The invention discloses a locator unit contained within footwear providing a method for GPS position determination and transmission of said location determination data to a central monitoring station which disseminates the data through the use of proprietary software, wireless communications, land based wire systems and the Internet.

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Patent
   RE41087
Priority
Oct 21 2002
Filed
Sep 06 2006
Issued
Jan 26 2010
Expiry
Oct 21 2022

TERM.DISCL.
Inventors
Bertagna, …
Assg.orig
GTX Corp
Assg.curr
GLOBAL TRE…
Entity
unknown
Referenced by
5
References
28
Maint.:
EXPIRED
DETAILED DESCRIPTION…
0. 44. footwear for locating its wearer, said footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper portion fixed to said sole;
a locator unit operative to provide location data indicative of the geographical location of said locator unit;
an antenna; and
means for concealing at least one of said locator unit and said antenna within said upper portion of said footwear.
0. 45. A method of assembling footwear, said method comprising:
providing a sole;
providing an upper portion fixed to said sole;
providing a locator unit operative to provide location data indicative of the geographical location of said locator unit;
providing an antenna;
electrically coupling said antenna to said locator unit; and
affixing at least one of said locator unit and said antenna to said upper portion.
0. 21. footwear for locating its wearer, said footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper portion fixed to said sole;
a locator unit operative to
receive location signals from a positioning system and
computationally process said location signals into position determination data indicative of the geographical location of said wearer; and
an antenna electrically coupled to said locator unit; and wherein
at least one of said locator unit and said antenna is concealed within said upper portion of said footwear.
0. 1. footwear in combination with location determination means comprising;
a) footwear having a sole with a midsole;
b) receiving means for receiving broadcasted location determination signals transmitted by a Global positioning system and for receiving a transmission from a central station;
c) means for computationally processing location determinations signals;
d) transmission means for bradcasting the results of said computational processing; and
e) a socket formed in said midsole for receiving a module containing said receiving means, processing means and transmission means, said module slidable in and out of said midsole so that said module has an outer surface forming part of the sole of said footwear when inserted into said socket, and clips on an outside of said footwear adjacent said socket to prevent said module from coming out of said socket when said footwear is in use.
0. 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said transmission means is wireless.
0. 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless transmission is intended for receipt by a central station.
0. 4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said wireless transmission uses cellular technology to transmit said transmission to said central station.
0. 5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said wireless transmission uses satellite technology to transmit said transmission to said central station.
0. 6. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein said wireless transmission uses radio waves to transmit said transmission to said central station.
0. 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said module is assigned a unique and addressable identifier.
0. 8. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said system is passive requiring receipt of a transmission from said central station to activate said system.
0. 9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said central station can generate a response request for said module using said unique identification.
0. 10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein said central station response request energizes said location determination module to computationally formulate location determination data.
0. 11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said central station response request causes said location determination module to transmit said location determination data.
0. 12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said transmitted data forms a response reply further comprising a central station identifier.
0. 13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said central station identifier provides means for said transmission to be routed to said central station.
0. 14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said system comprises a subscriber service for a user or guardian of an individual wearing said footwear.
0. 15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the subscriber service provides the subscriber with a unique subscriber identifier.
0. 16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said subscriber having a unique subscriber identification can initiate a location request sequence.
0. 17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber using wireless technology.
0. 18. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber through the Internet.
0. 19. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the central station location determination data can be received by the subscriber through land based wire technology.
0. 20. footwear in combination with location detection means comprising;
a) footwear having a tongue;
b) receiving means for receiving broadcasted location determination signals transmitted by a Global positioning system and for receiving a transmission from a central station;
c) means for computationally processing location determination signals;
d) transmission means for broadcasting the results of said computational processing;
e) said tongue incorporating a module containing said receiving means, processing means, and said transmission means; and
f) an antenna for said module mounted visibly on said tongue forming a logo for said footwear.
0. 22. footwear according to claim 21, wherein said antenna is affixed to said upper portion.
0. 23. footwear according to claim 22, wherein said antenna is affixed to a tongue of said upper.
0. 24. footwear according to claim 23, wherein said antenna forms at least a portion of a logo located on said tongue.
0. 25. footwear according to claim 22, wherein said antenna forms at least a portion of a logo located on said upper portion.
0. 26. footwear according to claim 21, wherein said locator unit is affixed to said upper portion of said footwear.
0. 27. footwear according to claim 26, wherein said locator unit is affixed to a tongue of said upper.
0. 28. footwear according to claim 26, wherein said locator unit is removably affixed to the exterior of said upper portion.
0. 29. footwear according to claim 28, further comprising:
laces in said upper portion; and
wherein said locator unit is removably affixed to said laces.
0. 30. footwear according to claim 28, wherein said locator unit is removably affixed to the exterior of said upper portion with hook and loop fastener material.
0. 31. footwear according to claim 28, wherein said antenna is removably affixed to the exterior of said upper portion.
0. 32. The footwear according to claim 31, wherein said locator unit and said antenna are disposed in a housing.
0. 33. The footwear according to claim 26, wherein said antenna is affixed to said upper portion.
0. 34. The footwear according to claim 33, wherein said locator unit and said antenna are affixed to a tongue of said upper.
0. 35. The footwear according to claim 34, wherein said antenna forms at least a portion of a logo located on said tongue.
0. 36. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein:
said locator unit continuously receives new location signals from said positioning system;
said locator unit calculates new position determination data based on said new location signals; and
said locator unit continuously transmits said new position determination data to a central station; and
whereby said central station can continuously monitor said locator unit.
0. 37. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein:
said locator unit is operative to receive a location request from a central station; and
said locator unit, responsive to receiving said location request, is operative to determine said position determination data.
0. 38. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein said locator unit transmits said position determination data via a wireless network.
0. 39. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein said locator unit transmits said position determination data via a cellular network.
0. 40. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said locator unit and said antenna is enclosed within said upper portion of said footwear.
0. 41. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said locator unit and said antenna is enclosed within a tongue of said footwear.
0. 42. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said locator unit and said antenna is embedded in said upper portion of said footwear.
0. 43. The footwear according to claim 21, wherein at least one of said locator unit and said antenna is embedded within a tongue of said footwear.
0. 46. A method according to claim 45, wherein said step of affixing at least one of said locator unit and said antenna to said upper portion includes affixing said antenna to said upper portion.
0. 47. A method according to claim 45, wherein said step of affixing at least one of said locator unit and said antenna to said upper portion includes affixing said locator unit to said upper portion.
heal tongue of a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims.

Referring to FIG. 1, shown is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. Shown is the footwear 14 of the present invention having a locator unit 12 contained therein. The transponder 12 in the preferred embodiment is located within the midsole 16 of the footwear 14 but provides for an alternate location in the heel 18 or tongue 20. The transponder 12 provides position determination by computational calculating the location using signals 26 transmitted by GPS system 24. The transponder 12 having means for receiving a location request transmission 38 from a central monitoring station 42 using communications medium 28, 30, 32, 34,36 causes said transponder 12 to initiate a location determination sequence by receiving signals 26 from the available plurality of GPS satellites 24 and computationally calculating position determination data that will be subsequently transmitted to the central monitoring station 42 that can forward said data to subscriber communication equipment 46 comprising PDA 48, laptop 50, computer 52, or phone 54 using the Internet 44.

Referring to FIG. 2, shown is another illustrative view of the present invention in use. Shown is the footwear 14 of the present invention having a locator unit 12 contained therein. The transponder 12 having received a location request transmission 38 from a central monitoring station 42 using communications medium 28, 30, 32, 34,36 and computationally calculating position determination data using signals 26 from the available plurality of GPS satellites 24 transmits the data 40 to the central monitoring station 42 whereupon the central monitoring station 42 can forward said data to subscriber communication equipment 46 which can include PDA 48, laptop 50, computer 52, or phone 54 using the Internet 44.

Referring to FIG. 3, shown is another illustrative view of the present invention in use. The footwear transponder 12 having received a location request transmission 38 from a central monitoring station 42 using communications medium 28, 30, 32, 34,36 and computationally calculating position determination data using signals 26 from the available plurality of GPS satellites 24 transmits the data 40 to the central monitoring station 42 whereupon the central monitoring station 42 can forward said data to subscriber communication equipment 46 which can include PDA 48, laptop 50, computer 52, or phone 54 using communications medium satellite technology 28, wireless technology 30, cellular technology 32, technology using radio waves 34 and technology using air waves 36.

Referring to FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the footwear 14 of the present invention having a transponder 12 incorporated into the midsole 16. The footwear 14 has a socket 58 located in the midsole of the footwear for inserting a modular locator unit 12. Said modular locator unit 12 having a GPS position determination device for generating location data regarding said locator unit and transponder for wirelessly transmitting the location data 40 to the central monitoring station 42. The transponder has a receiver for receiving a location request signal 38 from the central monitoring station 42, whereby the transponder generates a response signal 40 including location information upon receipt of the location request signal 38.

Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a perspective view of the location determination module 12 removed from the midsole 16 socket 58 of the shoe 14. The modular locator unit 12 includes a GPS unit 68 and transponder 70 placed within a mid sole cavity 58 providing means for locating the wearer. The modular unit 12 design consists of a portable self contained GPS 68, antenna 22 and communications module 70, that can be housed within a nylon or plastic housing that is molded to fit into the mid sole cavity 58. The mid-sole cavity 58 having spaced apart walls 60 and top wall 62 has module 12 retaining means 64. The detachable modular locator unit 14 is equipped with locking clips 66 to prevent it from accidental removal from the footwear 14. The system can additional be manufactured in a standalone module that can be attached to the shoe by means of hook and loop material or shoelaces.

Referring to FIG. 6, shown is a bottom view of the footwear 14 of the present invention having the location determination module 12 removed from the midsole 16 socket 58 of the shoe 14. The modular locator unit 12 includes a GPS unit 68 and transponder 70 placed within a mid sole cavity 58 providing means for locating the wearer. The modular unit 12 design consists of a portable self contained GPS 68, antenna 22 and communications module 70 that can be housed within a nylon or plastic housing molded to fit into the mid sole cavity 58. The mid-sole cavity 58 having spaced apart walls 60 and top wall 62 has module 12 retaining means 64. The detachable modular locator unit 14 is equipped with locking clips 66 to prevent it from accidental removal from the footwear 14.

Referring to FIG. 7, shown is a side view of the footwear 14 midsole 16 socket 58. Shown is the footwear midsole socket 58 having spaced apart sidewalls 60 with means 64 for engaging the modular locator unit 12. The insertable removable locator unit 12 has means for engaging the side walls 60 of the socket and closure means 66 for securing the locator unit 14 within said socket 58.

Referring to FIG. 8, shown is a perspective view of the present invention incorporated into the heel 18 of a shoe 14. Shown is an additional element of the present invention wherein the footwear 14 has a socket located in the heel 18 of the footwear for inserting a modular locator unit 12. Said modular locator unit having a GPS position determination device for generating location data regarding said locator unit and transponder for wirelessly transmitting the location data to the central monitoring station and an antenna. The transponder has a receiver for receiving a location request signal from the central monitoring station, whereby the transponder generates a response signal including location information upon receipt of the location request signal.

Referring to FIG. 9, shown is a perspective view of the present invention having the locator device including a GPS position determination device 68 for generating location data regarding said locator unit and transponder 70 for wirelessly transmitting the location data to the central monitoring station 42 and an antenna 22 contained with a logo exteriorly positioned on the tongue 20 of the shoe. The transponder has a receiver for receiving a location request signal 38 from the central monitoring station 42, whereby the transponder 70 generates a response signal 40 including location information upon receipt of the location request signal 38.

INVENTORS:

Bertagna, Patrick E., Davis, Ralph H., Jamel, Mitchell W.

THIS PATENT IS REFERENCED BY THESE PATENTS:
Patent Priority Assignee Title
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ASSIGNMENT RECORDS    Assignment records on the USPTO
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Executed onAssignorAssigneeConveyanceFrameReelDoc
Sep 06 2006GTX Corp(assignment on the face of the patent)
Nov 09 2007GLOBAL TREK XPLORATIONJUPILI INVESTMENTS S A SECURITY AGREEMENT0201660839 pdf
Mar 18 2008JUPILI INVESTMENTS S A GLOBAL TREK XPLORATIONRELEASE BY SECURED PARTY SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS 0206790051 pdf
Mar 18 2008JUPILI INVESTMENTS,S A GLOBAL TREK XPLORATIONCORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNOR NAME ASSIGNEE ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 020679 FRAME 0051 ASSIGNOR S HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST0207330845 pdf
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