U.S. patent number RE37,220 [Application Number 08/994,136] was granted by the patent office on 2001-06-12 for module to provide intermittent light with movement.
Invention is credited to Jon L. Bemis, Mark R. Goldston, Carmen Rapisarda.
United States Patent |
RE37,220 |
Rapisarda , et al. |
June 12, 2001 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Module to provide intermittent light with movement
Abstract
An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and
a wafer battery held in the case. The module has a case having a
floor, a lighted end and an LED supporting cavity at the lighted
end. An LED is supported in the case so that its lower conductor is
adjacent the floor and its upper conductor is supported in a
cantilevered manner from the transparent lens portion of the LED. A
wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on each
side thereof, is positioned so that one of its terminals
continuously contacts the lower conductor of the LED and the upper
conductor is positioned so that it is spaced from the other
terminal of the wafer battery. A weight member is held above the
upper terminal of the LED and the weight member has sufficient
weight so that it will move the upper conductor downwardly when the
weight is moving downwardly by inertia but will not have sufficient
weight to move the upper conductor into contact with the wafer
battery when the module is at rest. The module is thus
intermittently lighted when the case is moved up and down but is
turned off when the case is at rest.
Inventors: |
Rapisarda; Carmen (Apple
Valley, CA), Goldston; Mark R. (Beverly Hills, CA),
Bemis; Jon L. (N/A) (Ho Chi Minh City, VN) |
Family
ID: |
21881893 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/994,136 |
Filed: |
December 19, 1997 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
035314 |
Mar 22, 1993 |
05477435 |
Dec 19, 1995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/189; 36/137;
362/103; 362/200; 362/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
1/0036 (20130101); A43B 1/0072 (20130101); A43B
3/0005 (20130101); A43B 3/001 (20130101); Y10S
362/80 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
3/00 (20060101); F21V 021/08 () |
Field of
Search: |
;362/253,189,103,200,201,800,394,205 ;36/137 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2608485 |
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Sep 1977 |
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DE |
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2838770 |
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Mar 1980 |
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DE |
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3824352 |
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Feb 1990 |
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DE |
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0121026 |
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Oct 1984 |
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EP |
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335467 |
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Oct 1989 |
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EP |
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2556190 |
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Jun 1985 |
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FR |
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2675025 |
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Oct 1992 |
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FR |
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1058466 |
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Feb 1967 |
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GB |
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WO 93/11681 |
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Jun 1993 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Quach; Y.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and
a wafer battery held in a case which improved module provides
intermittent light when moved up and down, said module
comprising:
a case having a floor, two sides and a front comprising a lighted
end and an LED supporting cavity at the lighted end thereof;
an LED held in said LED supporting cavity of said case, said LED
having a transparent lens portion, an upper conductor and a lower
conductor, said LED being supported in said case so that the lower
conductor is adjacent said floor and the upper conductor is
supported in a cantilevered manner from said transparent lens
portion above said floor;
a wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on a
first and second side thereof, said wafer battery being positioned
in said case so that one of its positive and negative terminals
continuously contacts the lower conductor of said LED and the upper
conductor is positioned so that it is spaced from another of the
negative and positive terminals of said wafer battery; and
a weight manner held above the upper conductor of said LED, said
weight member being captured by said case and resting on said upper
terminal of said LED but said weight manner being permitted some
movement so that the weight member moves downwardly by inertia as
the module is moved upwardly from a rest position or when a
downward movement of the module is stopped, and the downward
inertia of the weight member forces the upper conductor of said LED
downwardly into contact with the other of the negative and positive
terminals of said wafer battery but said weight member and the
upper conductor being selected so that the tendency of the upper
conductor to bias itself away from the wafer battery will overcome
the resting weight of the weight member so that the upper conductor
will move away from the wafer battery when the module is at rest,
whereby the LED will be lighted by the contact of the upper
conductor with the wafer battery when the force of the downward
inertia of the weight member overcomes the biased force of the
upper conductor which urges the upper conductor away from the wafer
battery.
2. The improved module of claim 1 wherein said weight member is a
hinged weight member having a hinge portion positioned in said case
between said lighted end and said wafer battery.
3. The improved module of claim 2 wherein said hinged weight member
has an arm which extends over said wafer battery and in contact
with said upper conductor and said arm extends past said wafer
battery to a weight portion.
4. The improved module of claim 3 wherein said hinge portion is
captured in a groove in said case near the lighted end thereof.
5. The improved module of claim 3 wherein said weight portion of
said weight member extends from said arm of said hinge weight
member downwardly toward the floor of said case.
6. The improved module of claim 1 wherein said case includes side
walls extending upwardly from said floor and said side walls each
has a groove which supports said wafer battery.
7. An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and
a wafer battery held in a case which improved module provides
intermittent light when moved up and down, said module
comprising:
a case having a floor, two side walls, a lighted end and an LED
supporting cavity at the lighted end thereof;
an LED held in said LED supporting cavity of said case, said LED
having a transparent lens portion, an upper conductor and a lower
conductor, said LED being supported in said case so that the lower
conductor is adjacent said floor and the upper conductor is
supported in a cantilevered manner from said transparent lens
portion above said floor;
a wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on a
first and second side thereof, said wafer battery being held by
said two side walls of said case and positioned so that one of its
positive and negative terminals continuously contacts the lower
conductor of said LED and the upper conductor is positioned so that
it is spaced from another of the negative and positive terminals of
said wafer battery; and
a hinged weight member held by said case above the upper conductor
of said LED, said hinged weight member having a hinge portion and a
weight portion and an arm and said hinge portion being captured by
said case but said weight portion of said hinged weight member
being permitted some vertical movement so that when the module is
moved upwardly from a rest position or when a downward movement of
the module is stopped, the weight portion moves downwardly by the
force of inertia, and said hinged weight member having a surface
which contacts the upper conductor and the downward inertia of the
weight portion will force the upper conductor of said LED into
contact with the other of the negative and positive terminals of
said wafer battery but said weight portion and the upper conductor
being selected so that the tendency of the upper conductor to bias
itself away from the wafer battery will overcome the resting weight
portion of the weight member so that the upper conductor will move
away from the wafer battery when the module is at rest, whereby the
LED will be lighted by the contact of the upper conductor with the
wafer battery when the force of downward inertia overcomes the
biased force of the upper conductor which urges the upper conductor
away from the wafer battery. .Iadd.
8. Footwear having a lighting system that flashes on and off in
response to inertial forces acting upon the footwear,
comprising:
a flexible upper portion adapted to surround at least a portion of
an upper surface of a wearer's foot:
a sole portion attached to the upper portion and adapted to
underlie the wearer's foot and to contact the ground;
an electrical light source disposed in the footwear such that light
emitted from the light source is visible exteriorly of the
footwear;
a battery for powering the light source;
a base disposed within the footwear; and
an electrical circuit for electrically connecting the battery to
the light source, the electrical circuit including a switch for
causing the light source to flash on and off in response to
inertial forces incident upon the footwear, said switch
comprising:
an inertially responsive spring-mass system having one end mounted
to the base and an opposite free end for intermittently
electrically connecting the battery to the light source during a
walking movement in response to an inertial force acting on the
footwear;
wherein, in response to inertial forces on the footwear during
walking, the spring-mass system moves alternately in a first
direction to provide electrical connection between the battery and
the light source, thereby switching the light source on, and in a
second direction to electrically disconnect the battery from the
light source, thereby switching the light source
off..Iaddend..Iadd.
9. The footwear of claim 8, wherein the spring-mass system is
positioned such that, when the footwear is in an equilibrium
position, the spring-mass system electrically disconnects the
battery from the light source to switch the light source
off..Iaddend..Iadd.
10. The footwear of claim 8, wherein said light source includes at
least one light emitting diode..Iaddend..Iadd.
11. The footwear of claim 8, wherein said base includes a case
having a cavity therein which holds the battery and the light
source, the cavity extending in a lengthwise direction generally
parallel to a bottom of said case and said spring-mass system is
mounted so as to extend in said lengthwise direction in a
cantilevered manner in said cavity and moves in a direction
generally perpendicular to said lengthwise direction in order to
make an intermittent connection between said battery and said light
source..Iaddend..Iadd.
12. The footwear of claim 8, wherein when said footwear is in an
equilibrium position, the spring-mass system electrically
disconnects the battery from the light source, such that the light
source is normally-off until an inertial force of sufficient
magnitude is applied to the footwear to cause the spring-mass
system to move to electrically connect the battery with the light
source..Iaddend..Iadd.
13. Footwear having a lighting system that flashes on and off in
response to inertial forces acting upon the footwear,
comprising:
a flexible upper portion adapted to surround at least a portion of
an upper surface of a wearer's foot;
a sole portion attached to the upper portion and adapted to
underlie the wearer's foot and to contact the ground;
a case positioned in said sole portion;
a light source held in said footwear such that light is viewable
exteriorly of the footwear, said light source having a first
conductor and a second conductor;
a battery having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, said
battery being positioned in said case such that one of the positive
and negative terminals is continuously electrically connected with
the second conductor of said light source, with the first conductor
being electrically disconnected from said other of the positive and
negative terminals in an equilibrium position of said footwear;
an inertially responsive spring member mounted in said case for
movement between a first position to provide electrical connection
between the battery and the first conductor, thereby switching the
light source on, and a second position to electrically disconnect
the battery from the first conductor, thereby switching the light
source off;
wherein, in response to inertial forces on the footwear during
movement thereof, the spring member moves alternately in a first
direction to provide electrical connection between the battery and
the first conductor, thereby switching the light source on, and in
a second direction to electrically disconnect the battery from the
first conductor, thereby switching the light source
off..Iaddend..Iadd.
14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein the spring member is
positioned such that, when the footwear is in an equilibrium
position, the spring member provides that the battery is
disconnected from the first conductor to switch the light source
off..Iaddend..Iadd.
15. The footwear of claim 13, wherein said case has a cavity
therein which holds the battery and the light source, the cavity
extending in a lengthwise direction generally parallel to a bottom
of said case and said spring member is mounted so as to extend in
said lengthwise direction in a cantilevered manner in said cavity
and moves in a direction generally perpendicular to said lengthwise
direction during movement of said footwear in order to provide
intermittent electrical connection between said battery and said
first conductor..Iaddend..Iadd.
16. The footwear of claim 13, wherein when said footwear is in an
equilibrium position, the spring member electrically disconnects
the battery from the light source, such that the light source is
normally off until an inertial force of sufficient magnitude is
applied to the footwear to cause the spring member to move to
electrically connect the battery with the light source..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is footwear, and the invention relates
more particularly to footwear with molded shoes of the type
generally referred to as "gym shoes" and furthermore, of the type
of "gym shoe" that has a light in the sole thereof.
Gym shoes, or more specifically basketball, jogging, and tennis
shoes, have become a large selling product particularly to the
youth. Since many such shoes are often worn at night, ways are
needed to improve visibility for safety. Various designs have been
devised for providing a bright light in the sole of a shoe.
Applicant's co-pending application, Ser. No. 07/806,925 filed Dec.
11, 1991, shows a design of intermittently lighted shoe which
utilizes the weight of the wearer to move down a conductor of a
light-emitting diode into contact with a wafer battery. While this
design is very satisfactory for most uses, a design which does not
require the wearer to depress and deform the lighted module, would
be useful. Furthermore, more of an on and off flashing action to
the light-emitting diode would provide a somewhat more flashy
appearance which is beneficial from a marketing as well as a safety
standpoint, by providing a more visible signal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a gym shoe
which has the ability to emit light as the shoe is moved during
walking and running.
The present invention is for an improved module for use in the sole
of a shoe which has a light-emitting diode and a wafer battery held
in a case. A light-emitting diode is supported in the case and has
an upper conductor and a lower conductor. The lower conductor is in
continual contact with one of the terminals of a wafer battery and
the second conductor of the LED is positioned just above the other
terminal of the wafer battery. A weight member is positioned above
the upper terminal of the LED and when at rest, is not heavy enough
to move the conductor downwardly into contact with the terminal of
the wafer battery. However, when the shoe is moved downwardly and
stopped, the inertia of the weight member has sufficient force to
complete the contact and turn on the LED. The effect is a flashing
light which flashes on as the shoe is being moved but remains off
when the shoe is at rest. Preferably the weight member is a hinged
weight member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the module of the present invention
held in the sole of a shoe which is shown in phantom view.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the module of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a plan view thereof.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of
FIG. 1 with the LED off.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view analogous to FIG. 4 except that
the LED is on.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
An improved module of the type having a light emitting dime and a
wafer battery held in a case is shown in FIG. 1 and indicated
generally by reference character 10. Module 10 has a case 11 which
has a floor 12 and a pair of walls 13 and 14. Walls 13 and 14 each
have a groove and the groove in wall 14 is indicated by reference
character 15. These grooves hold a wafer battery 16 as shown best
in FIG. 3.
A light-emitting diode (LED) 17 has a transparent lens portion 18,
an upper conductor 19, and a lower conductor 20. Case 11 has a
lighted end 21 which includes an LED supporting cavity 22. A weight
member 23 has a hinge 24, a hinge arm 25, and a weight portion 26.
An opening 27 permits the weight member 23 to be captured by
fitting in a groove 28 in case 11 as shown best in FIG. 1 and FIGS.
4 and 5.
Turning now to FIG. 4, it can be seen that lower conductor 20 abuts
floor 12 and also the negative terminal 29 of wafer battery 16. It
is thus in continuous contact with the negative terminal 29. The
upper conductor 19 is supported in a cantilevered manner from
transparent lens portion 18 and is spaced away from positive
terminal 30. The downward force of weight portion 26 is not
sufficient to overcome the biased force of cantilevered upper
conductor 19. However, when the module 10 is moved upwardly, (or
its downward movement is stopped), the weight portion 26 moves
downwardly by inertia as shown in FIG. 5. This causes the upper
conductor 19 to make contact with the positive terminal 30. Since
the lower conductor 20 is in continuous contact with the negative
terminal 29, this causes the LED to light. When the inertial force
ceases to move weight portion 26 downwardly, the biased force of
cantilevered upper connector 19 returns the weight member 23 back
to the position shown in FIG. 4 turning off the LED.
The resulting device is very economical to manufacture,
automatically turns off when not in use and is highly reliable.
While a hinged weight is shown in the drawings, the weight need not
be hinged, and can be merely supported by the upper conductor 19
above the battery as, for instance, a cavity above the battery. The
essential feature is the combination of a weight which at rest is
insufficient to force the upper conductor down, but which is
sufficient in movement by inertia to move the upper conductor into
contact with the wafer battery.
The present embodiments of this invention are thus to be considered
in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of
the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by
the foregoing description. All changes which come within the
meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be
embraced therein.
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