Abstract: An athletic shoe (20) includes a sole (22), an upper (25), and a tongue (26), as well as fasteners (28), such as shoelaces. Incorporated into the sole (22) of the athletic shoe (20) is a receptacle (30) for receiving and retaining a plug-in module (32) in a slide-in, releasably locking arrangement. The plug-in module (32) preferably includes a battery (62), a light emitting device (54), and electrical circuit elements (58, 60, 72) arranged to selectively connect the battery (62) to the light emitting device (54).

Abstract: Footwear includes a light source housed in a forward tip recess of the sole, and a push-bottom switch is mounted in a recess within the back contour of the heel for activation manually by tapping the back of the heel against a stationary object. A battery compartment is formed in an enlarged portion of the recess. A curved, focused lens contoured to the outer configuration of the sole tip is releasably connected over the frontal opening of the battery compartment. A releasably connected bulb-mounting assembly is interposed between the lens and the battery compartment. The sole includes a thin bottom layer, a thick central layer having front and back cut-outs defining the recess and a top layer supporting a foot strap.

Abstract: A shoe includes an outsole having an elastic jacket formed on the outsole for exerting an elastic property of the shoe, a midsole made of or impregnated with medical compositions for diffusing medicine vapors onto a wearer's foot for treating the wearer's disease, an insole formed with beehive polygonal protrusions for massaging a wearer's foot, an illuminator and a musical or alarm device formed in the outsole for optical decorative and musical entertaining or emergency warning purposes.

Abstract: A member made from a suitable material such as a polyurethane epoxy designed to withstand impact against an object is provided as a support member. For example, the member may constitute an insert disposed on or in the heel of a shoe but a wide variety of other applications are possible. A suitable member such as a piezoelectric member is disposed on the support member to produce a signal when the support member is impacted against the object or when the impact is released. This signal is amplified by an amplifier which is powered by a suitable source such as a battery. The amplified signals are introduced to a light emitting member such as a light emitting diode which provides an illuminated indication of the impact of the support member against the object. A member such as a resistance may be disposed in the circuit with the battery and the amplifier to limit the current flow through the amplifier during the times that the piezoelectric member is energized.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric shoe has a shoe sole that confines a watertight compartment. A pressure-operated electric generator is provided inside the watertight compartment adjacent to a heel portion of the shoe sole. The electric generator produces a voltage signal when pressure is repeatedly applied on the shoe sole during use. An electrical socket is mounted on the shoe sole and a rechargeable battery cell is wired to the electrical socket and is charged by the voltage signal from the electric generator means. The dynamoelectric shoe can be used to operate a portable wireless telephone, a portable radio, a light device to aid the user at night, or a heating device to warm the user's foot during winter.

Abstract: Skiing equipment is disclosed including improvements in ski boots and ski poles. The inventive ski boots include two layers of material for added warmth as well as a plurality of illuminated regions. Each illuminated region includes a lens which is elongated and which may be colored. Within each lens, an optical fiber is disposed. All of the optical fibers are exposed to light from a light source contained in each boot so that all of the lenses are illuminated when a switch is activated. The inventive ski poles have a transparent housing with a handle containing batteries and a light and with an optical fiber extending through the transparent portion to be illuminated by the light within the handle.

Abstract: Footwear having a combination strap and decorative lighting fully encased in transparent tubing providing multifunctional footwear suitable for a variety of occasions including leisure and night clubs having a battery, lights encased in a transparent tubing connecting to a battery timed switch for flashing the lights and battery compartment located in the sole of the sandal in a compartment which is closed by a fastener and means for opening and closing the circuit. The combination pliable strap for fixing the foot to the footwear and decorative lighting cover can be employed in a variety of configurations to construct a wide diversity of footwear constructed in accordance with the invention.

Abstract: High-intensity LEDs are mountd on or form part of an object to be illuminated. The object has first electrical terminals thereon that are coupled to the LEDs. A portable electrical circuit having second terminals for detachable coupling to the first terminals on the object causes the LED to flash and provide visibility to the object. The electrical circuit is contained in a package that has a first Velcro strip thereon. A second Velcro strip is mounted on the object near the first terminals so that the electrical circuit can be attached thereto by the Velcro strips and the electrical terminals coupled together.

Abstract: A motor for rotating a pair of capstan journals for feeding a tape in a tape recording apparatus is operable both in forward and reverse directions, so that the direction of feed of the tape is determined by the direction of operation of the motor. When the motor operates in the reverse direction, the head base first moves away from the tape and then approaches the tape again.

Abstract: A thong sandal having a sole fastened to the foot of a wearer by means of an instep strap and a toe tab connected to the sole and latched in the instep strap. The sole and instep strap are made from a flat sheet of material which is flexible and provides a comfortable support when walking of a size and shape to fit under the wearer's foot. The instep strap is partially cut away from the sole around the hee but remains attached to the sole on opposite sides of the instep. It is adapted to fold upward and forward and to latch on the toe tab. The toe tab is formed of a durable material which does not break during normal wear and has a protuberance at its free end distal its attachment to the sole for use as a display surface or it latches to the sole at the toe end such that the sandle folds substantially flat or both. The display surface can be customized to the customer's specifications and the protuberance is advantangeously attached to the stem of the toe tab on what is otherwise a stock sandal.

Abstract: Articles of footwear are provided with a battery and a light source and a motion responsive switch to intermittently connect said battery to said light source. The light source is preferably an LED and there is preferably a circuit to extinguish the light after a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An optical effect is produced in cooperation with the normal use of an article of manufacture, e.g., a toy such as a frisbee or a ball, or an article of clothing, such as a shoe, by mounting on the article a piezoelectric element for generating electrical energy in response to movement of the article and an optical effect device, such as a neon bulb, gas plasma, liquid crystal, or electroluminescent device, electrically connected to and energized by the element in response to such movement. In one embodiment, the element and device each comprises a thin, layer-like structure, the element and device structures being laminated or attached together.

Abstract: Footwear with elastomeric or plastomeric soles, such as boots, sports footwear or leisure footwear, has distinguishing elements or decorations attached to it. The elements comprise a flanged body held by means of a flexible retaining element, which may be part of the footwear itself, which has an aperture therein for allowing the body to be visible while retaining the flange. The elements may be reflective, fluorescent, phosphorescent or photoluminescent.

Abstract: A jogging shoe includes a shoelace of folded-over retroflective fabric or tape terminated at each end with a firm tip of diameter less than that of the lace openings in the shoe.

Abstract: A boot provided with a depending rear heel is provided and a rearwardly opening front-to-rear extending blind cavity is defined within the heel. A spur including an elongated shank having first and second end portions is provided and the first end portion of the shank of the spur is releasably latchingly receivable within the cavity defined in the boot. In addition, a decorative button is provided for releasable snap fitting engagement in the rear end of the cavity after the first end portion of the shank of the spur has been removed from the cavity.

Abstract: A bracket assembly for illuminating shoe skates, such as roller skates or ice skates, the bracket assembly comprising one or more bracket units adapted to be detachably secured to the skate, the bracket units selectively containing fittings for mounting light sources, such as multicolored miniature light bulbs, a source of electrical current for the light sources, and switch means for selectively actuating and deactuating the light sources.

Abstract: A switch construction for use on an illuminated article worn by a user which closes a circuit providing current to an illumination source only upon the occurrence of acceleration reacting to motions of the user while at the same time limiting the amount of time the illumination source is operative, and preventing accidental continuous operation of the illumination source while the device is not in use or the body of the wearer is motionless. The switch is not gravity sensitive, and can operate in any position on the body of the wearer.

Abstract: A flexible child's slipper (10) has a night light (12) associated therewith which may be selectively actuated by each step of the child as the slipper (10) flexes with each step. The night light (12) includes a hollow transmissive three dimensional character rendition which contains an illumination apparatus (26) inside. The illumination apparatus (26) comprises a transparent waterproof housing (28) which is formed of plastic except for a rubber seal (30) forming part of the surrounding wall. The housing (28) contains a light source (32), a battery (34) and a switch (40). A resilient pusher member (50) having a protrusion (56) is mounted on the front portion (20) of the slipper (10) and is disposed adjacent the switch (40) to act on the switch (40) and close it through the seal (30) during each step to illuminate the light source (32).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an ornamental shoe heel device wherein a shoe is provided with a removable heel and the heel is provided with a battery, electrical wiring, and a light source providing illumination from the heel visible to those viewing the exterior of the heel.

Abstract: The invention concerns a shoe having light reflecting means on the upper portion and on the bottom sole portion thereof to reflect light from approaching vehicles to visually signal the wearer's presence. The shoe is particularly useful for athletic shoes, such as jogging shoes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a sport shoe having an outsole adapted and constructed to provide means for assisting in engaging a bicycle pedal. In the various embodiments disclosed the outsole possesses one or more transverse recesses into which may be fitted a bicycle pedal. The outsole in one embodiment has two transverse recesses so that a wearer of the shoe may selectively employ one of the recesses. In another embodiment the outsole has a single recess and, additionally, a forwardly facing shoulder at the toe portion for a bicycle pedal. The sport shoe may be desirably fitted with reflective means, preferably at the counter portion of the shoe or the rearwardly facing heel portion and/or at the forwardly facing toe portion in order to increase the visibility of a bicycle rider, especially at night.

Abstract: A lighted shoe having a solid state oscillator circuit for causing periodic flashing on and off of a light associated with the shoe. A tilt switch may also be associated with the light or lights, and a three-position manual switch provided having one position wherein the light flashes periodically on and off, another position wherein the light is off, and yet another position wherein the tilt switch is inserted in the circuit with the light. The sole and heel may be formed of an integral piece of transparent rigid material, and an e.m.f. source, the circuit, the switch, and the light mounted on and in the integral piece. An AC adaptor is provided having two recharging plugs so that both shoes can be recharged at one time.

Abstract: Shoes for dancing in which the heel is made of hollow plastic and contains a battery powered flashlight for illuminating a compartment therein, having light transmitting holes in a side wall, covered with a translucent name label; and a light port at the front of the heel for energizing a bundle of light carrying optical fibers, extending ythrough and embedded in the sole via branches that end in small light emitting faces spaced around the edge of the sole; and a manual switch in the front wall of the heel for enabling an energizing circuit for the flashlight, containing a spring opened pressure switch having a switch contact-roller, the rim of which normally is slightly below the bottom of the heel, but closes the pressure switch when the shoe is stood on by the wearer, energizing the flashlight with each ta, and producing a series of flashes from the sole.

Abstract: Shoes constructed of light transmitting material to receive a light source and modulator unit for changing the coloration of high intensity light intermittently emitted to illuminate the said shoes.

Abstract: A wedge-shaped platform for footwear and having an illuminated sole portion that is self-contained with a power source therefor, automatically operable and/or manually controlled for high intensity light emission therefrom.

Abstract: Shoe and heel structure features a combination of functions including heel removability and decoration, utilizing a sliding, removably mating engagement of the heel with the shoe and means for effecting continuous or intermittent light emission within the heel structure; all coupled with translucent characteristic of the heel and coloration as to provide, in combination, a unique decorative character, coupled with changeability and thereby decorator flexibility.