Patent Application
20210337921
The present invention relates to shock absorbing shoes, specifically it, maximizes the process of absorbing shock and returning it as energy for a push forward.
Sneakers with some form of shock absorbent technology is almost standard these days, whether the heel is made of a shock absorbent material or has a shock absorbent device attached. These shock absorbent shoes each works to a certain, but limited, extent, and only has shock absorbent capabilities only, but are nevertheless falsely advertised or implied to be energy return shoes. These energy return claims has little to no truth to it, as the prior arts in this field, all have the same intuitive design approach of putting the resistive device or material, either within the midsole or directly beneath the shoe. And while some shoes designed with these approach work better than others, they all have a basic inherit draw backs, as being under or within the bottom of the shoe, the resistive device, has limited flexibility and when under pressure can only be compressed so much before folding in on itself. Therefore, the process of absorbing shock and storing it as energy is limited to the amount of play the resistive device has under pressure. Furthermore, for energy to be returned to help push the feet off the ground; it should be transferred directly to the midsole and/or upper and not to surrounding material. In the present invention there is a significant gap separating the outsole and the midsole at the heel portion, where there are several resistive devices, each attached to the sides of both outsole and midsole or upper of the shoe. Therefore, these resistive devices have more length and play to store and release more energy, moreover, energy is released directly to the midsole and/or upper of the shoe for an extra push off the ground.
The Main features of the present invention are advanced shock absorbent and energy return capabilities, however, due to the significant amount of play allowing the resistive devices to repeatedly fold at a sharper angle; a significant volume of electrical pulses is harness by means attaching a piezoelectric devices directly to some of the resistive devices. This combination will generate a higher than average amount of electrical potential than the technology of the prior arts using similar piezoelectric devices. Therefore, the shock absorbent/energy return system of this shoes; when also has a built-in electrical component will, if not eliminate, significantly reduce the need for charging by an external source, some of these said electrical component are seen in self-lacing shoes and shoes with sensational lighting systems. However, in the present invention the specific electrical component is a power bank charger system, whereby said electrical pulses are used to charge a small detachable power bank charger device for later use of a partial or top up charging of a cell phone, blue tooth speakers, wireless ear buds etc.
The present invention is a type of shock absorbent and energy return shoes having a horizontal gap between the outsole and midsole, and a number of resistive devices connected to sides of both outsole and midsole or the upper of the shoes, resulting in a lengthier set of resistive devices that can store and release more energy along its entire length up to the point where the outsole touches the midsole. A piezoelectric device which is attached to a few of the resistive devices; generates electrical pulses that charges a small power bank charger device, which is carried on the shoe for easy access for use of pep up charging of on person devices such as phones and smart watches.
Both said set of metallic straight edges 17 and piezoelectric devices 19 are wired to the circuit board 18; such that the electrical pulses generated by said piezoelectric 19 is transferred via said metallic edges 17, and stored in a battery 20 of said power bank 5.
The resistive devices 7 being on the sides of each shoe 1, allows them to be of a significant more height than those of other shoes, hence storing and releasing more energy along its entire length up to the point, where the midsole 4 touches the outsole 2; this amount of play is significantly more than that of traditional anti-shock shoes with their resistive devices directly beneath the midsole, causing them to fold in on themselves and is only compressed to a small degree. While jogging or running, each time the heel hits the ground; the energy from impact is transferred via the outsole 2, to the resistive devices 7, which dampens the impact by storing this energy along their lengths, this energy is the then simultaneously released while the foot leaves the ground and is mostly returned to the upper of the shoe 1, hence helping to lift the foot off the ground.
The process of storing and releasing energy is also simultaneously carried out by the piezoelectric device 19, the circuit board 18 and the power bank 5; whereby the piezoelectric 19 generates and send electrical pulses to the circuit board 18 which regulates and send electricity to the battery 20 of said power bank 5. The amount and frequency of the electrical pulses is stored as data on the circuit board 18 and is processed along with information entered via app such as weight, height along with GPS location; to produce and display useful information, such as speed, distance, time, calories lost, battery status etc.
The resistive devices of the prior art are relatively short at about an average height of ¾ inch and being directly beneath the bottom of the shoe; this mean they have to be of a certain firmness for a person to comfortably stand still without sinking at the heels, hence, they can only be compressed a small fraction. In contrast the present invention having a horizontal gap between the outsole and midsole, and a number of resistive devices connected to sides of both outsole and midsole or the upper of the shoes; results in a lengthier set of resistive devices that can store and release more energy along its entire length up to the point where the outsole touches the midsole, therefor, if said gap ¾ inch, then the heel can be compressed to that same length under maximum pressure. This is because together a set of resistant device can be firm, such that while under the pressure of an average to slightly overweight person standing still; they do not or is slightly bent out of shape, but at the same time is of a certain length and molded in a type of curved form that when varying degrees of pressure is applied by walking, running or jumping; they easily further bend and store energy, then return to original shape by releasing it. Therefore, the resistive devices of the prior arts being beneath the shoe, of a limited height, and having a standard firmness, hence, can only be compressed to a fraction of its height; is at a significant disadvantage when compared to the resistive devices of the present invention, as they are lengthier, designed and arranged to maintain their firmness, while capable of being compressed up to the entire height of most prior art's resistive devices.
Again, the detachable power bank charger device is small, such that it is fitted on a modest structure which does not cause the shoes to look odd and bulky or feel uncomfortable, but rather a comfortable pair of shoes with an ultra-effective shock absorber technology with the added feature of a power bank for pep up charging of small devices. This pep up power bank is by far a more necessary feature to have on a pair of shoes, rather than self-lacing, sensational lighting or massage features; as it is more common for your on person devices, such as cellphones, ear buds or smart watch; to run out of charge, hence, having a pep up power bank on each shoe would serve well for a number of devices, wherein anywhere from 25%-50% back up charging capability would be acceptable.
The present invention can have several alternative embodiments, such as; a version wherein the power bank charger could be hooked up to a short USB charger cable to receive charge while both it and said cable is placed in a pouch built on the side of the shoes, also, the resistive device could be in one continuous piece with a design which collapses accordion style such as a diamond style mesh like structure, or another version wherein there are several resistive devices, each being a spring hidden within an extendable pole like structure. However, the present particular design of the resistive device being circular or wheel shape next to a ridged structure give a psychology of a motor vehicle, hence, subconsciously suggest “Go Power”, this along with the other resistive devices being bow shaped, causes the mind to recognized and related to the technology and its ability to store and release energy. Therefore, this specific design is not only physically practical but also has some psychological function to give the consumer level of confidence to get and wear these shoes.
