GB2263386A

GB2263386A - Footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2263386A
Application number: GB9201223A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Blunier
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-21
Filing date: 1992-01-21
Publication date: 1993-07-28
Also published as: GB9201223D0

Abstract

An article of footwear (10), which comprises a body (11) and an electrical signal-generating device (14) embedded substantially within the body (11) for generating an audible or light signal. The electrical signal-generating device (14) may be powered by battery cells (18) or by an electrical power generator which is arranged to be activated by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer. <IMAGE>

Description

AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR The present invention relates to an article of footwear, such as a shoe or slipper, capable of providing a signal.

According to the invention, there is provided an article of footwear which comprises a body and an electrical signalgenerating device embedded substantially within the body for generating a signal.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical signal-generating device is battery-powered and includes an electrical switch arranged to control the operation of the electrical signalgenerating device.

Preferably, the electrical switch is arranged to be closed manually by a user in order to turn on the electrical signal-generating device and at a different time to be opened manually by a user in order to turn off the electrical signal-generating device.

In a different preferred embodiment, the electrical switch is embedded within a sole of the body such that the operation of the electrical switch is controlled by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer.

In a further different preferred embodiment, the electrical signal-generating device includes an electrical power generator for supplying power thereto, said electrical power generator being embedded within a sole of the body and operable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer.

Preferably, the electrical power generator comprises a magnet providing a magnetic field and a coil associated with the magnetic field, the strength or polarity of the magnetic field relative to the coil being variable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer in order to cause the coil to generate electrical power by magnetic induction.

It is preferred that the electrical power generator further includes magnetically-permeable means for providing a physical path for the magnetic flux of the magnet, which physical path passes through the coil and is alternately openable and closable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer in order to vary the amount of magnetic flux passing through the coil.

In a specific construction, the magnetically-permeable means comprises a elongate member which is pivotably movable between a first position in which the physical path is open and a second position in which the physical path is closed.

The signal may be an audible signal, for which the electrical signal-generating device may include an integrated circuit storing a segment of music, notes or song.

The signal may be a light signal, for which the electrical signal-generating device includes at least one lightemitting diode for providing the light signal.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a first embodiment of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a second embodiment of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a partly cut-away perspective view of a third embodiment of an article of footwear in accordance with the invention; Figure 4 is a block diagram of an electronic circuit incorporated by the article of footwear of Figure 1; and Figures 5A to 5C show an electrical power generator incorporated by the article of footwear of Figure 3.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings, there is shown an article of footwear according to the invention, in the form of a stuffed slipper 10. The slipper 10 comprises a body 11 which is formed by an upper body part 12 and a sole 13, and an electrical signal-generating device 14 located within the wall of the upper body part 12. The electrical signal-generating device 14 comprises a printed circuit board 15, an electronic circuit 16 (Figure 4) mounted on the circuit board 15, a mechanical switch 17 connected to the electronic circuit 16, two battery cells 18 for supplying electrical power to the electrical circuit 16, and a piezo-electric buzzer or speaker 19 for transforming an electrical output signal of the electronic circuit 16 to an audible signal.

As shown in Figure 4, the electronic circuit 16 comprises a trigger switch 20 coupled with the mechanical switch 17, a digital-to-analog or D/A converter 21 to which the trigger switch 20 is connected, and a timer 22 and an oscillator 23 to both of which the trigger switch 20 is also connected. The timer 22 and the oscillator 23 provide a basic control signal for the D/A converter 21. The electronic circuit 16 further includes a digital data memory 24 for storing and supplying pre-stored digital data to the D/A converter 21. The output of the D/A converter 21 is fed through an amplifier 25 to the speaker 19.

In operation, the electrical signal-generating device 14 is turned on by a user manually closing the mechanical switch 17 by squeezing the wall of the upper body part 12. With electrical power supplied by the battery cells 18, the electronic circuit 16 operates to produce an audible signal at the speaker 19 according to the data stored in the digital data memory 24. Depending on the nature of the stored digital data, the audible signal may be a segment of music, notes or song. The electrical signal-generating device 14 can be turned off by manually opening the mechanical switch 17 through a similar squeezing action by the user.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an article of footwear, according to the invention, in the form of a stuffed slipper 30. The slipper 30 has a construction similar to that of the slipper 10, except incorporating a pair of light-emitting diodes 31 in place of the speaker 19. The corresponding electrical signal-generating device 32 is similar to that of the first embodiment but having a modified electronic circuit suitable for driving the lightemitting diodes 31. The light-emitting diodes 31 are arranged to blink upon operation of the electrical signalgenerating device 32, and may be located at any position on the slipper top other than the front end thereof as shown.

It will be appreciated that the mechanical switch of either the first or the second embodiment may be located within the sole and preferably within the heel of the slipper 10 or 30. This arrangement causes the operation of the corresponding electrical signal-generating device to be activated by the walking, running or jumping action of the wearer.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, there is shown a third embodiment of an article of footwear according to the invention, in the form of a lady shoe 40. The shoe 40 has a body 41 which is formed by an upper body part 42 and a sole 43, and incorporates an electrical signal-generating device 44. The electrical signal-generating device 44 comprises a pair of light-emitting diodes 45 provided at the front end of the upper body part 42 and an electrical power generator 46 which is located within the heel portion of the sole 43 and connected to the light-emitting diodes 45 by wires 47 for driving the diodes 45. The electrical power generator 46 has a casing 48 and an operating member 49 pivotably supported on the casing 48.

The construction of the electrical power generator 46 is shown in Figure 5A, which is formed by a permanent magnet 50, a coil 51 wound on a soft iron rod 52, a elongate soft iron base plate 53 supporting at corresponding ends the magnet 50 and the rod 52, and a elongate soft iron top plate 54 disposed across the corresponding upper ends of the magnet 50 and the rod 52. The rod 52 and the base and top plates 53 and 54 provide a magnetically permeable path 55 passing through the coil 51 for the magnetic flux of the magnet 50.

The top plate 54 has one end 54a bent to form a pivot 56 bearing against the upper end of the magnet 50. The far end 54b of the top plate 54 is resiliently biassed by a spring or rubber band (not shown) normally against the upper end of the rod 52 and is pivotable to leave the rod upper end upon a downward force applied to the other end 54a of the top plate 54 on the opposite side of the pivot 56. The top plate end 54b will come into contact with the upper end of the rod 52 as soon as the other end 54a is released.

Repeated application of the said downward force will result in alternating opening and closing of the magnetic flux path 55 and in turn result in the magnetic flux passing through the coil 51 reciprocating between upper and lower levels. The magnetic field associated with the coil 51 is thus repeatedly changing in strength, and this causes the coil 51 to produce an e.m.f. across its two terminals to which the light-emitting diodes 45 are connected by the wires 47, as shown in Figure 5c. As a consequence, the light-emitting diodes 45 blink.

The top plate 54 is mechanically coupled with the operating member 49 of the electrical power generator 46. As a wearer of the shoe 40 walks, runs or jumps, the operating member 49 is pressed towards the casing 48, and thereby to pivot the top plate 54 as described above in order to operate the electrical power generator 46 to supply power to the electrical signal-generating device 44.

Figure 5B shows an electrical power generator 46' having a slightly different construction from the electrical power generator 46, with like parts designated by like numerals having an apostrophe. The top plate 54' is resiliently biassed with its end 54b' normally away from the upper end of the rod 52', and is arranged to be pivoted until the end 54b' comes into contact with the rod upper end when the associated operating member 49' is pressed towards the casing 48' of the electrical power generator 46' when the shoe wearer walks, runs or jumps.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various modifications of and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1 An article of footwear, comprising a body and an electrical signal-generating device embedded substantially within the body for generating a signal.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signal-generating device is battery-powered and includes an electrical switch arranged to control the operation of the electrical signal-generating device.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrical switch is arranged to be closed manually by a user in order to turn on the electrical signal-generating device and at a different time to be opened manually by a user in order to turn off the electrical signal-generating device.

4. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrical switch is embedded within a sole of the body such that the operation of the electrical switch is controlled by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer.

5. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical signal-generating device includes an electrical power generator for supplying power thereto, said electrical power generator being embedded within a sole of the body and operable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer.

6. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrical power generator comprises a magnet providing a magnetic field and a coil associated with the magnetic field, the strength or polarity of the magnetic field relative to the coil being variable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer in order to cause the coil to generate electrical power by magnetic induction.

7. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electrical power generator further includes magnetically-permeable means for providing a physical path for the magnetic flux of the magnet, which physical path passes through the coil and is alternately openable and closable by the walking, running or jumping action of a wearer in order to vary the amount of magnetic flux passing through the coil.

8. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 7, wherein the magnetically-permeable means comprises a elongate member which is pivotably movable between a first position in which the physical path is open and a second position in which the physical path is closed.

9. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal is an audible signal.

10. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 9, wherein the electrical signal-generating device includes an integrated circuit storing a segment of music, notes or song.

11. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 8, wherein the signal is a light signal.

12. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electrical signal-generating device includes at least one light-emitting diode for providing the light signal.

13. An article of footwear, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.