Shoe with sensors, controller and active-response elements and method for use thereof

• US 7,310,895 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Douglas K, Erickson, John J, Whittlesey, Saunders N
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US10/790,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20050188566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 361/37, 36/501, 36/29, 36/25.R, 36/54, 731/72, 731/79
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/001 Golf shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/367 Detection of balance between both feet, i.e. weight distribution
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0059 worn by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3608 Attachments on the body, e.g. for measuring, aligning, restraining A63B69/0059, A63B69/3673 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3667 Golf stance aids, e.g. means for positioning a golfer's feet

Abstract

Active-response golf shoes are disclosed. The golf shoes include at least one sensor, a controller, and at least one active-response element. The sensor and controller operate to rapidly determine if a golfer is walking or swinging a golf club. Once this determination is made the controller and active-response element rapidly change the shoe'"'"'s characteristics. If the controller determines that the golfer is walking, the shoe provides a soft and flexible walking platform. If the controller determines that the golfer is swinging, the shoe morphs or changes automatically to provide a stable hitting platform. The controller senses various predetermined conditions such as pressure under the ball of the user'"'"'s foot to determine whether the golfer is walking or swinging. The active-response elements may be a sole adjuster, a lace adjuster, and/or an upper adjuster. Methods of determining the golfer'"'"'s type of movement are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

an upper, at least one active-response element, a sole coupled to the upper to define a chamber for receiving a wearer'"'"'s foot, at least one sensor, and a controller operatively connected to said sensor and said active-response element,

wherein said controller determines whether the wearer is walking or swinging and when the wearer is swinging, said controller sends an output current to said active-response element and said active-response element changes said shoe from an initial state where the shoe exhibits a first set of characteristics to a transitory state where the shoe exhibits a second set of characteristics different from said first set of characteristics.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said output current is sent to said sensor, and said sensor sends said output current to said active-response element.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said active-response element comprises a sole adjuster, an upper adjuster, a tongue adjuster or a lace adjuster.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said controller sends said output current if said sensor senses a pressure greater than a preset swing threshold within a preset time interval threshold.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor that underlies the ball of the wearer'"'"'s foot.

6. The shoe of claim 5, wherein the pressure sensor underlies the wearer'"'"'s foot'"'"'s fifth metatarsal head.

7. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the swing threshold is between about 70 kPa to about 140 kPa.

8. The shoe of claim 7, wherein the swing threshold is about 100 kPa.

9. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.

10. The shoe of claim 7, wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.

11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the first set of characteristics is indicative of walking.

12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein the second set of characteristics is indicative of swinging.

13. The shoe of claim 12, wherein during walking said sensor generates energy that is harvested.

14. The shoe of claim 12, wherein during swinging the controller converts the harvested energy to said output current.

15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe is more stable when exhibiting the second set of characteristics than the first set of characteristics.

16. The shoe of claim 15, when exhibiting the second set of characteristics the wearer'"'"'s foot is less movable relative to the shoe.

17. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole comprises at least two sensors, wherein the two sensors are located proximately under any two metatarsal heads.

18. The shoe of claim 17, wherein the two sensors are spaced apart.

19. The shoe of claim 17, wherein one sensor is located under the fourth metatarsal bone and another sensor is located under the fifth metatarsal bone.

20. The shoe of claim 17, wherein when the wearer is walking the at least two sensors sense pressure peaks at about the same time.

21. The shoe of claim 17, wherein when the wearer is swinging the at least two sensors sense pressure peaks sequentially.

22. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is made of piezoelectric material.

23. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is made of an insulating polymer.

24. The shoe of claim 23, wherein the at least one sensor is made of a silicone or an acrylic elastomer.

25. The shoe of claim 23, wherein the at least one sensor is made of polyurethane, fluorosilicone, fluoro-elastomer, polybutadiene or isoprene.

26. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the sole adjuster is positioned diagonally relative to the sole.

27. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the sole adjuster comprises two adjusters positioned diagonally relative to the sole and diagonally opposite from each other.

28. A shoe comprising an upper and a sole coupled to the upper to define a chamber for receiving a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein said shoe distinguishes whether the wearer is walking or swinging.