SHOE WITH SENSORS, CONTROLLER AND ACTIVE-RESPONSE ELEMENTS AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOF
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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;
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A shoe comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification