U.S. patent application number 14/028526 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-19 for shoe.
The applicant listed for this patent is Denise Chen. Invention is credited to Denise Chen.
Application Number | 20150077978 14/028526 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52667813 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150077978 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Denise |
March 19, 2015 |
Shoe
Abstract
A shoe includes a sole, an upper and a light-emitting unit. The
upper includes a main body that is connected to the sole and that
cooperates with the sole to define a foot-receiving space, and an
outer layer that is mounted on the main body and that cooperates
with the main body to define an accommodating space having a
opening. The outer layer has a light-transmissive portion. The
light-emitting unit is accommodated in the accommodating space and
is capable of emitting light to pass through the light-transmissive
portion. The light-emitting unit is removable from the
accommodating space through the opening.
Inventors: |
Chen; Denise; (Tokyo,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chen; Denise |
Tokyo |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
52667813 |
Appl. No.: |
14/028526 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/103 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/001 20130101;
A43B 7/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/103 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/00 20060101
A43B003/00 |
Claims
1. A shoe comprising: a sole; an upper including a main body that
is connected to said sole and that cooperates with said sole to
define a foot-receiving space, and an outer layer that is mounted
on said main body and that cooperates with said main body to define
an accommodating space having a opening, said outer layer having a
light-transmissive portion; and a light-emitting unit accommodated
in said accommodating space and being capable of emitting light to
pass through said light-transmissive portion, said light-emitting
unit being removable from said accommodating space through said
opening.
2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive
portion of said outer layer has at least one through hole for
passage of light emitted from said light-emitting unit
therethrough.
3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light-transmissive
portion of said outer layer has a plurality of said through
holes.
4. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-emitting unit
includes a light-guiding strip, an LED capable of emitting light
toward said light-guiding strip, a power supply, and a switch
electrically connecting said LED and said power supply, the light
emitted from said LED being guided by said light-guiding strip and
passing through said light-transmissive portion.
5. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light-guiding strip
of said light-emitting unit has a strip body and a pattern unit
formed on said strip body.
6. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light-guiding strip
of said light-emitting unit has a strip body and a clip connected
to said strip body for fastening said light-emitting unit onto said
outer layer.
7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening of said
accommodating space faces an upward direction.
8. The shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein said upper further
includes a lift cap for openably closing said opening.
9. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper further
includes a light-transmissive protective layer sandwiched between
said outer layer and said light-emitting unit.
10. The shoe as claimed in claim 9, wherein said protective layer
is made of a waterproof material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a shoe
with a light-emitting unit.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Whether for decoration or safety reasons, a conventional
shoe 1 (see FIG. 1) with a sole 11 and an upper 12, may come with a
plurality of light-emitting members 13 embedded in the upper 12.
The light-emitting members 13 are actuated to emit light through
movement or shaking of the conventional shoe 1 or through turning
on of a switch.
[0005] However, when such embedded light-emitting design is to be
used on different types of shoes, or when changing the position of
the light-emitting members 13 is desired, a custom design process
is required, which is rather inconvenient and costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a shoe that can eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior
art.
[0007] According to the present invention, there is provided a shoe
including a sole, and upper and a light-emitting unit. The upper
includes a main body and an outer layer. The main body is connected
to the sole and cooperates with the sole to define a foot-receiving
space. The outer layer is mounted on the main body, cooperates with
the main body to define an accommodating space having an opening,
and has a light-transmissive portion. The light-emitting unit is
accommodated in the accommodating space and is capable of emitting
light to pass through the light-transmissive portion. The
light-emitting unit is removable from the accommodating space
through the opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the fol lowing detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional shoe with a
plurality of embedded light-emitting members;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred
embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred
embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the first
preferred embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second preferred
embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second
preferred embodiment;
[0015] Fig.7 is a perspective view of the third preferred
embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third
preferred embodiment; and
[0017] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred
embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Before the present invention is described in greater detail,
it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same
reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the first preferred embodiment of
a shoe according to the present invention includes a sole 2, an
upper 3 and a light-emitting unit 4.
[0020] The upper 3 includes a main body 31 and an outer layer 32.
The main body 31 is connected to the sole 2 and cooperates with the
sole 2 to define a foot-receiving space 5. The outer layer 32 is
mounted on the main body 31, cooperates with the main body 31 to
define an accommodating space 321 having an opening 6, and has a
light-transmissive portion 322. The light-emitting unit 4 is
accommodated in the accommodating space 321 and is capable of
emitting light to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322.
The light-transmissive portion 322 has at least one through hole
for passage of light emitted from the light-emitting unit 4
therethrough. The outer layer 32 may be made of leather, Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), woven cloth, etc., which may be
a material different from or the same as that of the main body 31.
Although in this embodiment, the outer layer 32 is shown to be on a
lateral side of the main body 31, it should be noted herein that
according to different design requirements, the outer layer 32 may
be mounted on a different part of the main body 31, or
alternatively, there may be a plurality of outer layers 32
separately mounted on different parts of the main body 31 to define
a plurality of accommodating spaces 321.
[0021] In this embodiment, the opening 6 of the accommodating space
321 faces an upward direction and the light-transmissive portion
322 has a plurality of round through holes disposed in a matrix
layout; these configurations are not limited to what is disclosed
herein.
[0022] The light-emitting unit 4 is removable from the
accommodating space 321 through the opening 6 by a user if desired,
whereas the LED 42 is also removable from the light-emitting unit 4
(e.g. for modification purposes, etc.). In this embodiment, the
light-emitting unit 4 includes a light-guiding strip 41, an LED 42,
a power supply 43, and a switch 44 electrically connecting the LED
42 and the power supply 43. The switch 44 controls the LED 42 to
emit light toward the light-guiding strip 41 which guides the light
to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322 in one of an
intermittent glowing manner or a continuous glowing manner.
[0023] Even though in this embodiment the light-emitting unit 4
incorporates the LED 42 and the light-guiding strip 41 for
achieving a long service life, in practice, other light-emitting
technologies such as fluorescence, a single-use light source, etc.,
may be used.
[0024] The advantages of the present invention are as follows:
[0025] a) Since the outer layer 32 can be directly mounted to the
outer surface of the main body 31, application onto different types
of shoes is easier thus reducing development time and manufacturing
cost. [0026] b) The light emitted by the light-emitting unit 4 is
allowed to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322, and
uses may illuminate in two different modes (i.e., intermittent
glowing and continuous glowing modes), not only achieving brilliant
visual effect but also enhancing safety. [0027] c) Due to the
light-emitting unit 4 being removable from the accommodating space
321, accessibility and modification of the same are
facilitated.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment
of a shoe according to the present invention is similar to the
first preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in
that the upper 3 further includes a light-transmissive protective
layer 323 sandwiched between said outer layer 32 and said
light-emitting unit 4, and a lift cap 324 for openably closing the
opening 6 of the accommodating space 321. The light-transmissive
protective layer 323 is made of a waterproof material. Due to the
position of the light-transmissive protective layer 323, it can be
used with light-transmissive portions 322 having different
configurations and hole-shaped designs, preventing the entrance of
foreign substances into the accommodating space 321.
[0029] The incorporation of the light-transmissive protective layer
323 and the lift cap 324 blocks foreign substances from entering
the accommodating space 321, thereby reducing possible factors that
may damage the light-emitting unit 4 and prolonging the service
life of the light-emitting unit 4.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the third preferred embodiment
of a shoe according to the present invention is similar to the
first preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in
that the upper 3 further includes a light-transmissive protective
layer 323 sandwiched between the outer layer 32 and the
light-emitting unit 4. In this embodiment, the light-transmissive
portion 322 has one rectangular-shaped through hole. The
light-guiding strip 41 of the light-emitting unit 4 has a strip
body 411 and a pattern unit 412 formed on the strip body 411. The
pattern unit 412 can be formed on the strip body 411 by injection
molding, or can be laser engraved or directly printed thereon. The
third preferred embodiment, in addition to achieving the same
effects as the first preferred embodiment, can prevent foreign
substances from entering the accommodating space 321 with the use
of the light-transmissive protective layer 323, and further improve
the variety of the visual effect achieved by the light-emitting
unit 4 through the design of the pattern unit 412.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 9, the fourth preferred embodiment of a
shoe according to the present invention is similar to the first
preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in that the
accommodating space 321 has two opposite openings 6, and the
light-guiding strip 41 has a strip body 411 and a clip 413
connected to the strip body 411 for fastening the light-emitting
unit 4 onto the outer layer 32.
[0032] The fourth preferred embodiment serves the same purpose of
the first preferred embodiment
[0033] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and
equivalent arrangements.
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