CA1193436A - Footwear with orientation signal device - Google Patents

Footwear with orientation signal device

Info

Publication number
CA1193436A
CA1193436A CA000465222A CA465222A CA1193436A CA 1193436 A CA1193436 A CA 1193436A CA 000465222 A CA000465222 A CA 000465222A CA 465222 A CA465222 A CA 465222A CA 1193436 A CA1193436 A CA 1193436A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
shoe
footwear
heel
switch
battery
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000465222A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Isabella Ziemlinski
Henryk Sitarski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA000465222A priority Critical patent/CA1193436A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1193436A publication Critical patent/CA1193436A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B1/00Footwear characterised by the material
    • A43B1/0054Footwear characterised by the material provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/34Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
    • A43B3/36Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with light sources

Landscapes

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

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A pair of shoes is provided that has means that indicate to a child when they are not arranged in the proper manner for wear. A first shoe or boot has a magnet mounted therein and located close to one side of the shoe or boot a predetermined distance from the rear end. A second matching shoe or boot has an electrically operated signal means mounted wherein, a battery for operating the signal means, and a magnetically activated switch connected to the signal means and the battery. The switch is located close to the side of the second shoe or boot corresponding to said one side of the first shoe or boot and approximately said predetermined distance from the rear end. The magnet can be embedded in the heel of one shoe or boot while the signal means, battery and switch are located in the heel of the other.

Description

This invention relates ~o foo-~wear such as a pair of shoes or boots and in particular footwear designed for chilclren.
Young children often have difficul~y in determining which shoe or boot of a pair is intended for the left foot and which fits the righ~ foot. The confusion is due to the similarity in size and shape of each member of the pair.
Sometimes it is difficult to -train a chlld to put the proper piece of footwear on the proper foot.
The present invention provides foo-twear equipped with means for signaling or telling a child when his O.L` her footwear is not arranged in ~he proper manner for wear. The signal device disclosed herein can be provided easily and wi~:h litt:Le additional expense. Moreover, with normal use it can be expected to last a considerahle length of time without requiring replacement. or maintenance.
According to the present invention, footwear for a person comprises Eirst and second matching foo-twear members, a magnet mounted in the first member close -to one side of the member and arranged a selected distance from the heel end of the first member, and a signa:Ling device mounted in the second member. The signaling device includes battery means -Eor powering the device and a magne-tically activated switch which i9 located close to the side of the second member which is opposite the side that corresponds to the one side of the first member. The swit:ch is approximately said selected distance from the heel end of the second member.
i~`"
.~, . -.~ , ~.~ ~ ~3~

In one preferred embocliment the magnet is permanently fixed in the heel of the first member and the ~ignaling device is located in a chamber provided in the heel of the second member.
Further features and advan~ages will become apparent from the fol:lowing de~ailed description of a preferred embodiment wherein:
Figure l is an illustration showing the general arrangement of footwear that incorporates -the present invention, which footwear is arranged ln ~he proper manner for wear;
Figure 2 i5 a side view of the left shoe of E'igure l showing the placement of the magnet therein;
Figure 3 is a cut.-away sectional view taken along the line from III-III of Figure l; and Figure 4 is a circuit diagram illustrating the circuit for the signalling device.
Except as described hereinafter, the footwear constructed in accordance with the present invention is constructed in the usual manner. This is illustrated in Figure 2 where a standard shoe, modified to incorporate the present invention, is shown. It will be understood that the - present invention can be us~d in any type of footwear including shoes, boots, slippers, sandals, etc. For ease of description, reference will hereinafter be made only to the illustrated shoes but this should not be ~aken as limiting the present invention to use in conjunction with shoes only.

~ ~3'~

Figure 1 of ~he drawings shows the general pat-tern and layout for a right shoe lO and a lef-t shoe 12, both viewed from the -top. Each of these shoes comes with a heel 14 or 16 in the posi~ion indicated, l~ accordance wi-th the present invention, one of ~hese shoes has a magnel: 18 mounted therein and loca-~ed close to one side of the shoe.
In -~he illustration of Figure 1, the magnet is located in the left shoe but i-t will be understood tha-~ it could be located in the right shoe instead~ A signalling device 20 is mounted in the other shoe, in t'his case the right shoe.
The precise construction of this signalling device will be described in detail hereinafter. As shown in Figure 1, the signalling device is also loca~ed close ~o one side of the right shoe and ln fact is located close to the side of the right shoe opposi-te the side t.ha-t corresponds to the side of the left shoe where the magnet is located. It should further be noted that the magnet is located a predetermined or select:ed distance d from the rear end or heel end o~ the shoe. $imilarly the signall,ing device is also located approximately said prede-termined distance d from ~he rear end of the right shoe. When the shoes are arranged properly~ tha-t is with the left shoe on the left hand side and the right shoe on the right hand side as shown in Figure l, *he signaling device will not buz,z or sound an alarm.
However when the shoes are not arranged properly, it will be appreciated that magnet l~ will be in close proximity to t'he signaling device 20. Because the signaling device has a magne-~ically activated swil:ch 22 arranged close to the side of the shoe, -~he presence oE -t.he maynet will close the switch and sound an alarm or buzzer. This wlll tell -~he child tha-~ ~he shoes are not arranged properly and should be re-arrangecl before they are put on -~he child's fee~.
The cut-away view of Figure 3 shows an insulating plastics housing 24 which can be place~ in a chamber 26 formed in the shoe that is to have the signalling deviceO
I~ wil:L be apprecia~ed ~hat this housing 24 contains the electrical circuit and e]ect.ri.cal component shown in Figrue 4 and it can be permanently sealed if desired. The housing can be made from an upper part 27 and a co-operating lower part 28 ~hat can be permanently fused ~ogether.
Al~ernative:Ly if it is desired ~o provide means for replacing the bat~ery of the signalling device the two par~s 27 and 28 can be detachably connected ~oge~her. ~ small flap 30 can be provided in ~he heel t.o cover the chamber 26.
Then when one wishes to replace ~he siynalling device or the battery t~herein the flexible flap 30 can be peeled bac~ ~o permit removal of the signalling device from the chamber.
It will be understood that ~he housing 24 can be made strong enough to support the flap 30 from beneath when it is restored to the position shown i.n Figure 3.
Turning now to the signalling device and circuit illustrated in Figure 4, the battery means is indicated at 32 and it is connected by the electric wire or lead 37 to the ground 50. The opposite terminal of the battery 32 is conl-lected to a magne~ically activa~e~l reed swi-~ch 22.
-In one pre-Eerred embodirnen~ -~he battery is a 3 vol~ lithium ba-ttery and ~he swi-~ch is a Burroughs number 1129-1812-000 -A00. It wi:ll be appreciated that -this -t:ype of swi~ch will close ~he circu:i~ when i~ is in close proximity to a rnagnet such as the magnet 18. Connectecl between t-he switch 22 and the signaling means 36 are a load resis-~or 40 and a biasing reslstor 42. In the illustrated preferred embodiment the resistor 40 can be size 470 ohms while the resistor 42 is 220 K. There is a curren~ limiting re~istor 44 connected 1-o the signaling rneans 36 by a wire or lead 46. Both of the resistors 40 and 44 are connected to a transistor 48 which is connected to ground at 50. In one preferred embodiment, the transistor is one available from Radio Shack, catalogue number C-1537.
The preferred signaling means 36 is a piezoelectric crystal element such as that available from Radio Shack, catalogue number 273-064. It will be appreciated that closure of switch 22 will cause the crystal element at 36 to emit a buzzing sound that can easily be heard. The operation and construction of such crystal elements are well known and further description of this element is believed unnecessary.
From the above description, it will be seen that the present inventors have provided an inexpensive means which will enable small children -to readily determine for t:hemselves when their shoes or boots are properly arranged.

It i5 -~:hus be:Lieved tha~: ~he present invention will find its primary use in children's footwear, particularly footwear intended for children up to seven years of age. Although the illustrated footwear has ~he bat-tery and the alarm clevice located in the hee:ls of the shoes, it will be readily appreciated l-hat both could be located closer ~o the front of the shoes if desired. This is particularly true if the shoes or boo~s have thick soles.
It will be further appreciated that instead of triggering an alarm, the closure of the switch could trigger the operation of a musical or voice device made small enough to be incorporated in a shoe or boot. It will be clearly understood that the term "signal means" or "signaling device" used herein and hereafter are intended to include all such devices, alarms, or buzzers. The construction of such muslcal or voice devices is now well known in the electronics art.
It will be appreciated that various modifications or changes could be made to the footwear described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and all such modifications and changes fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be covered~

Claims (10)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. Footwear for a human being comprising a first shoe having a magnet mounted therein and located close to one side of the shoe a predetermined distance from the rear end of the shoe, and a second matching shoe having an electrically operated signal means mounted therein, battery means for operating said signal means, and a magnetically activated switch connected to said signal means and said battery means, said switch being located close to the side of said second shoe which is opposite the side thereof corresponding to said one side of said first shoe and approximately said predetermined distance from the rear end of said second shoe.
2. Footwear according to claim 1 wherein said magnet is embedded in the heel of said first shoe and said signal means, battery means, and switch are located in the heel of said second shoe.
3. Footwear according to claim 1 wherein said signal means includes a piezoelectric crystal element.
4. Footwear according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said footwear is sized for a small child.
5. Footwear according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said signal means, battery means and switch are mounted in an insulating plastics housing that is removable from the heel of said second shoe.
6. Footwear according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein said signal means, battery means and switch are parts of an electrical circuit that includes a transistor, a biasing resistor, a current limiting resistor and a load resistor.
7. Footwear according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said battery means is a lithium battery not exceeding three volts in size.
8. Footwear for a person comprising first and second matching footwear members, a magnet mounted in said first member close to one side of the member and arranged a selected distance from the heel end of the first member, and a signaling device mounted in said second member, said device including battery means for powering the device and a magnetically activated switch which is located close to the side of the second member which is opposite the side thereof corresponding to said one side of said first member and approximately said selected distance from the heel end of the second member.
9. Footwear according to claim 8 wherein said magnet is permanently fixed in the heel of said first member and said signaling device is located in a chamber provided in the heel of the second member.
10. Footwear according to claim 2 wherein said signaling device produces an audible sound upon closure of said switch by means of a piezoelectric crystal element.
CA000465222A 1984-10-11 1984-10-11 Footwear with orientation signal device Expired CA1193436A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000465222A CA1193436A (en) 1984-10-11 1984-10-11 Footwear with orientation signal device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000465222A CA1193436A (en) 1984-10-11 1984-10-11 Footwear with orientation signal device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1193436A true CA1193436A (en) 1985-09-17

Family

ID=4128896

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000465222A Expired CA1193436A (en) 1984-10-11 1984-10-11 Footwear with orientation signal device

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1193436A (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994005176A1 (en) * 1992-09-02 1994-03-17 Cobia Products Pty Ltd Chiroindicator apparatus
EP0589607A1 (en) * 1992-09-15 1994-03-30 Nicholas A. Rodgers Signalling footwear
EP0686006A4 (en) * 1993-02-05 1997-02-05 Gear L A Inc Footwear with flashing lights
EP2186478A1 (en) * 2008-11-14 2010-05-19 HASOMED Hard- und Software für Medizin GmbH Method and device for analysing the human movement cycle
US7857772B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2010-12-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Stride-monitoring device
US20110314700A1 (en) * 2005-06-27 2011-12-29 Nike, Inc. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with footwear and other uses
EP2687114A3 (en) * 2006-04-20 2014-05-07 Nike International Ltd. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with apparel and equipment
US9867418B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2018-01-16 Pairme Products, Llc Shoe pair with position indicator assembly

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1994005176A1 (en) * 1992-09-02 1994-03-17 Cobia Products Pty Ltd Chiroindicator apparatus
EP0589607A1 (en) * 1992-09-15 1994-03-30 Nicholas A. Rodgers Signalling footwear
EP0686006A4 (en) * 1993-02-05 1997-02-05 Gear L A Inc Footwear with flashing lights
US7857772B2 (en) 2003-10-10 2010-12-28 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Stride-monitoring device
US20110314700A1 (en) * 2005-06-27 2011-12-29 Nike, Inc. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with footwear and other uses
US8938892B2 (en) * 2005-06-27 2015-01-27 Nike, Inc. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with footwear and other uses
US12426665B2 (en) 2005-06-27 2025-09-30 Nike, Inc. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with footwear and other uses
US12194343B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2025-01-14 Nike, Inc. Systems for activating electronic devices for operation with apparel
EP2687114A3 (en) * 2006-04-20 2014-05-07 Nike International Ltd. Systems for activating and/or authenticating electronic devices for operation with apparel and equipment
EP2186478A1 (en) * 2008-11-14 2010-05-19 HASOMED Hard- und Software für Medizin GmbH Method and device for analysing the human movement cycle
US10092059B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2018-10-09 Pairme Products, Llc Shoe pair with position indicator assembly
GB2538481B (en) * 2014-03-31 2018-06-06 Pairme Products Llc Shoe pair with position indicator assembly
US9867418B2 (en) 2014-03-31 2018-01-16 Pairme Products, Llc Shoe pair with position indicator assembly

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0471753B1 (en) Shoe fitting system
US4649552A (en) Electronic pedometer with step sensor in removable insole
US4979516A (en) Pressure sensitive mouth piece
EP0638254B1 (en) Pressure-activated light emitting module and athletic shoe comprising said module
US4667188A (en) Portable alarm
US5720200A (en) Performance measuring footwear
CA1193436A (en) Footwear with orientation signal device
US5721532A (en) Motion sensitive reminder
US4191949A (en) Belt having a posture warning device
US5748087A (en) Remote personal security alarm system
US3008038A (en) Shoe with electric bulb providing illumination
CA1270306A (en) Electronic monitoring of ground contact by an athlete's shoes
MA21852A1 (en) SPORTS SHOE HAVING THE HEEL OF WHICH IS INCORPORATED AN ELASTIC TRIM.
HK148994A (en) Sole structure for footwear
US4891797A (en) Running shoe with integral timer
EP1311169A1 (en) System for measuring the correct size of shoes
US4361834A (en) Safety alarm device
GB2193016A (en) An alarm clock
US6052054A (en) Portable scoreboard system with motion sensing for providing theft prevention
EP0285938A1 (en) Warning device for helmets
US5254970A (en) Programmable personal alarm
US5939989A (en) Electronic switch utilized in, for example, a drowsiness warning device
WO1990009570A1 (en) Body temperature monitor
WO1993015938A1 (en) Electronic signaling device for bicycles and the like
USD322354S (en) Protective cover for an athletic shoe

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
MKEC Expiry (correction)
MKEX Expiry