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US 7,200,956 B1Granted
Magnetic fluid cushioning device for a footwear or shoe
AssigneeMaterials Modification, Inc.
InventorsSanjay Kotha, Tirumalai S. Sudarshan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushioning device for a footwear or shoe includes a chamber with a magnetically responsive fluid therein for absorbing and/or dampening vibrations and/or shocks. A magnetic member, such as an electromagnet, is provided for applying a magnetic field to the magnetic fluid to thereby vary the viscosity thereof.
Claims87
A cushioning device for a footwear, comprising:
- a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;
- b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;
- and
- e) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof.
3 more elements
A sole for a footwear, comprising:
- a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;
- b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;
- e) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof;
- and
- f) a control unit for relaying a signal to said magnetic member to apply a magnetic field.
4 more elements
A sole for a footwear, comprising:
- a) a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;
- b) said fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- c) said core particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- d) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;
- e) an electromagnet for applying a magnetic field to said fluid thereby varying the viscosity thereof;
- f) a movement sensor for determining the movement of a footwear;
- g) a weight sensor for determining the weight of a user of a footwear;
- and
- h) a control unit for receiving information from one of said movement and weight sensors and relaying a signal to said electromagnet for applying a magnetic field.
6 more elements
A method of varying the shock absorbing capacity of a footwear cushioning device, comprising:
- a) providing a cushioning device, comprising:
- i. a chamber including a magnetically responsive fluid;
- ii the fluid comprising core particles of a magnetic material;
- iii) the particles comprising first and second successive coatings;
- iv) one of said first and second coatings comprising a coating of at least one member selected from the group consisting of a ceramic material, a metallic material, and a combination thereof;
- and
- v) a magnetic member for applying a magnetic field to the fluid;
- b) applying a magnetic field to the fluid based on an input to thereby vary the viscosity of the fluid;
- and
- c) whereby a change in viscosity of the magnetic fluid changes the shock absorbing capacity of the cushioning device.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.