U.S. patent application number 13/443471 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-18 for footwear with illuminating sole.
Invention is credited to ARTHUR JOSEPH CATALANO.
Application Number | 20120260532 13/443471 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47005306 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120260532 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CATALANO; ARTHUR JOSEPH |
October 18, 2012 |
FOOTWEAR WITH ILLUMINATING SOLE
Abstract
Footwear includes a translucent outsole that can be illuminated
out the bottom and sides of the outsole. The illumination may be
controlled by a selector switch with modes selected by the
user.
Inventors: |
CATALANO; ARTHUR JOSEPH;
(North Hollywood, CA) |
Family ID: |
47005306 |
Appl. No.: |
13/443471 |
Filed: |
April 10, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61474612 |
Apr 12, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/001 20130101;
A43B 1/0072 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/103 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/02 20060101
A43B013/02 |
Claims
1. Footwear, comprising: a vamp; a translucent outsole attached to
the vamp; a power source attached to either the vamp or outsole;
and a light source in the outsole powered by the power source,
wherein the light source is disposed to illuminate out a bottom and
out a perimeter of the outsole.
2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises an
array of light sources positioned from under a heel section and
under a ball section of the outsole.
3. The footwear of claim 2 wherein the light source includes light
emitting diodes (LEDs).
4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein the entire bottom of the outsole
is translucent.
5. The footwear of claim 4 wherein the light source is disposed to
illuminate out a translucent sidewall along the perimeter of the
outsole.
6. Footwear, comprising: a vamp; an outsole attached to the vamp,
the outsole including translucent portions; a power source attached
to either the vamp or outsole; a selector switch coupled to the
power source; and a light source in the outsole, the light source
connected to the selector switch and power source, wherein the
light source is disposed to illuminate around the periphery of the
outsole and wherein the selector switch is adapted to control
illumination of the light source.
7. The footwear of claim 6 wherein the selector switch is
configured to switch between "on", "off", and "pressure sense"
modes to power the light source.
8. The footwear of claim 7 wherein the light source includes an
array of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed to illuminate from
under a heel section and under a ball section of the outsole.
9. The footwear of claim 8 wherein the LEDs are disposed to also
illuminate out a sidewall along the perimeter of the outsole.
10. The footwear of claim 9 wherein the entire outsole is
translucent and wherein the LEDs are disposed to illuminate the
entire outsole.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application having Ser. No. 61/474,612
filed Apr. 12, 2011, which is hereby incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to footwear, and
more particularly to footwear with an illuminating sole.
[0003] Some current footwear includes light elements. Typically, a
shoe with light elements includes a light placed in a heel section
of the shoe. The light elements are encased between an opaque
rubber outsole and the upper of the shoe. A window along the side
of the heel, above the sole may allow the light to shine out from
the window. The illumination can be limited in prior art shoes,
providing a few twinkling lights that temporarily amuse, for
example, children.
[0004] The light is activated by a switch that closes when the
wearer steps onto the heel. Thus, every step of the user may
activate lights on the shoe, which can be a distraction in locales
such as church or a classroom or can be a nuisance in areas meant
to be maintained in the dark, for example, movie theatres.
[0005] As can be seen, there is a need for footwear that can
present a bolder fashion statement with illumination. As can also
be seen, there is a need for footwear with illumination that can be
controlled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect of the present invention, footwear comprises a
vamp; a translucent outsole attached to the vamp; a power source
attached to either the vamp or outsole; and a light source in the
outsole powered by the power source, wherein the light source is
disposed to illuminate out a bottom and out a perimeter of the
outsole.
[0007] In another aspect of the present invention, footwear
comprises a vamp; an outsole attached to the vamp, the outsole
including translucent portions; a power source attached to either
the vamp or outsole; a selector switch coupled to the power source;
and a light source in the outsole, the light source connected to
the selector switch and power source, wherein the light source is
disposed to illuminate around the periphery of the outsole and
wherein the selector switch is adapted to control illumination of
the light source.
[0008] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following drawings, description and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a piece of footwear including
shadowed elements according to an exemplary embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0010] FIG. 2 is bottom view of the piece of footwear shown in FIG.
1;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The following detailed description is of the best currently
contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the
invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense,
but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general
principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is
best defined by the appended claims.
[0012] Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention generally
provides footwear that can illuminate underneath and/or the
periphery of one's foot. In one aspect, light sources are
configured to illuminate all around the footwear's outsole. In
another aspect, illumination can be controlled by the wearer to be
either continuously on, off, or activated by pressure.
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, footwear 100 is shown according
to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The footwear
100 can be, for example, a shoe. The footwear 100 may include a
vamp 110 and an outsole 125.
[0014] The outsole 125 may be translucent rubber or plastic, for
example. The outsole 125 may include a bottom surface 145 and a
sidewall 120. In one aspect, portions of the outsole 125 are
translucent or transparent. For example, the bottom surface 145 may
be translucent or transparent. Also for example, the sidewall 120
may be translucent or transparent and may extend all around the
perimeter of the outsole 125. In another exemplary embodiment, the
entire outsole 125 is translucent or transparent.
[0015] The outsole 125 may include a light source 175. In one
exemplary embodiment, the light source may be an array 170 of light
emitting diodes (LEDs). The light sources 175 may be electrically
coupled together by wiring 177. The light source 175 may be
disposed to illuminate out the bottom surface 145 and out the
sidewall 120 so that the perimeter or periphery of the outsole 125
is lit.
[0016] The outsole 125 may be divided into sections 192, 194, 186,
and 198 as designated by broken lines in FIG. 2. Section 192 may be
designated to the area under a user's toes when the footwear 100 is
worn. Section 194 may be designated as the area under a user's ball
of the foot. Section 196 may be designated as the area under the
user's foot arch. Section 198 may be designated as the area under
the user's heel.
[0017] In one aspect, the light source(s) 125 may illuminate the
entire bottom surface 145. In an exemplary embodiment, the array
170 may extend from the section 192 under the toes through sections
194 (under the ball of the foot) and 196 (under the arch) to
section 198 under the heel. In other exemplary embodiments, it will
be understood that one or more of sections 192, 194, 196, or 198
may be sans the light source 175. The light source 175 may also be
disposed along or proximate the side wall 120, for example between
1/8'' to 1/4'' from the side wall 120 exterior.
[0018] The vamp 110 may include a fabric upper 115. A midsole 180
may be disposed between the upper 115 and the outsole 125. The vamp
110 may include a power source 140 and a selector switch 150
adapted to control illumination of the light source 175. While the
power source 140 and selector switch 150 are shown in the vamp 110,
it will be understood that other exemplary embodiments may include
the power source 140 and selector switch 150 in the outsole 125.
The selector switch 150 may include, for example, three modes: an
"on" mode; an "off" mode; and a programmable mode that can be
manually selected by the user. The "on" mode may be configured to
provide continuous illumination from the light source 175. The
"off" mode may be configured so that the light source 175 does not
illuminate. The programmable mode may be, for example, a "pressure
sense" or "step" mode activated by the user walking. The "pressure
sense" mode may be configured so that a pressure sensor 130
connected between the switch 150 and light source 175 is enabled to
detect when a user is stepping with the footwear 100. When the
switch is in the "pressure sense" mode, illumination of the light
source 175 may be intermittent, for example, adapted to illuminate
the light source 175 when a user's heel applies pressure to the
sensor 130. The power source 140 may be, for example, a DC battery
connected to the switch 150, the light source 175, and the sensor
135 via wires 135. While the pressure sensor 130 is shown above the
midsole 180, it will be understood that in other exemplary
embodiments, the sensor 130 may be sealed off from a user's foot,
for example, disposed under an insole (not shown) or the midsole
180 or thereunder. In other exemplary embodiments, the programmable
mode may be configured so that more complex lighting schemes other
than "on" and "off" types may be enabled. For example, the light
sources 175 may be directed to flash in coordinated sequences,
according to patterns, or pre-determined order of the sections 192,
194, 196, or 198.
[0019] It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing
relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
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