Rechargeable shoe
First Claim
1. Apparatus for footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising:
- a lever attached to the footwear that moves as the wearer moves;
a linear gear attached to the lever;
a gear assembly which is rotated by being engaged by the linear gear; and
a generator connected to the gear assembly for generating power as the gear assembly rotates.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention comprises a means for generating energy while walking or running for storage in a rechargeable battery. One embodiment uses lever arm movement in the heel of a shoe resulting from normal walking or running to generate energy from a built-in generator. The linear or rotational motion of the lever arm engages the circular gear assembly and turns the generator/motor/turbine, thus generating power. The second embodiment uses fluid reservoirs embedded in the shoes. Pressure changes resulting from normal walking or running moves the fluid through a narrow channel connecting two reservoirs, thus generating power by rotating a flywheel and an attached motor/generator/turbine in the middle of the channel. Secondary (rechargeable) batteries are incorporated into the invention either in an integrated form or as an add-on design. Additional features include a digital diagnostic data output, which would serves as a “fuel gauge” for the secondary batteries, and a smart charging circuit that efficiently controls battery charging from a generator output that varies with step rate and force.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising:
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a lever attached to the footwear that moves as the wearer moves;
a linear gear attached to the lever;
a gear assembly which is rotated by being engaged by the linear gear; and
a generator connected to the gear assembly for generating power as the gear assembly rotates.
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2. Apparatus for footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising:
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a lever attached to the footwear that moves as the wearer moves;
a means for engaging attached to the lever;
a gear assembly which is rotated by being engaged by the means for engaging;
a generator connected to the gear assembly for generating power as the gear assembly rotates;
a flywheel attached to the generator; and
a one-way clutch attached to the generator and flywheel;
whereby the flywheel and one-way clutch ensure a continuous generation of electricity. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising:
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a first reservoir for holding a fluid contained in the heel of the footwear;
a second reservoir for holding a fluid contained in the sole of the footwear and connected to the first reservoir by a passage;
a means for linking the first and second reservoir comprising;
a passage creating means for directing the flow of the fluid between the two reservoirs;
a gear assembly which is rotated by the movement of the fluid from one reservoir to another; and
a generator connected to the gear assembly for generating power as the gear assembly rotates. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
a flywheel attached to the generator; and
a one-way clutch attached to the generator;
whereby the flywheel and one-way clutch ensure the continuous generation of power.
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11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further comprising a rechargeable battery.
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12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising a means for controlling the charge on the rechargeable battery.
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13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for managing the power in the rechargeable battery.
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14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, the power management means further comprising means for indicating the amount of charge in the rechargeable battery.
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15. A method using footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising the steps of:
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having a lever attached to the footwear to move as the wearer moves, the lever attached to a linear gear, the linear gear causing a gear assembly to rotate as the linear gear and lever move with the movement of the wearer; and
connecting a generator to the gear assembly to rotate as the gear assembly rotates thereby generating power.
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16. A method using footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising the steps of:
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placing a first reservoir and a second reservoir for holding a fluid in the heel and sole, respectively, of the footwear with a passage connecting the two reservoirs; and
placing a gear assembly connected to a generator in the passage to rotate as fluid moves between the two reservoirs and by the gear assembly as the wearer moves thereby rotating the generator and generating power.
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17. A method using footwear for generating power as the wearer moves comprising the steps of:
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having a lever attached to the footwear to move as the wearer moves, the lever attached to a means for engaging, the means for engaging causing a gear assembly to rotate as the means for engaging and lever move with the movement of the wearer;
connecting a generator to the gear assembly to rotate as the gear assembly rotates thereby generating power;
attaching a flywheel to the generator; and
attaching a one-way clutch to the generator and the flywheel;
whereby the flywheel and one-way clutch ensure a continuous generation of electricity. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification