SHOE

• US 20130219754A1
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/29/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Indicators, LLC
• Original Assignee: Indicators, LLC
• Inventors: Nowak, Russell J., Nudi, Donald L.
• Application Number:
  US13/408,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20130219754A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources

Abstract

Shoe comprises an upper part and a sole. One or more of the upper part and the sole comprise one or more lights that display an indication of a lifespan of the shoe.

Claims

1. Shoe, comprising:

an upper part; and

a sole;

wherein one or more of the upper part and the sole comprise one or more lights that display an indication of a lifespan of the shoe.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein one or more of the upper part and the sole comprise a sensor that obtains an indication of a use of the shoe, wherein the one or more lights are operably coupled with the sensor with respect to the indication of the lifespan of the shoe.

3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the sensor obtains an indication of one or more forces felt by the shoe as the indication of the use of the shoe.

4. The shoe of claim 2, wherein one or more of the upper part and the sole comprise a computing unit that receives from the sensor the indication of the use of the shoe, wherein the one or more lights are operably coupled with the computing unit with respect to the indication of the lifespan of the shoe.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein one or more of the upper part and the sole comprise a sensor that creates a signal that is employable as an indication of a use of the shoe, wherein the one or more lights are operably coupled with the sensor with respect to the indication of the lifespan of the shoe.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein one or more of the upper part and the sole comprise a sensor and a computing unit that are operably coupled with the one or more lights with respect to the indication of the lifespan of the shoe.

7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper part comprises a heel that comprises an outside face, wherein the one or more lights are located at the outside face of the heel.

8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper part comprises a heel that comprises an outside face, wherein the one or more lights comprise a plurality of lights that are located at the outside face of the heel.

9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights display one or more red lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe is worn out in the lifespan of the shoe.

10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights display one or more red lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe has relatively short remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the shoe.

11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights display one or more green lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe has relatively long remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the shoe.

12. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights display one or more green lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe is in good shape in the lifespan of the shoe.

13. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights display:

one or more green lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe is in good shape in the lifespan of the shoe;

one or more amber lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe has modest wearable time remaining in the lifespan of the shoe; and

one or more red lights as an indication of a determination that the shoe is worn out in the lifespan of the shoe.

14. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights comprise one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the one or more lights upon lighting during nighttime wear of the shoe by a wearer serve to promote safety for the wearer.

16. An article of footwear, the article comprising:

a green light-emitting diode (LED) that lights as an indication of a determination that the article of footwear has relatively long remaining wearable time in a lifespan of the article of footwear;

an amber LED that lights as an indication of a determination that the article of footwear has relatively modest remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear; and

a red LED that lights as an indication of a determination that the article of footwear has relatively short remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the green LED comprises a green upper LED, the article of footwear further comprising:

a green lower LED;

wherein in a vertical arrangement the green upper LED is above the green lower LED above the amber LED above the red LED;

wherein in the lifespan of the article of footwear the green upper LED upon lighting indicates a determination that the article of footwear has relatively longer remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear than would be indicated by the green lower LED upon lighting;

wherein in the lifespan of the article of footwear the green lower LED upon lighting indicates a determination that the article of footwear has relatively shorter remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear than would be indicated by the green upper LED upon lighting;

wherein in the lifespan of the article of footwear the amber LED upon lighting indicates a determination that the article of footwear has relatively shorter remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear than would be indicated by the green lower LED upon lighting;

wherein in the lifespan of the article of footwear the red LED upon lighting indicates a determination that the article of footwear has relatively shorter remaining wearable time in the lifespan of the article of footwear than would be indicated by the amber LED upon lighting.

18. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein one or more the green LED, the amber LED, and/or the red LED upon lighting during nighttime wear by a wearer of the article of footwear serve to promote safety for the wearer.

19. A method, comprising the step of:

displaying by one or more lights on a shoe an indication of a lifespan of the shoe.

20. The method of claim 19, where the step of displaying by the one or more lights on the shoe the indication of the lifespan of the shoe, comprises the step of:

promoting safety during nighttime wear of the shoe by a wearer through lighting of the one or more lights.