Magnetic fluid cushioning device for a footwear or shoe

• US 7,200,956 B1
• Filed: 07/23/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Materials Modification Inc.
• Original Assignee: Materials Modification Inc.
• Inventors: Kotha, Sanjay, Sudarshan, Tirumalai S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US10/624,519
• Time in Patent Office: 1,357 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/1, 36/88
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/026 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements

Abstract

A cushioning device for a footwear or shoe includes a chamber with a magnetically responsive fluid therein for absorbing and/or dampening vibrations and/or shocks. A magnetic member, such as an electromagnet, is provided for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic fluid to thereby vary the viscosity thereof.

Claims

1. A cushioning device for a footwear, comprising:

a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;

b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;

c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;

d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof; and

e) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof.

2. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the viscosity of said fluid is greater than the viscosity of at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, and a combination thereof.

3. The cushioning device of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a weight sensor for determining the weight of a user of a footwear.

4. The cushioning device of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a movement sensor for determining the movement of a footwear.

5. The cushioning device of claim 3, further comprising:

a) a control unit for receiving information from said weight sensor and relaying a signal to said magnetic member to apply a magnetic field.

6. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) a plurality of said core particles are attracted to form a magnetically connected structure when a magnetic field is applied to said fluid.

7. The cushioning device of claim 6, wherein:

a) said structure comprises generally rectilinear or bent configuration.

8. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 100 μ

m.

9. The cushioning device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 10 μ

m.

10. The cushioning device of claim 9, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 5 μ

m.

11. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said magnetic material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof.

12. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant.

13. The cushioning device of claim 12, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

14. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the member is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, dextran, and a combination thereof.

15. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of the member.

16. The cushioning device of claim 15, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

17. The cushioning device of claim 16, wherein:

a) said second coating comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, dextran, and a combination thereof.

18. The cushioning device of claim 8, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said core particles are dispersed in a carrier fluid.

19. The cushioning device of claim 18, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid.

20. The cushioning device of claim 18, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof.

21. The cushioning device of claim 18, wherein:

a) said fluid comprises about 1–

95% of said core particles.

22. The cushioning device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise at least one general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-shaped, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof.

82. The cushioning device of claim 8, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a plurality of groups of particles having different average diameters.

23. A sole for a footwear, comprising:

a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;

b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;

c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;

d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;

e) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof; and

f) a control unit for relaying a signal to said magnetic member to apply a magnetic field.

24. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) the viscosity of said fluid is greater that the viscosity of at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, and a combination thereof.

25. The sole of claim 23, further comprising:

a) a weight sensor for determining the weight of a user of a footwear.

26. The sole of claim 23, further comprising:

a) a movement sensor for determining the movement of a footwear.

27. The sole of claim 25, wherein:

a) said control unit receives information from said weight sensor for relaying a signal to said magnetic member to apply a magnetic field.

28. The sole of claim 27, wherein:

a) the strength of a magnetic field applied by said magnetic member is proportional to the weight of a user.

29. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) a plurality of said core particles form a magnetically connected structure when a magnetic field is applied to said fluid.

30. The sole of claim 29, wherein:

a) said structure comprises a generally rectilinear or bent configuration.

31. The sole of claim 30, wherein:

a) said structure is oriented in a generally vertical direction.

32. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) the sole comprises toe and heel portions each including one said chamber.

33. The sole of claim 32, wherein:

a) each of said toe and heel portions includes one said magnetic member.

34. The sole of claim 33, wherein:

a) the strengths of the magnetic fields applied by the magnetic members of said toe and heel portions may be substantially the same or different.

35. The sole of claim 33, wherein:

a) the magnetic members of said toe and heel portions apply magnetic fields substantially simultaneously or at different times.

36. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 100 μ

m.

37. The sole of claim 36, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 10 μ

m.

38. The sole of claim 37, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 5 μ

m.

39. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) said magnetic material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof.

40. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant.

41. The sole of claim 40, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

42. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) the member is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, dextran, and a combination thereof.

43. The sole of claim 23, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of the member.

44. The sole of claim 43, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

45. The sole of claim 44, wherein:

a) said second coating comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, dextran, and a combination thereof.

46. The sole of claim 36, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said core particles are dispersed in a carrier fluid.

47. The sole of claim 46, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid.

48. The sole of claim 46, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof.

49. The sole of claim 46, wherein:

a) said fluid comprises about 1–

95% of said core particles.

50. The sole of claim 36, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise at least one general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-shaped, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof.

83. The sole of claim 36, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a plurality of groups of particles having different average diameters.

51. A sole for a footwear, comprising:

a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;

b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;

c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;

d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;

e) an electromagnet for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof;

f) a movement sensor for determining the movement of a footwear;

g) a weight sensor for determining the weight of a user of a footwear; and

h) a control unit for receiving information from one of said movement and weight sensors and relaying a signal to said electromagnet for applying a magnetic field.

52. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) the viscosity of said fluid is greater than the viscosity of at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, glycerine, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, and a combination thereof.

53. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) the strength of a magnetic field applied by said magnetic member is proportional to the weight of a user.

54. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) a plurality of said core particles form a magnetically connected structure when a magnetic field is applied to said fluid.

55. The sole of claim 54, wherein:

a) said structure comprises a generally rectilinear or bent configuration.

56. The sole of claim 55, wherein:

a) said structure is oriented in a generally vertical direction.

57. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) the sole comprises toe and heel portions each including one said chamber.

58. The sole of claim 57, wherein:

a) each of said toe and heel portions includes one said magnetic member.

59. The sole of claim 58, wherein:

a) the strengths of the magnetic fields applied by the magnetic members of said toe and heel portions may be substantially the same or different.

60. The sole of claim 58, wherein:

a) the magnetic members of said toe and heel portions apply magnetic fields substantially simultaneously or at different times.

61. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 100 μ

m.

62. The sole of claim 61, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 1 nm to 10 μ

m.

63. The sole of claim 62, wherein:

a) said core particles have an average diameter of about 10 nm to 5 μ

m.

64. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) said magnetic material comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of iron, iron oxide, cobalt, cobalt oxide, nickel, nickel oxide, an alloy, and a combination thereof.

65. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant.

66. The sole of claim 65, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

67. The sole of claim 59, wherein:

a) the member is selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, polystyrene, dextran, and a combination thereof.

68. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) said first coating comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said second coating comprises a coating of the member.

69. The sole of claim 68, wherein:

a) said surfactant comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of lecithin, oleic acid, non-ionic acetylenic diol, and a combination thereof.

70. The sole of claim 69, wherein:

a) said second coating comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of silica, gold, silver, platinum, steel, cobalt, carbon, dextran, and a combination thereof.

71. The sole of claim 61, wherein:

a) the other of said first and second coatings comprises a coating of a surfactant; and

b) said core particles are dispersed in a carrier fluid.

72. The sole of claim 71, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises a water-based or an oil-based carrier fluid.

73. The sole of claim 71, wherein:

a) said carrier fluid comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of water, hydraulic oil, mineral oil, silicone oil, biodegradable oil, and a combination thereof.

74. The sole of claim 71, wherein:

a) said fluid comprises about 1–

95% of said core particles.

75. The sole of claim 61, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise at least one general shape selected from the group consisting of spherical, needle-shaped, cubic, irregular, cylindrical, diamond, oval, and a combination thereof.

76. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) said control unit receives information from said movement sensor for relaying a signal to said electromagnet to apply a magnetic field.

77. The sole of claim 76, wherein:

a) the strength of a magnetic field applied by said electromagnet depends on a type of movement detected by said movement sensor.

78. The sole of claim 77, wherein:

a) the type of movement is selected from the group consisting of walking, brisk walking, jogging, running, jumping, stepping, and skipping.

79. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) said control unit receives information from both of said movement and weight sensors.

80. The sole of claim 51, wherein:

a) the strength of a magnetic field applied by said electromagnet depends on a type of movement detected by said movement sensor.

81. The sole of claim 80, wherein:

a) the type of movement is selected from the group consisting of walking, brisk walking, jogging, running, jumping, stepping, and skipping.

84. The sole of claim 61, wherein:

a) said core particles comprise a plurality of groups of particles having different average diameters.

85. A method of varying the shock absorbing capacity of a footwear cushioning device, comprising:

a) providing a cushioning device, comprising;

i. a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;

ii the fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;

iii) the particles comprising first and second successive coatings;

iv) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof; and

v) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to the fluid;

b) applying a magnetic field to the fluid based on an input to thereby vary the viscosity of the fluid; and

c) whereby a change in viscosity of the magnetic fluid changes the shock absorbing capacity of the cushioning device.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein:

the input in step b) comprises weight data for a user received from a weight sensor.

87. The method of claim 85, wherein:

the input in step b) comprises movement data for a footwear received from a movement sensor.