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WO2007058667A1 - Article de chaussure eclaire et ensemble d'eclairage - Google Patents

Article de chaussure eclaire et ensemble d'eclairage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007058667A1
WO2007058667A1 PCT/US2006/005927 US2006005927W WO2007058667A1 WO 2007058667 A1 WO2007058667 A1 WO 2007058667A1 US 2006005927 W US2006005927 W US 2006005927W WO 2007058667 A1 WO2007058667 A1 WO 2007058667A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
substrate
illumination assembly
light sources
footwear item
assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/005927
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Jez Marston
Mike Drapluk
William T. Anderson
Original Assignee
Jezign, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Jezign, Llc filed Critical Jezign, Llc
Priority to JP2008541142A priority Critical patent/JP2009515646A/ja
Priority to EP06735543A priority patent/EP1954985A1/fr
Priority to CN2006800510686A priority patent/CN102498341A/zh
Priority to US11/753,525 priority patent/US20080019119A1/en
Publication of WO2007058667A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007058667A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/0027—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours
    • A43B1/0036—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially from a material having special colours with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A43B3/36—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with light sources

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to illuminated footwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved footwear illumination assemblies. Background Art
  • Illuminated footwear is popular with children and adults for its fashion appeal and for safety reasons. Young children are annoyed by lights and colors and are especially pleased when their shoes blink or flash as they walk. Teens and young adults are particularly fashion conscious. Often teens and young adults make sneakers as their casual shoe of choice. Sneakers, skates, shoes, boots, and other footwear items that are adorned with lights gives the wearer a distinct fashion identity.
  • Known lighted footwear typically includes one or more light sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), a power source such as a battery, and a switch to provide power to the LEDs. Often, the LEDs are located in the outsole.
  • LEDs tend to become inoperative relatively early in the life of the footwear item. It is believed that during the course of normal wear and tear, the connections between the LEDs and the switch are broken. This leads to an unattractive appearance where as the footwear item exhibits either partial or no illumination. Disclosure of the Invention
  • the invention includes an illumination assembly for a footwear item.
  • the illumination assembly comprises a substrate having a plurality of recesses disposed along an edge of said substrate.
  • a plurality of light sources are mounted to the substrate, where each light source extends from the edge of the substrate by a distance of up to slightly greater than a depth of a corresponding recess.
  • a control circuit is connected to the plurality of light sources to control operational modes of the light sources.
  • a novel sole assembly for a footwear item includes an illumination assembly comprising a substrate, a plurality of light sources mounted to the substrate where each light source extends from the edge of the substrate by a distance of less than a length of the light source.
  • a control circuit is connected to the plurality of light sources to control operational modes of said light sources.
  • a translucent structural layer is provided and includes a recess into which the illumination assembly is lodged.
  • an illuminated footwear item comprises an upper and a sole assembly affixed to the upper.
  • the sole assembly includes an illumination assembly having a substrate and a plurality of light sources mounted to the substrate where each light source extends from the edge of the substrate by a distance of less than a length of the light source.
  • a control circuit is connected to the plurality of light sources to control operational modes of the light sources.
  • a translucent structural layer is provided and includes a recess into which the illumination assembly is lodged.
  • an illumination assembly includes a substrate, a plurality of light sources mounted to the substrate where each light source extends from the edge of the substrate by a distance of less than a length of the light source and a control circuit connected to the plurality of light sources to control operational modes of the light sources.
  • a method for constructing a footwear item includes lodging an illumination assembly in a translucent structural layer, affixing an outsole to the structural layer, affixing a midsole to the structural layer such that the structural layer is sandwiched between the midsole and the outsole, and attaching an upper to the midsole.
  • FIG. 1 depicts an illumination assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2A depicts an illumination assembly in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 2B illustrates a recess and LED of the illumination assembly of FIG. 2A.
  • Figure 3 is an exploded view of a select portion of the illumination assembly of FIG. 2.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a protective case in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the protective cover of FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 6 depicts a footwear item in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a footwear item in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 8 shows a footwear item in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 shows a structural layer in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of a sole assembly in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a footwear item in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. Best Modes for Carrying Out the Described Embodiments
  • the present invention is directed to illuminated footwear items and methods of manufacturing illuminated footwear items.
  • the footwear item of the present invention preferably includes an illumination assembly having a plurality of light sources and circuitry for controlling the plurality of light sources, one or more user actuatable illuminated regions; e.g. the sole, the tongue, the footwear upper, and a power source coupled to the illumination assembly.
  • Illumination assembly 10 includes a substrate 15, e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB), having a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 20 mounted thereon and electrically connected thereto.
  • substrate 15 e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB)
  • LEDs light emitting diodes
  • the size and shape of substrate 15 and the number and arrangement of LEDs 20 may be selected according to the desired application.
  • illumination assembly 10 has a lengthwise dimension that substantially corresponds to the distance between the heel and the metatarsus region of the foot. More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment, substrate 15 has a length of between about 15cm to about 20cm. However, substrate 15 may be longer or shorter depending upon the size of the footwear item.
  • substrate 15 may also include a first region intended for placement under the heel and a second region that extends longitudinally from the first region to the metatarsal portion of the foot.
  • Substrate 15 may comprise a conventional rigid PCB or a flexible circuit such as the ReelFlex® flexible circuit available from Sheldahl Corporation of Northfield Minnesota, the flexible circuits available from Allflex, Inc. of Northfield, Minnesota, and the flexible circuit available from Rogers Corporation of Chandler, Arizona under the R/flex 1000 tradename.
  • substrate 15 may comprise other flexible circuits known to those of skill in the art.
  • LEDs 20 are distributed along the edge or perimeter of substrate 15 and mounted to substrate 15 in such a manner as to slightly protrude from the perimeter of substrate 15.
  • LEDs 20 protrude from the edge of substrate 15 by less than the length of the LED. More preferably, LEDs 20 protrude from the edge of substrate 15 by less than one half of the length of LEDs 20.
  • LEDs 20 may be positioned just above, just below or in the same plane as substrate 15.
  • substrate 15 may be provided with a plurality of recesses 35 along its perimeter.
  • Each LED 20 may be mounted to substrate 15 so as to be positioned just above or just below the plane of the substrate or in the plane of the substrate within a respective recess 35.
  • LEDs 20 may extend from the perimeter of substrate 15 by distance of up to slightly greater than a dept D of recess 35 as illustrated in FIG. 2B.
  • LEDs 20 extend from the perimeter of substrate 15 by a distance of less than or equal to the depth D of corresponding recess 35.
  • a power source 30 is connected to LEDs 20.
  • a suitable power source 30 includes a battery.
  • base 15 may be provided with one or more buses 25 or other connection mechanisms that interconnect LEDs 20 with power source connector 30.
  • a simple series connection of LEDs 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1 , in keeping with the invention, two or more LEDs 20 may be variously connected in series or parallel.
  • illumination assembly 10 is designed to be powered by a battery, e.g., a 9-volt battery.
  • substrate 15 may include a cutout 45 for receiving either the battery itself or a cushion upon which the battery can rest. Cutout 45 is preferably positioned in the first region of substrate 15.
  • Illumination assembly 10 may be powered by alternative power sources. Accordingly, in such embodiments cutout 45 may not be present.
  • Illumination assembly 10 further includes a control circuit 40 for controlling operation of LEDs 20.
  • Control circuit 40 may be disposed on substrate 15, e.g., as part of the a printed circuit board, or may be remotely located from substrate 15 and electrically connected to substrate 15.
  • Control circuit 40 is coupled to a switch and, upon actuation of the switch, drives LEDs 20 in one or more operational or illumination modes.
  • control circuit 40 may be configured to drive LEDs 20 in any desired illumination mode.
  • Exemplary illumination modes include a continuous illumination mode, flashing illumination mode where one or more of LEDs 20 flash at regular or irregular intervals, a sequential illumination mode where LEDs 20 are illuminated in a predetermined or random sequence.
  • the details of control circuit 40 are not shown or described herein because control circuits suitable for driving LEDs 20 in various illumination modes are known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Exemplary illumination circuits are described in United States Patent No. 5,663,614; U.S. Patent No. 5,812,063 and U.S. Patent No. 6,906,472 B2.
  • LEDs 20 are preferably disposed about the periphery of substrate 15. LEDs 20 may be evenly distributed about the periphery of substrate 15 or arranged in a pattern. LEDs 20 may be of uniform characteristics, e.g., color, shape and intensity, or of different characteristics. Thus, depending upon the visual effect desired, LEDs 20 of like color may be grouped together or LEDs 20 may be arranged to form a color pattern. Likewise, LEDs of like intensity may be grouped together or LEDs 20 may be arranged in a pattern of varying intensities.
  • Illumination assembly 10 is typically installed in the sole or bottom of a footwear item.
  • substrate 15 may be encapsulated in a protective case 50, as illustrated in FIG. 4.
  • Protective case 50 is preferably constructed from a strong, rigid material such as a hard plastic or a hard rubber.
  • protective case 50 may include a container 55, e.g., a box, preferably disposed adjacent the heel region of substrate 15 and having an opening 57 in the bottom that corresponds to opening 45 in substrate 15 for receiving a battery or a cushion upon which the battery may rest. Lodging the battery in container 55 is believed to reduce unintended disconnection of the battery due to impact forces created from normal use of the footwear item.
  • protective cover 50 is provided with a structural reinforcing member.
  • the structural reinforcing member is a molded vein 60 that extends along a lengthwise dimension of protective case 50. Molded vein 60 is preferably integrally formed with protective case 50.
  • Protective case 50 may have a two-piece construction and substrate 15 may be sandwiched between molded vein 60 and one of the upper and lower pieces as illustrated in FIG. 5. In such a construction, protective case 50 may be held together by any suitable closure mechanism 65 such as friction fit, snap fit, screws, etc.
  • An exemplary protective case 50 may be a jewel case.
  • protective case 50 may be provided with spacers 62 such that substrate 15 is sandwiched between vein 60 and spacers 62.
  • protective case 50 may be molded around substrate 15 such that substrate 15 is embedded in protective case 50.
  • illumination assembly 10 may be incorporated in the footwear item by installing the illumination assembly in the sole or bottom portion of a footwear item, for example.
  • Exemplary footwear items of the invention include but are not limited to athletic shoes, casual shoes, casual boots, heavy-duty boots such as hiking boots or ski boots, skates both four wheel and in-line, slippers, thongs or flip- flops, etc. Described below is an illustrative embodiment of an athletic shoe and a sole assembly for the athletic shoe in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 6 illustrates an exemplary footwear item 100 in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention.
  • Footwear item 100 includes a sole assembly 105 attached to upper 110.
  • Illumination assembly 10 is disposed within sole assembly 105.
  • Sole assembly 105 includes a translucent perimeter surface 115 through which light from illumination assembly 10 is transmitted.
  • Sole assembly 105 may comprise illumination assembly 10 sandwiched between or disposed within one or more layer members.
  • sole assembly 105 comprises a transparent or translucent structural layer 215 including a recess 217 configured to receive illumination assembly 10.
  • Illumination assembly 10 (not shown in FIG. 9) is seated in the recess 217 and transmits light through structural layer 215 upon activation.
  • sole assembly 105 includes translucent or transparent structural layer 215 sandwiched between midsole 210 and outsole 220. Illumination assembly 10 (not shown in FIG. 10) is preferably lodged within the recess 217 of structural layer 215.
  • sole assembly 105 may include only outsole 220 and structural layer 215 or only midsole 210 and structural layer 215.
  • midsole 210 may be constructed from one or more of the following materials: EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, Phylon, Polyurethane, and Phylite.
  • Outsole 220 may be constructed from any combination of one or more of the following materials: BRS 1000 or Carbon Rubber, solid rubber, DRC (durable rubber compound), Duralon or Gum Rubber.
  • Structural layer 215 may comprise a urethane material that typically incorporates one or more air bladders.
  • the footwear item may be provided with a user actuatable switch 125 that is connected to and activates and deactivates illumination assembly 10.
  • User actuatable switch 125 may be associated with upper 110, i.e., either concealed within the material of upper 110 or exposed on an outer surface of upper 110.
  • user actuatable switch 125 may be located anywhere on the footwear item.
  • FIG. 6 depicts user actuatable switch 125 disposed on and protruding from a rear portion of upper 110 proximate the Achilles heel.
  • user actuatable switch 125 may be located on a side portion of upper 110, for example, and concealed within the material of upper 110 as illustrated in FIG. 7.
  • user actuatable switch 125 may be disposed within the tongue 130 as shown in FIG. 8
  • user actuatable switch 125 may be a push-button switch, a toggle switch, a sliding switch, a pressure sensitive switch, etc.
  • a push button switch may be preferred in embodiments in which the illumination assembly operates in a plurality of modes.
  • Footwear items in accordance with the invention may be constructed by forming sole assembly 105 and connecting sole assembly 105 to a shoe upper.
  • An exemplary sole assembly 105 such as the one depicted in FIG. 6 may be formed by lodging illumination assembly 10 in structural layer 215, affixing outsole 220 to structural layer 215 and affixing midsole 210 to the combination of structural layer 215 and outsole 220 such that structural layer 215 is sandwiched therebetween.
  • one or both of midsole 210 and outsole 220 may be eliminated from sole assembly 105.
  • the battery or power source for illumination assembly 10 may be disposed in sole assembly 105, in tongue 130 or elsewhere in the footwear item.
  • structural layer 215 may include a battery cushion 230 that extends through cutout 45 and through the opening 57 in the bottom of container 55 thereby snugly lodging the battery in container 55. It is believed that enclosing the battery in container 55 and placing the battery on battery cushion 230 helps reduce unwanted battery disconnections that sometimes occur during normal use of the footwear item.
  • the battery is disposed in tongue 130 of the footwear item.
  • tongue 130 may be provided with a pouch of sufficient size to house the battery.
  • control circuit 40 may be encapsulated and disposed in sole assembly 105, for example in the heel portion of midsole 220 and connected to the battery and to LEDs 20.
  • sole assembly 105 may be entirely translucent or may include translucent regions 140 variously shaped and arranged.
  • FIG. 6 shows translucent regions 140 separated by generally opaque barriers 142.
  • translucent regions 140 may be in the shape of alphanumeric characters arranged to display a message, i.e., a word, phrase or a numeric phrase. See FIG. 11.
  • Exemplary messages include but are not limited to the shoe manufactures' name, the wearer's name, and in the case of an athlete, the team name or school name and the athlete's number.
  • the translucent regions 140 may be illuminated according to a number of different patterns. In keeping with one aspect of the invention, the translucent regions may be illuminated substantially uniformly or different regions may be illuminated to different intensity levels. In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the translucent regions may be illuminated synchronously, sequentially or according to any desired pattern.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un ensemble d'éclairage (10) qui comprend un substrat (15) avec une pluralité de sources lumineuses (20) montées sur le substrat (15) et disposées à proximité d'un bord du substrat (15). Un circuit de commande est connecté à une pluralité de sources lumineuses (20) pour commander les modes opérationnels des sources lumineuses (20).
PCT/US2006/005927 2005-11-15 2006-02-21 Article de chaussure eclaire et ensemble d'eclairage WO2007058667A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2008541142A JP2009515646A (ja) 2005-11-15 2006-02-21 照明付き履物品及び照明アッセンブリ
EP06735543A EP1954985A1 (fr) 2005-11-15 2006-02-21 Article de chaussure eclaire et ensemble d'eclairage
CN2006800510686A CN102498341A (zh) 2005-11-15 2006-02-21 发光鞋和发光组件
US11/753,525 US20080019119A1 (en) 2005-11-15 2007-05-24 Footwear Illumination Assembly

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US73631605P 2005-11-15 2005-11-15
US60/736,316 2005-11-15

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/753,525 Continuation-In-Part US20080019119A1 (en) 2005-11-15 2007-05-24 Footwear Illumination Assembly

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007058667A1 true WO2007058667A1 (fr) 2007-05-24

Family

ID=38048945

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2006/005927 WO2007058667A1 (fr) 2005-11-15 2006-02-21 Article de chaussure eclaire et ensemble d'eclairage

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1954985A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2009515646A (fr)
CN (1) CN102498341A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007058667A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011507607A (ja) * 2007-12-21 2011-03-10 ナイキ インコーポレーティッド 照明されるチャンバーを備える履物物品

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20160366972A1 (en) * 2015-06-19 2016-12-22 Nike, Inc. Article Incorporating an Illumination Device
WO2019051629A1 (fr) * 2017-09-12 2019-03-21 陈思翔 Dispositif électroluminescent intelligent
WO2019111151A1 (fr) * 2017-12-05 2019-06-13 Geox S.P.A. Structure de chaussure avec système de lumière électronique

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4308572A (en) * 1977-06-20 1981-12-29 Sidney Davidson Articles having light-emitting elements energizable in sequences to provide desired visual displays
US4628422A (en) * 1982-02-16 1986-12-09 Integrerad Teknik Hb Display comprising light-emitting diodes and a method and an installation for its manufacture
US4709307A (en) * 1986-06-20 1987-11-24 Mcknight Road Enterprises, Inc. Clothing with illuminated display
US5544027A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-08-06 Orsano; Anthony LED display for protective helmet and helmet containing same
US6739735B2 (en) * 2001-09-20 2004-05-25 Illuminated Guidance Systems, Inc. Lighting strip for direction and guidance systems
US20050018417A1 (en) * 2002-06-14 2005-01-27 Tseng-Lu Chien Flexible LED light kits for footwear
US20060007670A1 (en) * 2004-07-06 2006-01-12 Tseng-Lu Chien Head light kits for footwear

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4308572A (en) * 1977-06-20 1981-12-29 Sidney Davidson Articles having light-emitting elements energizable in sequences to provide desired visual displays
US4628422A (en) * 1982-02-16 1986-12-09 Integrerad Teknik Hb Display comprising light-emitting diodes and a method and an installation for its manufacture
US4709307A (en) * 1986-06-20 1987-11-24 Mcknight Road Enterprises, Inc. Clothing with illuminated display
US5544027A (en) * 1993-03-26 1996-08-06 Orsano; Anthony LED display for protective helmet and helmet containing same
US6739735B2 (en) * 2001-09-20 2004-05-25 Illuminated Guidance Systems, Inc. Lighting strip for direction and guidance systems
US20050018417A1 (en) * 2002-06-14 2005-01-27 Tseng-Lu Chien Flexible LED light kits for footwear
US20060007670A1 (en) * 2004-07-06 2006-01-12 Tseng-Lu Chien Head light kits for footwear

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2011507607A (ja) * 2007-12-21 2011-03-10 ナイキ インコーポレーティッド 照明されるチャンバーを備える履物物品

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102498341A (zh) 2012-06-13
EP1954985A1 (fr) 2008-08-13
JP2009515646A (ja) 2009-04-16

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