US20070164521A1

US20070164521A1 - Remote control motorized footwear

Info

Publication number: US20070164521A1
Application number: US11/336,286
Authority: US
Inventors: Rodney Robinson
Original assignee: ACI International Inc
Current assignee: ACI International Inc
Priority date: 2006-01-19
Filing date: 2006-01-19
Publication date: 2007-07-19

Abstract

A footwear unit for entertainment is in the form of a vehicle which is motorized and which can be controlled through a remote controller operating wirelessly to a receiver on the vehicle. The body of the vehicle is formed by the upper and sole portion of a shoe. The motorized mechanism is contained in the body of the shoe and the wheels are located the sides of the perimeter of the shoe as defined by the sole perimeter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

This disclosure relates to the toy or entertainment device in the form of footwear. A motorized mechanism is associated with the footwear toy and amusement device.
Many forms of motorized vehicles are known which are in the form of trucks, cars, and other vehicles normally representative of a full-size vehicle.
Such vehicles have at least a couple of wheels to facilitate movement on a surface. The vehicles can be motorized and under the control of a remote controller which wirelessly communicates with the musical device or toy as necessary.
There is a need for a different form of motorized unit and this disclosure is directed to meeting that need.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a footwear unit which is motorized. In particular, it concerns a footwear element which is not only movable on the surface but which is not normally associated with motorization. Further, such footwear is in the form of a shoe, boot or the like which is normally an article to be worn by a user is the subject of the present disclosure.
According to the disclosure, the footwear includes an outer sole and an upper and a body between the upper and the sole. Within that body there is a motorized unit and wheels are located essentially along the broad side of the zone defined by the periphery of the outer sole. The sole can have different portions, namely, one or more sole portions and one or more spaced portions between the sole portions. In the spaced portions there is room to accommodate an axle for pairs of rotatable wheels which can be located towards the toe and towards the heel portion of the footwear. The sole can be made of the normal plastic or rubberized material for normal footwear. Similarly the upper material is formed from the normal upper material which can be a leather other natural or synthetic material. As such, the footwear is a relatively natural looking shoe or boot and is sized to be large enough to fit on the foot of a user.
In a particularly attractive and useful form of the device the footwear is an athletic shoe and is sized for the normal footwear of an adult sports player. As such it can for instance be the size of an adult basketball player, and therefore can be for a relatively large adult.
The motorized unit can include a receiver to receive signals from a remote controller and there can be a battery pack for operating the motorized unit.
As such, the disclosure is directed to a footwear element which is motorized, such that the footwear element in the form of a virtual shoe can be seen made to move over a surface as regulated by signals from a controller. A remote controller unit is wirelessly connected with the receiver.
While the disclosure is susceptible to more embodiments made in different forms, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a description of a detailed specific embodiment whether it should be understood that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to be limited of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic shoe illustrating three wheels, the fourth wheel being hidden behind the heel portion, and showing an antenna for a receiver in the body of the shoe.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the shoe.
FIG. 3 is an alternative front view of the shoe showing the axle tilted so that the wheels are at different levels.
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the shoe.
FIG. 5 is a front view of the shoe with the body of the shoe shown in phantom and the portions of the motorization shown in different block elements.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the shoe relative to a surface from which the shoe can move. This surface can be relatively flat, for instance the floor of a basket ball court.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the shoe.
FIG. 8 is a under view of the shoe with the outer sole removed.
FIG. 9 is a under view of the shoe showing an under view of the outer sole and displaced portions for accommodating the front axle and rear axle.
FIG. 10 is a under view of the shoe showing the sole with the wheels turned.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the shoe showing the location of some lights mounted in the shoe body or the undercarriage for the motorized device and directed to be turned downwardly below the sole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A motorized footwear unit comprises an outer sole and an upper. The outer sole is dissected into the sections, including from the toe towards the heel at least a sole portion, a transverse non-sole material space, and a rear sole portion. There is a transverse axle structure for supporting spaced apart wheels accommodated in the transverse spaced portion of the sole. Part of the upper and part of the outer sole are cut away relative to normal footwear thereby to permit the location of the front wheels relatively inset, at least partially within the boundary formed by the outer periphery of the outer sole.
In addition, there is a motorized mechanism located essentially in the body of the shoe between the outer sole and the below the upper. The motorized mechanism is for operating the wheels to permit wheel rotation and to permit turning of the wheels to facilitate directing the motorized footwear in selected directions.
Preferably, the motorized footwear unit includes the sole with two transverse spaced non-sole material areas. A first transverse spaced area is at forward located transverse axle, and the forward transverse axle is located in the spaced non-sole material area rearward of the toe area of the footwear. A second transverse rear axle is located in a spaced non-sole material area located forwards of the heel portion of the footwear.
There is a receiver located in the body of the shoe and operatively connected to a processor of the motorized unit. The receiver is for communicating with the processor to effect operation of the motor to operate the wheels. A battery pack is in the body of the shoe below the upper, and an antenna receives signals from a remote control unit and communicates the signals to the receiver.
In another form, the motorized footwear unit comprises an outer sole and an upper. The outer sole extends from the toe towards the heel, and there are two transverse areas wherein a first transverse spaced area is for a forward located transverse axle and a second transverse area for a rear axle located forwards of the heel portion of the footwear. There are a pair of front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels. A motorized mechanism is located essentially in the body of the shoe between the outer sole and the below the upper. The motorized mechanism is for operating the wheels to permit wheel rotation and permit turning of the wheels to facilitate directing the motorized footwear in selected directions. There is no superstructure above the body of the footwear. The outer sole is formed by material normal for a normal footwear and the upper is formed by material for an upper for normal footwear.
An amusement device in the form of a motorized footwear unit includes an outer sole 20 which includes a toe portion 22 and a heel portion 24. There are side portions 26 which extend between the toe 22 and heel 24. Above the outer sole 20 an upper 28 are formed by two sections which are connected through a laced up portion with a lace 30 which is shown in criss-cross form between the two upper portions of the upper. Between the top of the outer sole 20 and the underneath of the upper 28 a body portion 32 is the interior portion of the footwear. There is also a conventional tongue 34 which extends underneath the lace 30. Removal of the lace 30 and pulling the tongue out can provide relatively easy access to he interior body portion of the shoe.
The upper 28 is cut away in areas 36 and 38 towards the toe 22 of the shoe so that a pair of front wheels 40 and 42 operated by a motorized unit is accommodated at least partly within the perimeter 44 as defined by the outer sole 20 of the shoe. The outer sole portion 20 is also cut away to conform with the shapes 36 and 38. The wheels 40 and 42 are mounted on a axle 46 which extends transversely across the shoe in an area towards the toe 22 of the shoe. There is also a pair of wheels 48 and 50 mounted towards the heel area 24 which are mounted on an axle 52 which extends transversely towards the rear portion of the shoe.
Motorization of the front wheels 42 is affected by a motor 54 housed in the body 32 of the shoe. The motor 54 itself is driven by a battery pack 56 which may be rechargeable battery or replaceable battery. Signals are received through the antenna 58 which is connected to the receiver 60 which in turn sends signals to a microprocessor unit 62 to operate the motor 54. The motor can affect rotation of the wheels in a forward or reversed direction and also turning of the wheels as necessary. This can permit the shoe to be driven forwardly, backwardly left and right as required and controlled by a remote control system. The remote control system can be operated manually or by computer control according to a program.
The rear wheels 48 and 50 are located towards the heel of the shoe. There is a switch 64 which acts to switch the power on and off to thereby operate the motor 54 and microprocessor 62 as needed.
A series of lights 66 are mounted towards the lower portion of the chassis so that the light beams can extend light as indicated by rays 68 towards the floor of the surface in which the footwear operates.
Considered from the toe to the heel, the outer sole 20 is formed with a front portion 70 and then there is a spaced portion 72 in which the front axle 46 is located with the appropriate axle and undercarriage and steering structure. There is a central portion 74 of the sole and then a second cut out portion 76 in which the rear axle portion 52 and its related structure is housed. A rear portion 78 of the sole is located at the heel or rear portion of the shoe. In this fashion the outer sole is formed out of three sole sections and two spaced portions.
If the configuration wheels 40, 42, 48 or 50 are set at least partly so that the axles are within, namely above, the bottom area of the outer sole 20. This permits the bottom of the sole 20 to be relatively close to the surface 80 as indicated by space 82 between the arrows 84 and 86. In this manner, the shoe appears to be movable much more closer to the surface on which it operates and it appears actually almost to be adjacent to or on the surface as if the outer sole of the shoe would be engaging of that surface. Effectively, it makes for a much more realistic representation of the shoe moving on the surface, as if it were be worn by user. The movement of a shoe on the surface is affected it does not look artificial.
Suspension means and 82 and 84 are relatively and figuratively shown for the front wheels so that the wheels can adapt and move their positions relative to the surface as may be necessary.
The rear wheels on the footwear are located on the outside of the perimeter formed by the outsole 20 and they are adjacent to the heel portion of the shoe. When wheels 42 and 40 turn about the axle as indicated in FIG. 10, a portion of the wheels are directed inside the periphery of the outer sole 20. The front wheels are a least partly within the perimeter of the shoe as defined by the outer sole perimeter.
Removal of the lace 30 and pulling the tongue 34 outwards permits for access to the motorized device being the motor portion, battery, microprocessor, and receiver as may be required for replacement for maintenance purposes.
The motorization of the shoe may be effected by obtaining a conventional shoe as would be worn by a user such as an athlete and then removing portion of the outer sole to accommodate the front and rear wheel structures and also to locate rigidly the remainder of the motorization parts in the body of the shoe. These motorization parts can be rigidly mounted in the body as necessary.
The separate remote control unit 90 with an antenna 92 is provided to emit signals wirelessly as indicated by arrow 94 to the antenna 58 of the receiver. The microprocessor control other features of the motorized vehicle, for instance, the lights, additional lights, a horn, or other sound producing elements that can be connected and associated with the motorized unit.
Many other forms of the invention exist, each different from the other in matters of detail only.
In some other aspects of the disclosure there can be multiple shoes which are motorized to operate under the control of different remote controllers. When placed on a surface, such as a basketball court these shoes can be made to traverse the court in an orchestrated or random manner as determined by the users of the remote or by some control program. In this manner an entertainment system is set up using one or more motorized footwear units which can be entertaining to an audience of a game.
For instance, the shoes can be sized and colored to reflect competing players and teams, and can be used as at least part an entertainment medium and system at appropriate intervals in a and during a sports game. The shoes or footwear units have nothing else related to the human body associated with them and as such appear to be simply motorized shoes moving on a surface. As such there is no other replication of other limbs of a human body, such as the legs, feet or other parts of the body torso.
Although certain illustrative embodiments and methods have been disclosed herein, it will be apparent form the foregoing disclosure to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of such embodiments and methods may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the art disclosed. Many other examples of the art disclosed exist, each differing from others in matters of detail only.
Accordingly, it is intended that the art disclosed shall be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the rules and principles of applicable law.

Claims

1. A motorized footwear unit comprising:

an outer sole and an upper;

the outer sole being dissected into the sections, including from the toe towards the heel at least a sole portion, a transverse non-sole material space, and a rear sole portion;

a transverse axle structure for supporting spaced apart wheels accommodated in the transverse spaced portion of the sole;

a motorized mechanism located essentially in the body of the shoe between the outer sole and the below the upper; and

the motorized mechanism being for operating the wheels so as to permit wheel rotation and to permit turning of the wheels to facilitate directing the motorized footwear in selected directions.

2. A motorized footwear unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sole includes two transverse spaced non-sole material areas, a first transverse spaced area being for a forward located transverse axle, the forward transverse axle being located in the spaced non-sole material area rearward of the toe area of the footwear and a second transverse rear axle being located in a spaced non-sole material area located forwards of the heel portion of the footwear.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the axle configurations and structure supporting the axles are located substantially inset from the under face of the outer sole.

4. A unit as claimed in claim 2 including a pair of front wheels, and wherein the axle for front wheels is substantially largely located relative to the face formed by the under face of the outer sole.

5. A unit as claimed in claim 2 including a pair of rear wheels, and wherein the axle for rear wheels is substantially largely inset relative to the face formed by the heel portion of the outer sole.

6. A unit as claimed in claim 1, including a receiver located in the body of the shoe and operatively connected to a processor of the motorized unit, the receiver communicating with the processor to effect operation of the motor to operate the wheels, a battery pack being in the body of the shoe below the upper, and an antenna for receiving signals from a remote control unit and communicating the signals to the receiver.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footwear includes a tongue with a lacing portion located above the tongue, and opening of the lace portion and displacement of a tongue from a normal position below the lace permitting access to the motorized unit located in the body of the footwear.

8. A unit as claimed in claim 1, including light generating sources in the body, the light generating sources being activated directly and indirectly by the remote control unit from a signal from the remote control unit for operating the lights, and wherein the lights are selectively directed to a provide a variety of lighting effect beneath and to the sides of the sole.

9. A unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein part of the upper and part of the outer sole are cut away relative to normal footwear thereby to permit the location of the front wheels relatively inset, at least partially within the boundary formed by the outer periphery of the outer sole.

10. A motorized footwear unit comprising:

an outer sole and an upper;

the outer sole being dissected into the sections, including from the toe towards the heel at least a sole portion, the outer sole including two transverse spaced non-sole material areas, a first transverse spaced area being for a forward located transverse axle, the forward transverse axle being located in the spaced non-sole material area rearward of the toe area of the footwear and a second transverse rear axle being located in a spaced non-sole material area located forwards of the heel portion of the footwear.

a motorized mechanism located essentially in the body of the shoe between the outer sole and the below the upper, the motorized mechanism being for operating the wheels so as to permit wheel rotation and to permit turning of the wheels to facilitate directing the motorized footwear in selected directions;

a pair of front wheels, and wherein the axle for front wheels is substantially largely located relative to the face formed by the under face of the outer sole; and

a pair of rear wheels, and wherein the axle for rear wheels is substantially largely inset relative to the face formed by the heel portion of the outer sole.

11. A unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the axle configurations and structure supporting the axles are located substantially inset from the under face of the outer sole.

12. A unit as claimed in claim 10 including a receiver located in the body of the shoe and operatively connected to a processor of the motorized unit, the receiver communicating with the processor to effect operation of the motor to operate the wheels, a battery pack being in the body of the shoe below the upper, and an antenna for receiving signals from a remote control unit and communicating the signals to the receiver.

13. A unit as claimed in claim 10 wherein the footwear includes a tongue with a lacing portion located above the tongue, and opening of the lace portion and displacement of a tongue from a normal position below the lace permitting access to the motorized unit located in the body of the footwear.

14. A unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein part of the upper and part of the outer sole are cut away relative to normal footwear thereby to permit the location of the front wheels relatively inset, at least partially within the boundary formed by the outer periphery of the outer sole.

15. A motorized footwear unit comprising:

an outer sole and an upper;

the outer sole extending from the toe towards the heel, two transverse areas wherein a first transverse spaced area is for a forward located transverse axle, and a second transverse area for a rear axle located forwards of the heel portion of the footwear;

the transverse axle structures for supporting spaced apart wheels;

a pair of front wheels, and a pair of rear wheels; and

there being no superstructure above the body of the footwear.

16. A unit as claimed in claim 15 wherein the outer sole is formed by material normal for a normal footwear and the upper is formed by material for an upper for normal footwear.

17. A unit as claimed in claim 16 including a receiver located in the body of the shoe and operatively connected to a processor of the motorized unit, the receiver communicating with the processor to effect operation of the motor to operate the wheels, a battery pack being in the body of the shoe below the upper, and an antenna for receiving signals from a remote control unit and communicating the signals to the receiver.

18. A unit as claimed in claim 17 wherein the footwear includes a tongue with a lacing portion located above the tongue, and opening of the lace portion and displacement of a tongue from a normal position below the lace permitting access to the motorized unit located in the body of the footwear.

19. A unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein part of the upper and part of the outer sole are cut away relative to normal footwear thereby to permit the location of the front wheels relatively inset, at least partially within the boundary formed by the outer periphery of the outer sole.