Patent US5457900A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5457900A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Footwear display device
Assignee: ROY AVERY JOE
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Filing: 1994-03-31
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Granted: 1995-10-17
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Expires: 2014-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A piece of footwear (12) includes a stroboscopic display device (10). The display device (10) includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (14) along a single array. The plurality of LEDs 14 are strobed or switched on and off through a set non-random fashion such that the plurality of LEDs (14) display a two-dimensional graphic image when the footwear (12) is moved through a step. A control (16) calculates the velocity of the step to determine the rate at which the LEDs (14) are to be strobed.
Inventors
- 👤 Avery J. Roy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:59
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/005; A; A43; A43B; A43B3/00; A43B3/0036; A43B3/0078; A43B3/34; A43B3/36; A43B3/38; A43B3/42; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device comprising: a plurality of lighting units (14) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control (16) for calculating velocity of the footwear (12) as it moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said velocity such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device comprising: a plurality of lighting units (14) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control (16) for calculating velocity of the footwear (12) as it moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said velocity such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by said plurality of lighting units (14) including a one dimensional array of lighting units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 2 further characterized by said control (16) including a strobing circuit (18) for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently of each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 3 further characterized by a cell (20) for storing energy, said cell (20) electrically connected to said control (16) and said plurality of lighting units (14).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 4 further characterized by a motion switch (22) for disconnecting said cell (20) from said control when the velocity of the footwear (12) is zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 5 further characterized by a housing (24) for housing said control (16) and said cell (20) therein and for mounting said plurality of lighting units (14) thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 6 further characterized by each of said plurality of lighting units (14) being a light emitting diode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 7 further characterized by said graphic message including alphanumeric symbols.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device (10) comprising: a piece of footwear (12); a housing (24) fixedly secured to said footwear (12); a plurality of lighting units (14) fixedly secured to said housing (24) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control circuit (16) for calculating velocity of the footwear (12) as it moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said velocity such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device (10) comprising: a piece of footwear (12); a housing (24) fixedly secured to said footwear (12); a plurality of lighting units (14) fixedly secured to said housing (24) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control circuit (16) for calculating velocity of the footwear (12) as it moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said velocity such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device comprising: a plurality of lighting units (14) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control (16) for calculating the average time the footwear (12) moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said average time such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
A light emitting display device (10) adaptable to be mounted to footwear (12), said light emitting display device comprising: a plurality of lighting units (14) switchable between a light emitting state and a dormant state, said light emitting display device (10) characterized by a control (16) for calculating the average time the footwear (12) moves through a stepping motion and for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently thereof and at a rate based on said average time such that said plurality of lighting units (14) display a graphic message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 10 further characterized by said plurality of lighting units (14) including a one dimensional array of lighting units.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 11 further characterized by said control (16) including a strobing circuit (18) for strobing each of said plurality of lighting units (14) independently of each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by a cell (20) for storing energy, said cell (20) electrically connected to said control (16) and said plurality of lighting units (14).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 13 further characterized by a motion switch (22) for disconnecting said cell (20) from said control when the average time of the stepping motion of the footwear (12) is zero.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 14 further characterized by a housing (24) for housing said control (16) and said cell (20) therein and for mounting said plurality of lighting units (14) thereto.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 15 further characterized by each of said plurality of lighting units (14) being a light emitting diode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device (10) as set forth in claim 16 further characterized by said graphic message including alphanumeric symbols.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for displaying a graphic two dimensional display on a piece of footwear (12) using a plurality of lights (14) arranged in a single dimension, the method including the steps of: moving each of the plurality of lights (14) through a light emitting state and a dormant state; moving the piece of footwear (12) through a step to create a two dimensional graphic display; and calculating the average time the plurality of lights (14) move through a step so that the plurality of lights (14) switch between the emitting state and the dormant state in a period dependent on the average time of the step of the footwear (12).
Claim 22
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for displaying a graphic two dimensional display on a piece of footwear (12) using a plurality of lights (14) arranged in a single dimension, the method including the steps of: moving each of the plurality of lights (14) through a light emitting state and a dormant state; moving the piece of footwear (12) through a step to create a two dimensional graphic display; and calculating the average time the plurality of lights (14) move through a step so that the plurality of lights (14) switch between the emitting state and the dormant state in a period dependent on the average time of the step of the footwear (12).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-16 | 1999-04-17 | 1999-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-16 | 2003-04-17 | 2003-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-16 | 2007-04-17 | 2007-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |