Article of footwear with powered elements and shaped power source

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper, a sole assembly secured to the upper, and a woven fabric of light elements forming a portion of the upper. In another embodiment, an article of footwear includes an upper, a sole assembly secured to the upper, and a light fiber forming a stitching line on a portion of the upper. In a further embodiment, an article of footwear includes an upper, a sole assembly secured to the upper, a powered element on one of the upper and sole assembly, and a power source operably connected to the powered element, with the power source received in one of the upper and the sole assembly and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.

1 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 an upper;    a sole assembly secured to the upper; and    a woven fabric of light elements forming a portion of the upper.    
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric forms an alphanumeric character.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric forms a symbol.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric comprises side light fibers.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric comprises at least one optical fiber.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric comprises an electroluminescent material.  
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric includes a plurality of colors.  
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric is configured to flash on and off intermittently.  
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a power source operably connected to the woven fabric, received in one of the upper and the sole assembly, and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.  
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source is a battery.  
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source has at least one curved surface.  
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source has a compound curved surface.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a heel counter secured to a rear of the upper, the power source having a shape that conforms substantially to a surface of the heel counter.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the power source is positioned between the heel counter and the upper.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the sole assembly comprises an outsole and a midsole.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the power source is contained within the midsole.  
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source is positioned about an ankle opening of the upper.  
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source is a flexible thin layer electrochemical cell.  
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the power source is a molded lithium-ion battery.  
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of light elements and selected ones of the light elements are illuminated intermittently to produce a moving image.  
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , further comprising a controller connected to the light elements.  
     
     
         22 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 an upper;    a sole assembly secured to the upper;    a woven fabric comprising light conducting fibers and forming a portion of the upper; and    a battery operably connected to the woven fabric, received in one of the upper and the sole assembly, and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.    
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 22 , wherein the woven fabric comprises a plurality of light elements and selected ones of the light elements are illuminated intermittently to produce a moving image.  
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , further comprising a controller connected to the light elements and the battery.  
     
     
         25 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 an upper;    a sole assembly secured to the upper; and    a light fiber forming a stitching line on a portion of the upper.    
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber forms an alphanumeric character.  
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber forms a symbol.  
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber comprises side light fibers.  
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber comprises at least one optical fiber.  
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber comprises an electroluminescent material.  
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber includes a plurality of colors.  
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , wherein the light fiber is configured to flash on and off intermittently.  
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear of  claim 25 , further comprising a power source operably connected to the light fiber, received in one of the upper and the sole assembly, and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.  
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source is a battery.  
     
     
         35 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , wherein the power source has at least one curved surface.  
     
     
         36 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source has a compound curved surface.  
     
     
         37 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , further comprising a heel counter secured to a rear of the upper, the power source having a shape that conforms substantially to a surface of the heel counter.  
     
     
         38 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source is positioned between the heel counter and the upper.  
     
     
         39 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the sole assembly comprises an outsole and a midsole.  
     
     
         40 . The article of footwear of  claim 39 , wherein the power source is contained within the midsole.  
     
     
         41 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source is positioned about an ankle opening of the upper.  
     
     
         42 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source is a flexible thin layer electrochemical cell.  
     
     
         43 . The article of footwear of  claim 33 , wherein the power source is a molded lithium-ion battery.  
     
     
         44 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 an upper;    a sole assembly secured to the upper; and    a light fiber forming a stitching line on a portion of the upper; and    a battery operably connected to the light fiber, received in one of the upper and the sole assembly, and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.    
     
     
         45 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 an upper;    a sole assembly secured to the upper;    a powered element on one of the upper and sole assembly; and    a power source operably connected to the powered element, received in one of the upper and the sole assembly, and having a shape that conforms substantially to a portion of one of the upper and the sole assembly.    
     
     
         46 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , further comprising at least one additional powered element operably connected to the power source.  
     
     
         47 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source is a battery.  
     
     
         48 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source has at least one curved surface.  
     
     
         49 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source has a compound curved surface.  
     
     
         50 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , further comprising a heel counter secured to a rear of the upper, the power source having a shape that conforms substantially to a surface of the heel counter.  
     
     
         51 . The article of footwear of  claim 50 , wherein the power source is positioned between the heel counter and the upper.  
     
     
         52 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element comprises a plurality of light elements and selected ones of the lighted elements are illuminated intermittently to produce a moving image.  
     
     
         53 . The article of footwear of  claim 52 , further comprising a controller connected to the light elements and the power source.  
     
     
         54 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the sole assembly comprises an outsole and a midsole.  
     
     
         55 . The article of footwear of  claim 54 , wherein the power source is contained within the midsole.  
     
     
         56 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source is positioned about an ankle opening of the upper.  
     
     
         57 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source is a flexible thin layer electrochemical cell.  
     
     
         58 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the power source is a molded lithium-ion battery.  
     
     
         59 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element is on an exterior surface of one of the upper and sole assembly.  
     
     
         60 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element comprises a light fiber.  
     
     
         61 . The article of footwear of  claim 60 , wherein the light fiber is an optical fiber.  
     
     
         62 . The article of footwear of  claim 60 , wherein the light fiber is a side light fiber.  
     
     
         63 . The article of footwear of  claim 60 , wherein the light fiber comprises a stitching line on the upper.  
     
     
         64 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element comprises a woven fabric of light elements forming a portion of the upper.  
     
     
         65 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element comprises an LED.  
     
     
         66 . The article of footwear of  claim 45 , wherein the powered element is a pedometer.