Other

Brian G Rennex

Stephen M Bobbio

This invention is a spring shoe whose sole is a structure constrained to compress without tilting. This optimally simple, anti-tilt, compressible structure comprises overlapping diamond and parallelogram linkages, which constrain an upper plate from tilting as it moves vertically up and down with respect to a lower plate. Applications include a space shoe with push-off means for natural foot action. Here, a minimal number of springs and stops can be changeably incorporated in the sole to optimi8ze walking and running performance. A heel hugger mechanism ensures that the shoe hugs the heel of the wearer during swing phase. A flex-rigger prevents sideways rollover and sprained ankles. The first shoe embodiment has springs at shoe level to minimize device weight at foot level. The shoe is energy-efficient as it returns maximum impact energy to the runner during thrust at toe-off.

Spring space shoe

A rock-climbing structure including one or more pliable climbing matrices held under tension and a plurality of rock-climbing/gymnastic holds attached to the pliable climbing matrices. In an embodiment of the invention, a climbing matrix is, for example, a net or sheet. The plurality of holds can be attached to the one or more pliable climbing matrices by, for example, clasp rods that clamp a matrix or by clamps that engage a cord of the matrix. In an embodiment of the invention, distances between each hold of the plurality of holds vary across a climbing matrix to create a varied climbing route. The holds can include, for example, a hold edge, a jib hold, a hold hole, a hold lip, a hold crack, or a hold boss.

Ultra-light rock-climbing wall

This invention incorporates micro-machining fabrication techniques to achieve practical electrostatic actuation forces over a length change of the order of 20 to 50 percent. It constitutes an improvement over the prior art by virtue of array designs which yield a more versatile and stronger actuator. One basic design utilizes diamond-shaped attractive elements to transmit transverse forces for longitudinal, two-way actuation. Another basic design features interlocking, longitudinally attractive elements to achieve longitudinal, two-way actuation. Other improvements include means for locking the actuator at an arbitrary displacement as well as means for amplification of either the actuation force or length change.

Micro-actuator

This invention reveals improvements in a flexible robotic limb which can function as a robotic snake. These improvements are particularly pertinent to miniaturization applications such as catheters or positioners for microsurgery, micro-assembly, micro-manipulation, or micro-exploration. This invention developes detailed new component designs, and it combines the basic structure with systems for sensing, control, and signal transmission. These systems include pressure sensors, length sensors, protective skins, ultrasonic imagers, cutting tools, and multiplexing schemes.

Robotic snake

This invention relates to inchworm linear motors or piezoelectric linear actuators and in particular to designs which address difficulties associated with miniaturization, the primary one being that the clamping driver is typically oriented laterally to the drive direction and when the lateral dimension becomes very small there is not sufficient displacement of the clamping driver to allow a practical clamping. That is, the tolerance required for the device dimensions would then be prohibitively small. This problem is overcome by orienting the clamping drivers longitudinally, i.e. parallel, to the drive direction, thereby permitting the length of said clamping drivers to be significantly greater than for the prior art case of lateral orientation. An additional feature re-directs the longitudinal clamp-drive to a lateral direction for clamping of the driven element.

Inchworm actuator

The hairpiece base invention relates to hairpieces and in particular to a improved base which renders the hair piece virtually undetectable to sight and to touch. The invention comprises a mesh and a mesh binder. The mesh affords structural strength in the lateral plane, and it serves as an anchor for artificial hairs. The mesh binder fills the region between the mesh strands, and its thickness is approximately equal to the diameter of the mesh strands. At the perimeter of the base, the mesh binder edge may be tapered in thickness.

Hairpiece base

This invention is an improvement in stair exercising equipment which recognizes the importance of training muscle groups, tendons, and ligaments for walking downhill on steps or on an incline. Accordingly, it provides powered means for a moveable staircase, for an incline, or for reciprocating pedals to rise, thereby allowing a person to walk downhill.

Bi-directional stair/treadmill/reciprocating-pedal exerciser

This invention is a flexible limb capable of changing length, bending in any direction, twisting, and changing cross-sectional size. Its skeletal structural design promotes optimal simplicity of control, ease of construction, lightness, and stiffness.

Flexible robotic limb

This invention relates to improvements in a resilient leg brace which acts in parallel with a runner's legs to support his or her weight during foot impact, to store the kinetic energy of vertical motion, and to release said energy thrusting the runner back into the air during take-off. The running brace is energy efficient in that it stores and releases the maximum amount of vertical kinetic energy so that the leg muscles do not need to supply as much energy to lift the runner's weight during each step. The running brace also protects the legs and other parts of the body from impact damage. The leg brace is attached to a pelvic harness, and optional back and neck braces are attached to the shoulders and the chin to protect the back and neck from impact shock. The first improvement relates to an asymmetric travel structure which enables the running brace to deliver an upward thrust over a greater distance than that required to absorb the runner's downward impact. This corresponds to the asymmetry inherent in natural running, in that the downward impact is absorbed as the runner's knee bends, whereas the upward thrust is delivered as both the knee and the ankle extend, resulting in a greater distance of action. The second improvement relates to structure which enable the runner to lift his or her foot high when it is being brought forward while the other foot is on the running surface. The third improvement relates to a brake system which allows the runner to stop by preventing the delivery of upward thrust by the running brace.

Energy-efficient running brace

This invention is a device which enables weight trainers to more conveniently select a particular weight and to make this weight selection with smaller weight increments than heretofore has been possible. In addition to the time-saving convenience feature, a further advantage is that the weight trainer can train more scientifically, by virtue of small weight increments. This invention enables the weight trainer to quickly select the desired, precise weight and to easily attach this weight to barbells or other weightlifting equipment.

Variable add-on weight device

This invention relates to a resilient leg brace which acts in parallel with a runner's legs to support the weight during foot impact, to store the kinetic energy of vertical motion, and to release said energy thrusting the runner back into the air during take-off. The running brace is energy efficient in that it stores and releases the maximum amount of said energy, which means that the leg muscles do not need to supply as much energy to lift the runner's weight during each step. Also, the running brace protects the legs and other parts of the body from damage due to impact. The leg brace is attached to a pelvic harness, and optional back and neck braces are attached to the shoulders and the chin for the protection of the back and neck from impact shock. The improvements include means to put energy into the energy storage means using the legs while airborne or the arms at any time, means to achieve an asymmetric brace travel using sequential springs, means to achieve a constant force curve using pairs of springs, means to support a neck and a back brace on top of the running brace, and means for an energy storage mechanism which works in a manner similar to a leg muscle.

This invention relates to a shoe having a mechanism in its sole to transmit the mechanical energy of heel impact to the front of the foot, where it is stored and then released during thrust. The mechanical energy of the impact on the rest of the foot (in front of the heel) is also stored and then released during thrust. The shoe is energy-efficient in that it returns as much of the energy of impact as possible to the runner during thrust. This means that the leg and foot muscles do not have to do as much work to lift the body weight against gravity. In addition to this resiliency feature, there is a compliance feature which reduces the impact shock on the runner's skeleton, muscles, and tendons. This compliance is achieved because the foot impact force is transmitted to the upper skeleton through a spring, which softens the shock transmitted to this upper skeleton.

Growing community of inventors

Gaithersburg, MD, United States of America

Brian G Rennex