Motion-assist footwear comprising a force translator
A motion-assist shoe having a force translator with a dynamic portion comprised of a resiliently deformable material and configured to bias a rearward portion of a sole portion of the shoe upward relative to a forward portion of the sole portion.
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.