Shoe with sensors, controller and active-response elements and method for use thereof
Active-response golf shoes are disclosed. The golf shoes include a plurality of sensors, a controller, and at least one active-response element. The sensor and controller operate to rapidly determine if a golfer is walking or swinging a golf club. Once this determination is made the controller and active-response element rapidly change the shoe's characteristics. If the controller determines that the golfer is walking, the shoe provides a soft and flexible walking platform. If the controller determines that the golfer is swinging, the shoe morphs or changes automatically to provide a stable hitting platform. The controller senses various predetermined conditions such as pressure of the user's foot to determine whether the golfer is walking or swinging. The active-response element is a lateral adjuster having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands.
1. A golf shoe comprising:
an upper having laces;
a sole coupled to the upper to define a chamber for receiving a wearer's foot;
a plurality of sensors embedded in the sole, each sensor having a plurality of leads, a distal end of each lead having a connector;
a lateral adjuster active response element having an upper bracket located in the laces area and a lower bracket affixed to the side of the sole, brackets supporting a plurality of electrostrictive polymer bands;
a controller integral with the sole and operatively connected to the sensors and the lateral adjuster active-response element;
wherein the controller determines whether the wearer is walking or swinging and when the wearer is swinging, the controller sends an output current to the active-response element and the active-response element changes the shoe from an initial state where the shoe exhibits a first set of characteristics to a transitory state where the shoe exhibits a second set of characteristics different from the first set.
2. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein there are four sensors.
3. The golf shoe of claim 2 , wherein the controller comprises an electronic assembly housing four independent circuits, each circuit connected to one of the four sensors.
4. The golf shoe of claim 3 , wherein the controller sends the output current if the sensors sense a pressure greater than a preset swing threshold within a preset time interval threshold.
5. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are pressure sensors that underlie parts of the wearer's foot.
6. The golf shoe of claim 5 , wherein the swing threshold is between 70 kPa to 140 kPa.
7. The golf shoe of claim 6 , wherein the swing threshold is about 100 kPa.
8. The golf shoe of claim 4 , wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.
9. The golf shoe of claim 3 , wherein the time interval threshold is about 0.5 second.
10. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the first set of characteristics is indicative of walking.
11. The golf shoe of claim 10 , wherein the second set of characteristics is indicative of swinging.
12. The golf shoe of claim 11 , wherein during walking said sensor generates energy that is harvested.
13. The golf shoe of claim 12 , wherein during swinging the controller converts the harvested energy to said output current.
14. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein the shoe is more stable when exhibiting the second set of characteristics than the first set of characteristics.
15. The golf shoe of claim 14 , when exhibiting the second set of characteristics the wearer's foot is less movable relative to the shoe.
16. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein each sensor is made of piezoelectric material.
17. The golf shoe of claim 1 , wherein each sensor is made of an insulating polymer.
18. The golf shoe of claim 17 , wherein each sensor is made of a silicone or an acrylic elastomer.
19. The golf shoe of claim 18 , wherein each sensor is made of polyurethane, fluorosilicone, fluoro-elastomer, polybutadiene or isoprene.