Human powered electrical generation system

• US 6,281,594 B1
• Filed: 07/26/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ivan Marijan Sarich
• Original Assignee: Ivan Marijan Sarich
• Inventors: Sarich, Ivan Marijan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/360,167
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 219/497, 219/486, 219/548, 36/26, 623/32, 623/24, 731/72, 322/1, 290/1.R
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/42 where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A human powered electrical generation system is disclosed which uses generators incorporated into the soles of specially designed footwear. As the wearer of the footwear walks, mechanical or pneumatic linkages in the soles of the footwear cause the operation of the generators and the production of electrical energy. A special garment designed for use in conjunction with the footwear has conductive pathways that allow electrical power to be supplied to various appliances carried on or about the body of the wearer.

Claims

1. A human powered electrical generation system comprising:

a footwear item having a sole, said sole having a heel portion and a toe portion;

an electrical energy generator incorporated into said sole;

a first pair of conductive couplers provided on said footwear item, said pair of conductive couplers being in electrical communication with said electrical energy generator;

powering means for converting compression of at least one of said heel portion and said toe portion of said sole into mechanical energy and powering said electrical energy generator using the mechanical energy;

a garment dimensioned and configured to be worn by a wearer, said garment having a conductive bus in communication with said pair of conductive couplers, said conductive bus providing conductive pathways distributing electrical energy provided by said electrical energy generator to at least selected locations on said garment;

at least a second pair of conductive couplers supported by said garment, said second pair of conductive couplers being in electrical communication with said conductive bus; and

an appliance electrically communicating with said second pair of conductive couplers to thereby receive electrical energy from said conductive bus, said appliance being carried about the wearer'"'"'s body.

2. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is a cellular telephone.

3. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is a power tool.

4. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator unit.

5. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said appliance is an artificial limb.

6. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said heel portion of said sole has a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being moved closer to said top wall when said heel portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, said electrical energy generator has a generator shaft, rotation of said generator shaft causing said electrical energy generator to produce electrical energy, and wherein said powering means comprises:

a plate projecting from said top wall, said plate having a slot which extends parallel to said top wall;

a pivot pin slidably supported by said slot;

a crank wheel rotatably supported near said electrical energy generator, said crank wheel being coupled to said generator shaft such that rotation of said crank wheel causes rotation of said generator shaft;

a crank throw eccentrically fixed to said crank wheel;

a first linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first linkage bar being pivotally attached to said bottom plate; and

a second linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second linkage bar being pivotally attached to said second end of said first linkage bar by said pivot pin to form a pivotal attachment between said first end of said second linkage bar and said second end of said first linkage bar, such that said pivotal attachment between said first end of said second linkage bar and said second end of said first linkage bar is capable of moving slidably along said slot, said second end of said second linkage bar being pivotally supported by said crank throw,

whereby movement of said bottom plate of said heel portion and said top plate of said heel portion toward one another due to application of compressive forces to said heel portion causes linear movement of said first end of said second linkage bar along said slot which in turn causes rotational motion of said crank wheel and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

7. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 6, wherein said toe portion of said sole has a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall of said toe portion being capable of movement relative to said top wall of said toe portion, and wherein said powering means further comprises:

a second plate projecting from said bottom wall of said toe portion, said second plate having a second slot which extends parallel to said bottom wall of said toe portion;

a second pivot pin slidably supported by said second slot;

a third linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said third linkage bar being pivotally attached to said top wall of said toe portion; and

a fourth linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fourth linkage bar being pivotally attached to said second end of said third linkage bar by said second pivot pin to form a pivotal attachment between said first end of said fourth linkage bar and said second end of said third linkage bar, such that said pivotal attachment between said first end of said fourth linkage bar and said second end of said third linkage bar is capable of moving slidably along said second slot, said second end of said fourth linkage bar being pivotally supported by said crank throw,

whereby movement of said bottom plate of said toe portion relative to said top plate of said toe portion causes linear movement of said first end of said fourth linkage bar along said second slot which in turn causes rotational motion of said crank wheel and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

8. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a pair of conductive couplers provided on said footwear item, said pair of conductive couplers being in electrical communication with said electrical energy generator; and

a garment having a conductive bus in communication with said pair of conductive couplers, said conductive bus providing conductive pathways distributing electrical energy provided by said electrical energy generator to at least selected locations on said garment.

9. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 8, wherein said pair of conductive couplers is a first pair of conductive couplers and said garment is dimensioned and configured to be worn by a wearer, the human powered electrical generation system further comprising:

at least a second pair of conductive couplers supported by said garment, said second pair of conductive couplers being in electrical communication with said conductive bus; and

an appliance electrically communicating with said second pair of conductive couplers to thereby receive electrical energy from said conductive bus, said appliance being carried about the wearer'"'"'s body.

10. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 9, wherein said appliance is selected from the group consisting of a cellular telephone, a power tool, and a belt-attachable notebook computer.

11. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said heel portion of said sole has a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being moved closer to said top wall when said heel portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, said electrical energy generator has a generator shaft, rotation of said generator shaft causing said electrical energy generator to produce electrical energy, and wherein said powering means comprises:

a crank wheel rotatably supported near said electrical energy generator, said crank wheel being coupled to said generator shaft such that rotation of said crank wheel causes rotation of said generator shaft;

a crank throw eccentrically fixed to said crank wheel;

a plurality of linkage bars pivotally connected in succession, said plurality linkage bars extending from a first pivotal attachment to said bottom plate to a second pivotal attachment to said crank throw,

whereby movement of said bottom plate of said heel portion and said top plate of said heel portion toward one another due to application of compressive forces to said heel portion causes displacement of said second pivotal attachment relative to said first pivotal attachment, thereby causing rotational motion of said crank wheel and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

12. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said heel portion of said sole has a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall being moved closer to said top wall when said heel portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, said electrical energy generator has a generator shaft, rotation of said generator shaft causing said electrical energy generator to produce electrical energy, and wherein said powering means comprises:

a corrugated spring having a plurality of corrugations, a fixed end and a free end, said corrugated spring being disposed intermediate said top wall and said bottom wall such that when said bottom wall of said heel portion and said top wall of said heel portion move toward one another due to application of compressive forces to said heel portion, said plurality of corrugations are relatively flattened and said free end of said corrugated spring is caused to move closer to said electrical energy generator;

a crank wheel rotatably supported near said electrical energy generator, said crank wheel being coupled to said generator shaft such that rotation of said crank wheel causes rotation of said generator shaft;

a crank throw eccentrically fixed to said crank wheel; and

a linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said linkage bar being pivotally attached to said free end of said corrugated spring, said second end of said linkage bar being pivotally supported by said crank throw,

whereby movement of said bottom wall of said heel portion and said top wall of said heel portion toward one another due to application of compressive forces to said heel portion causes movement of said free end of said corrugated spring which in turn causes rotational motion of said crank wheel and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

13. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 12, wherein said toe portion of said sole has a top wall and a bottom wall, said bottom wall of said toe portion being capable of movement relative to said top wall of said toe portion, said footwear item has a length directed substantially from said heel portion toward said toe portion, and wherein said powering means further comprises:

a second corrugated spring having a second plurality of corrugations, a fixed end and a free end, said second corrugated spring being disposed intermediate said top wall of said toe portion and said bottom wall of said toe portion such that when said bottom wall of said toe portion and said top wall of said toe portion move relative to one another, each of said second plurality of corrugations is caused to change its dimension in a direction defined substantially by said length of said footwear item and said free end of said second corrugated spring is caused to change position along said length of said footwear item;

a second linkage bar having a first end and a second end, said first end of said second linkage bar being pivotally attached to said free end of said second corrugated spring, said second end of said second linkage bar being pivotally supported by said crank throw,

whereby movement of said bottom wall of said toe portion relative to said top wall of said toe portion causes movement of said free end of said second corrugated spring which in turn causes rotational motion of said crank wheel and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

14. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said heel portion of said sole has a flexible air chamber having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, said flexible air chamber being squeezed when said heel portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, said electrical energy generator has a generator shaft, rotation of said generator shaft causing said electrical energy generator to produce electrical energy, and wherein said powering means comprises:

a first conduit communicating with said first air inlet and with atmospheric air surrounding said footwear item;

a first one-way valve provided in said first conduit, said first one-way valve acting to allow air movement into said flexible air chamber only and only when there is lower air pressure within said flexible air chamber as compared to atmospheric pressure of air surrounding said footwear item;

a second one-way valve provided at said first air outlet, said second one-way valve acting to allow air movement out of said flexible air chamber only and only when there is higher air pressure within said flexible air chamber as compared to atmospheric pressure of air surrounding said footwear item; and

a pneumatic turbine rotatably supported near said electrical energy generator, said pneumatic turbine being coupled to said generator shaft such that rotation of said pneumatic turbine causes rotation of said generator shaft, said pneumatic turbine communicating with said first air outlet such that air issuing from said first air outlet impinges upon said pneumatic turbine and causes said pneumatic turbine to rotate,

whereby compression of said flexible air chamber due to application of compressive forces to said heel portion causes air to be issued from said first air outlet which causes rotational motion of said pneumatic turbine and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

15. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 14, wherein said toe portion of said sole has a second flexible air chamber having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, said second flexible air chamber being squeezed when said toe portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, and wherein said powering means further comprises:

a second conduit communicating with said second air inlet and with atmospheric air surrounding said footwear item;

a third one-way valve provided in said second conduit, said third one-way valve acting to allow air movement into said second flexible air chamber only and only when there is lower air pressure within said second flexible air chamber as compared to atmospheric pressure of air surrounding said footwear item; and

a fourth one-way valve provided at said second air outlet, said fourth one-way valve acting to allow air movement out of said second flexible air chamber only and only when there is higher air pressure within said second flexible air chamber as compared to atmospheric pressure of air surrounding said footwear item, said pneumatic turbine communicating with said second air outlet such that air issuing from said second air outlet impinges upon said pneumatic turbine and causes said pneumatic turbine to rotate,

whereby compression of said second flexible air chamber due to application of compressive forces to said toe portion causes air to be issued from said second air outlet which causes rotational motion of said pneumatic turbine and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

16. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 1, wherein said heel portion of said sole has a flexible air chamber having a first air inlet and a first air outlet, said flexible air chamber being squeezed when said heel portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, wherein said toe portion of said sole has a second flexible air chamber having a second air inlet and a second air outlet, said second flexible air chamber being squeezed when said toe portion of said sole is subjected to compressive forces, said electrical energy generator has a generator shaft, rotation of said generator shaft causing said electrical energy generator to produce electrical energy, and wherein said powering means comprises:

a first conduit communicating with said first air inlet and with said second air inlet;

a second conduit communicating with said first conduit intermediate said first air inlet and said second air inlet, and with atmospheric air surrounding said footwear item;

a one-way valve provided in said second conduit, said one-way valve acting to allow air movement into said first and second flexible air chambers only and only when there is lower air pressure within said first and second flexible air chambers as compared to atmospheric pressure of air surrounding said footwear item; and

a pneumatic turbine rotatably supported near said electrical energy generator, said pneumatic turbine being coupled to said generator shaft such that rotation of said pneumatic turbine causes rotation of said generator shaft, said pneumatic turbine communicating with said first and second air outlets such that air issuing from said first and second air outlets impinge upon said pneumatic turbine and cause said pneumatic turbine to rotate,

whereby compression of either of said first and second flexible air chambers causes air to be issued from said first and second air outlets which cause rotational motion of said pneumatic turbine and consequently production of electrical energy by said electrical energy generator.

17. The human powered electrical generation system according to claim 16, further including thermoelectric diodes incorporated into said footwear item to one of heat and cool said footwear item as selected by a user to control a microenvironment surrounding a foot inserted into said footwear item.

18. A human powered electrical generation system comprising:

a footwear item having a sole, said sole having a heel portion and a toe portion, wherein said footwear item is a first footwear item worn on the natural leg of a user with one artificial leg having an artificial foot, the human powered electrical generation system further including a second footwear item worn on the artificial foot, said second footwear item being powered by said first footwear item to simulate movements of a natural human foot;

a pair of conductive couplers provided on said footwear item, said pair of conductive couplers being in electrical communication with said electrical energy generator;

powering means for converting compression of at least one of said heel portion and said toe portion of said sole into mechanical energy and powering said electrical energy generator using the mechanical energy; and

a garment having a conductive bus in communication with said pair of conductive couplers, said conductive bus providing conductive pathways distributing electrical energy provided by said electrical energy generator to at least selected locations on said garment.