U.S. patent application number 12/119591 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for psychoacoustic footwear.
Invention is credited to Dale Carson.
Application Number | 20090282703 12/119591 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41314766 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090282703 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Carson; Dale |
November 19, 2009 |
PSYCHOACOUSTIC FOOTWEAR
Abstract
Psychoacoustic footwear includes a heel adapted to generate a
sound during walking. The sound may be produced electronically or
mechanically. In a mechanical implementation, the heel may include
a chamber with an opening. A vibrating object within the heel, such
as a tuning fork or key, emits an audible sound when the object is
struck. A pendulum, hammer, or other mechanical device may be
provided to controllably strike the object. Movement and contact
with a hard surface during walking produces a distinctive sound
that is subtle, yet audible to nearby bystanders. The sound draws
attention of bystanders and may evoke favorable emotional
reactions. The heel may be comprised of plastic, metal, wood or
composites. Electrical implementations may include a speaker, sound
producing and/or amplification circuitry, a power supply and a
switch for generating or amplifying sound.
Inventors: |
Carson; Dale; (Jacksonville,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK YOUNG, P.A.
12086 FORT CAROLINE ROAD, UNIT 202
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32225
US
|
Family ID: |
41314766 |
Appl. No.: |
12/119591 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/139 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0054 20130101;
A43B 21/00 20130101; A43B 3/0005 20130101; A43B 3/0021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/139 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/00 20060101
A43B023/00 |
Claims
1. A heel comprising a bottom rear support structure for a shoe,
said support structure including an interior chamber and at least
one aperture in the support structure leading to the interior
chamber, and a sound producing means housed within said interior
chamber and configured to produce an audible sound upon a
determined action, said sound being amplified in said chamber and
emitted through said at least one aperture.
2. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a mechanically vibrating element.
3. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a tuning fork.
4. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a tuning fork having a pair of tines and further
comprising a pendulum configured to swing and impact at least one
of the pair of tines, said tines being configured to produce an
audible sound upon said impact.
5. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a tuning fork having a pair of tines and further
comprising a pendulum configured to swing and impact at least one
of the pair of tines as the heel is moved, said tines being
configured to produce an audible sound upon said impact.
6. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a pivoting hammer and further comprising a key, said
pivoting hammer being configured to swing and impact the key as the
heel is moved, said key being configured to produce an audible
sound upon said impact.
7. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a pivoting hammer, said pivoting hammer comprising a
pivoting arm with a free end, a striking head attached to the free
end, and further comprising a key, said pivoting hammer being
configured to swing and impact the key as the heel is moved, said
key being configured to produce an audible sound upon said
impact.
8. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a pivoting hammer, said pivoting hammer comprising a
pivoting arm with a free end and pivotally mounted end, a tension
spring restraining the pivoting arm from pivoting in a first
direction, a striking head attached to the free end of the pivoting
arm, and a counterweight attached to a moment arm attached to the
pivotally mounted end of the pivoting arm and configured to urge
the pivoting arm in the first direction, and further comprising a
key, said pivoting hammer being configured to swing in the first
direction and impact the key as the heel is moved, said key being
configured to produce an audible sound upon said impact.
9. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a pivoting hammer, said pivoting hammer comprising a
pivoting arm with a free end and pivotally mounted end, a tension
spring generating a tensile force that produces a spring torque
that resists pivoting of the pivoting arm in the first direction, a
striking head attached to the free end of the pivoting arm, and a
counterweight attached to a moment arm attached to the pivotally
mounted end of the pivoting arm and configured to generate a weight
torque that urges the pivoting arm in the first direction, said
weight torque exceeding the spring torque during downward
acceleration of the heel, and further comprising a key, said
pivoting hammer being configured to swing in the first direction
and impact the key as the heel is accelerated downward, said key
being configured to produce an audible sound upon said impact.
10. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a pivoting hammer, said pivoting hammer comprising a
pivoting arm with a free end and pivotally mounted end, a tension
spring generating a tensile force that produces a spring torque
that resists pivoting of the pivoting arm in the first direction, a
striking head attached to the free end of the pivoting arm, and a
counterweight attached to a moment arm attached to the pivotally
mounted end of the pivoting arm and configured to generate a weight
torque that urges the pivoting arm in the first direction, said
weight torque exceeding the spring torque during impact of the heel
with a ground surface, and further comprising a key, said pivoting
hammer being configured to swing in the first direction and impact
the key as the heel impacts the ground surface, said key being
configured to produce an audible sound upon said impact.
11. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a cantilevered leaf spring and a striking head mounted
on a free end of the cantilevered leaf spring, further comprising a
key, said striking head being configured to impact the key as the
cantilevered leaf spring is released and move apart from the key as
the cantilever leaf spring is deflected, said key being configured
to produce an audible sound upon said impact.
12. A heel according to claim 1, comprising a bottom heel piston
compartment and a heel piston within said compartment, said heel
piston being configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position,
a biasing means configured to urge the heel piston from the closed
position to the extended position when the heel is lifted from a
ground surface, said sound producing means comprising a striker
comprising a cantilevered leaf spring with a striking head and
ferrous joint mounted on a free end of the cantilevered leaf
spring, a magnetic retainer configured to magnetically engage the
ferrous joint, and a drive shaft coupling the heel piston to the
magnetic retainer, and a key, said striking head being configured
to impact the key as the cantilevered leaf spring is released and
move apart from the key as the cantilever leaf spring is deflected,
said key being configured to produce an audible sound upon said
impact.
13. A heel according to claim 1, comprising a bottom heel piston
compartment and a heel piston within said compartment, said heel
piston being configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position,
a biasing means configured to urge the heel piston from the closed
position to the extended position when the heel is lifted from a
ground surface, said sound producing means comprising a striker
comprising a cantilevered leaf spring with a striking head and
ferrous joint mounted on a free end of the cantilevered leaf
spring, a magnetic retainer configured to magnetically engage the
ferrous joint, and a drive shaft coupling the heel piston to the
magnetic retainer, and a key, said striking head being configured
to impact the key as the cantilevered leaf spring is released and
move apart from the key as the cantilever leaf spring is deflected,
said key being configured to produce an audible sound upon said
impact.
14. A heel cording to claim 1, comprising a bottom heel piston
compartment and a heel piston within said compartment, said heel
piston being configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position,
a biasing means configured to urge the heel piston from the closed
position to the extended position when the heel is lifted from a
ground surface, said sound producing means comprising a striker
comprising a cantilevered leaf spring with a striking head and
ferrous joint mounted on a free end of the cantilevered leaf
spring, a magnetic retainer configured to magnetically engage the
ferrous joint, and a drive shaft coupling the heel piston to the
magnetic retainer, and a key, said striking head being configured
to impact the key as the cantilevered leaf spring is released and
move apart from the key as the cantilever leaf spring is deflected,
said key being configured to produce an audible sound upon said
impact.
15. A heel cording to claim 1, comprising a bottom heel piston
compartment and a heel piston within said compartment, said heel
piston being configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position,
a compression spring configured to urge the heel piston from the
closed position to the extended position when the heel is lifted
from a ground surface, said sound producing means comprising a
striker comprising a cantilevered leaf spring with a striking head
and an attached ferrous joint coupled to a free end of the
cantilevered leaf spring, a magnetic retainer configured to
magnetically engage the ferrous joint, and a drive shaft coupling
the heel piston to the magnetic retainer, and a key, said striking
head being configured to impact the key as the cantilevered leaf
spring is released and move apart from the key as the cantilever
leaf spring is deflected, said magnetic retainer exerting a
magnetic retaining force on the ferrous joint, said cantilevered
leaf spring exerting a striking force on the striking head and the
attached ferrous joint, said striking force increasing with
deflection of the cantilevered leaf spring, said magnetic retainer
being configured to release said ferrous joint when the striking
force exceeds the magnetic retaining force.
16. A heel cording to claim 1, comprising a bottom heel piston
compartment and a heel piston within said compartment, said heel
piston being configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position,
a compression spring configured to urge the heel piston from the
closed position to the extended position when the heel is lifted
from a ground surface, said sound producing means comprising a
striker comprising a cantilevered leaf spring with a striking head
and an attached ferrous joint coupled to a free end of the
cantilevered leaf spring, a magnetic retainer configured to
magnetically engage the ferrous joint, and a drive shaft coupling
the heel piston to the magnetic retainer, and a key, said striking
head being configured to impact the key as the cantilevered leaf
spring is released and move apart from the key as the cantilever
leaf spring is deflected, said magnetic retainer exerting a
magnetic retaining force on the ferrous joint, said cantilevered
leaf spring exerting a striking force on the striking head and the
attached ferrous joint, said striking force increasing with
deflection of the cantilevered leaf spring, said magnetic retainer
being configured to release said ferrous joint when the striking
force exceeds the magnetic retaining force, said deflection
increasing as the heel piston moves to an extended position, said
increasing deflection causing the striking force to exceed the
magnetic retaining force and thereby causing the magnetic retainer
to release the ferrous joint, and thereby allow the striking head
to impact the key, and said key being configured to produce an
audible sound upon said impact.
17. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising a sound generating circuit within the chamber, a speaker
within the chamber operably coupled to the sound generating
circuit, a power supply within the chamber operably coupled to the
sound generating circuit and a switch operably coupled to the heel,
said switch being adapted to controllably activate the circuit and
cause the speaker to emit a programmed sound upon contact of the
heel with a surface.
18. A heel according to claim 1, said sound producing means
comprising an amplifier circuit within the chamber, a speaker
within the chamber operably coupled to the amplifier circuit, a
microphone within the chamber operably coupled to the amplifier
circuit, a power supply within the chamber operably coupled to the
amplifier circuit and a switch operably coupled to the heel, said
switch being adapted to controllably activate the circuit and cause
the microphone to receive sounds within the chamber and the speaker
to emit an amplified version of the sound.
19. A method of evoking an emotional response using a shoe, said
method comprising steps of associating a synthetic sound with a
determined emotion through repeated advertising, and providing
shoes with heels having interior compartments and sound producing
means configured to produce the synthetic sound during walking.
20. A method of evoking an emotional response using a shoe
according to claim 19, each of said heels comprising a bottom rear
support structure for a shoe, said support structure including an
interior chamber and at least one aperture in the support structure
leading to the interior chamber, and a sound producing means housed
within said interior chamber and configured to produce the
synthetic sound during walking, said sound being amplified in said
chamber and emitted through said at least one aperture.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention generally relates to laced footwear, and more
particularly, to shoes designed to produce audible sounds that
attract attention and evoke emotional responses.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Sounds can arouse strong emotions. A certain sound may
excite or relax one's body, exhilarate one's soul, bring enjoyment
and evoke a whole range of emotions. Physiological responses in
reaction to sound stimuli have long been observed. For instance, a
soothing sound could lead to a decrease in the tension of muscles,
respiration rate, and blood pressure. Sounds can also elicit strong
motor responses from listeners such as a quick turn, a jump or a
defensive reaction. Additionally, audible stimuli may alleviate
physical distress and pain. Sounds are also believed to be capable
of triggering the release of endorphins (an opiate-like substance
in the brain), and induce increased release of the neurotransmitter
serotonin.
[0003] Clothing and cosmetic marketers have long appreciated the
relationship between appealing to senses and boosting sales. An
attractive silk suit harnesses the senses of sight and touch. The
scent of a perfume possesses an uncanny power to conjure up
memories. While the connection between sound and emotions is also
well known, audible stimuli have not been integrated into
mainstream fashion.
[0004] As a consequence of the foregoing, there exists a
longstanding need for an audible fashion. The invention is directed
to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an
exemplary implementation of the invention, footwear is provided
with a heel that generates a sound during walking. The sound may be
produced electronically, electromechanically or mechanically.
[0006] In one aspect of exemplary footwear according to the
invention, a heel includes a chamber with an opening. Contact with
a hard surface during walking produces a distinctive sound that is
subtle, yet audible to nearby bystanders. The sound draws attention
of bystanders and may evoke favorable emotional reactions. The heel
may be comprised of plastic, metal, wood or composites.
[0007] In another aspect of the invention an exemplary heel is a
bottom rear support structure for a shoe. The support structure
includes an interior chamber and at least one aperture in the
support structure leading to the interior chamber. A sound
producing means is housed within the interior chamber and
configured to produce an audible sound upon a determined action,
such as lifting the heel, moving the heel downwardly or striking a
surface with the heel. The sound is amplified by the chamber and
emitted through the at least one aperture.
[0008] In one embodiment, the sound producing means includes a
mechanically vibrating element such as a tuning fork or key. In the
case of a tuning fork, the tuning fork has a pair of tines. A
pendulum may be contained in the housing and configured to swing
and impact at least one of the pair of tines to generate an audible
sound upon the impact.
[0009] Alternatively, the sound producing means includes a pivoting
hammer and a key. The pivoting hammer is configured to swing and
impact the key as the heel is moved. The key produces an audible
sound upon the impact. In one embodiment, the pivoting hammer
includes a pivoting arm with a free end and pivotally mounted end,
a tension spring generating a tensile force that produces a spring
torque that resists pivoting of the pivoting arm in the first
direction. A striking head attached to the free end of the pivoting
arm. A counterweight is attached to a moment arm attached to the
pivotally mounted end of the pivoting arm and configured to
generate a weight torque that urges the pivoting arm in the first
direction. The weight torque exceeds the spring torque during
impact of the heel with a ground surface. The pivoting hammer
swings in the first direction and impacts a key as the heel impacts
the ground surface. The key produces an audible sound upon the
impact.
[0010] In another embodiment, the heel includes a bottom heel
piston compartment and a heel piston within the compartment. The
heel piston is configured for reciprocating motion within the heel
piston compartment from a closed position to an extended position.
A compression spring urges the heel piston from the closed position
to the extended position when the heel is lifted from a ground
surface. A sound producing within the heel compartment includes a
striker and a key. The striker includes a cantilevered leaf spring
with a striking head and an attached ferrous joint coupled to a
free end of the cantilevered leaf spring. A magnetic retainer
magnetically engages the ferrous joint. A drive shaft couples the
heel piston to the magnetic retainer. The striking head impacts the
key as the cantilevered leaf spring is released. The magnetic
retainer exerts a magnetic retaining force on the ferrous joint.
The cantilevered leaf spring exerts a striking force on the
striking head and the attached ferrous joint. The striking force
increases with deflection of the cantilevered leaf spring. The
magnetic retainer releases the ferrous joint when the striking
force exceeds the magnetic retaining force. The deflection
increasing as the heel piston moves to an extended position. The
increasing deflection increases the striking force to exceed the
magnetic retaining force and thereby cause the magnetic retainer to
release the ferrous joint, and thereby allow the striking head to
impact the key. The key produces an audible sound upon the
impact.
[0011] In another aspect of the invention, a method of evoking an
emotional response using a shoe is provided. An exemplary method
entails associating a synthetic sound with a determined emotion
through repeated advertising, and providing shoes with heels having
interior compartments and sound producing means configured to
produce the synthetic sound during walking. Each of the heels is a
bottom rear support structure for a shoe. The support structure
includes an interior chamber and at least one aperture in the
support structure leading to the interior chamber, and a sound
producing means housed within the interior chamber and configured
to produce the synthetic sound during walking. The sound is
amplified by the chamber and emitted through the aperture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and
advantages of the invention will become better understood with
reference to the following description, appended claims, and
accompanying drawings, where:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a first perspective of an exemplary
conventional woman's shoe; and
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a second perspective of an exemplary
conventional woman's shoe; and
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a third perspective of an exemplary
conventional woman's shoe; and
[0016] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a portion of an exemplary
heel according to principles of the invention; and
[0017] FIG. 5 shows a cutaway perspective view of an exemplary heel
without internal components according to principles of the
invention; and
[0018] FIG. 6 shows a side plan view of an exemplary heel without
internal components according to principles of the invention;
and
[0019] FIG. 7 shows a cutaway perspective view of an exemplary heel
with an internal tuning fork according to principles of the
invention; and
[0020] FIG. 8 shows a cutaway perspective view of an exemplary heel
with an internal tuning fork and striker according to principles of
the invention; and
[0021] FIG. 9 shows a cutaway side plan view of an exemplary heel
with an internal key and striker according to principles of the
invention; and
[0022] FIG. 10 shows a cutaway perspective plan view of an
exemplary heel with an internal key and striker according to
principles of the invention; and
[0023] FIG. 11 shows a cutaway side plan view of an exemplary heel
with an alternative internal key and striker according to
principles of the invention; and
[0024] FIG. 10 shows a cutaway perspective plan view of an
exemplary heel with an alternative internal key and striker
according to principles of the invention.
[0025] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures
are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the
figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention.
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted
in the figures or the types of shoes, heels, shapes, relative
sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions shown in the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Referring to the Figures, in which like parts are indicated
with the same reference numerals, various views of exemplary shoes
with exemplary shoelace retainers according to principles of the
invention are shown. The term "shoe" is used herein for convenience
to refer to any footwear with a heel. The invention is not limited
to high heel footwear as shown in the Figures. Instead, the
invention may be utilized with any type of footwear with a heel
adequately sized to house a sound producing chamber and one or more
sound producing elements therein.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a woman's shoe 100 is shown.
The shoe 100 includes an insole 115, i.e., an interior bottom of
the shoe, which sits directly beneath the foot; an outsole 125,
i.e., a layer in direct contact with the ground; a midsole 120,
i.e., a layer between the outsole and the insole that is typically
there for shock absorption; a heel 110, i.e., the bottom rear
support of a shoe; and an upper 105, i.e., the part that receives a
foot and helps hold the shoe onto the foot.
[0028] The invention comprises sound producing elements integrated
with the heel of a shoe 100. For clarification, a portion of an
exemplary heel, such as the portion below line 200 is discussed
more fully below. The remainder of the shoe 100 may be conventional
shoe components.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 4, an exemplary heel 400 includes a
sound producing chamber 420 with one or more sound emitting
openings 405, 410. The heel may optionally include a heel protector
415 attached to the bottom of the heel 400, such as with tacks 425,
430, nails or other attachment means. During walking, contact
between a hard surface and the heel 400 produces audible pressure
waves in the chamber 420. The one or more openings 405, 410 in the
heel 400 lead to the chamber 420 and allow sounds generated therein
to escape. The shape and configuration of the chamber 420 and the
opening(s) 405, 410 influence the resulting sound. The material
comprising the heel 400, such as wood, plastic and/or composite,
also influences the sound. By way of example and not limitation,
the heel 400 may be made of tone woods, such as spruce or cedar,
chosen for both strength and ability to transfer mechanical energy
from the heel to the air within the chamber 420. Sound is projected
through the opening(s) 405, 410. Air inside the body vibrates as
the internal sound producing elements discussed more fully below
vibrate, and a sound is emitted. The response of the chamber 420 is
characterized by resonance modes at which the heel 400 responds
strongly. The purpose of these features is to produce a sound that
is readily perceptible to bystanders and evokes a favorable
reaction. However, the invention is not limited to any specific
heel material, chamber configuration or opening configuration.
[0030] Sound is generated within the chamber by percussion. A
striker (discussed below) impacts a sound emitting element such as
a tuning fork, key, membrane, or string. By way of illustration and
not limitation, embodiments comprising a tuning fork 700 are shown
in FIGS. 7 and 8. The tuning fork 700 is an acoustic resonator in
the form of a two-pronged fork with the tines 710, 715 formed from
a U-shaped bar of elastic metal such as spring steel. The tines are
supported by a deflector 705, mounted within the heel. The tuning
fork 700 resonates at a determined constant pitch when set
vibrating by striking it against a surface or with an object, and
emits a pure musical tone after waiting a moment to allow some high
overtones to die out. The pitch that the tuning fork generates
depends on the material and geometry of the prongs. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 7, shock from impact of the heel 400 on
the ground during walking is transmitted to the tuning fork and
causes the tines 710, 715 to vibrate within the chamber 420. The
impact causes the tines 710, 715 to vibrate within the chamber 420,
which produces an audible sound. Optionally, a mechanical damper
(not shown) may be accessible through an opening 405, 410 and
manually actuated to prevent vibration of the tines 710, 715 where
silence is desired.
[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a striker impacts tines
710, 715. The striker comprises a pendulum with a striking head 800
suspended by a spring 805. Adequate movement of the heel 400 during
a stride overcomes inertia of the spring 805 causing the striking
head 800 to swing towards and impact a tine 710, 715. The impact
causes the tines 710, 715 to vibrate within the chamber 420, which
produces an audible sound. The spring 805 may feature a spring
constant adequate to resist appreciable lateral movement during
small gentle steps and to allow sufficient lateral movement for the
head 800 to impact a tine 710, 715 during a stride. Optionally, a
mechanical latch (not shown) may be accessible through an opening
405, 410 and manually actuated to prevent striking motion of the
head 800 against a tine 710, 715 where silence is desired.
[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a spring-retained
pivoting striker impacts a key 920 attached at one end 915 to the
heel 400. The striker comprises a pivoting arm 930 with a striking
head 925 restrained by a tension spring 940 and counter balanced by
a weight 900. Couplings 935, 945 join the spring 940 to the heel
400 and the pivoting arm 930. A moment arm 905 extends from the
pivoting arm 930 at the pivot point 910. At rest, the rotational
force attributed to the weight 900 equals the product of the weight
900 and the length of the moment arm 905. The spring 940 resistance
equals the product of a spring constant for the spring 940 and the
stretch of the spring 940; thus it varies linearly with elongation
of the spring. The rotational force caused by tension of the spring
940 equals the product of the spring resistance and the length of
the pivoting arm from the pivot point 915 to the spring coupling
935. The rotational force caused by tension of the spring 940
counteracts the rotational force caused by the weight 900, at rest.
Adequate movement of the heel 400 during a stride generates a
downward acceleration and momentum acting on the weight 900, and
overcoming the rotational force caused by tension of the spring
940. This causes the striking head 925 to swing towards and impact
the key 920. The impact causes the key 920 to vibrate within the
chamber 420, which produces an audible sound. The spring 940 may
feature a spring constant adequate to resist appreciable lateral
movement during small gentle steps and to allow sufficient lateral
movement for the head 925 to impact the key 920 during a stride.
Optionally, a mechanical latch (not shown) may be accessible
through an opening 405, 410 and manually actuated to prevent
striking motion of the head 925 against the key 920 where silence
is desired.
[0033] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a
magnetically-retained striker impacts a key 1105 attached at one
end to the heel 400. The striker comprises a cantilevered leaf
spring 1110 with a striking head 1115 attached to the free end. The
striking head 1115 is connected to ferrous joint 1125 by a
connecting rod 1120. In an open position, the ferrous joint 1115 is
attracted to a magnet 1130, which deflects the leaf spring 1110
away from the key 1105. The magnet 1130 is attached to a drive
shaft 1135 which undergoes linear reciprocating motion. A movable
spring actuated heel piston 1145 is urged downwardly in a heel
compartment 1155 by a compression spring 1150 when the heel 400 is
lifted. The spring 1150 is restrained between a retainer 1140 and
the heel piston 1145. The drive shaft 1135 and spring 1150 are
concentric. The drive shaft 1135 extends from the magnet 1130 to
the heel piston 1145. As the heel piston 1145 moves downwardly, the
magnet 1130 deflects the leaf spring 1110 downwardly until the
upward force generated by the leaf spring 1110 exceeds the magnetic
force. Thereupon, the leaf spring 1110 urges the head 1115 into the
key. The impact causes the key 1115 to vibrate within the chamber
420, which produces an audible sound. Optionally, a mechanical
latch (not shown) may be accessible through an opening 405, 410 and
manually actuated to prevent striking motion of the head 1115
against the key 1105 where silence is desired.
[0034] In another embodiment, the sound may be produced
electronically using an embedded sound generating circuit, a
speaker, power supply and switch. Upon activation of the switch,
the circuit causes the speaker to emit a programmed sound. In yet
another embodiment the chamber may contain a microphone, amplifier
circuit, power supply, speaker and switch. Upon activation of the
switch, the microphone receives sounds from within the chamber, and
the amplifier circuit magnifies and possibly alters the sound and
causes the speaker to emit a sound. The amplifier circuit may be
configured to amplify only certain sounds within a programmed range
of sound properties.
[0035] A method of deployment according to the invention may entail
associating the produced sound with a determined emotion through
advertising, promotion and marketing. The sound is a synthetic
sound, i.e., a sound other than the natural sound of the heel
striking a ground surface during walking. By way of example and not
limitation, it may be an amplified sound and/or a musical sound may
be, for example, a standard tuning pitch for music of 440 Hz, or
some other pleasant recognizable sound. The emotion may be love,
lust, curiosity or ecstasy. Eventually, consumers will relate the
sound to the emotion. Then, shoes configured to produce the sound
will draw attention and trigger the taught emotional response.
[0036] While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been
described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations
thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and
scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then,
it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the
components and steps of the invention, including variations in
order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention. The above description and drawings are
illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing
from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited
only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is
considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.
Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily
occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the exact construction and operation shown and
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention
as claimed.
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