Shoe spring and shock absorbing system

摘要

Footwear with a powerful arch spring made with spring boards that can be utilized by the heel and ball of the foot areas during impact for efficient energy storage and return during walking, running and other forms of self-propelled locomotion. The spring boards can extend into the toe area of the footwear to create a toe spring with efficient energy storage and return. Embodiments of the present invention combine the spring boards which are excellent for storing and returning energy with a shock absorbing material which can also function as a secondary spring in order to achieve high efficiency energy returns while maintaining comfort and stability with the footwear.

主权项

1. In a footwear comprising a toe area, a ball of the foot area, an arch area, and a heel area; and energy storage and return system for the footwear, the system comprising:
a top spring board and a bottom spring board; the top spring board concave up in the arch area; the top spring board and the bottom spring board fixedly connected to each other in at least the arch area to form at least one spring board axis; and wherein at least one of the top spring board and the bottom spring board further include a shock absorbing elastomer or foam; wherein, when the footwear is in a resting shape, the top spring board extends from the spring board axis into both the heel area and the ball of the foot areas of the footwear such that the top spring board does not directly contact the bottom spring board in at least two of the area forward of the spring board axis, arch area rearward of the spring board axis, heel area, and the ball of the foot area of the footwear; wherein, upon an impact, the top spring board is capable of reboundably bending toward the bottom spring board in at least two of the arch area forward of the spring board axis, arch area rearward of the spring board axis, the heel area, and the ball of the foot area of the footwear; and wherein, upon an impact, the bottom spring board is capable of reboundably bending toward the top spring board in at least two of the arch area forward of the spring board axis, arch area rearward of the spring board axis, the heel area, and the ball of the foot area of the footwear.