# US 9,295,302 B1 · Gait-altering shoes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,295,302 B1 - Document ID: US9295302B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/769,632 - Filed: 2013-02-18 - Granted: 2016-03-29 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-17 - Assignees: University of South Florida - Applicants: Kyle B. Reed; Ismet Handzic - Inventors: Kyle B. Reed; Ismet Handzic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9295302B1 ## CPC - A43B 7/14: with foot-supporting parts - A43B 3/128: {characterised by the sole} - A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements - A61H 3/00: Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 {; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003}) - A61H 2003/007: {secured to the patient, e.g. with belts} - A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal - A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces - A61H 2201/1661: Wobbling interface, e.g. Stewart platform or Hexapod - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a gait-altering shoe includes a frame adapted to support a user's foot and at least one wheel that supports the frame above a walking surface, the wheel having a radius that varies as a function of angular position of the wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A gait-altering shoe comprising: a frame adapted to support a user's foot; and at least one wheel that supports the frame above a walking surface, the wheel having a radius that varies as a function of angular position of the wheel such that the wheel automatically rotates when weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a front portion adapted to support a front part of the foot and a rear portion adapted to support a rear part of the foot. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shoe of claim 2, wherein the front portion is pivotally mounted to the rear portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wheel comprises an outer surface that generally follows an Archimedean spiral. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wheel is configured to automatically rotate backward as the user's weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wheel is configured to automatically rotate forward as the user's weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the shoe comprises front wheels and rear wheels. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The shoe of claim 7, wherein the front wheels are fixedly mounted to a front axle supported by the frame and the rear wheels are fixedly mounted to a rear axle supported by the frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a spring associated with the wheel that returns the wheel to an initial position after the user's weight is removed from the shoe. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a damper associated with the wheel that slows rotation of the wheel when the user applies weight to the shoe. ### Claim 11 A gait-altering shoe comprising: a frame adapted to support a user's foot, the frame including a rear portion and a front portion that is pivotally mounted to the rear portion; and wheels mounted to the rear portion of the frame that support the frame above a walking surface, each wheel having a radius that varies as a function of angular position of the wheel such that the wheel automatically rotates when weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, wherein the wheels comprise an outer surface that generally follows an Archimedean spiral. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, wherein the wheels are configured to automatically rotate backward as the user's weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, wherein the wheels are configured to automatically rotate forward as the user's weight is applied to the shoe. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, wherein the wheels include front wheels that are fixedly mounted to a front axle supported by the frame and rear wheels that are fixedly mounted to a rear axle supported by the frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The shoe of claim 15, further comprising a first spring that acts upon the front axle to return it and the front wheels to an initial position after the user's weight is removed from the front wheels and a second spring that acts upon the rear axle to return it and the rear wheels to an initial position after the user's weight is removed from the rear wheels. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The shoe of claim 16, further comprising a first pulley mounted to the front axle to which the first spring is coupled and a second pulley mounted to the rear axle to which the second spring is coupled. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The shoe of claim 15, further comprising a first damper that acts upon the front axle to slow rotation of the front wheels when the user's weight is applied to the front wheels and a second damper that acts upon the rear axle to slow rotation of the rear wheels when the user's weight is applied to the rear wheels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The shoe of claim 18, further comprising a first chain or belt that couples the first damper to the front axle and a second chain or belt that couples the second damper to the rear axle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, further comprising straps attached to the frame that are adapted to secure the shoe to the user's foot. ### Claim 21 A method for altering a gait cycle of a user, the method comprising: attaching a gait-altering shoe to a foot of the user, the shoe including at least one wheel having a radius that varies as a function of angular position of the wheel and that automatically rotates when weight is applied to the wheel; and displacing the user's foot with the wheel of the shoe during a stance phase of the gait cycle. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein displacing the user's foot comprises displacing the user's foot backward in a direction opposite a direction in which the user is walking. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein displacing the user's foot comprises displacing the user's foot forward in a same direction in which the user is walking. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising slowing rotation of the wheel using a damper of the shoe. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising returning the wheel to an initial position using a spring of the shoe.