SHOE WITH SENSORS, CONTROLLER AND ACTIVE-RESPONSE ELEMENTS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF

• US 20100154255A1
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Beard, Steven E., Robinson, Douglas K., Taylor, Gordon B., Moisan, Jared, Weber, Derek S., Erickson, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,141,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/127
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 11/00 Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/367 Detection of balance between both feet, i.e. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0059 worn by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet

Abstract

Active-response golf shoes are disclosed. The golf shoes include a plurality of sensors, a controller, and at least one active-response element. The sensor and controller operate to rapidly determine if a golfer is walking or swinging a golf club. Once this determination is made the controller and active-response element rapidly change the shoe'"'"'s characteristics. If the controller determines that the golfer is walking, the shoe provides a soft and flexible walking platform. If the controller determines that the golfer is swinging, the shoe morphs or changes automatically to provide a stable hitting platform. The controller senses various predetermined conditions such as pressure of the user'"'"'s foot to determine whether the golfer is walking or swinging. The active-response element is a lateral adjuster having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands;

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

an upper having laces;

a sole coupled to the upper to define a chamber for receiving a wearer'"'"'s foot;

a plurality of sensors embedded in the sole, each sensor having a plurality of leads, a distal end of each lead having a connector;

a lateral adjuster active response element having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands;

a controller integral with the sole and operatively connected to the sensors and the lateral adjuster active-response element;

wherein the controller determines whether the wearer is walking or swinging and when the wearer is swinging, the controller sends an output current to the active-response element and the active-response element changes the shoe from an initial state where the shoe exhibits a first set of characteristics to a transitory state where the shoe exhibits a second set of characteristics different from the first set.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein there are four sensors.

3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the controller comprises an electronic assembly housing four independent circuits, each circuit connected to one of the four sensors.

4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the controller sends the output current if the sensors sense a pressure greater than a preset swing threshold within a preset time interval threshold.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sensors are pressure sensors that underlie parts of the wearer'"'"'s foot.

6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the swing threshold is between 70 kPa to 140 kPa.

7. The shoe of claim 6, wherein the swing threshold is about 100 kPa.

8. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.

9. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.

10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the first set of characteristics is indicative of walking.

11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the second set of characteristics is indicative of swinging.

12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein during walking said sensor generates energy that is harvested.

13. The shoe of claim 12, wherein during swinging the controller converts the harvested energy to said output current.

14. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe is more stable when exhibiting the second set of characteristics than the first set of characteristics.

15. The shoe of claim 14, when exhibiting the second set of characteristics the wearer'"'"'s foot is less movable relative to the shoe.

16. The shoe of claim 1, wherein each sensor is made of piezoelectric material.

17. The shoe of claim 1, wherein each sensor is made of an insulating polymer.

18. The shoe of claim 17, wherein each sensor is made of a silicone or an acrylic elastomer.

19. The shoe of claim 18, wherein each sensor is made of polyurethane, fluorosilicone, fluoro-elastomer, polybutadiene or isoprene.