Products incorporating piezoelectric material
Patent 5500635 Issued on March 19, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 10, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 10, 2014. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesInventorApplicationNo. 337320 filed on 11/10/1994US Classes:340/323R, Game reporting33/3A, Single measuring or indicating means33/3R, Footwear36/137, Light-reflecting or illuminating means310/311, Piezoelectric elements and devices310/319, Electrical output circuit310/328, With mechanical energy coupling means340/573.7, Posture alarm340/665, Force or stress374/141Combined with diverse art deviceExaminersPrimary: Crosland, Donnie L.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassG08B 023/00Foreign Application Priority Data1990-02-20 GBAbstractA product, in particular a shoe, apparel, a ball or a fishing lure, incorporating an impact sensing element made from polymeric piezoelectric material. In response to impact, the piezoelectric material generates an electrical signal to a battery-powered light- or sound-emitting unit or to an information display device which is at least partially molded into or contained in the product, thus causing circuitry to energize the light- or sound-emitting device from the battery or to display information on the information display device. In some embodiments involving light-emitting devices such as LEDs, the light is conducted to an outside surface of the product directly through the LED or via one or more optical fibers. A shoe can be provided with numerous light-emitting devices, one or more impact sensing elements, a temperature sensor and appropriate circuitry to process the impact and temperature information. This information is then used to light appropriate light-emitting devices such as to display a bar graph of temperature or force of impact, to light or flash individual light-emitting devices or to activate an information display device. In addition, a microprocessor can be included in the circuitry to provide preprogrammed control of the light emitting devices or to evaluate the input from the impact sensing element and then light the appropriate light emitting device or devices or to control the information displayed on the information display de2vice.Other References
Field of SearchGame reportingForce or stress Weight Portable Time-temperature relationship (e.g., overtemperature exceeds predetermined interval or time-temperature integral) Rate of temperature change Electrical output circuit Voltage, spark or current generator Piezoelectric elements and devices With mechanical energy coupling means Underwater type Footwear Single measuring or indicating means Multiple indicating means, independent Combined with diverse art device With other measuring device Pressure By current modifying sensor Detail of resistive sensor Shoe attachment (e.g., ornament, pocket, etc.) Light-reflecting or illuminating means | |
