The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 03, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 27, 2001
Brian G. Rennex, Gaithersburg, MD (US);
Other;
Abstract
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.