Shoe having decorative lighting

United States Patent ill] 3,564,232

<td> [72]</td><td> Inventors</td><td> Theresa J. Ellerbe 41 Smith St., Charleston, S.C. 29401; Frank P. Kanapaux, III, 1461 Kinglett St., Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464</td>

<td> [21]</td><td> Appl. No.</td><td> 766,143</td>

<td> [22]</td><td> Filed</td><td> Oct. 9,1968</td>

<td> [45]</td><td> Patented</td><td> Feb. 16,1971</td>

[54] SHOE HAVING DECORATIVE LIGHTING 7 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl........................................................ 240/6.4,

240/59

[51] Int.Cl.........................................................F21v 33/00

[50] Field of Search............................................240/6.4,6.4 (W.A.L.j, 59

<td> [56]</td><td colspan="2"> References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS</td>

<td> 1,184,396</td><td> 5/1916 Trimble........................</td><td> 240/6.4</td>

<td> 1,597,823</td><td> 8/1926 Randolph.....................</td><td> 240/6.4</td>

<td> 1,933,243</td><td> 10/1933 De Merolis et al............</td><td> 240/6.4X</td>

<td> 2,931,893</td><td> 4/1960 Ariaset al.....................</td><td> 240/6.4X</td>

<td colspan="2"> Primary Examiner—John M. Horan Assistant Examiner— Fred L. Braun</td><td></td>

<td> Attorney—</td><td> B. P. Fishburne, Jr.</td><td></td>

ABSTRACT: An illuminated shoe having a detachable heel containing a concealed battery. A fastener for the heel on the body of the shoe serves to limit the movement of an on and off switch arm. The concealed battery powers the illuminating member on the shoe body.

<img file="US3564232A_D0001.tif" />

PATENTED FEB 16 B7I

3.564.232

<img file="US3564232A_D0002.tif" />

3,564,232

The “on” and “off’ positions of the switch arm 24 are positively established by the coaction of an arcuate slot 28 formed in the arm and a quick release pin fastener 29 which serves also to releaseably anchor the heel 15 to the shoe upper so that it will not be accidentally dislodged from the flanges 17 if the heel strikes some obstruction during walking. As shown, the fastener 29 has a head 30 above the plate 18 and has a cross pin 31 for releasable engagement in a locking cavity 32, FIG. 6, at the bottom of a passage 33 in the heel 15 which ¹⁰ receives the shank of the fastener 29. The passage 33 also has side grooves 34 which allow the cross pin 31 to enter the locking cavity 32 when the fastener 29 is applied to positively connect the heel to the shoe. Were it not for the fastener 29, the heel could slide out of the flanges 17 upon striking some ³ obstruction during walking. As explained, the fastener 29 also forms a convenient “off’-“on” limit stop for the pivoted switch arm 24 by virtue of the slot 28. It should be understood that other forms_; of fasteners may be employed if desired, although the present fastener is a convenient quick release device and entirely practical. The head 30 of the fastener is covered and concealed by a protective layer 35 in the insole, FIG. 1.

The arm 24, when in contact with the terminal 23, 25 completes an electrical circuit through the plate 18 having a wire 36 electrically connected therewith. These two wires pass upwardly through the heel seam 14 of the shoe and one wire extends forwardly through the tubular seam 13 along each side of the shoe at its top, one of the wires being shown in FIG. 30 3.

At the front of the tubular seam 13 and the front of the foot receiving opening, FIG. 4, the wires 22 and 36 emerge and carry a socket connector 37 adapted to receive a light bulb 38 whose terminals cause the light bulb filament to be in series 35 with the wires 22 and 36 leading from and to the battery 20 in a simple series circuit containing a manual “off”-“on” switch afforded by the arm 24. The socket element 37 has a tongue 39 projecting beneath a small strap 40 conveniently formed by slitting the shoe upper. Other arrangements may be employed 40 for anchoring the socket connector 37 to the shoe, such as a separable snap fastener or the like. The socket 37 and light bulb may be of the screw-threaded type, bayonet slot type, or other known arrangements. A preferably translucent decorative piece 41 of any preferred design frictionally fits over the ⁴⁵ light bulb 38 to complete the decorative assembly.

It should be apparent that a number of modifications, not shown, are possible within the scope of the invention. Plural decorative lights may be provided along the seam 13 connected similarly to a string of Christmas tree lights. The size ' ⁵⁰ and shape of the battery may be altered in accordance with various heel styles. The entire heel with battery could be provided as a throwaway unit. However, in all cases, the invention will be characterized by the simplified and convenient “on“off” switch construction and the circuit wires extending in a concealed manner through the existing seam. The advantages of the invention and its economies should now be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention 6θ herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.