# US 2012/0159810 A1 · Springs for shoes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0159810 A1 - Document ID: US20120159810A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/380,495 - Filed: 2010-06-22 - Published: 2012-06-28 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-22 - Assignees: Powerdisk Development Ltd. - Inventors: James Brent Klassen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120159810A1 ## CPC - A43B 13/181: {Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole} - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 13/42: Filling materials located between the insole and outer sole; Stiffening materials - F16F 1/32: Belleville-type springs (friction-clutch diaphragm springs F16D13/583) - F16F 1/324: {characterised by having tongues or arms directed in a generally radial direction, i.e. diaphragm-type springs} - F16F 3/093: the springs being of different materials, e.g. having different types of rubber {(F16F1/3835 takes precedence)} - F16F 13/04: comprising both a plastics spring and a damper, e.g. a friction damper - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A spring for a spring shoe, the spring including a conical disk, the conical disk having a flexible flange around the perimeter of the conical disk. A spring comprising a conical disk and a ring spring around the conical disk, the ring spring being movable up and down relative to the conical disk to adjust the spring force of the spring. A threaded engagement between the ring spring and the conical disk so that rotation of the conical disk moves the ring spring up or down relative to the conical disk. A damper ring around the perimeter of the conical disk to resist the expansion of the circumference of the conical disk. An eccentric ring or cam to adjust the position of the apex of the conical disk relative to an insole by rotating the eccentric ring or cam. An asymmetric conical disk to adjust the position of the apex of the conical disk by rotating the conical disk. A damper for a spring shoe comprising a flexible container containing a material with little or no propensity to return to its original shape. A spring array for a spring shoe, the springs of the spring array having a reducing force resisting compression over at least a portion of the spring range of travel as the spring compresses, and there being a damper associated with the array to oppose compression of the array towards maximum compression. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole of a shoe comprising: an outsole, an insole, and a fixed pocket in the outsole; a conical disk within the fixed pocket; and a flexible flange around the perimeter of the conical disk extending from the conical disk to a boundary of the fixed pocket to center the disk within the fixed pocket while the disk expands or contracts. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole of claim 1 in which the flexible flange acts as a seal to prevent the flow of air into and out of the interior of the conical disk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole of claim 1 in which the flexible flange is detented to rotationally position the conical disk within the fixed pocket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sole of claim 1, further comprising a ring spring around the perimeter of the conical disk. ### Claim 5 A spring comprising: a conical disk having a base, a perimeter, and an apex; and a ring spring around the perimeter of the conical disk, in which the ring spring is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the base to adjust the spring force of the conical disk. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The spring of claim 5, in which the ring spring engages with the conical disk in a threaded manner so that the ring spring is movable in the direction generally perpendicular to the base by rotating the conical disk relative to the ring spring or the ring spring relative to the conical disk. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The spring of claim 5 in which the ring spring engages with an element radially outward from the ring spring in a manner which allows vertical movement and radial expansion of the ring spring but prevents rotational movement of the ring spring relative to the element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The spring of claim 7 in which the ring spring engages with the element radially outward from the ring spring with tongue and groove slots. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The spring of claim 7 in which the element radially outward from the ring spring is a damper ring. ### Claim 10 A spring comprising: a conical disk having a perimeter; and a damper ring around the perimeter of the conical disk, in which when the conical disk is compressed the damper ring is caused to expand. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 in which when the conical disk is compressed the damper ring is not caused to expand until part way through the compression of the conical disk. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 in which the creep modulus of the damper ring is higher than the spring constant of the conical disk. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10, further comprising a ring spring around the perimeter of the conical disk. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The spring of claim 13 in which the creep modulus of the damper ring is higher than the spring constant of the ring spring. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 in which the conical disk has a base and an apex, the spring further comprising: a ring spring around the perimeter of the conical disk, in which the ring spring is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to the base to adjust the spring force of the conical disk, and the damper ring is radially outward from the ring spring, the damper ring providing a damping resistance that varies depending on the position of the ring spring in the direction generally perpendicular to the base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The spring of claim 15 in which the damper ring has a cross sectional thickness that varies over the direction of movability of the ring spring. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 in which the damper ring comprises polyurethane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 in which the damper ring is made of a combination of materials. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The spring of claim 10 further comprising one or more additional damper rings in which when the conical disk is compressed the damper rings begin to expand progressively during the compression of the conical disk. ### Claim at position 20 20-39. (canceled)