Sound Producing Shoe Including Impact and Proximity Detectors

Abstract

A pair of shoes that incorporates sound-reproducing equipment that is triggered by the detection of one or more conditions. One of the conditions is the impact of a shoe with the ground, such as when a user stomps the heel on the ground. Another condition is the proximity of a second shoe to a first shoe, such as when a user moves the left shoe of a pair close to the right shoe. The detection of an impact may be used to trigger the reproduction of any desired sound—such as the “chuff” sound of a steam locomotive. The detection of the proximity of another shoe along with an impact may be used to trigger the reproduction of a different sound—such as a steam whistle.

Having described my invention, I claim: 
     
         1 . A sound-reproducing pair of shoes allowing a user to control the playing of pre-recorded sounds, comprising:
 (a) a first shoe having a lateral side and a medial side, including:
 (i) a first controller, 
 (ii) a first memory connected to said first controller, said first memory storing at least two of said pre-recorded sounds, 
 (iii) a first speaker, 
 (iv) a first contact sensor configured to detect when said user has caused said first shoe to contact the ground, 
 (v) a first proximity sensor configured to detect when a first proximity trigger is near said first proximity sensor, said first proximity sensor being located in said medial side of said first shoe, 
 (vi) said first controller configured to retrieve a first of said pre-recorded sounds and play said first sound over said first speaker upon receiving a signal from said first contact sensor but no signal from said first proximity sensor, 
 (vii) said first controller configured to retrieve a second of said pre-recorded sounds and play said second sound over said first speaker upon receiving a signal from said first contact sensor and a signal from said first proximity sensor, 
   (b) a second shoe having a lateral side and a medial side, including said first proximity trigger configured to trigger said first proximity sensor of said first shoe when said medial side of said first shoe is near said medial side of said second shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) said first proximity sensor is a magnetic detector configured to detect the presence of a magnetic field; and   (b) said first proximity trigger is a magnet.   
     
     
         3 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said first proximity sensor is adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         4 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first proximity sensor is an infrared detector. 
     
     
         5 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first proximity sensor is adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         6 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) said first proximity sensor is an RFID transceiver; and   (b) said first proximity trigger is an RFID response module.   
     
     
         7 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said RFID transceiver is adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         8 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) said first of said pre-recorded sounds is the chuff sound of a steam locomotive; and   (b) said second of said pre-recorded sounds is the whistle sound of a steam locomotive.   
     
     
         9 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first speaker is located in said heel end of said first shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source within said first shoe configured to feed electrical power to said first controller. 
     
     
         11 . A sound reproducing pair of shoes allowing a user to control the playing of pre-recorded sounds, comprising:
 (a) a first shoe having a lateral side, a medial side, a toe end, and a heel end, including,
 (i) a first controller, 
 (ii) a first memory connected to said first controller, said first memory storing at least two of said pre-recorded sounds, 
 (iii) a first speaker, 
 (iv) a first contact sensor configured to detect when said user has caused said first shoe to contact the ground, 
 (v) a first proximity sensor configured to detect when a second proximity trigger is near said first proximity sensor, said first proximity sensor being located in said medial side of said first shoe proximate said heel end, 
 (vi) a first proximity trigger located in said medial side of said first shoe proximate said toe end, 
 (vii) said first controller configured to retrieve a first of said pre-recorded sounds and play said first sound over said first speaker upon receiving a signal from said first contact sensor but no signal from said first proximity sensor, 
 (viii) said first controller configured to retrieve a second of said pre-recorded sounds and play said second sound over said first speaker upon receiving a signal from said first contact sensor and a signal from said first proximity sensor; 
   (b) a second shoe having a lateral side, a medial side, a toe end, and a heel end, including,
 (i) a second controller, 
 (ii) a second memory connected to said second -controller, said second memory storing at least two of said pre-recorded sounds, 
 (iii) a second speaker, 
 (iv) a second contact sensor configured to detect when said user has caused said second shoe to contact the ground, 
 (v) a second proximity sensor configured to detect when said first proximity trigger is near said second proximity sensor, said second proximity sensor being located in said medial side of said second shoe proximate said toe end, 
 (vi) said second proximity trigger located in said medial side of said second shoe proximate said heel end, 
 (vii) said second controller configured to retrieve said first of said pre-recorded sounds and play said first sound over said second speaker upon receiving a signal from said second contact sensor but no signal from said second proximity sensor, and 
 (viii) said second controller configured to retrieve said second of said pre-recorded sounds and play said second sound over said second speaker upon receiving a signal from said second contact sensor and a signal from said second proximity sensor. 
   
     
     
         12 . The sound reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) said first and second proximity sensors are magnetic detectors configured to detect the presence of a magnetic field; and   (b) said first and second proximity triggers are magnets.   
     
     
         13 . The sound reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said first and second proximity sensors are adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         14 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second, proximity sensors are infrared detectors. 
     
     
         15 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said first and second proximity detectors are adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         16 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) said first and second proximity sensors are RFID transceivers; and
 (b) said first and second proximity triggers are RFID response modules. 
   
     
     
         17 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said RFID transceivers are adjustable in sensitivity. 
     
     
         18 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 (a) said first of said pre-recorded sounds is the chuff sound of a steam locomotive; and   (b) said second of said pre-recorded sounds is the whistle sound of a steam locomotive.   
     
     
         19 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first speaker is located in said heel end of said first shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The sound-reproducing pair of shoes as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power source within said first shoe configured to feed electrical power to said first controller, and an electrical power source within said second shoe configured to feed electrical power to said second controller.