US 10,499,703 B2Granted

Shoe insole and generator

AssigneeThe Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army

InventorNathan Sharpes

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Abstract

Linear movement of a heel strike sequence for a shoe insole can be converted into rotational movement. This rotational movement can cause rotation of an interior of a generator. Rotation of this interior of the generator can cause an electricity to be generated and outputted. The generator can be considered a source of damping, so at the start of the heel strike sequence the generator can be non-engaged. After some time, the generator can be engaged and in turn rotate. This can allow for standing inertia to be more quickly overcome.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A shoe insole, comprising:

a linear movement mechanism configured to make a linear movement from a neutral position to an off-neutral position during a heel strike sequence;
and
a rotational movement mechanism, that is coupled to the linear movement mechanism, configured to make a rotational movement in response to the linear movement,
where the rotational movement causes a rotation of an electrical generator during less than a full duration of the heel strike sequence,
where the linear movement mechanism comprises a rack,
where the rotational movement mechanism comprises a pinion gear physically coupled to the rack,
where when the rack moves laterally, the pinion gear experiences a rotation,
where the pinion gear has a varied gear ratio,
where a varied gear ratio value of the pinion gear is lower at a start of the rotation experienced by the pinion gear, and
where the varied gear ratio value of the pinion gear is higher at an end of the rotation experienced by the pinion gear.

7 more elements

A shoe insole, comprising:

an electrical generator;
a linear movement mechanism configured to make a linear movement from a neutral position to an off-neutral position during a heel strike sequence;
a rotational movement mechanism, that is coupled to the linear movement mechanism, configured to make a rotational movement in response to the linear movement;
and
a circuit completion hardware configured to complete a circuit after a start of the heel strike sequence,
where the rotational movement causes a rotation of the electrical generator during less than a full duration of the heel strike sequence,
where the electrical generator produces an electricity that powers a battery of a device associated with a wearer of the shoe insole,
where the heal strike sequence causes the circuit to be completed by way of the circuit completion hardware,
where when the circuit is completed an interior of the electrical generator rotates and when the circuit is not completed the interior of the electrical generator does not rotate,
where the heel strike sequence terminates with a foot toward a ground for a shoe that retains the shoe insole,
where after the heel strike sequence ends a heel lift sequence occurs,
where during the heel lift sequence the linear movement mechanism linearly moves from the off-neutral position to the neutral position,
where the heel lift sequence causes the circuit to be open, and
where the electrical generator is not caused to be rotated due to the heel lift sequence.

11 more elements

A shoe insole, comprising:

an electrical generator;
a linear movement mechanism configured to make a linear movement from a neutral position to an off-neutral position during a heel strike sequence;
a rotational movement mechanism, that is coupled to the linear movement mechanism, configured to make a rotational movement in response to the linear movement;
a potentiometer configured to function at a first value and configured to function at a second value,
where the potentiometer is part of a circuit associated with the electrical generator,
where a start of the heel strike sequence the potentiometer is at the first value,
where after the start of the heel strike sequence the potentiometer is at the second value,
where the heel strike sequence causes the potentiometer to change from the first value to the second value,
where the first value is such that the circuit functions as an open circuit,
where the second value is such that the circuit functions as a closed circuit,
where when the circuit is completed, the rotational movement of the generator causes the damping of rotation of the electrical generator,
where when the circuit is not completed, the rotational movement does not cause damping of the rotation of the electrical generator,
where the rotational movement causes a rotation of the electrical generator during less than a full duration of the heel strike sequence,
where the electrical generator produces an electricity that powers a battery of a device associated with a wearer of the shoe insole
where the heel strike sequence terminates with a foot toward a heel of a shoe that retains the shoe insole,
where after the heel strike sequence ends a heel lift sequence occurs,
where during the heel lift sequence the linear movement mechanism linearly moves from the off-neutral position to the neutral position,
where the heel lift sequence causes the circuit to be open, and
where the electrical generator is not caused to be rotated due to the heel lift sequence.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract