Shoe Yoke Spring Energy Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear technologies fail to effectively integrate energy-harvesting and energy-return mechanisms into the upper or collar of shoes, limiting their ability to enhance human locomotion and reduce fatigue.
Innovation Solution
The described footwear embodiments utilize a passive energy storage device, such as a tension spring or elastomeric component, integrated into the shoe design to manage forces and energy during dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, thereby reducing muscle effort and enhancing energy return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If energy-harvesting and energy-return mechanisms are integrated into the upper or collar of shoes, then human locomotion performance is enhanced and fatigue is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (energy harvesting during dorsiflexion, energy storage, and energy return during plantar flexion) into a single integrated elastic member system within the shoe upper or collar, eliminating the need for separate mechanical components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining performance enhancement
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member automatically harvests energy during dorsiflexion motion, stores it as elastic potential energy, and returns it during plantar flexion without requiring external control systems, power sources, or complex timing mechanisms, thereby enhancing locomotion performance while keeping the device simple
2Use of energy by moving object
If passive energy storage devices are integrated into shoe design to manage forces during dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, then muscle effort is reduced and energy return is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes changes in the physical parameters of the elastic member (elastic modulus, length, cross-sectional area) to optimize energy storage and return characteristics, allowing standard manufacturing processes to produce components with tailored performance without requiring complex assembly or specialized manufacturing techniques
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is implemented as a flexible component that can be integrated into the shoe upper or collar using conventional footwear manufacturing methods such as bonding, stitching, or molding, avoiding complex mechanical assemblies and simplifying the manufacturing process while still achieving force management and energy return functions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for improved energy management during gait cycles, reducing the power required for dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, and enhancing overall locomotion performance by externalizing force and storing energy for efficient release.
Implementation Method 1
a passive energy storage device, such as a tension spring or elastomeric component, integrated into the shoe design to manage forces and energy during dorsiflexion and plantar flexion
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of footwear, in particular, a shoe, sandal or boot, that have the unexpected benefit of reducing the pressure on the plantar surface of the foot while also reducing metabolic demand of walking while also gait speed and improving walking, running, hiking, as well as jumping, hopping, and other motion involving the ankle, lower leg and Achilles tendon, through integration of force-carrying mechanisms within footwear that manage the forces and energy associated with such motion by productively harvesting and storing energy during dorsiflexion motion and releasing and returning energy during plantar flexion and limiting range of motion that conduce towards ankle inversion and eversion. Such footwear may comprise a yoke connected to footwear at a pivot region in parallel to the axis of rotation of the ankle and a tension spring region suspended between the yoke and the posterior portion of the footwear sidewalls or sole.