BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to illuminated shoes and a manufacturing process for illuminated shoes.

Illuminated shoes are well known, and in particular, shoes with illuminated points disposed thereon. Currently, these shoes employ the principle of direct propagation of light from a light source. That is, the light source is mounted and exposed on the periphery of the shoe. Such a shoe is formed from a sub-assembly composed of a light source, a battery, a switch and a sole. The light source, such as an LED, is activated by a hand-switch or touch-switch. The light source in a single point illuminated shoe is low power, the battery cannot be replaced, and therefore, the life of the shoe is short.

An improvement over this prior design is the use of several sets of light sources which are pre- embedded in the soles. Yet another alternative is to use multiple light sources which are connected to a battery and switch by insulated conductors. See, for example, Chinese patent No. CN 89207632.1. The drawback of this type of shoe is high cost and complex manufacturing. In addition, the illumination function often becomes inoperable because the conductor is easily damaged or the light source is damaged because it is exposed on the sole edge.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an illuminated shoe or boot and manufacturing process therefor, in which the light

source may be positioned remote from the actual illumination display surface.

The present invention provides a new illuminated shoe or boot and manufacturing process therefor in which various structures of light transmission media are employed to provide for simple manufacturing and for varying illumination patterns, while keeping the cost of the shoe low and the lighting function longlasting. An illuminated shoe or boot of the present invention comprises a shoe upper, a sole, a portion of the shoe or boot supporting a light source and a light transmission medium connected to the light source. A light emitting portion of the light transmission medium is exposed on an exterior surface of the shoe or boot for emitting light supplied by the light source exterior of the shoe or boot.

In one embodiment, the light transmission medium comprises a plurality of light fibers attached to a support member, which fibers are connected to the light source. The support member is formed in the sole of the shoe or boot with distal ends of the light fibers exposed on the peripheral edges of the sole. The light fibers may be arranged so that the distal ends outline a particular pattern.

In another embodiment, the light transmission medium comprises a solid three-dimensional light transmitting body capable of emitting light from peripheral edges thereof. The solid three-dimensional light body is formed in the sole of the shoe or boot with the peripheral edges of the body exposed on the exterior of the shoe or boot.

In still another embodiment, the light

transmission medium comprises a light sheet having a plurality of dimples disposed on a surface thereof for emitting light transmitted therethrough.

Other objects, advantages and modifications of the present invention will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a light fiber and an associated light source, as is used in the illuminated shoe of the present invention.

Figure 2A is a perspective view of a 3- dimensional solid light body, as is used in the illuminated shoe of the present invention.

Figure 2B is a cross-sectional view of the light body of Figure 2A.

Figures 3a and 3b illustrate a light sheet having an array of dimples which are supplied light from a common source, as is used in the illuminated shoe of the present invention.

Figure 4 illustrates the step of forming a sole- shaped fiber film, including optical fibers embedded therein, in accordance with the manufacturing process of the present invention.

Figure 5 illustrates the steps of assembling the shoe upper, intermediate sole, and sole with the sole- shape fiber film.

Figure 6 illustrates an example of a finished shoe made in accordance with the manufacturing process of the present invention.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate other examples of illuminated shoes in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate an illuminated air- filled hollow cushion.

Figure 10 illustrates an illuminated inflatable bag cushion.

Figure 11 illustrates an illuminated inflatable cushio . Figure 12 is a cross sectional view taken through line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13a is a top view of a three-dimensional illuminated inflatable cushion.

Figure 13b is a sectional view taken through line I3b-13b of Figure 13a.

Figure 13c is an end view of the three dimensional illuminated inflatable cushion.

Figure 13d is a side view of the three dimensional inflatable cushion. Figure 14 is a side view of a sports shoe having constructed therein an inflatable three dimensional cushion.

Figure 15a illustrates an illuminated shoe in accordance with another embodiment. Figure 15b is an enlarged view of the optical system in the shoe shown in Figure 15a.

Figure 16a is a top view of a pressure-responsive switch in accordance with the present invention.

Figures 16b, 16c and 16d show cross sectional views of the various operational states of the switch shown in Figure 16a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to the provision of illumination regions on a shoe or boot by new structures and manufacturing processes. Figures 1, 2, 3a and 3b illustrate various light transmission media having light emitting portions for illuminating portions of a shoe or boot.

In Figure 1, a linear light fiber, known per se, is shown at 10. The light fiber is flexible and is formed of a plastic or other similar material suitable for light transmission. When deployed in the shoe or boot, as will be described hereinafter, a light source 12 is provided at one ^• end to emit light which propagates through the fiber 10 to the distal end where it is emitted for display. The advantage of using an optical fiber in a shoe is the ability to deploy the light source in the shoe at a location remote from the actual display point of the light. A mask 15 may be disposed around the light source 12 to leave a transparent window 17 in the direction facing the end of the fiber 10. Light will be emitted through the window 17 and through the length of the fiber. The inside surfaces of the core 14 would be reflective to facilitate propagation. The light fiber 10 comprises a core 14 and a cover 16. Preferably, the diameter of the core is less than or equal to 50 micrometers and has a bandwidth range of 2 to 50 MHz. The light fiber 10 may be manufactured for special designs or may be a commercially available model, such as a step refractive index ("Si-type") multi-model light fiber.

In Figures 2A and 2B, a 3-dimensional solid

plastic light body 20 is shown having a certain thickness and a lateral edge 22 at which light supplied by a source 12 is emitted. The light body is formed of the same material as the linear light-fiber 10 and the cross-section of the body 20 may be flat as shown in Fig. 2A or may be shaped to control the illumination display pattern, as shown in Fig 2B, because light is emitted from the lateral edges of the body, rather than the top and bottom planar surfaces. Light propagates to the lateral edges 22 between the top and bottom surfaces 24 and 26, respectively, much like light propagation through a fiber.

Finally, as shown in Figures 3a and 3b, a light sheet 30 comprises a plurality of raised points or dimples 32 for emitting light therefrom. The sheet has a certain thickness and is designed to concentrate illumination on its surface at the dimples 32. In this regard, the surfaces of the sheet surrounding the dimples 32 may be coated with a non-transparent or opaque material whereas the dimples 32 are transparent or perhaps colored. The light is supplied from a source 12 and is transmitted throughout the sheet 30 to each of the raised points 32 which emit points of light across the surface of the sheet 30. The light sheet 30 is useful when attached or exposed on a lateral surface of a shoe or boot, as will be explained in conjunction with Figures 7 and 8.

The preliminary steps for manufacturing an illuminated sole according to the present invention are shown in Figure 4. A plurality of light fibers 10 are cemented onto a sole-shaped plastic (or fiber film) which serves as a light transmission medium support member 40. A hole 50 is provided at the heel

portion of the plastic film 40 and at which the proximal ends of all of the light fibers 10 are collected. The distal ends of the light fibers 10 spread out toward the peripheral edge 52 of the film 40.

The manufacturing process involves the use of a lower die and 60 and an upper die 70. The distal ends of the light fibers 10 are placed into the lower die 60 before forming the sole. A cylindrical boss 80 formed in the lower die 60 mates with the hole 50 in the film 40. Sole material is poured into the lower die 60 and the upper and lower die are joined together to form the mold of the sole with the film 40 embedded in the sole material. The mold is allowed to set for an appropriate period of time depending on the type of sole material. The sole material may be one of several types of material including polyurethane foam, secondary ethyl ethane acetate, butadienestryne latex, neoprene, polyurethane polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic rubber or synthetic rubber.

Turning now to Figures 5 and 6, the sole which is formed by the process shown in Figure 4 is shown at 70 with the film 40 embedded therein and not visible, except for the distal ends of the light fibers 10 best shown in Figure 6. The sole 70 comprises a lower walking surface 72 and an upper mounting surface 74, and is mated with an intermediate sole 80 and a shoe upper 90. A hole 76 is provided in the upper mounting surface 74 for holding a light source 100. The light source 100 may include a mercury switch (not shown) and an LED 102 so that when the mercury switch is activated, by depression of the shoe upper onto the sole from the weight of a walking foot, the

LED 102 is activated. The light source 100 is positioned in the hole 76 so that the LED is aligned with the proximal ends of the light fibers 10, as shown in Figure 6. As a result, when the light source 100 is activated, the LED 102 emits light which propagates through each of the light fibers 10 enters the fibers at the appropriate angle of incidence and the propagation light is finally emitted on the outer peripheral edge of the sole, perhaps in the form of a word or other design as shown in Figure 6. To vary the color of the light, a small colored filter 104 may be inserted between the LED 102 and the proximal ends of the light fibers 10.

In construction, the intermediate sole 80 is positioned on the upper surface 74 of the sole 70 and the sole 70 is sewn to the shoe upper 90. The sole 70 may include a cushioning material, such as foam, embedded therein, to give the shoe appropriate cushioning for use in athletics. As mentioned above, the light fibers 10 may terminate in a pattern which spells a word or which illustrate other character patterns. Alternatively, the light fiber body 20 of Figures 2 and 3, respectively, may be embedded in the sole 70 and exposed on peripheral surfaces of the sole in desirable illumination cross-sections to outline particular patterns of display. Further still, the point emitters of the light fiber body 30 may all be illuminated, or particular ones may be plugged with non-transparent material to form various luminescent shapes.

Alternatively, the various light transmission mediums of Figures 1-3 may be pre-shaped, and then

placed in a pre-cut pattern of grooves in an upper surface of the sole, and connected with a light source, for a more economical illuminated shoe or boot structure. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the light transmission media may be sewn into the leather of the shoe upper 90 or directly attached to the shoe upper 90 as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The light sheet 30 is the preferred light transmission medium for the directly attached version which is illustrated in Figure 7. The woven version is illustrated in Figure 8. In either version, light fibers are used to connect the light source with the illuminating surface, whether the light body 20 or light sheet 30 is employed. In Figure 7, the light source 100 is embedded in a front portion of the shoe upper so that the switch in the light source is activated by the pressure caused from the shoe upper 90 bending as the shoe wearer lifts his/her foot while walking.

Furthermore, in one shoe, light sources may be provided both in the sole as shown in Figures 5 and 6, and in the shoe upper as shown in Figures 7 and 8 so that light from the sole and upper are alternately activated. Specifically, the light source in the upper is activated when the wearer's foot is lifted and the upper is bent which presses the switch in the shoe upper mounted light source. The light source in the sole is activated when the wearer's foot is placed down onto the ground, which presses the switch of the sole mounted light source.

The light source 100 referred to above is well known in the art and comprises a housing, an LED, a

compression-responsive switch (Figures 16a-16d) , and. a battery. However, it is to be understood that other types of light sources may be used, such as small electric bulbs, laser diodes, liquid crystal displays. Moreover, other types of switches may be used such as, for example, a vibration-responsive switch, a switch responsive to inclination of the shoe, a switch responsive to sound caused by walking, a hand- activated switch, and a spring-vibration switch. With reference to Figures 9-12, 13a, 13b, 13c and 13d, in accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, the sole may include an air-filled hollow cushion 120 which serves as a medium for light propagation and display. ^* The cushion may include cubic cells, which are well known in the art, as shown in Figure 9. Another variation is shown in Figure 11 in which the cushion takes the form of an inflatable bag cushion 130 commonly used in the tongue or counter of a shoe and which is supplied with air from a pumping device 132 connected to the bag via a supply line 134. The air cushion 120 or 130 is made of transparent material, such as thermo-hard or thermoplastic rubber, and therefore, a light source 100 can be located anywhere in the shoe and connected to the cushion by a light fiber, or can be directly attached to the cushion, as shown in Figure 11. Moreover, the light source can be disposed in one of the cell depressions 122 of the sole cushion 120, as shown in Figure 9. In addition, as shown in Figure 10, a phosphorus material may be filled in the cushion so that light illuminating the cushion penetrates the phosphor to produce a phosphorescent illumination effect.

Furthermore, the inner surface of the cushion or inflatable bag may be coated with a reflective coating material, and a particular portion left uncoated. As a result, light may pass through the sole cushion or inflatable bag. Some of the light will be reflected within the bag or cushion and some of the light will be emitted from the uncoated portion and visible therefrom.

Figures 13a-13d illustrate an air cushion 140 which is made of transparent material and has a hollow three-dimensional structure. A light source may be set in one or more of the depressions 142 to illuminate the cushion and scatter light throughout the cushion. When mounted in a shoe (Figure 14), at least one plane of the cushion 140 is exposed on the outer surface of the shoe. The exposed surface of the cushion may be continuous (a smooth plastic surface) or discontinuous (adjacent depressions and protrusions) . In addition, a fluorescent material may be added to the interior of the cushion. Further, an electrically luminiferous material may be adhered to the surface of the cushion.

Figure 14 illustrates a partial side view of a shoe, and particularly the sole having an illuminated rear sole portion formed therein, and embodied by cushion 140.

Figures 15a and 15b illustrate a further embodiment in which a prism 150 is disposed between the light source 12 and bundles of light fibers 10. A filter 160 may be provided in front of the light source to project white light into the prism 150. As is known from principles of optics, a spectrum of colored light will be emitted from the prism. A plate

170 is provided which includes a plurality of properly arranged terminal ends of light fibers 10. The light fibers are oriented with respect to the emitted light spectrum such that each light color is carried by a dedicated light fiber or light fibers to a remote location on the shoe and shown in Figure 15a. Consequently, multicolor light projection on the shoe exterior can be provided with a single light source. Figures 16a-16d depict a pressure-sensitive switch that may be incorporated into a shoe to activate and de-activate light sources. The switch is generally shown at 200 and comprises membranes 202, 204 and 206 and contacts 208 and 210. The chamber 212 between membrane 202 and 204 is connected to a tube 216, which is connected to an adjustable air supply device, such as a pump with release valve or pressure gauge (not shown) . The chamber 214 between membrane 204 and 206 is connected to a tube 218, which is connected to an air cushion in the sole or tongue of a shoe. In addition, the air cushion itself may be connected to an inflation device such as a pump, and an associated release valve or pressure gauge.

The contacts 208 and 210 are connected to conductors 220 and 22 in a circuit between a light source and its power supply (not shown) . When the contacts are separated as shown in Figures 16b and 16d, the circuit is open and no power is supplied to the light source. When the contacts are in engagement as shown in Figure 16c, the circuit is closed and the light source is energized.

As shown in Figure 16b, when pressure PI in chamber 212 supplied by tube 218 is equal to pressure P2 in chamber 214 supplied by tube 216, the contacts

208 and 210 are separated. When pressure PI is less than pressure P2, the contacts 208 and 210 make contact, and the circuit is completed. Accordingly, the impact of a user's foot against the ground reacts on the cushion connected to tube 218 and generates pressure P2 in chamber 214, against pressure PI in chamber 212 set by an adjustable inflation device. This controls when the contacts 208 and 210 short- circuit or open-circuit in the conductors 220 and 222. Further, the conductors 220 and 22 can connected to a sound/vocal generator or even a microcomputer which could calculate the energy exhausted by a user and distance travelled according to the number of times the contacts 208 and 210 engage. In summary, the user could set the pressure PI in chamber 212 according to a desired impact sensitivity. When the user's foot compresses the air cushion connected to tube 218 to generate pressure P2 in chamber 214, the pressure PI acts against pressure P2 to control when contacts 208 and 210 touch. The air inflation device connected to tube 216 may have a release valve or pressure gauge to facilitate adjustment of pressure PI in chamber 212.

There are several variations and modifications which may be made to the illuminated shoe or boot and manufacturing process of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. For example, the light transmission medium may be formed of a material which changes color according to temperature changes. In addition, a solar cell may be provided to recharge the battery of the light source.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way except as set forth in the following claims.