US20060032085A1

US20060032085A1 - Tap dance shoe and method of teaching tap dance

Info

Publication number: US20060032085A1
Application number: US11/187,331
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeanne Randall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-16
Filing date: 2005-07-21
Publication date: 2006-02-16

Abstract

An improved tap dance shoe for teaching tap dancing or for use to enhance a tap dance performance. The improved tap dance shoe has at least one heel light and one toe light in communication with a battery disposed inside the shoe and, respectively, with pressure actuated switches disposed at the heel and toe of the shoe. The switches are in operative connection with the heel tap and toe tap so as to complete the electrical circuit with the battery. When the dancer taps either the heel or toe tap, the respective switch will energize the respective light to indicate that contact has been made. The dance instructor can determine if the student is hitting the heel or toe tap properly and the student can better see what steps the instructor is doing. Preferably, a buckle or hook and loop connectors are used to secure the shoe to a foot.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/602,093 filed Aug. 16, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to shoes that are specially configured for use in artistic and other presentations, such as dance, and methods of teaching such presentations. More particularly, this invention relates to such shoes that are specially configured for tap dancing and methods of teaching students how to tap dance. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to such shoes that are configured with one or more indicator lights that light up when the shoes are properly utilized and to methods of teaching dance with such shoes.
B. Background
As is well known, dancing is a very popular entertainment and art form that requires the dancers to learn the various steps of the particular style of dance. One such popular style of dancing is tap dancing. Like most other styles of dancing, tap dancing has a vast series of recognized moves or steps that the dancer uses and mixes to create his or her own dance routine or which another person, such as a choreographer, mixes to create a dance routine for the dancer. These dance steps vary from some of the more basic moves, such as the shuffle, flaps and cramp roll, to the more intermediate moves, such as the paddle rolls, trills and walking step, to the advanced moves, such as the boogie step, chug, retro step and slides. Most of these, as well as other, dance moves require specific movement of the dancer's body, particularly his or her legs and feet. Like most other styles of dance, dancers typically spend many years learning and trying to perfect the various moves and steps that make up a tap dancer's “catalog” of dance moves. More advanced dancers utilize the knowledge they have gained from developed tap dance moves to create their own moves.
Tap dancing differs in at least one very important aspect from most other forms of dancing, namely that a principal object of tap dancing is to create sound with the action of the dancer's shoe against the dance floor as the dancer creates the visual aspect of the performance. In fact, tap dancing has been compared to musical sound, where the dancer utilizes his or her shoes as the instrument to create the sound against the dance floor. Like a drummer's drum sticks or a guitar player's guitar strings, the tap dance shoes a dancers utilizes and how he or she utilizes the shoes are a very important aspect of the way the dancer creates the “music” of tap dancing. As well known in the field of tap dancing, how hard and fast and where on the shoe the tap dancer hits his or her shoes against the dance floor affects the type and intensity of sound created by the dancer's movement.
Although there are many types of tap dance shoes currently available, they all typically share the same general configuration, that being a shoe portion worn on the dancer's foot and a pair of taps on the bottom side of the shoe, one positioned at or near the toe section of the shoe and one at or near the heel section of the shoe. Typically, but not exclusively, the taps are metal plates that are attached to the bottom of the shoe with screws, rivets, adhesives or other types of connectors. One common type of taps used for tap dance shoes is commonly known as Teletone taps. As the dancer positions his or her foot to cause the toe or heel tap to hit the dance floor in different motions, different tapping sounds are produced to obtain the desired effect.
Teaching tap dancing, like most dancing instruction, usually involves instructing a dancer or group of dancers (or would-be dancers as the case may be) how to move their feet to obtain the desired toe or heel contact with the dance floor. Typically, the tap dance instructor instructs the student or students on the desired dance and tap action and then watch and listen for the student(s) to perform the dance step properly. As anyone who has seen or heard tap dancing will recognize, the motion of the foot is typically intended to be very rapid, which makes the dance instructor's task somewhat difficult. While a very experienced dance instructor may only need to hear what the student did to know if he or she performed the step correctly and what they did wrong if they did not perform the step correctly, seeing the student's foot action is usually required to fully evaluate the student's ability to perform the desired step. The problems with evaluating a tap dance student's dancing is somewhat compounded when the instructor is teaching a group of students at the same time, which is the typical manner for at least the beginner and intermediate students. In the group setting, the dance instructor attempts to hear and watch what the students are doing, often while doing it as a group, so the instructor may correct any missteps or improper toe/heel placement. As such, the ability to accurately and quickly see the student's foot action is a major limitation of the presently available tap dance shoes and tap dance instruction methods.
In addition, to watching the student's foot movements, the dance instructor typically demonstrates the various dance steps he or she desires the students to follow and repeat. One difficultly with teaching tap dancing is that most of the dance steps require rapid movement of the foot, which can be quite difficult to watch and grasp, particularly for the new or novice dance student. While the instructor can slow the dance step down for instructional purposes to demonstrate each element and nuance of the dance step, there is still the need to be able to demonstrate the combined, rapid foot movements that make up a typical dance routine. As stated above, the added aspect of obtaining the correct touch for the heel and/or toe tap against the floor is one aspect of tap dancing that makes it somewhat more difficult to learn and perform than non-tap dance steps. Besides having to teach the foot and body movements that make up a tap dance routine, which is similar to other types of dance, the tap dance instructor must also teach the student proper heel and toe tap selection and how much impact is required to accomplish the sound desired for the particular dance routine. Presently, there is no effective visual guide to assist the tap dance instructor with showing the student the proper heel and toe placement.
Shoes having visual and/or audible components, such as lights or bells, incorporated with the shoe are well known. Generally, the shoes have lights or sound generating mechanisms that produce flashing lights or play a tune of some sort while the wearer is wearing the shoe. Some of the prior art shoes have mechanisms that are responsive to contact pressure by the wearer against the floor or other surface. A number of such shoes and shoe devices are the subject of previously issued patents. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,253 to McCormick describes a shoe provided with a removable heel that has a battery disposed inside and a light source providing illumination that is visible on the exterior of the heel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,479 to Wong describes a light flashing system for shoes that is configured to generate a pattern of illumination for a plurality of lights on the shoe in response to changes in inertial forces caused by movement of the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,324 to Goldston, et al. describes an athletic shoe plug-in light module that has a battery and a light emitting device for insertion into a receptacle in the sole of the athletic shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,080 to Van Staden describes a musical shoe having a plurality of piezoelectric sensor disks around the periphery of the heel and toe section of the shoe that are each connected to a oscillator circuit so as to produce distinctive musical sounds when an external force is applied to that area of the shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,300 to Kianka describes a shoe having a speaker operatively connected to a plurality of piezoelectric transducers that are used to produce sound when sufficient flexing or contact occurs. In one embodiment, a sound synthesizer circuit is provided to produce a variety of different sounds.
While the foregoing and other known prior art generally describe shoes and shoe devices that are capable of illuminating one or more lights on the shoe or generating sound from the shoe as a result of contact with the ground or other surface, nothing in the prior art utilizes such technology with tap dance shoes or for teaching tap dancing. What is needed, therefore, is an improved tap dance shoe and method of teaching tap dance that solves the problems and provides the benefits described above. The preferred improved tap dance shoe should be configured to provide the instructor with a illuminated visual indicator of the dance student's toe and heel placement against the dance floor. Such a visual indicator would be an improvement over merely trying to watch the movement of the dancer's feet and in would be in addition to the presently available audible method of determining proper toe and heel placement. The preferred tap dance shoe would allow the instructor to quickly and determinatively see whether the dance student is properly placing the heel or toe of his or her shoe against the floor and substantially assist the student with following the dance steps being taught by the instructor. The preferred tap dance shoe should also be both economical to manufacture and not require any different or special movement on the user's part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The tap dance shoe and method of teaching tap dance of the present invention provides the benefits and solves the problems identified above. That is to say, the present invention discloses an improved tap dance shoe that provides one or more visual indicators which indicate when the wearer is properly placing the heel or toe of his or her foot against the dance floor. The present invention is configured so as to be generally economical and to be worn as a regular tap dance shoe so as to not interfere with the dancer's normal dance movement. The improved tap dance shoe allows the tap dance instructor to better determine whether the student is placing the proper part of the shoe against the floor so as to improve tap dance instruction and substantially assists the student with following the instructor's dance steps. In addition to its use for tap dance instruction, the tap dance shoe of the present invention provides a visual element to a tap dance presentation which adds to the tapping sound of the normal dance shoe.
In one general aspect of the present invention, the improved tap dance shoe of the present invention is configured similar to presently available tap dance shoes except that it comprises a visual indicator on the shoe which is in electrical communication with a battery disposed in the shoe and with a pressure actuated switch mechanism, which is also operatively connected to the heel or toe tap of the tap dance shoe. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, both the heel tap and the toe tap have a visual indicator and a pressure actuated switch that are associated with the taps so as to indicate external contact with the taps, such as what occurs when the dancer taps his or her taps against the floor. The heel tap and heel switch are in electrical communication with a heel visual indicator and the toe tap and toe switch are in electrical communication with a toe visual indicator. Various types of switch mechanisms can be utilized to complete the electrical circuit between the battery and the visual indicator when the respective heel or toe tap contacts the floor. In the preferred embodiment, the visual indicator is a light, such as a light emitting diode or other light source, and the heel light is located at or near the heel and the toe light is located at or near the toe section of the tap dance shoe. Either or both the heel light and the toe light can be incorporated into a design element, such as a flower or like design, that is attached to the shoe. Instead of the typical string ties used with current tap dance shoes, the improved tap dance shoe can utilize a buckle mechanism or a hook and loop mechanism to secure the tap dance shoe to the dancer's foot.
The improved method of teaching tap dancing utilizes the improved tap dance shoe described above. In the preferred embodiment, both the instructor and the student are wearing the improved tap dance shoes so that the student can watch the instructor as he or she demonstrates the dance move the student desires to learn. Instead of just watching the movement of the instructor's feet to see the contact of the taps, which can be very fast, the student can see the visual indicators lighting up to indicate contact with the heel or toe tap. After the instructor demonstrates the dance step, the student can attempt to perform the same step. With the improved tap dance shoes of the present invention on the student, the instructor can more easily see if he or she is performing the correct sequence of taps to achieve the desired dance step. As with the student, the instructor will not have to rely on just the sound of the taps or the movement of the feet. The visual indicators, preferably lights, will more quickly and easily show if the student is properly tapping the heel or toe tap.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved tap dance shoe and method of teaching tap dance that provides the advantages discussed above and overcomes the disadvantages and limitations which are associated with presently available tap dance shoes and tap dance instruction.
An important objective of the present invention is to provide an improved tap dance shoe that visually indicates whether the heel or the toe of the tap dance shoe has been properly placed against the floor.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an improved tap dance shoe that can be worn and used as a standard tap dance shoe.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an improved tap dance shoe that adds a visual element to the standard tap dance presentation.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an improved tap dance shoe that can visually indicate to a tap dance instructor whether the student has properly placed the desired part of the dance shoe against the dance floor.
It is also an important objective of the present invention provide an improved tap dance shoe that can be worn by a tap dance instructor to assist a tap dance student with following the steps being taught by the instructor.
It is also an important objective of the present invention to provide an improved method of teaching tap dance that utilizes tap dance shoes having one or more visual indicators thereon to indicate the placement of the heel or toe section of the shoe against the floor which are worn by the instructor to teach the desired dance steps and/or the student to show mastering of the dance steps.
The above and other objectives of the present invention will be explained in greater detail by reference to the attached figures and the description of the preferred embodiment which follows. As set forth herein, the present invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, mode of operation and combination of processes presently described and understood by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiments and the best modes presently contemplated for carrying out the present invention:
FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of a tap dance shoe configured according to the attributes of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the heel and toe taps mounted on the bottom of the shoe;
FIG. 2 is an bottom view of the tap dance shoe of FIG. 1 showing sensor elements as a mechanism for determining contact with the dance floor;
FIG. 3 is a side view of the improved tap dance shoe of FIG. 1 showing the indicator lights mounted thereon;
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the improved tap dance shoe utilizing a lighted sole portion at the toe and heel thereof and a design element on the top of the toe section of the shoe;
FIG. 5 is a top view of an improved tap dance shoe utilizing two design elements with the heel and toe visual indicators included therewith and a single hook and loop strap to secure the shoe to the wearer's foot;
FIG. 6 is a top view of an improved tap dance shoe similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except with two hook and loop strap elements; and
FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an improved tap dance shoe utilizing a single hook and loop strap shown secured to a wearer's foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the figures where like elements have been given like numerical designations to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present invention, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are set forth below. The enclosed figures and drawings are merely illustrative of the preferred embodiments and represent several different ways of configuring the present invention. Although specific components, materials, configurations and uses are illustrated, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a number of variations to the components and to the configuration of those components described herein and in the accompanying figures can be made without changing the scope and function of the invention set forth herein.
An improved tap dance shoe that is manufactured out of the components and configured pursuant to the present invention is shown generally as 10 in the figures. As shown in FIG. 1, tap dance shoe 10 generally comprises a shoe component 12 that fits over the dancer's foot and which has a heel section 14 and a toe section 16 corresponding to the dancer's heel and toes. Mounted on the bottom side 18 of shoe 12 is a first or heel tap 20, mounted generally at heel section 14, and a second or toe tap 22, mounted generally at toe section 16. Typically, heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 are fixedly mounted to the bottom side of shoe component 12. As known to those skilled in the art, heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 can be made out of metal or other materials which are suitable for producing the tapping sound desired by the tap dancer. As also known to those skilled in the art, shoe component 12 can be made out of leather or a variety of other “shoe” materials and provided in any of a variety of different configurations and styles suitable or desired for tap dancing (i.e., Mary Jane's, men's dress shoes, etc.). In one configuration, the improved tap dance shoe 10 of the present invention is incorporated into a economy-type tap dance shoe that is particularly suitable for the beginner or novice dance. However, the improved tap dance shoe 10 of the present invention is not so limited, as it can be used by any student taking tap dance lessons from an instructor or utilized during a dance performance to add an additional visual element to the dance.
To allow the dance instructor or others to visualize the movement of the dancer's foot (shown as 23 in FIG. 7) against the dance floor, tap dance shoe 10 of the present invention includes pressure actuated switches 24 and 26 in shoe component 12 that are operatively, but separately, connected to heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 to electrically interconnect a control unit 28 (if desired) and a source of electrical power, such as battery 30 with the first or heel visual indicator 32 and the second or toe visual indicator 34. As set forth in more detail below, the pressure actuated switches 24 and 26 are configured to be operatively connected to heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 such that when contact is made against heel tap 20 or toe tap 22 the switches 24 and 26, respectively, energize visual indicators 32 and 34, respectively. In that manner, when the wearer of tap dance shoe 10 applies pressure to heel tap 20 (i.e., when tapping), switch 24 will complete the electrical circuit between battery 30 and heel visual indicator 32 to energize heel visual indicator 32. Likewise, when the wearer applies pressure to toe tap 22, switch 26 will complete the electrical circuit between battery 30 and toe visual indicator 34 to energize toe visual indicator 34. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 and 7, heel visual indicator 32 is positioned at or near heel section 14 and toe visual indicator 34 is positioned at or near toe section 16 of shoe component 12. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, both heel visual indicator 32 and toe visual indicator 34 are positioned at or near toe section 16 so that the instructor can visualize both heel 32 and toe 34 visual indicators from the front of the student. As known by those familiar with tap dancing, contact against heel 20 or toe 22 tap will generally occur when the dancer displaces the respective tap against the floor while performing a dance step, such as those described above.
In a preferred embodiment, the pressure actuated switches 24 and 26 can comprise one or more piezoelectric sensor elements, such as those shown in FIG. 2 (shown as dashed lines disposed below heel tap 20 and toe tap 22), at the heel section 14 and toe section 16 of tap dance shoe 10. As known to those skilled in the art, one or more wires, cables or other electrical connection mechanisms can interconnect piezoelectric sensor elements 24 and 26 with a control unit 28 (shown in FIG. 3) that is connected to battery 30. As known in the art, piezoelectric sensor elements 24 and 26 are capable of transmitting an electric signal in response to the application of an external force, such as from tapping heel tap 20 or toe tap 22 of shoe 10 against the floor. Examples of such sensor elements 24 and 26 are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,080 to Van Staden and U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,300 to Kianka (the disclosure of these patents are incorporated herein by this reference). As may be desired depending on the positions of contact which are desired to be monitored, more than one such piezoelectric sensor elements 24 and 26 may be used at the heel section 14 and toe section 16 of shoe 10. Control unit 28 and battery 30 can be disposed in a hollowed-out cavity of heel section 14 of shoe 10. In one configuration, battery 30 can be inside a removable plug-in module, as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,324 to Goldston (the disclosure of which is incorporated in by this reference) so that the user may replace battery 30 as needed. If desired, the control unit 28 and battery 30 can be included as a single, removable assembly that is disposed in a cavity located inside heel section 14 of shoe 10.
Control unit 28 is configured with appropriate circuitry such that when pressure is applied to the pressure actuated switch, such as piezoelectric sensor elements 24 and 26, an electric signal is sent to visual indicators, such as heel light 32 and toe light 34, to indicate that the subject portion of tap dance shoe 10 was hit against the floor. If more than one sensor element 24 and 26 is used at heel section 14 and/or toe section 16, then more than one indicator light may be used to indicate pressure applied to these points. As shown in FIG. 3, heel light 32 may be generally located near heel section 14 of shoe 10 and toe light 34 may be generally located near toe section 16. In an alternative embodiment, heel light 32 and toe light 34 are positioned together at heel section 14 and/or toe section 16 (the latter of which is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6) so that the instructor may view contact with both heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 at the same time. In this type of configuration, it will be generally preferable to utilize different colored lights for contact with heel tap 20 and toe tap 22 so the instructor can easily tell the two apart. Use of different colored lights will also generally be required when more than one position under heel tap 20 and/or toe tap 22 are monitored. As known to those skilled in the art, lights 32 and 34 may be light emitting diodes (LEDs), or other low energy use and low heat generating lights, that are mounted so as to be visible on the outer surface of shoe 12. An example of components suitable for use with tap dance shoe 10 of the present invention are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,479 to Wong, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. As set forth in the Kianka and Wong patents, tap dance shoe 10 may include a switching mechanism and a variable threshold circuit that provides power to heel light 32 and toe light 34 in a manner that reflects the amount of pressure applied to heel tap 20 or toe tap 22. In this configuration, heel light 32 and toe light 34 would have a variable light intensity that would reflect the amount of pressure applied to heel tap 20 or toe tap 22 so the instructor can determine whether the student is applying the proper or desired amount of pressure.
As also known to those skilled in the art, as set forth in the Goldston, et al. patent referenced above, first actuated switch 24 and/or second actuated switch 26 can comprise a electrical contact element (not shown) that is generally positioned in spaced apart but near abutting relationship with battery 30, for instance positioned just below battery 30, such that when contact is made against heel tap 20 or toe tap 22 the electrical contact element of switch 24 or 26 will contact battery 30 in a manner that completes the electrical circuit between battery 30 and heel visual indicator 32 or toe visual indicator 32, as appropriate. Alternatively, a pair of opposing electrical contact elements may be disposed in adjacent, but spaced apart relationship to each other such that when the wearer makes contact against heel tap 20 or toe tap 22 the two electrical contact elements contact each other and complete the electrical circuit to energize heel 32 or toe visual indicator (as appropriate). In either configuration, it is likely that control unit 28 will not be needed.
With the tap dance shoe 10 of the present invention, the dance instructor would demonstrate a particular dance move to the student that he or she is trying to teach the student while the student views the instructor's dance step. The student would then perform the same dance step while the instructor viewed the student's attempts to mimic the instructor. While the instructor is watching, the student's performance of the dance steps will cause the heel 20 and/or toe 22 lights to light up. When pressure is applied to heel tap 14 or toe tap 16, the associated heel switch 24 or toe switch 26, such as the piezoelectric sensor elements described above, would sense the pressure and cause control unit 28 to send a signal to light up the appropriate indicator light, such as heel light 32 or toe light 34. Instead of just relying on sound, the instructor would receive an immediate visual indication of whether the student tapped the proper part of the tap dance shoe 10 against the dance floor. With the variable intensity system in place, the instructor could also visually determine whether the dance was applying the proper amount of pressure to the heel tap 20 or toe tap 22. To improve the ability of the instructor to transfer the dance step instruction to the student, particularly with new or novice dancers, it will be generally advisable for the instructor to have a pair of tap dance shoes 10 incorporating the concepts of the present invention. In this manner, when the instructor is demonstrating the dance steps the student desires to learn, the student will have the advantage of seeing heel visual indicator 32 and/or toe visual indicator 34 light up as the instructor demonstrates the dance steps. The visual indicators 32 and 34, preferably lights, will emphasize to the student whether he or she should be contacting heel tap 20, toe tap 22 or neither against the floor while performing the various aspects of a dance step.
Further improved tap dance shoes 10 are shown in FIGS. 4 through 7. In general, the shoes 10 shown in these figures function as described above, with the improvements described herein. Current tap dance shoes utilize strings, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, that are tied to secure the tap dance shoe 10 to foot 23. As known to those who tap dance or teach tap dancing, the strings tend to come untied, requiring the instruction to stop and the shoes to be retied. To eliminate this problem, the tap dance shoe 10 of FIG. 4, utilizes a buckle element 36 to better secure shoe 10 to the wearer's foot 23 and has a sole light 38 that is located at or along the bottom 18 (i.e., the sole) near the toe section 16 of shoe 10. In FIG. 4, sole light 38 is shown along the toe section 16 of shoe 10. As those skilled in the art will know, sole light 38 can be placed elsewhere along shoe 10 and accomplish the same benefits. The shoe 10 of FIG. 4 also shows toe light 34 incorporated into a design element 40, shown as a star, at toe section 16. Toe light 34 or heel light 32 can be incorporated into various types of design elements 40, which are provided for aesthetic purposes, to accomplish the objectives of the present invention. The tap dance shoe 10 of FIG. 5 utilizes two design elements 40, shown as flowers, also at toe section 16 of shoe 10. To eliminate the untied problem with using ties, but to maintain the ease of on/off of tap dance shoe 10, the tap dance shoe 10 of FIG. 5 utilizes a single strap member 42 having a pair of appropriately configured and positioned hook and loop strips 44 (i.e., VELCRO) and a strap loop 46 to better secure shoe 10 to the wearer's foot 23. The tap dance shoe of FIG. 6 utilizes a pair of strap members 42 and strap loops 46 to provide the desired securing mechanism and aesthetic appeal.
The features of the present invention are shown and described in conjunction with a tap dance shoe 10 and, to a primary extent, with regard to teaching tap dancing. As known to those skilled in the art, the components and features of the present invention can also be utilized, in modified fashion, with roller blades, incline skates, roller skates, skate boards, scooters and the like. These and other such products can also benefit by incorporating the lighting mechanisms and features of the present invention into the products such that when certain movement or action is taken, one or more lights light up. As with the tap dance shoe, this feature can be used for both aesthetic and teaching purposes. In addition, the features of the tap dance shoe 10 described herein can be utilized for performance purposes as well as instructional purposes. For instance, a dancer could perform a tap dance routine in low or no light using the features of the present invention to provide a visual display of his or her dance.
While there are shown and described herein certain specific alternative forms of the invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited, but is susceptible to various modifications and rearrangements in design and materials without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In particular, it should be noted that the present invention is subject to modification with regard to the dimensional relationships set forth herein and modifications in assembly, materials, size, shape, and use. For instance, there are numerous components described herein that can be replaced with equivalent functioning components to accomplish the objectives of the present invention.

Claims

1. An improved tap dance shoe, comprising:

a shoe component having a heel section and a toe section;

a first tap on a bottom side of said shoe component;

a first visual indicator on said shoe component, said first visual indicator electrically connected to a source of electrical power disposed in said shoe component; and

a first pressure actuated switch disposed in said shoe component, said first switch operatively connected to said first tap and electrically interconnecting said first visual indicator and said source of electrical power, said first switch configured to energize said first visual indicator upon external contact against said first tap.

2. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first tap is positioned at said heel section, and said tap dance shoe further comprises a second tap positioned on said bottom side of said shoe component at said toe section, said second tap operatively connected to a second pressure actuated switch, said second switch electrically interconnecting said source of electrical power with a second visual indicator disposed on said shoe component, said second switch configured to energize said second visual indicator upon external contact against said second tap.

3. The tap, dance shoe according to claim 2, wherein said first visual indicator is at said heel section and said second visual indicator is at said toe section.

4. The tap dance shoe according to claim 3, wherein each of said first visual indicator and said second visual indicator is a light.

5. The tap dance shoe according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first visual indicator and said second visual indicator is disposed in a design element on said shoe component.

6. The tap dance shoe according to claim 3, wherein each of said first switch and said second switch comprises a piezoelectric element.

7. The tap dance shoe according to claim 6, wherein each of said first visual indicator and said second visual indicator is a light, at least one of said first visual indicator and said second visual indicator disposed in a design element on said shoe component.

8. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first visual indicator is a light.

9. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first switch comprises a piezoelectric element.

10. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1, wherein said first visual indicator is disposed in a design element on said shoe component.

11. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1 further comprising a strap element having one or more hook and loop connectors configured to secure said tap dance shoe to a foot.

12. The tap dance shoe according to claim 1 further comprising a buckle to secure said tap dance shoe to a foot.

13. An improved tap dance shoe, comprising:

a shoe component having a heel section and a toe section;

a first tap on a bottom side of said shoe component at said heel section;

a first light on said shoe component, said first light electrically connected to a source of electrical power disposed in said shoe component;

a first pressure actuated switch disposed in said shoe component, said first switch operatively connected to said first tap and electrically interconnecting said first light and said source of electrical power, said first switch configured to energize said first light upon external contact against said first tap;

a second tap on said bottom side of said shoe component at said toe section;

a second light on said shoe component, said second light electrically connected to a source of electrical power disposed in said shoe component; and

a second pressure actuated switch disposed in said shoe component, said second switch operatively connected to said second tap and electrically interconnecting said second light and said source of electrical power, said second switch configured to energize said second light upon external contact against said second tap.

14. The tap dance shoe according to claim 13, wherein said first light is at said heel section and said second light is at said toe section.

15. The tap dance shoe according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said first light and said second light is disposed in a design element on said shoe component.

16. A method of teaching tap dancing, comprising the steps of:

a. demonstrating a dance step by an instructor wearing a first pair of tap dance shoes, each tap dance shoe of said first pair of tap dance shoes having a shoe component with one or more taps on a bottom side of said shoe component;

b. viewing said dance step by a student desiring to learn said dance step;

c. performing said dance step by said student wearing a second pair of tap dance shoes, each tap dance shoe of said second pair of tap dance shoes having a shoe component with one or more taps on the bottom side thereof; and

d. viewing said dance step by said instructor as performed by said student for compliance with said demonstrating step,

wherein at least one of said first pair of tap dance shoes and said second pair of tap dance shoes comprises one or more visual indicators disposed on a section of said shoe component, a source of electrical power electrically connected to said visual indicators and a pressure switch operatively interconnecting one of said one or more taps with one of said one or more visual indicators, said pressure switch configured to energize one of said one or more visual indicators when external contact is made against one of said one or more taps.

17. The method of teaching tap dancing according to claim 16, wherein each of said first pair of tap dance shoes and said second pair of tap dance shoes has one or more of said visual indicators.

18. The method of teaching tap dancing according to claim 17, wherein each of said first pair of tap dance shoes and said second pair of tap dance shoes has two or more taps and two or more visual indicators, each of said taps operatively connected to one of said two or more visual indicators and to said pressure switch so as to indicate contact with one of said two or more taps by energizing one of said two or more visual indicators.

19. The method of teaching tap dancing according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said one or more visual indicators is in a design element on said shoe component.

20. The method of teaching tap dancing according to claim 16, wherein each of said one or more visual indicators is a light.