Footwear device with scrolling light emitting diode display

• US 20080250672A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligise Technology Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brandon F. Forbes
• Inventors: Forbes, Brandon F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,066 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/128 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/16 Skating boots

Abstract

A footwear unit having a pre-programmable, self-programmable and re-programmable display with a panel that is operably aligned with a window located on the outside surface of the footwear unit. The programmable display has two or more modes of operation for displaying information on the panel. Inside of the programmable display unit is a controller that controls the display of information on the panel. The controller also stores information or data that later be viewed on the panel.

Claims

1. Footwear having a programmable display comprising:

a footwear unit having a window;

a programmable display having a panel operably aligned with said window, wherein said programmable display has two or more modes of operation for displaying information on said panel;

a controller contained inside of said programmable display for controlling the display of information on said panel and storing information on said controller.

2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said footwear unit has a lower and an upper, and said window, said carrier, and said programmable display are located on one of said lower or said upper portion.

3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said footwear unit is one selected from the group comprising a skate shoe, a sandal, a golf shoe, an athletic shoe, a boot, a slipper, a high top athletic shoe, or a dress shoe.

4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said two or more modes of operation include at least two of the following, on, off, scrolling, flashing, exploding, hold, timed, random display, and combinations thereof.

5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said programmable display further comprises a counter located within said controller, wherein said counter can operate to collect data such as time, distance, or speed and display said data on said panel of said programmable display.

6. The footwear of claim 1 further comprising of one or more input ports in said programmable display for inputting data or changing data on said programmable display, and thus altering the information displayed on said panel.

7. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said panel has one or more light emitting diodes that are selectively energized by said controller to convey information on said display panel.

8. The footwear of claim 7, wherein said information is text, pictures, logos, numbers, animation, and combinations thereof.

9. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said programmable display further comprises:

a power source which is one selected from the group comprising electrical power from a power port or USB connector, solar power, kinetic energy, or electric power from a battery;

a power indicator displayed on said footwear unit, said power indicator being connectable with said power source to provide information relating to how much energy is stored in the power source.

10. Footwear having a programmable display comprising:

a footwear unit having an outside surface, an inside surface, and a window on the outside surface that extends to said inside surface of said footwear unit;

a carrier operably connected to said inside surface of said footwear unit;

a programmable display releasably connected to said carrier;

a panel of said programmable display operably aligned with said window, wherein said programmable display has two or more modes of information for displaying information from said panel;

a controller contained within said programmable display for controlling said two or more modes of operation and for storing data that is used to display information on said panel; and

one or more buttons on said programmable display for selecting one of said two or more modes of operation.

11. The footwear of claim 10, wherein said footwear unit has a lower and an upper, and said window, said carrier, and said programmable display are located on said lower or said upper.

12. The footwear of claim 10, wherein said footwear unit is one selected from the group comprising a skate shoe, a sandal, a golf shoe, an athletic shoe, a boot, a slipper, a high top athletic shoe, or a dress shoe.

13. The footwear of claim 10, wherein said two or more modes of operation include at least two of the following:

on, off, scrolling, flashing, exploding, hold, timed, random display, or combinations thereof.

14. The footwear of claim 10 further comprising one or more input ports and said programmable display for inputting and changing data in said controller.

15. The footwear of claim 10, wherein said panel has one or more light emitting diodes that are selectively energized by said controller to convey information on said panel.

16. The footwear of claim 15, wherein said information is selected from the group comprising text, pictures, logos, numbers, animation, and combinations thereof.

17. The footwear of claim 10, wherein said programmable display further comprises:

a power source which is one selected from the group comprising electrical power from a power port or USB connector, solar power, kinetic energy, or electric power from a battery;

a power indicator on said outside surface of said footwear unit, said power indicator being connectable with said power source to provide information relating to how much energy is stored in the power source.

18. Footwear having a programmable display comprising:

a footwear unit having a window;

a programmable display having a display panel operably aligned with said window, wherein said programmable display has two or more modes of operation for displaying information on said panel;

a controller contained inside of said programmable display for controlling the display of information on said panel and storing information on said controller;

wherein said information displayed on said panel has graphic animation such that the information moves on said panel; and

one or more buttons on said programmable display for controlling said graphic animation on said panel.

19. The footwear of claim 18, wherein said footwear unit has a lower and an upper, said window, said carrier, and said programmable display located on one of said lower or said upper.

20. The footwear of claim 18, wherein said footwear unit is one selected from the group comprising a skate shoe, a sandal, a golf shoe, an athletic shoe, a boot, a slipper, a high top athletic shoe, or a dress shoe.

21. The footwear of claim 18 further comprising one or more input ports in said programmable display for inputting data or changing data on said programmable display and altering the information displayed on said panel.