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Apparatus for footwear-embedded mechanical energy harvesting using modular elements

  • US 9,109,583 B2
  • Filed: 08/15/2013
  • Issued: 08/18/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A modular apparatus for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy comprisingan energy-producing channel comprising a plurality of rigid channel modules longitudinally disposed along the channel, with adjacent rigid channel modules separated by a section of flexible tubing, each rigid channel module including either one or both of a plurality of dielectric-coated electrodes and a plurality of conductive coils;

  • andan energy-producing chain disposed within the energy-producing channel and comprising a plurality of rigid chain modules disposed along and attached to a flexible string in a spaced-apart manner, each rigid chain module including either one or both of a plurality of magnets disposed in an alternating polarity configuration and a plurality of conductive droplets,wherein the movement of the energy-producing chain within the energy-producing channel provides for alignment between the plurality of rigid channel modules with the plurality of rigid chain modules, generating electrical energy by the alignment, while permitting flexing of the modular apparatus by the permissible movement of the sections of flexible tubing and the flexible string; and

    utilization of rigid modules in both the channel and the chain function to eliminate flexing of the channel and maintain alignment between energy-producing elements within the chain modules with energy-producing elements within the channel modules.

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