Footwear with an electroluminescent lamp

Abstract

Footwear with at least one light source that is located on said footwear to be visible exteriorly thereof. The components for the light source include a power source for energizing the light source, a circuit for selectively electrically connecting said power source with the light source to illuminate the source, a pressure switch, which while depressed is “closed” and when not depressed is “open”, where the circuit is adapted to disconnect the power source from the light source a predetermined time after said pressure switch is “open”. The circuit is adapted to connect the power source to the light source when the switch is “closed”. Preferably, the light source is an electroluminescent lamp, which is combined with a graphic layer producing an animated EL panel.

1 . Footwear comprising: 
 at least one light source, located on said footwear to be visible exteriorly thereof;    a power source for energizing said light source;    a circuit for selectively electrically connecting said power source with said at least one light source to illuminate said source;    a pressure switch, which while depressed is “closed”, and when not depressed is “open”;    wherein said circuit being adapted to disconnect said power source from said light source a predetermined time after said pressure switch is “open”; and    wherein said circuit being adapted to connect said power source to said light source when said switch is “closed”.    
     
     
         2 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said light source is an electroluminescent lamp.  
     
     
         3 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said pressure switch is a membrane switch.  
     
     
         4 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said circuit is further comprised of an inverter and a sequencer, where the sequencer provides a timed flashing light sequence.  
     
     
         5 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said pressure switch is located in the sole of the footwear, so that when said footwear is worn, said power source is connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”.  
     
     
         6 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said circuit is further comprised of a photo sensor switch having two states, an “off” state in the presence of light, and an “on” state in the absence of light, wherein when the photo sensor switch is in the “off” state, the pressure switch is overridden, and said power source is not connected to said light source, when the pressure switch is “closed”; and, when the photo sensor switch is in the “on” state, the pressure switch is not overridden, and said power source is connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”.  
     
     
         7 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said photo sensor switch is located on the interior of the footwear, such that when the footwear is worn, the photo sensor switch is blocked from light, and said power source is connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”.  
     
     
         8 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said power source is comprised of a battery.  
     
     
         9 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said battery is rechargeable.  
     
     
         10 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said rechargeable battery is in electrical communication with an electric port that can couple to an external recharging source.  
     
     
         11 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said footwear is comprised of an exterior solar panel that, in the presence of sunlight, provides some electrical power to the rechargeable battery.  
     
     
         12 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said electroluminescent lamp is further comprised of a graphic layer, therein providing a sequenced illuminated graphic panel.  
     
     
         13 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said electroluminescent lamp is further comprised of a graphic layer, therein providing a sequenced illuminated graphic panel.  
     
     
         14 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said footwear has a sole with a compartment and an access thereto, wherein the battery is housed and accessible.  
     
     
         15 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said circuit is comprised of an inverter and a sequencer, where the sequencer provides a timed flashing light sequence.  
     
     
         16 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said circuit is further comprised of a photo sensor switch having two states, an “off” state in the presence of light, and an “on” state in the absence of light, wherein when the photo sensor switch is in the “off” state, the pressure switch is overridden, and said power source is not connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”; and, when the photo sensor switch is in the “on” state, the pressure switch is not overridden, and said power source is connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”.  
     
     
         17 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said photo sensor switch is located on the interior of the footwear, such that when the footwear is worn, the photo sensor switch is blocked from light, and said power source is connected to said light source when the pressure switch is “closed”.  
     
     
         18 . Footwear, as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said membrane switch has an electroluminescent back panel, which illuminates when said footwear is worn.