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Footwear incorporating piezoelectric spring system

  • US 5,918,502 A
  • Filed: 08/20/1998
  • Issued: 07/06/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An article of performance enhancing footwear, comprising:

  • a shoe upper member having a bottom edge;

    a sole member having a footbed, a contact surface, a heel portion, an instep portion, and a deformable resilient section;

    said bottom edge of said shoe upper member being attached to said footbed;

    said sole member having a cavity between said contact surface and said footbed, said cavity having an upper surface and a lower surface;

    said deformable resilient section being disposed between said lower surface of said cavity and said contact surface;

    a piezoelectric spring apparatus within said cavity, said piezoelectric spring apparatus comprising;

    a piezoelectric actuator element having top and bottom opposing major surfaces;

    said bottom major surface of said piezoelectric actuator element being in mechanical contact with said lower surface of said cavity;

    said top major surface of said piezoelectric actuator element being in mechanical contact with said upper surface of said cavity;

    an electrode on each of said top and bottom opposing major surfaces; and

    energy storage means for storing piezoelectrically generated electrical energy, said energy storage means being in electrical communication with each of said electrodes;

    whereby, upon application of a first force to said contact surface, said first force causes a deformation of said resilient deformable section;

    and whereby said deformation of said resilient deformable section causes a deformation of said piezoelectric actuator element, thereby piezoelectrically generating electrical energy with said piezoelectric actuator element.

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