other item of footwear, said signal receiving device being coupled to its respective control circuit, and said respective control circuit being responsive to a received signal from the other control circuit in the other item of footwear to cause said signal emitting device to transmit a signal indicating that said control circuit and said second control circuit are in communication with each other, and said control circuits in both said items of footwear in communication with each other are responsive to the existence of said communication to transition to a state where said block of information in said item of footwear and said block of information in said second item of footwear are output by their respective control circuits having a defined temporal relationship with respect to each other.

5. An item of footwear as in claim 4, wherein said signal emitting device and said signal receiving device are radio frequency devices.

6. An item of footwear as in claim 1, wherein said electromechanical member is mechanically attached to said second shoe body at a position where said electromechanical member is in contact with a portion of the foot of the user other than the bottom of the foot.

7. An item of footwear as in claim 1, wherein said signal emitting and signal receiving devices are infrared devices.

8. An item of footwear as in claim 7, wherein said electromechanical member is mechanically attached to said second shoe body at a position where said electromechanical member is in contact with a portion of the foot of the user other than the bottom of the foot.

9. Two items of footwear intended to be worn by different feet at the same time, comprising:

(I) a first item of footwear, comprising;

(a) a first footwear base, comprising a first heel portion and a first sole portion;

(b) a first upper secured to said first footwear base, said first upper and said first footwear base together forming a first shoe body configured and dimensioned to be worn on the foot of a person;

(c) a first electromechanical member, mechanically attached to said first shoe body;

(d) a first electronic control circuit having a first beat electrical output terminal, said first beat electrical output terminal providing a first respective electrical output signal, said first electromechanical member responsive to said first electrical output signal output by said first electrical output to create a first mechanical movement adapted to be felt by the person wearing said item of footwear;

(e) a first information storage device coupled to said first electronic control circuit, said first information storage device being coupled to said first electronic control circuit to send a first block of information to said first electronic control circuit, said first block of information being transformed into said first electrical output signal output by said first electrical output and coupled to said first electromechanical member to create said first mechanical movement adapted to be felt by said person wearing said first item of footwear;

(f) a first music output terminal on said first control circuit;

(g) a first loudspeaker coupled to said first music output terminal on said first control circuit, said first block of information comprising music information and beat information associated with said music information, said music information being provided at said first music output terminal as a signal to said first loudspeaker;

(h) a first infrared signal emitting device driven by said first control circuit to periodically emit a signal indicating operation of said first control circuit; and

(i) a first infrared signal receiving device for receiving a signal from another control circuit in another item of footwear, said first signal receiving device being coupled to said first control circuit, and said first control circuit being responsive to a received signal from the other control circuit in the other item of footwear to cause said first signal emitting device to transmit a signal indicating that said first control circuit and the control circuit in said other item of footwear are in communication with each other, and said first and second control circuits being responsive to the existence of said communication to transition to a state where said block of information in said first and second items of footwear are output by their respective control circuits having a defined temporal relationship with respect to each other; and

(II) a second item of footwear, comprising;

(a′

) a second footwear base, comprising a second heel portion and a second sole portion;

(b′

) a second upper secured to said second footwear base, said second upper and said second footwear base together forming a second shoe body configured and dimensioned to be worn on the foot of a person;

(c′

) a second electromechanical member, mechanically attached to said second shoe body;

(d′

) a second electronic control circuit having a second beat electrical output terminal, said second beat electrical output terminal providing a second respective electrical output signal, said second electromechanical member responsive to said second electrical output signal output by said second electrical output to create a second mechanical movement adapted to be felt by the person wearing said item of footwear;

(e′

) a second information storage device coupled to said second electronic control circuit, said second information storage device being coupled to said second electronic control circuit to send a second block of information to said second electronic control circuit, said second block of information being transformed into said second electrical output signal output by said second electrical output and coupled to said second electromechanical member to create said second mechanical movement adapted to be felt by said person wearing said second item of footwear;

(f′

) a second music output terminal on said second control circuit;

(g′

) a second loudspeaker coupled to said second music output terminal on said second control circuit, said second block of information comprising music information and beat information associated with said music information, said music information being provided at said second music output terminal as a signal to said second loudspeaker;

(h′

) a second infrared signal emitting device driven by said second control circuit to periodically emit a signal indicating operation of said second control circuit; and

(i′

) a second infrared signal receiving device for receiving a signal from another control circuit in another item of footwear, said second signal receiving device being coupled to said second control circuit, and said second control circuit being responsive to a received signal from the other control circuit in the other item of footwear to cause said second signal emitting device to transmit a signal indicating that said second control circuit and the control circuit in said other item of footwear are in communication with each other, and said first and second control circuits being responsive to the existence of said communication to transition to a state where said block of information in said first and second items of footwear are output by their respective control circuits having a defined temporal relationship with respect to each other.

10. Two items of footwear as in claim 9, wherein said first and second electromechanical members are mechanically attached to said second shoe body at a position where they are in contact with a portion of the foot of the user other than the bottom of the foot.

11. Two items of footwear as in claim 9, wherein each of the items of footwear is adapted to be worn by a different person.

12. An item of footwear comprising electromechanical members which are responsive to electrical output signals to control movement to guide a user to perform foot movements.

13. An item of footwear according to claim 12 further comprising a loudspeaker through which music is played.

14. An item of footwear according to claim 12 wherein the electromechanical members are responsive to audio stimuli.

15. An item of footwear, comprising:

(a) a footwear base, comprising a heel and sole portion;

(b) an upper secured to said footwear base, said upper and said footwear base together forming a shoe body configured and dimensioned to be worn on the foot of a person;

(c) a movable electromechanical member, mechanically attached to said shoe body and movable in a manner detectable by the wearer'"'"'s foot;

(d) an electronic control circuit providing an electrical output signal to move the electromechanical member; and

(e) an information storage device coupled to said electronic control circuit to provide information to said electronic control circuit regarding a desired pattern of movements for said electromechanical member, said information being readable in said electrical output signal and said desired pattern of movements being perceptible by the wearer'"'"'s foot and being intended to train the wearer to perform a predetermined set of foot movements.

16. An item of footwear as in claim 15, further comprising a loudspeaker, wherein said electrical output signal further comprises music information and beat information, said beat information being associated with said music information, said music information being provided as a signal to said loudspeaker.

17. An item of footwear as in claim 15, wherein said electromechanical member contacts a plurality of locations on the wearer'"'"'s foot.

18. An item of footwear as in claim 15, wherein said signal emitting and signal receiving devices comprise infrared devices.