Power generating and gait assisting footwear article
AssigneeCity University of Hong Kong
InventorsZhengbao Yang, Qiqi Pan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a device for improving energy economy and wearing comfort of a power generating, gait assisting footwear article while maintaining normal gait pattern during human locomotion. The device includes a motion conversion mechanism to convert linear reciprocating moment exerted on the device during heel strike/up into a series of rotations; a rotation acceleration module to increase the speed of rotations before being transformed into electric current by a generator. The device also includes a power management module and energy storage element(s) for energy storage and power supply to the footwear article or external electronics.
Claims15
A device for improving energy harvesting, gait assisting and shock absorbing efficiencies while maintaining normal gait pattern of a wearer of an article of footwear during locomotion, the device comprising:
- a motion conversion module comprising an impact force absorbing and resilient member;
- and one or more guided members being attached to the impact force absorbing and resilient member;
- a rotation acceleration module comprising a plurality of rotatable members and communicating with the motion conversion module;
- a generator communicating with the rotation acceleration module;
- and
- a frame accommodating the motion conversion module, the rotation acceleration module and the generator,
- the motion conversion module being vertically extended from a horizontal section of the frame forming a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is internally threaded,
- at least one of the guided members being configured to move along the internally threaded sleeve when the impact force absorbing and resilient member moves vertically along the sleeve due to a heel strike or up motion of the wearer's foot,
- the one or more guided members, upon moving along the internally threaded sleeve, driving at least one of a plurality of rotatable members of the rotation acceleration module to rotate, thereby subsequently driving the remaining rotatable members of the rotation acceleration module;
- the generator transforming rotational energy of the rotatable members of the rotation acceleration module into electric energy to be stored in an energy storage element and/or supplied to other parts of the article of the footwear and external electronics,
- wherein the impact force absorbing and resilient member is a spring with one end attached to a top end of the sleeve and an opposite end attached to a first guided member,
- wherein the first guided member attached to the spring is disc-like and comprises a plurality of teeth disposed at a periphery thereof such that the first guided member is capable to move along the internally threaded sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.