US20150077978A1

US20150077978A1 - Shoe

Info

Publication number: US20150077978A1
Application number: US14/028,526
Authority: US
Inventors: Denise Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-09-16
Filing date: 2013-09-16
Publication date: 2015-03-19

Abstract

A shoe includes a sole, an upper and a light-emitting unit. The upper includes a main body that is connected to the sole and that cooperates with the sole to define a foot-receiving space, and an outer layer that is mounted on the main body and that cooperates with the main body to define an accommodating space having a opening. The outer layer has a light-transmissive portion. The light-emitting unit is accommodated in the accommodating space and is capable of emitting light to pass through the light-transmissive portion. The light-emitting unit is removable from the accommodating space through the opening.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a shoe with a light-emitting unit.
2. Description of the Related Art
Whether for decoration or safety reasons, a conventional shoe 1 (see FIG. 1) with a sole 11 and an upper 12, may come with a plurality of light-emitting members 13 embedded in the upper 12. The light-emitting members 13 are actuated to emit light through movement or shaking of the conventional shoe 1 or through turning on of a switch.
However, when such embedded light-emitting design is to be used on different types of shoes, or when changing the position of the light-emitting members 13 is desired, a custom design process is required, which is rather inconvenient and costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a shoe that can eliminate the aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
According to the present invention, there is provided a shoe including a sole, and upper and a light-emitting unit. The upper includes a main body and an outer layer. The main body is connected to the sole and cooperates with the sole to define a foot-receiving space. The outer layer is mounted on the main body, cooperates with the main body to define an accommodating space having an opening, and has a light-transmissive portion. The light-emitting unit is accommodated in the accommodating space and is capable of emitting light to pass through the light-transmissive portion. The light-emitting unit is removable from the accommodating space through the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the fol lowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional shoe with a plurality of embedded light-emitting members;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the second preferred embodiment;

Fig.7 is a perspective view of the third preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of the third preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the first preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention includes a sole 2, an upper 3 and a light-emitting unit 4.
The upper 3 includes a main body 31 and an outer layer 32. The main body 31 is connected to the sole 2 and cooperates with the sole 2 to define a foot-receiving space 5. The outer layer 32 is mounted on the main body 31, cooperates with the main body 31 to define an accommodating space 321 having an opening 6, and has a light-transmissive portion 322. The light-emitting unit 4 is accommodated in the accommodating space 321 and is capable of emitting light to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322. The light-transmissive portion 322 has at least one through hole for passage of light emitted from the light-emitting unit 4 therethrough. The outer layer 32 may be made of leather, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polyurethane (PU), woven cloth, etc., which may be a material different from or the same as that of the main body 31. Although in this embodiment, the outer layer 32 is shown to be on a lateral side of the main body 31, it should be noted herein that according to different design requirements, the outer layer 32 may be mounted on a different part of the main body 31, or alternatively, there may be a plurality of outer layers 32 separately mounted on different parts of the main body 31 to define a plurality of accommodating spaces 321.
In this embodiment, the opening 6 of the accommodating space 321 faces an upward direction and the light-transmissive portion 322 has a plurality of round through holes disposed in a matrix layout; these configurations are not limited to what is disclosed herein.
The light-emitting unit 4 is removable from the accommodating space 321 through the opening 6 by a user if desired, whereas the LED 42 is also removable from the light-emitting unit 4 (e.g. for modification purposes, etc.). In this embodiment, the light-emitting unit 4 includes a light-guiding strip 41, an LED 42, a power supply 43, and a switch 44 electrically connecting the LED 42 and the power supply 43. The switch 44 controls the LED 42 to emit light toward the light-guiding strip 41 which guides the light to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322 in one of an intermittent glowing manner or a continuous glowing manner.
Even though in this embodiment the light-emitting unit 4 incorporates the LED 42 and the light-guiding strip 41 for achieving a long service life, in practice, other light-emitting technologies such as fluorescence, a single-use light source, etc., may be used.
The advantages of the present invention are as follows:

- a) Since the outer layer 32 can be directly mounted to the outer surface of the main body 31, application onto different types of shoes is easier thus reducing development time and manufacturing cost.
- b) The light emitted by the light-emitting unit 4 is allowed to pass through the light-transmissive portion 322, and uses may illuminate in two different modes (i.e., intermittent glowing and continuous glowing modes), not only achieving brilliant visual effect but also enhancing safety.
- c) Due to the light-emitting unit 4 being removable from the accommodating space 321, accessibility and modification of the same are facilitated.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the second preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in that the upper 3 further includes a light-transmissive protective layer 323 sandwiched between said outer layer 32 and said light-emitting unit 4, and a lift cap 324 for openably closing the opening 6 of the accommodating space 321. The light-transmissive protective layer 323 is made of a waterproof material. Due to the position of the light-transmissive protective layer 323, it can be used with light-transmissive portions 322 having different configurations and hole-shaped designs, preventing the entrance of foreign substances into the accommodating space 321.
The incorporation of the light-transmissive protective layer 323 and the lift cap 324 blocks foreign substances from entering the accommodating space 321, thereby reducing possible factors that may damage the light-emitting unit 4 and prolonging the service life of the light-emitting unit 4.
Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the third preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in that the upper 3 further includes a light-transmissive protective layer 323 sandwiched between the outer layer 32 and the light-emitting unit 4. In this embodiment, the light-transmissive portion 322 has one rectangular-shaped through hole. The light-guiding strip 41 of the light-emitting unit 4 has a strip body 411 and a pattern unit 412 formed on the strip body 411. The pattern unit 412 can be formed on the strip body 411 by injection molding, or can be laser engraved or directly printed thereon. The third preferred embodiment, in addition to achieving the same effects as the first preferred embodiment, can prevent foreign substances from entering the accommodating space 321 with the use of the light-transmissive protective layer 323, and further improve the variety of the visual effect achieved by the light-emitting unit 4 through the design of the pattern unit 412.
Referring to FIG. 9, the fourth preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention is similar to the first preferred embodiment in structure and differs therefrom in that the accommodating space 321 has two opposite openings 6, and the light-guiding strip 41 has a strip body 411 and a clip 413 connected to the strip body 411 for fastening the light-emitting unit 4 onto the outer layer 32.
The fourth preferred embodiment serves the same purpose of the first preferred embodiment
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe comprising:

a sole;

an upper including a main body that is connected to said sole and that cooperates with said sole to define a foot-receiving space, and an outer layer that is mounted on said main body and that cooperates with said main body to define an accommodating space having a opening, said outer layer having a light-transmissive portion; and

a light-emitting unit accommodated in said accommodating space and being capable of emitting light to pass through said light-transmissive portion, said light-emitting unit being removable from said accommodating space through said opening.

2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive portion of said outer layer has at least one through hole for passage of light emitted from said light-emitting unit therethrough.

3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light-transmissive portion of said outer layer has a plurality of said through holes.

4. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-emitting unit includes a light-guiding strip, an LED capable of emitting light toward said light-guiding strip, a power supply, and a switch electrically connecting said LED and said power supply, the light emitted from said LED being guided by said light-guiding strip and passing through said light-transmissive portion.

5. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light-guiding strip of said light-emitting unit has a strip body and a pattern unit formed on said strip body.

6. The shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light-guiding strip of said light-emitting unit has a strip body and a clip connected to said strip body for fastening said light-emitting unit onto said outer layer.

7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opening of said accommodating space faces an upward direction.

8. The shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein said upper further includes a lift cap for openably closing said opening.

9. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper further includes a light-transmissive protective layer sandwiched between said outer layer and said light-emitting unit.

10. The shoe as claimed in claim 9, wherein said protective layer is made of a waterproof material.