U.S. patent application number 12/467294 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-26 for shoe.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chia-Hung Liao.
Application Number | 20090288315 12/467294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41341035 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090288315 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liao; Chia-Hung |
November 26, 2009 |
SHOE
Abstract
An exemplary shoe includes a upper, a sole, an LED
(light-emitting diode) and a power supply device. The upper is
disposed on the sole. The sole includes a receiving space. The LED
is installed on an outside surface of the sole. The power supply
module is for providing electric power to the light emitting diode.
The power supply module further includes a piezoelectric member
coupled to the sole and a electric power storing device. The
piezoelectric member is disposed between the upper and the sole.
The electric power storing device is received in the receiving
space of the sole and electrically coupled between the
piezoelectric member and the light emitting diode.
Inventors: |
Liao; Chia-Hung; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
41341035 |
Appl. No.: |
12/467294 |
Filed: |
May 17, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/103 ;
36/137 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/0005 20130101;
A43B 1/0036 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/103 ;
36/137 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/00 20060101
A43B013/00; A43B 23/00 20060101 A43B023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2008 |
CN |
200810301688.1 |
Claims
1. A shoe, comprising: a sole; an upper disposed on the sole; a
light emitting diode installed on an outside surface of the sole; a
power supply module for providing electric power to the light
emitting diode, the power supply module comprising a piezoelectric
member coupled to the sole and an electric power storing device,
the piezoelectric member being configured for generating electric
power, the electric power storing device being electrically coupled
between the piezoelectric member and the light emitting diode.
2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode
is installed on a front outside surface of the sole.
3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the electric power
storing device comprises a capacitor or a rechargeable battery.
4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the power supply module
further comprises a switch electrically coupled between the
electric power storing device and the light emitting diode.
5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the power supply module
further comprises a detecting device, the detecting device having a
predetermined standard brightness value stored therein, the
detecting device being configured for sensing a brightness of the
exterior environment and comparing the detected brightness with the
predetermined standard brightness, and controlling the switch to
open or close according to the comparison result.
6. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the detecting device
further comprises a sensing cell and a comparing cell, the sensing
cell being configured for sensing the brightness of the exterior
environment, the comparing cell being configured for comparing the
detected brightness with the predetermined standard brightness
thereby controlling the switch to open or close according to the
comparison result.
7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric member
is made of a material selected from a group consisting of barium
titanate, lithium germanium oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride.
8. A shoe comprising: a sole having a heel portion; an upper
attached on the sole; a light emitting member; a piezoelectric
member embedded in the heel portion for generating electric power,
and an electric power storing device configured for storing the
electric power and being electrically coupled between the
piezoelectric member and the light emitting member.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to shoes,
particularly, to a shoe with light emitting diodes.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0004] Nowadays, various type of shoes may include light emitting
diodes embedded for aesthetic or safety reasons. The light emitting
diodes are usually powered by battery. However, the electric power
of the battery will easily run out overtime and the old battery
must be replaced by new ones. Therefore, such shoes are not
environmentally friendly.
[0005] Therefore, what is needed is a shoe that overcomes the
described limitations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Many aspects of the disclosed shoe can be better understood
with reference to the following drawings. The components in the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead
being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the
present shoe, wherein:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a shoe, according to an
exemplary embodiment; and
[0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a power supply module of
the shoe in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the
embodiments of the shoe, in detail.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, a shoe 100, according to a first
embodiment, includes a upper 10, a sole 20, a light emitting diode
(LED) 40 and a power supply module 60.
[0011] The upper 10 is disposed on the sole 20.
[0012] The sole 20 includes an internal receiving space 22. In an
exemplary embodiment, the receiving space 22 is defined between the
upper 10 and the sole 20 and communicates with a surface of the
upper 10. The receiving space 22 can also be defined in an interior
of the sole 20 without communicating with any surface of the upper
10.
[0013] The LED 40 is installed on an outside surface of the sole
20. In an exemplary embodiment, the LED 40 is installed on a front
outside surface of the sole 20, thereby illuminating the area in
front of the shoe.
[0014] The power supply module 60 is configured for providing
electric power to the LED 40. The power supply module 60 includes a
piezoelectric member 62 coupled to the sole 20 and an electric
power storing device 64. In an exemplary embodiment, the sole 20
has a heel portion 21 and the piezoelectric member 62 is embedded
in the heel portion 21.
[0015] The piezoelectric member 62 is disposed between the upper 10
and the sole 20. The piezoelectric member 62 can be made of barium
titanate (BaTiO.sub.3), lithium germanium oxide (LiGeO.sub.3) or
polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). When the shoe 100 is in motion
(i.e. walking, running, etc), pressures generated by motion will be
applied to the piezoelectric member 62. Then, the piezoelectric
member 62 will transform the mechanical energy into electric energy
and thereby electric power is generated by the piezoelectric member
62. The piezoelectric member 62 will transmit the electric power to
the power storing device 64.
[0016] The electric power storing device 64 is received in the
receiving space 22 and electrically coupled between the
piezoelectric member 62 and the light emitting diode 40. The
electric power storing device 64 can be a capacitor, or a
rechargeable battery, or other electrical components capable of
storing electric power. The electric power storing device 64 is
capable of receiving the electric energy transmitted from the
piezoelectric member 62 and thereby providing electric power to the
LED 40.
[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, a switch 66 is coupled between
the electric power storing device 64 and the LED 40. The switch 66
has two status of close and open. Thereby, the switch 66 is capable
of being used to control the electric power stored in the electric
power storing device 64 whether to be supplied to the LED 40.
[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the power supply module 60
further comprises a detecting device 68. The detecting device 68
has a predetermined standard brightness value stored therein. The
detecting device 68 is configured for detecting a brightness of the
exterior environment, comparing the detected brightness with the
predetermined standard brightness, and controlling the switch 66 to
open or close according to the comparison result.
[0019] On the condition that the brightness value of the exterior
environment is lower than the predetermined brightness value, the
detecting device 68 controls the switch 66 to open to provide
electric power to the LED 40. On the condition that the brightness
value of the exterior environment is higher than the predetermined
brightness value, the detecting device 68 controls the switch 66 to
close to cut off the electric power transmitted to the LED 40.
[0020] In a further exemplary embodiment, the detecting device 68
includes a sensing cell 68a and a comparing cell 68b. The sensing
cell 68a is configured for sensing the brightness of the exterior
environment. The sensing cell 68a can be a photodiode, or a
photometer, or other components capable of sensing light
brightness. The comparing cell 68b has the predetermined standard
brightness value stored therein. The comparing cell 68b is
configured for comparing the detected brightness with the
predetermined standard brightness thereby controlling the switch to
open or close on the condition that the exterior environment is
lower or higher than the predetermined brightness value.
[0021] It is to be said that, the switch 66 can be disposed on an
outer surface of the sole 20. Thereby, the switch 66 can be
artificially closed or open without depending on the comparison
result of the detecting device 68.
[0022] Due to that the shoe 100 are equipped with the piezoelectric
member 62 and the electric power storing device 64, mechanical
energy generated motions of the shoe 100 can be transformed into
electric energy by the piezoelectric member 62, and the transformed
electric energy can be stored and transmitted to the LED 40 for use
by the electric power storing device 64. Thereby, the shoe 100 is
energy-saving and environmentally friendly.
[0023] Finally, it is to be understood that the above-described
embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the
disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without
departing from the spirit of the disclosure as claimed. The
above-described embodiment illustrates the scope of the disclosure
but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.
* * * * *