Adaptively controlled footwear
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
- (a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time;
(b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; and
(c) a control, for selectively controlling a release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said second time being independent of an uncontrolled natural response of said energy absorbing structure, said control receiving an input estimating an amount of energy stored in said energy storage structure.
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Abstract
A method for controlling footwear, comprising cushioning a transient force during use of the footwear at a first period of a gait cycle, storing energy from said cushioning, and releasing the stored energy during use of the footwear at a second period of the gait cycle, and after said transient force has subsided. The control can be electronic, mechanical or hydraulic, and is preferably dependent on a sensed gait cycle phase. The control may be adaptive to the user or the use of the footwear. The stored energy can be used to assist in locomotion, to generate electrical energy, to drive a heat pump, or simply dissipated.
787 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
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(a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; and (c) a control, for selectively controlling a release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said second time being independent of an uncontrolled natural response of said energy absorbing structure, said control receiving an input estimating an amount of energy stored in said energy storage structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controlling footwear, comprising the steps of:
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(a) cushioning a transient force during use of the footwear at a first period of a gait cycle; (b) storing energy from said cushioning; and (c) releasing the stored energy during use of the footwear at a second period of the gait cycle, and after said transient force has subsided, at least one of said storing and releasing steps being dependent on an estimated state of an energy storage element. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An article of footwear, comprising:
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(a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; (b) an energy storage structure, for storing at least a portion of an energy associated with said transient force absorbed by said energy absorbing structure and controllably exerting a force on the wearer at a time delayed from said transient force; and (c) an adaptive programmable control, for dynamically controlling a release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, back through the energy absorbing structure to the wearer, said second time being controlled separately from a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, whereby the footwear provides an adaptively controlled rebound.
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30. An article of footwear, comprising:
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(a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear; (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; and (c) a control, for selectively controlling, over time, at least a release of energy from said energy storage structure after the transient force, independently of a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, wherein the release of energy dynamically controls a lateral stability of the footwear.
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31. An article of footwear, comprising:
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(a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; (c) a gait cycle phase sensor; and (c) a control, for selectively controlling release of energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said release being controlled at least in part based on the sensed gait cycle phase. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. An article of footwear, comprising:
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(a) an energy absorbing structure, for cushioning the wearer from a transient force generated during use of the footwear at a first time; (b) an energy storage structure, for storing potential energy absorbed by said energy absorbing structure; (c) a footwear fit adjustment element; and (c) a control, for selectively releasing energy from said energy storage structure at a second time, delayed from said first time, said second time being controlled independently of a natural response of said energy absorbing structure, wherein the control alters the footwear fit adjustment element to adjust a static fit of the footwear with varying levels of user activity.
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Specification