Article of footwear with solar panel assembly

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole assembly and an upper secured to the sole assembly and has an exterior surface. At least one solar cell on the exterior surface of the upper is configured to provide power to a power receiving device.

1 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 a sole assembly;    an upper secured to the sole assembly and having an exterior surface; and    a solar panel assembly comprising: 
 at least one solar cell on the exterior surface of the upper; and  
 a battery operably connected to the at least one solar cell.  
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fastener, each fastener securing a corresponding solar cell to the upper.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion secured to one of the upper and the solar cell, and the second portion secured to the other of the upper and the solar cell.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the fastener comprises a snap, the first portion comprises a male portion of the snap, and the second portion comprises a mating female portion of the snap.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of solar cells are secured to the exterior surface of the upper, each solar cell having a color, at least one of the solar cells having a color different than at least one other solar cell.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of solar cells are secured to the exterior surface of the upper, each solar cell having a shape, at least one of the solar cells having a shape different than at least one other solar cell.  
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wires on an interior of the upper, the wires connecting the solar panel assembly to the battery.  
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of material positioned on an interior of the upper, the plurality of wires extending between the upper and the layer of material.  
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a powered element operably connected to the battery.  
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the powered element is an illuminated element.  
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is removably attached to one of the the upper and the sole assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel assembly comprises a flexible base member and a plurality of solar cells secured to the flexible base member.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible base member is formed of thermoplastic urethane.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible base member is formed of a polymer fabric.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel assembly comprises a plurality of flexible solar cells.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible solar cells are secured to the upper with stitching.  
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible solar cells are formed of one of pentacene, an organic polymer and plastic.  
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly includes a midsole secured to the upper and an outsole secured to the midsole.  
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery.  
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retainer secured to the upper, each retainer capturing at least a portion of a peripheral edge of a solar cell to secure the solar cell to the upper.  
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein at least one retainer is formed of an elastomeric material.  
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein at least one retainer is formed of rubber.  
     
     
         23 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 a sole assembly;    an upper secured to the sole assembly and having an exterior surface; and    a solar panel assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of solar cells on the exterior surface of the upper;  
 a plurality of wires connecting the solar cells; and  
 a rechargeable battery connected to the solar cells by the wires.  
   
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each fastener securing a corresponding solar cell to the upper.  
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , further comprising a layer of material positioned on an interior of the upper, the plurality of wires extending between the upper and the layer of material.  
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , further comprising a powered element operably connected to the rechargeable battery.  
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the solar panel assembly comprises a flexible base member secured to the upper, the plurality of solar cells being secured to the flexible base member.  
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein the solar cells are flexible solar cells.  
     
     
         29 . An article of footwear comprising, in combination: 
 a sole assembly;    an upper secured to the sole assembly and having an exterior surface; and    a solar panel assembly comprising: 
 a plurality of solar cells releasably secured to the exterior surface of the upper; and  
 a rechargeable battery operably connected to the at least one solar cell.  
   
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each fastener securing a corresponding solar cell to the upper.  
     
     
         31 . The article of footwear of  claim 23 , wherein each fastener comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion secured to one of the upper and the solar cell, and the second portion secured to the other of the upper and the solar cell.  
     
     
         32 . The article of footwear of  claim 28 , wherein the fastener comprises a snap, the first portion comprises a male portion of the snap, and the second portion comprises a mating female portion of the snap.  
     
     
         33 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , further comprising a layer of material positioned on an interior of the upper, the plurality of wires extending between the upper and the layer of material.  
     
     
         34 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , further comprising a powered element operably connected to the rechargeable battery.  
     
     
         35 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , wherein the solar panel assembly comprises a flexible base member secured to the upper, the plurality of solar cells being secured to the flexible base member.  
     
     
         36 . The article of footwear of  claim 29 , wherein the solar cells are flexible solar cells.