Footwear with light emitting diodes

• US 5,732,486 A
• Filed: 08/09/1993
• Issued: 03/31/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Carmen Rapisarda
• Original Assignee: Carmen Rapisarda
• Inventors: Rapisarda, Carmen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US08/105,465
• Time in Patent Office: 1,695 Days
• Field of Search: 36/132, 36/136, 36/137, 36/139, 362/103
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources

Abstract

An improved shoe have a light-emitting diode and a batter contained therein. The light-emitting diode is turned on when the wearer of the shoe exerts pressure on the heel of the shoe as in walking or running. Preferably, the light-emitting diode is at the back of the heel, and more than one light-emitting diode may be used.

Claims

1. An improved shoe of the type having a flexible sole and having a heel and a toe and having at least one light-emitting diode in the sole thereof, said light emitting diode having a light emitting portion, a first conductor and a second conductor, said at least one light emitting diode being supported in the sole of the shoe so that the light-emitting portion thereof is visible from the exterior of the shoe, at least one wafer battery having a first surface and a second surface and a positive terminal on one surface and a negative terminal on the other surface, said at least one wafer battery being held by said shoe and electrically connectable to said first conductor and said second conductor of said at least one light-emitting diode when weight is exerted on the sole of said shoe, wherein the improvement comprises:

supporting said light emitting portion of said at least one light emitting diode so that the first conductor thereof extends in a cantilevered manner from said light emitting portion and is a cantilevered conductor and said cantilevered conductor is adjacent but not touching one of the terminals of said at least one wafer battery so that when weight is exerted over the cantilevered conductor by walking, the cantilevered conductor is moved downwardly into contact with said one of said terminals of said at least one wafer battery; and

means for electrically connecting the second conductor to the other of said terminals of said wafer battery so that the circuit between the light emitting diode and the wafer battery is completed and the light emitting diode is energized when weight is being exerted over the cantilevered conductor and when the weight is removed over the cantilevered conductor, the natural elasticity of the cantilevered conductor will cause it to move out of contact with said terminal of said wafer battery thereby de-energizing the light emitting diode.

2. The improved gym shoe of claim 1 wherein said at least one light emitting diode is located in the heel of said shoe.

3. The improved gym shoe of claim 1 wherein said at least one wafer battery is located in the heel of said shoe.

4. The improved gym shoe of claim 3 wherein a plurality of light emitting diodes is located in the heel of said shoe.

5. An improved gym shoe of the type having a molded, flexible sole including a toe and a heel, a light emitting diode having a light emitting portion held by said sole, said light emitting diode having a first and a second conductor, and a wafer battery also supported in said flexible sole, wherein the improvement comprises:

a light-transmitting window formed in the sole of the shoe and visible from the heel thereof; and

a light-emitting diode positioned so that said first and second conductors are oriented to provide an upper conductor and a lower conductor, said light-emitting diode being held in an enclosure together with said wafer battery, said wafer battery being positioned horizontally having an upper and lower terminal, one of said upper and lower terminals being a positive terminal and the other of said upper and lower terminals being a negative terminal and said first conductor being a cantilevered conductor supported in a cantilevered manner by said light emitting portion so that it does not touch either the upper or lower terminals of said wafer battery when no weight is exerted over said enclosure and said second conductor being in continuous electrical contact with the lower terminal, said enclosure being supported in a cavity formed in the sole of said shoe adjacent the light-transmitting window and positioned so that the light-emitting portion is adjacent to said light-transmitting window and wherein the weight of the wearer'"'"'s heel during walking elastically moves the first conductor downwardly into contact with the upper terminal of said wafer battery and turns the light-emitting diode on and the removal of the weight allows the first conductor to move away from the upper terminal of the battery and turns the light-emitting diode off.

6. The improved gym shoe of claim 5 wherein the lower conductor of said light emitting diode is supported in physical contact with the lower terminal of said wafer battery.

7. The improved gym shoe of claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of light emitting diodes.

8. The improved gym shoe of claim 5 wherein said light transmitting window is a hollow opening.

9. The improved gym shoe of claim 5 wherein said light transmitting window is a translucent window.

10. The improved gym shoe of claim 5 further including switch means for removing said cantilevered conductor from contact with said wafer battery even when pressure is exerted over said battery.

11. The improved gym shoe of claim 10 wherein said switch means for removing said cantilevered conductor from contact with said wafer battery comprises moving said light-emitting diode away from said battery.