Motion-assist footwear comprising a force translator

1. A motion-assist shoe comprising:

an upper;

a sole portion coupled to the upper, the sole portion comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion; and

a force translator comprising a base portion and a leg portion, the base portion and the leg portion coupled by a dynamic portion;

wherein the base portion, the leg portion and the dynamic portion are unitary one with another;

wherein the base portion is coupled to the sole portion;

wherein the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to, a shin of a user of the shoe;

wherein the shoe comprises a stressed configuration and an unstressed configuration;

wherein, in the stressed configuration, the base portion and the leg portion are aligned at a first angle relative to each other;

wherein, in the unstressed configuration, the base portion and the leg portion are aligned at a second angle relative to each other, the second angle being different from the first angle;

wherein the dynamic portion is configured to bias the shoe toward the unstressed configuration to thereby bias the rearward portion upward relative to the forward portion; and

wherein the dynamic portion is comprised of a resiliently deformable material.

2. The motion-assist shoe of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic portion is not directly coupled to any portion of the motion-assist shoe.

3. The motion-assist shoe of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic portion has at least one material property different from a corresponding material property of both the base portion and the leg portion.

4. A motion-assist shoe comprising:

an upper;

a sole portion coupled to the upper, the sole portion comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion; and

a force translator comprising a base portion and a leg portion, the base portion and the leg portion coupled by a dynamic portion;

wherein the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to, a leg above an ankle of a user of the shoe;

wherein the shoe comprises a stressed configuration and an unstressed configuration;

wherein, in the stressed configuration, the dynamic portion is resiliently elongated and the base portion and the leg portion are at a first angle relative to each other;

wherein, in the unstressed configuration, the dynamic portion is not resiliently elongated and the base portion and the leg portion are at a second angle relative to each other, the second angle being different from the first angle;

wherein the dynamic portion is configured to bias the shoe toward the unstressed configuration to thereby bias the rearward portion upward relative to the forward portion;

wherein the rearward portion of the sole portion extends rearward beyond a rearward-most portion of the upper; and

wherein the force translator extends from the sole portion at a position rearward of the rearward-most portion of the upper.

5. The motion-assist shoe of claim 4 , wherein the dynamic portion is comprised of a resiliently deformable material.

6. The motion-assist shoe of claim 4 , wherein the dynamic portion is not directly coupled to any portion of the motion-assist shoe.

7. The motion-assist shoe of claim 4 , wherein the dynamic portion is comprised of a stretch material, and the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to a calf of a user.

8. The motion-assist shoe of claim 4 , wherein the dynamic portion has at least one material property different from a corresponding material property of both the base portion and the leg portion.

9. A motion-assist shoe comprising:

an upper;

a sole portion coupled to the upper, the sole portion comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion; and

a force translator comprising a base portion and a leg portion, the base portion and the leg portion coupled by a dynamic portion;

wherein the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to, a leg above an ankle of a user of the shoe;

wherein the shoe comprises a stressed configuration and an unstressed configuration;

wherein, in the stressed configuration, the dynamic portion is resiliently deformed and the base portion and the leg portion are at a first angle relative to each other;

wherein, in the unstressed configuration, the dynamic portion is not resiliently deformed and the base portion and the leg portion are at a second angle relative to each other, the second angle being different from the first angle;

wherein the dynamic portion is configured to bias the shoe toward the unstressed configuration to thereby bias the rearward portion upward relative to the forward portion; and

wherein the dynamic portion extends between a rearward portion of the base portion of the force translator and a forward portion of the leg portion of the force translator.

10. The motion-assist shoe of claim 9 , wherein the force translator extends across at least a portion of a medial side of the motion-assist shoe.

11. The motion-assist shoe of claim 9 , wherein the force translator extends across at least a portion of a lateral side of the motion-assist shoe.

12. The motion-assist shoe of claim 9 , wherein the force translator extends across at least a portion of a lateral side portion and a medial side of the motion-assist shoe.

13. The motion-assist shoe of claim 12 , wherein the force translator bifurcates from the leg portion and extends across the lateral side portion and the medial side of the motion-assist shoe.

14. The motion-assist shoe of claim 9 , wherein the force translator extends across a hinge when the shoe is in the stressed configuration.

15. The motion-assist shoe of claim 14 , wherein the force translator is off-center of the hinge when the shoe is in the unstressed configuration.

16. The motion-assist shoe of claim 15 , wherein the force translator passes rearward of the hinge when the shoe is in the unstressed configuration.

17. The motion-assist shoe of claim 16 , wherein the force translator is a resiliently deformable material.

18. The motion-assist shoe of claim 9 , wherein the force translator extends around a side of the sole portion and under a footbed.