Wearable exercise apparatuses

• US 9,247,784 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 02/02/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey David Stewart
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey David Stewart
• Inventors: Stewart, Jeffrey David
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US13/844,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20130340287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 36/78, 36/27, 361/32
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/183 Leaf springs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/18 Attachable overshoes for sporting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0071 Distinction between different activities, movements, or kind of sports performed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0031 Speed-walking
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0056 using electromagnetically-controlled friction, e.g. magnetic particle brakes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/05 Linearly-compressed elements A63B21/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/15 Arrangements for force transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/152 Bowden-type cables
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4015 to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4025 Resistance devices worn on the user's body A63B21/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4033 Handles, pedals, bars or platforms
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 : Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/52 : Weight, e.g. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/801 : Contact switches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 : Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/015 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/10 : for feet or toes
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 : Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

An exercise apparatus includes a pair of apparatuses wearable on feet of a user. Each apparatus is configurable between expanded configurations and compressed configurations to simulate a selected motion when the user wearing the pair of apparatuses travels by foot. One of the apparatuses can move towards an expanded configuration while the other apparatus moves towards a compressed configuration.

Claims

1. A wearable footwear apparatus, comprising:

an articulating step-up sole assembly including

a support platform having a toe support region and a heel support region; and

a swing arm mechanism movable between an expanded configuration and

an unexpanded configuration, the swing arm mechanism including

a pivotable sole plate for contacting the ground, the sole plate having a forward portion and a heel portion, the forward portion being rotatably coupled to the support platform at a location forward of the heel support region, and

a resistance device coupled to the pivotable sole plate and having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the resistance device in the locked state keeps the swing arm mechanism in the expanded configuration while a user raises most of the user'"'"'s body mass onto the swing arm mechanism, wherein after the user has raised most of the user'"'"'s body mass onto the swing arm mechanism held open by the resistance device, the resistance device switches to the unlocked state in which the resistance device operates to allow the heel support region to move towards the heel portion of the sole plate to lower the user'"'"'s body towards the ground.

2. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sole plate is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is positioned proximate to the toe support region.

3. The footwear apparatus of claim 2 wherein the axis of rotation is positioned underneath the user'"'"'s toes or ball of the user'"'"'s foot during use.

4. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pin extending through the sole plate and the support platform.

5. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support platform rotates an angle of at least 10 degrees relative to the sole plate as the swing arm mechanism moves from the expanded configuration to the unexpanded configuration.

6. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein a rearward end of the heel portion is positioned forward of the back of the user'"'"'s heel when the swing arm mechanism is in the unexpanded configuration.

7. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein a rearward end of the heel portion is positioned approximately below the center of the user'"'"'s heel when the swing arm mechanism is in the unexpanded configuration.

8. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the swing arm mechanism has a V-shaped configuration and the sole plate is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is located underneath the toes or ball of the user'"'"'s foot.

9. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistance device comprises a locking device that keeps the swing arm mechanism in the expanded configuration until the locking device unlocks in response to body movement of the user.

10. The footwear apparatus of claim 1 wherein the resistance device comprises a locking device that keeps the swing arm mechanism in the expanded configuration for a predetermined length of time after the user steps on the footwear apparatus.

11. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a locking mechanism that keeps the swing arm mechanism in the expanded configuration when locked and that allows the swing arm mechanism to move to the unexpanded configuration when unlocked; and

a release mechanism connected to the locking mechanism, wherein the release mechanism unlocks the locking mechanism in response to at least one of movement of the user'"'"'s body or a predetermined period of time.

12. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a foot restraining system having at least one strap for wrapping around and holding the user'"'"'s foot against the support platform.

13. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a shoe upper connected to the articulating step-up sole assembly.

14. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance device automatically switches from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to the user transferring weight forwardly along the articulating step-up sole assembly.

15. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the resistance device includes a piston spring assembly and a locking device, wherein the locking device substantially eliminates compression of the piston spring assembly when the resistance device is in the locked state such that the swing arm mechanism begins to collapse an appreciable amount after most of the user'"'"'s weight is supported by the articulating step-up sole assembly.

16. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor and being programmed to control operation of the footwear apparatus based on one or more signals from the sensor.

23. The footwear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivotable sole plate is shorter than the support platform such that a rearward end of the pivotable sole plate is positioned general under a central region of the heel support region when the swing arm mechanism is in the expanded configuration and the pivotable sole plate is at a horizontal orientation.

24. The footwear apparatus of claim 23, wherein a ratio of a length of forward offset of the pivotable sole plate to a horizontal distance is in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.4 when the swing arm mechanism is in an expanded configuration and the pivotable sole plate is oriented horizontally, and wherein the horizontal distance is from a front end of footwear of the wearable footwear apparatus to a point below a rearward end of the footwear.

25. The footwear apparatus of claim 23, wherein the rearward end of the pivotable sole plate is positioned to initially strike a horizontal support surface when the support platform is at a substantially horizontal orientation during use.

17. An exercise system, comprising:

a first footwear apparatus wearable on a foot of a user, the first footwear apparatus including a first articulating step-up sole assembly and at least one first sensor, wherein the first articulating step-up sole assembly includes a first resistance device having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the first resistance device in the locked state keeps the first articulating step-up sole assembly in a V-shaped configuration while the user raises most of the user'"'"'s body mass onto the first articulating step-up sole assembly, and wherein the first resistance device in the unlocked state allows the first articulating step-up sole assembly to begin collapsing from the V-shaped configuration to a lowered configuration after most of the user'"'"'s body mass is held up by the first articulating step-up sole assembly;

a second footwear apparatus wearable on the other foot of the user, the second footwear apparatus including a second articulating step-up sole assembly and at least one second sensor, wherein the second articulating step-up sole assembly includes a second resistance device having a locked state and an unlocked state, wherein the second resistance device in the locked state keeps the second articulating step-up sole assembly in a V-shaped configuration while the user raises most of the user'"'"'s body mass onto the second articulating step-up sole assembly, and wherein the second resistance device in the unlocked state allows the second articulating step-up sole assembly to begin collapsing from the V-shaped configuration to a lowered configuration after most of the user'"'"'s body mass is held up by the second articulating step-up sole assembly; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor, the controller being programmed to control operation of the second footwear apparatus based on one or more signals from the at least one first sensor.

18. The exercise system of claim 17 wherein the controller is programmed to determine at least one of a desired rate of collapse of the second footwear apparatus, a time delay for collapse, and target configurations of the second footwear apparatus.

19. The exercise system of claim 17 wherein the controller comprises at least one of a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer.

20. The exercise system of claim 17 wherein the controller is physically coupled to one of the first footwear apparatus and the second footwear apparatus.

21. The exercise system of claim 17, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the first resistance device to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state based on one or more signals from the at least one second sensor, and wherein the controller is programmed to cause the second resistance device to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state based on one or more signals from the at least one first sensor.

22. The exercise system of claim 17, wherein the controller is programmed to cause the first resistance device to switch from the locked state to the unlocked state based on one or more signals from the at least one first sensor.

26. A wearable footwear apparatus, comprising:

an articulating step-up sole assembly including

a support platform having a toe support region and a heel support region; and

a swing arm mechanism movable relative to the support platform and including

a sole that is shorter than the support platform such that a central region of the heel support region is positioned substantially directly above a rearward end of the sole when the sole is at a generally horizontal orientation and the articulating step-up sole assembly is in an expanded V-shaped configuration,

a resistance device pivotally coupled to a forward portion of the articulating step-up sole assembly and having a locked state and an unlocked state,

an upper link and a lower link pivotally coupling a rearward portion of the resistance device to the support platform and the sole, respectively, such that

the resistance device in the locked state substantially prevents rotation of the upper and lower links to hold the articulating step-up sole assembly in the expanded V-shaped configuration while a user raises most of the user'"'"'s body mass onto the swing arm mechanism, and

the resistance device in the unlocked state allows rotation of the upper and lower links to allow the heel support region to move towards a heel portion of the sole to lower the user'"'"'s body toward the ground during use.