EP0925732A1 - Bewegungsgeschaltetes Blinklicht für ein Kleidungsstück - Google Patents
Bewegungsgeschaltetes Blinklicht für ein Kleidungsstück Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0925732A1 EP0925732A1 EP97122849A EP97122849A EP0925732A1 EP 0925732 A1 EP0925732 A1 EP 0925732A1 EP 97122849 A EP97122849 A EP 97122849A EP 97122849 A EP97122849 A EP 97122849A EP 0925732 A1 EP0925732 A1 EP 0925732A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- light
- switch
- apparel
- flasher
- coupled
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B1/00—Footwear characterised by the material
- A43B1/0072—Footwear characterised by the material made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
-
- 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 to apparel in general and, more particularly, to apparel with lights that randomly flash in response to motion to enhance the visibility of the apparel when worn.
- Lighting devices have been incorporated into a variety of hats, shoes (including athletic shoes and dress shoes), for either safety reasons, such as allowing the wearer of the apparel to see or be seen in reduced light situations, or to provide special effects as an element of fashion on the part of the wearer.
- a third class of device is motion activated lights.
- the prior art generally teaches one kind of motion activated light, as best illustrated by U.S. Patent No. 4,848,009, issued to Rodgers.
- a switch in response to movement of the shoe, a switch is closed and a one-shot or monostable multivibrator causes a single pulse to issue in response to the closure of a switch. Until the pulse completes, further closures of the switch will have no effect, thereby eliminating the flickering of the light that would otherwise occur if the light was on for the small duration of time the motion switch was closed.
- I disclosed a new kind of lighted shoe that was a combination of a pressure switch coupled to a pair of monostable multivibrator circuits.
- the circuit was designed to operate and cause a single flash for a predetermined length of time when the wearer of the shoe jumped or otherwise lifted his or her shoes from the ground. (A longer pulse occurred in a time-out situation where the shoe is lifted from the ground in a non-jumping motion.)
- any flashing unit used for apparel must be small and economical to make, and must be such as not to drain the battery prematurely.
- Any flashing unit must be such that when consumers are selecting lighted apparel, they can examine the operation of the flashing unit without having to put the apparel on. Thus, for example, consumers often purchase lighted shoes by picking them up from the display stand and shaking them and observing the lighted effect that occurs.
- a random flashing shoe activated by a motion apparatus all combined in a small package that could be mounted in an item of apparel such as a shoe or a hat that would operate with minimal battery drain, would also increase the salability of the shoes or other apparel.
- the novel apparatus of the present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art described above and enhances both the visibility of the wearer, as well as the salability of the item itself, with the provision of a random flashing circuit activated by a switch responsive to motion.
- the flashing unit includes at least one light that produces light visible from the exterior of the apparel.
- a motion-responsive switch causes a switch closure when the apparel is moved.
- a circuit, attached between the light and the switch, causes the light to illuminate in a series of random pulses for a predetermined time internal in response to at least one of the switch closures.
- the invention can be utilized with a variety of lights, such as light emitting diodes, incandescent lights, and electroluminescent panels.
- Such switches would include mercury switches, piezoelectric transducer switches, and vibration switches of the type having a first contact on the end of a vibrating spring and a second contact which the first contact touches in response to motion imposed upon or the inertia change in the switch.
- the circuit includes a signal generator coupled to the lights that generates random width pulses.
- a monostable multivibrator attached to the switch, enables the signal generator for a predetermined time interval in response to the switch closure.
- the signal generator includes an oscillator that defines a clock signal, a shift register, and feedback logic, between the output and input of the shift register.
- the feedback logic loads the shift register such that the contents of the shift register are random.
- the switch closes the shift register is allowed to shift the random pulse stream through the register.
- the output of the register is then combined with the clock signal to produce a random pulse signal driving the lights.
- the foregoing circuit is simple and reliable, and may be manufactured easily due to the low parts count. Since no power is drawn from the battery except when the switch is closed, power consumption is at a minimum.
- an athletic shoe 1 typically includes an upper 5 and a sole portion 10.
- An insole 6 typically resides in an upper 5 above the sole portion 10.
- a transparent, window-like structure 20 is provided about a heel of the sole portion 10.
- the transparent structure 20 may be molded integral with the sole portion 10 or may be bonded thereto with a suitable adhesive. When the shoe is moved, visible light 21 is emitted from the transparent structure.
- the sole portion 10 of the shoe 1 includes a mid-sole 22 and an outsole 23 which is fixably attached along the base of the shoe 1.
- the outer sole is typically formed from a solid, wear-resistant material such as rubber and certain polyuretane materials
- the mid-sole is typically formed in an injection or thermoformive process from a foamed resilient material such as polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate.
- a light producing mechanism 30 is disposed in the midsole portion 10 of the shoe 1, preferably below the heel of the wearers' foot.
- the light producing mechanism 30 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes 72 and 74, (each can be multiple diodes) each is wired to a different part of the circuit. In the embodiment shown, the plurality of light emitting diodes are provided about the circumference of the housing 32, although other arrangements could certainly be utilized.
- the housing 32 which can be made from plastic or other suitable, resilient, yet solid material in an injection molding process, contains a lighting control circuit 33. Preferably, housing 32 is positioned within midsole 22 or immediately adjacent thereto so that LEDs 72, 74 are positioned next to the transparent source 20 thereby enabling light emitted by the LEDs 72, 74 to be visible externally of the shoe 1.
- the lighting control circuit 33 is preferably disposed on a printed circuit board 39 to which the LEDs 31 are connected by conductors 38.
- a switch 40 is disposed within the housing 32 and is a motion sensitive switch that closes in response to motion of the shoe.
- the motion activated switch 40 may be a mercury switch, such as disclosed in the Rodgers '009 patent, a piezoelectric transducer of the type disclosed in Chiang U.S. Patent No. 5,188,447, a vibration-type switch such as disclosed in Wut U.S. Patent No. 5,408,764, a magnetic reed switch disclosed in Rodgers U.S. Patent No. 5,422,628, or the vibration light switch disclosed in Wong, U.S. Patent No. 5,400,232.
- the switch arrangements disclosed therein are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
- a simple mechanical momentary contact switch may also be utilized. The operative characteristics of all of these switches is a switch closure of the mechanical or electrical type in response to motion.
- the lighting control circuit 33 is connected to a battery 41 which is located in the housing 32. While it is shown in the diagrams as being beneath the printed circuit board 39, the exact position is not important.
- the battery is electrically connected to the lighting control circuit shown in Fig. 6.
- the battery can be positioned at any convenient location within the housing.
- Fig. 6 uses a conventional "+3v" to indicate that a particular element is tied to a 3-volt power supply which would generally be provided by a dry cell, "button-type” lithium battery which provides extremely long life coupled with a light weight structure. Obviously, other forms and voltages of batteries could be utilized for the present invention.
- the motion switch 40 is tied to the input of a monostable multivibrator 44. This monostable multivibrator 44 is configured so as to trigger on a "negative" transition of the voltage at the switch 40, which occurs when the switch is closed.
- the duration of the pulse out of monostable multivibrator 44 is controlled by the resistor and capacitor by forming an RC time constant network.
- Typical arrangements are a 47 ⁇ fd capacitor and a 2 M ⁇ resistor.
- the output of the one shot is used to control a signal generator which produces random width pulses. Operation of the signal generator may be understood with reference to the timing diagrams in Fig. 7 and the circuit in Fig. 6.
- the timing diagram in Fig. 7 references a series of signal points A, B, C, S1, M1, L1 and L2.
- Signals A, B, and C are respectively the output of flip-flop 58, flip-flop 56, and exclusive-OR gate 68.
- S1 is the representation of the switch closure.
- M1 is the output of the one shot.
- L1 and L2 are the signals across the LEDs 72 and 74.
- the signal generator includes flip-flop 58, shift registers 52-54, and 56, NOR gates 60, 62, and 64, inverter 66 and Exclusive OR 68.
- flip-flop 58 is to divide the frequency of the oscillator. It is utilized to produce the appropriate control of the output of the shift registers through the exclusive OR gate 68.
- NOR gate 60 has one input connected to the reset output of flip-flop 56 and the other input is connected to the set output of flip-flop 54.
- a NOR gate 64 has one input connected to the set output of the flip-flop 56 and another input connected to the reset output of the flip-flop 54.
- the NOR gates 60 and 62 have their outputs connected to one input of a NOR gate 62 that also drives an inverter 66, forming an OR/NOR combination.
- the outputs of NOR gate 62 and inverter 66 are respectively connected to the set and reset inputs of flip-flop 52.
- the output of the signal generator is provided at the output of flip-flop 56, otherwise indicated as signal point B.
- the output at signal point B is the random width pulses indicated in Fig. 7.
- Other random pulse variations can be achieved by changing the number of flip-flop circuits of the shift register and the input of the gate circuits connected in the feedback loop thereof.
- the output of the shift register at point B is then Exclusive OR'd with the output of flip-flop 58 so as to produce the signal at point C which is the random width pulse stream.
- An inverter 70 is used to invert this stream between LEDs 72 and 74 so that the lights can flash at opposite times. Random width circuits are known in the art and are usually used for data synchronization applications. See, e.g., U.S. Patent No. 3,890,265 to Hara. No applications to apparel are known.
- the output of the one shot is activated and removes the reset signal from the input of the oscillator 50 and the frequency divider 58.
- the shift register continues to shift whatever random series of pulses have been loaded by the feedback loop.
- the shift register stops shifting and is frozen until the next switch closure.
- the duration of the signals coming out of the shift register is controlled by oscillator 50. As mentioned, this can be two back-to-back one shots, so that the frequency can be controlled with an exterior resistor/capacitor combination. The length of time which the random sequence occurs is set by the resistor/capacitor combination on the one shot 44.
- the foregoing circuit provides an easily programmable random width series of pulses to light the LEDs 72 and 74.
- the circuit can be made in integrated form or as an application specific integrated circuit. It is intended that the present invention encompass all such modifications.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP97122849A EP0925732A1 (de) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Bewegungsgeschaltetes Blinklicht für ein Kleidungsstück |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP97122849A EP0925732A1 (de) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Bewegungsgeschaltetes Blinklicht für ein Kleidungsstück |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0925732A1 true EP0925732A1 (de) | 1999-06-30 |
Family
ID=8227878
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97122849A Withdrawn EP0925732A1 (de) | 1997-12-24 | 1997-12-24 | Bewegungsgeschaltetes Blinklicht für ein Kleidungsstück |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP0925732A1 (de) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITVR20120084A1 (it) * | 2012-05-04 | 2013-11-05 | Vibram Spa | Suola per calzature dotata di dispositivo luminoso e metodo per attivare/disattivare detto dispositivo luminoso. |
Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4158122A (en) | 1973-12-21 | 1979-06-12 | Obolonsky Alexei P | Method of measuring and stabilizing the diameter of heating point on workpiece in electron beam welding machine and on automatic device for realization thereof |
US4510556A (en) * | 1983-11-30 | 1985-04-09 | Johnson David C | Electronic lighting apparatus for simulating a flame |
US4848009A (en) | 1988-03-07 | 1989-07-18 | Rodgers Nicholas A | Flashing footwear |
WO1991013288A1 (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1991-09-05 | Jonathan Christopher Mott | Products incorporating piezoelectric material |
US5188447A (en) | 1992-01-21 | 1993-02-23 | Marpole International Inc. | Illuminating system |
DE9420282U1 (de) * | 1994-12-19 | 1995-02-09 | Hwang, Wen I, Hsin Chuang, Taipeh | Vorrichtung zum Festlegen einer Leuchtschaltung an einem Leuchtschuh |
WO1995005760A1 (en) * | 1993-08-26 | 1995-03-02 | Ionel Marin Olteanu | Footwear with electronic device |
US5408764A (en) | 1994-02-01 | 1995-04-25 | East Asia Services Ltd. | Motion activated illuminating footwear and light module therefor |
WO1995027417A1 (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1995-10-19 | Chien Tseng Lu | Shoe with an el light strip |
US5546681A (en) | 1993-02-05 | 1996-08-20 | L.A. Gear, Inc. | Footwear with flashing lights |
US5663614A (en) * | 1996-02-13 | 1997-09-02 | Weng; Ming-Bi | Lighting circuit module for a shoe |
US5683164A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1997-11-04 | Chien; Tseng Lu | Illuminated wheel |
-
1997
- 1997-12-24 EP EP97122849A patent/EP0925732A1/de not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4158122A (en) | 1973-12-21 | 1979-06-12 | Obolonsky Alexei P | Method of measuring and stabilizing the diameter of heating point on workpiece in electron beam welding machine and on automatic device for realization thereof |
US4510556A (en) * | 1983-11-30 | 1985-04-09 | Johnson David C | Electronic lighting apparatus for simulating a flame |
US4848009A (en) | 1988-03-07 | 1989-07-18 | Rodgers Nicholas A | Flashing footwear |
WO1991013288A1 (en) * | 1990-02-20 | 1991-09-05 | Jonathan Christopher Mott | Products incorporating piezoelectric material |
US5188447A (en) | 1992-01-21 | 1993-02-23 | Marpole International Inc. | Illuminating system |
US5546681A (en) | 1993-02-05 | 1996-08-20 | L.A. Gear, Inc. | Footwear with flashing lights |
WO1995005760A1 (en) * | 1993-08-26 | 1995-03-02 | Ionel Marin Olteanu | Footwear with electronic device |
US5408764A (en) | 1994-02-01 | 1995-04-25 | East Asia Services Ltd. | Motion activated illuminating footwear and light module therefor |
WO1995027417A1 (en) * | 1994-04-12 | 1995-10-19 | Chien Tseng Lu | Shoe with an el light strip |
DE9420282U1 (de) * | 1994-12-19 | 1995-02-09 | Hwang, Wen I, Hsin Chuang, Taipeh | Vorrichtung zum Festlegen einer Leuchtschaltung an einem Leuchtschuh |
US5683164A (en) * | 1995-11-22 | 1997-11-04 | Chien; Tseng Lu | Illuminated wheel |
US5663614A (en) * | 1996-02-13 | 1997-09-02 | Weng; Ming-Bi | Lighting circuit module for a shoe |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITVR20120084A1 (it) * | 2012-05-04 | 2013-11-05 | Vibram Spa | Suola per calzature dotata di dispositivo luminoso e metodo per attivare/disattivare detto dispositivo luminoso. |
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