Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Shoe attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-09
2001-09-25
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Shoe attachment
C036S112000, C362S103000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293032
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to footwear and, more particularly, to lighted slippers which can selectably vary the color of light projected from light housings thereon.
Night lights which plug in to electrical receptacles are commonly used to illuminate dimly lit areas to aid navigation through a home at night. However, a single night light or ones that are significantly spaced apart are insufficient to ensure that a person, particularly a child, will avoid stepping on toys or other items laying on dimly lit areas of the floor.
Shoes having light arrangements and even lighted slippers have been proposed in the prior art, such as the slippers disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,324,054 to Rovinsky. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, these slippers are only actuated as a child takes steps and do not allow for continuous light projection, if desired. Further, the devices proposed in the prior art do not provide for the selective projection of differently colored light.
Therefore, it is desirable to have lighted slippers which can delectably vary the color of light projected from light housings mounted thereon. Further, it is desirable to have lighted slippers in which the lights are selectively energized according to a switch mechanism. Finally, it is desirable to have lighted slippers in which the light arrangements are configured to resemble a familiar cartoon or movie character.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A lighted slipper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a slipper body having a flexible exterior surface defining an opening between front and rear portions for receiving a foot of a wearer, preferably a child. Obviously, it is contemplated that a pair of lighted slippers would be provided together. Each slipper includes a pair of generally spherical light housings mounted to the front portion of the slipper body. Each light housing is hollow, and includes a planar top and a planar front side defining a circular aperture therethrough.
A switch housing is mounted to the front portion of the slipper body forward of and generally between the light housings. The switch housing and light housings are configured and designed to resemble the eyes and nose of a familiar cartoon or movie character. A battery is disposed within the switch housing. A switch electrically coupled to the battery extends through the switch housing for selective regulation of current flow therefrom.
A light is mounted within each light housing and is forwardly directed toward the aperture in the planar side of the housing. Each light is electrically coupled to the battery and projects light through the aperture when energized. A shaft is vertically positioned within each light housing, each shaft being rotatably mounted to a hub therein. An upper end of each shaft is attached to a convex knob or cap member. Each knob is positioned above the planar top of a respective light housing and thereby maintains the generally spherical shape thereof. The knob may be grasped by a user whereby to rotate the shaft. The other end of each shaft extends through the hub and is attached to a circular support plate. Each support plate includes a plurality of brackets depending therefrom and positioned about the peripheral edge thereof. A plurality of colored lenses are held by the brackets and extend vertically beneath the plate. As the plate is rotated by the shaft, a selected lens is positioned between the light and the light housing aperture. Therefore, a selected light color is projected from each light housing when the lights are selectively energized.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide lighted slippers for illuminating the path of a child who is wearing the slippers.
Another object of this invention is to provide lighted slippers, as aforesaid, having eyes and a nose configured to resemble a familiar character.
Still another object of this invention is to provide lighted slippers, as aforesaid, in which a pair of lights can be selectively energized with a switch positioned in the nose component.
A further object of this invention is to provide lighted slippers, as aforesaid, in which lenses of different colors are rotatably positioned within the light housings for varying the color of light projected therefrom.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of this invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4020572 (1977-05-01), Chiaramonte, Jr.
patent: 4324054 (1982-04-01), Rovinsky
patent: 5237760 (1993-08-01), Altman et al.
patent: 5329432 (1994-07-01), Bland
patent: 5381615 (1995-01-01), MacMillan
patent: 5473518 (1995-12-01), Harber et al.
patent: 5483759 (1996-01-01), Silverman
patent: 5673502 (1997-10-01), Caterbone
patent: 5720121 (1998-02-01), Barker
patent: 5821858 (1998-10-01), Stone
patent: 5860727 (1999-01-01), Chien
patent: 5894686 (1999-04-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5930921 (1999-08-01), Sorofman et al.
patent: 2263386 (1993-07-01), None
Moh'andesi Jila M.
Ream Dale J.
Sewell Paul T.
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