Tunable shoe sole energy absorber

Abstract

A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device incorporating at least confronting upper and lower generally planar polymeric portions joined by a releasable fastener assembly. Cooperating post and recess retainers are preferably formed in the polymeric portions to capture and retain a plurality of reconfigurably removable, stackable, and replaceable energy absorbers. With the novel configuration of the energy storage device, a shoe may be customized and tuned for optimal energy absorption and release by arranging the quantity and location of the energy absorbers about the post and recess retainers. Preferably, the energy absorber is selected from the group of items that includes, for example, conical and coil springs, disc springs such as flat, conical, finger, curved, wave, and belleville disc springs and washers. The energy absorbers may be arranged in a series and or parallel manner to address foot impact loads experienced during business, casual, athletic, medicinal, recreational, athletic, and special purpose situations. Among other elements, the tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device may further include a releasable fastener assembly that may have one or more fasteners such as, for example, hook and loop fasteners, cooperating bayonet-type guide posts and recesses, screws, adhesives, and combinations thereof. The polymeric upper and lower portion polymeric material is preferably either one of any of a number of suitable plastics such as elastomers and polyesters. In variations of the tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device may be further adapted to be an insert that is compatible for use within a shoe.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device, comprising: 
 confronting upper and lower generally planar polymeric portions joined by a releasable fastener assembly;    corresponding post and recess retainers formed in the polymeric portions;    a plurality of removable, stackable, and replaceable energy absorbers reconfigurably captured in the retainer assemblies; and    wherein the energy storage device is tunable by arranging the quantity and location of the energy absorbers about the post and recess retainers.    
     
     
         2 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the releasable fastener assembly includes fasteners selected from the group including hook and loop fasteners, cooperating guide posts and recesses, screws, adhesives, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the polymeric upper and lower portion material is selected from the group including polymeric materials, thermoplastics, elastomers, polyesters, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         4 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the retainer posts are formed from a material having a hardness greater than that of the polymeric upper portion material and that is selected from the group including metals and high-density polymers, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         5 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorber is selected from the group including conical and coil springs, disc springs further selected from the group including flat, conical, finger, curved, wave, and belleville disc springs and washers, and combinations, and parallel and series stacks thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower polymeric portion is integrally molded to be a portion of the insole of a shoe.  
     
     
         7 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is further configured to be an insert compatible for use within a shoe and to be arranged therein in a confronting relationship with the bottom surface of the foot of a wearer.  
     
     
         8 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device, comprising: 
 confronting upper and lower generally planar and permanently sealable polymeric portions;    corresponding post and recess retainers formed in the polymeric portions;    a plurality of stackable energy absorbers captured in the retainer assemblies and having a selected arrangement therein; and    wherein the energy storage device is tunable by arranging the quantity and location of the energy absorbers about the post and recess retainers, and wherein the energy storage device is further adapted to replace a portion of a shoe selected from the group including a portion of the sole and the heel.    
     
     
         9 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 an outsole portion carried from the lower polymeric portion and being selected from the group including leather and polymeric high-friction materials and combinations and arrangements thereof.    
     
     
         10 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein 
 the polymeric upper and lower portion material is selected from the group including polymeric materials, thermoplastics, elastomers, polyesters, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.    
     
     
         11 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein the retainer posts are formed from a material having a hardness greater than that of the polymeric upper portion material and that is selected from the group including metals and high-density polymers, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         12 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein the energy absorber is selected from the group including conical and coil springs, disc springs further selected from the group including flat, conical, finger, curved, wave, and belleville disc springs and washers, and combinations, and parallel and series stacks thereof.  
     
     
         13 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 8 , wherein the upper polymeric portion is integrally molded to be a portion of the insole of a shoe.  
     
     
         14 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device, comprising: 
 a removable, stackable, and replaceable means for storing mechanical energy;    a means for releasably and reconfigurably retaining the energy storing means;    a means for defining the retaining means with posts and recesses formed about respective means for providing confronting upper and lower polymeric portions;    a means for releasably fastening the polymeric portion providing means; and    wherein the energy storage device is tunable by arranging the quantity and location of the energy storing means.    
     
     
         15 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 14 , wherein the releasably fastening means includes means for fastening selected from the group including hook and loop fasteners, cooperating guide posts and recesses, screws, adhesives, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 14 , wherein the means for providing polymeric portions material is selected from the group polymeric materials, thermoplastics, elastomers, polyesters, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 14 , wherein the post defining means of the retainer means are formed from a material having a hardness greater than that of the polymeric upper portion material and that is selected from the group including metals and high-density polymers, and combinations, alloys, blends, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         18 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 14 , wherein the means for storing energy is selected from the group including conical and coil springs, disc springs further selected from the group including flat, conical, finger, curved, wave, and belleville disc springs and washers, and combinations, and parallel and series stacks thereof.  
     
     
         19 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for providing a lower polymeric portion is integrally molded to be a portion of the insole of a shoe.  
     
     
         20 . A tunable shoe sole and heel energy storage device according to  claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is further configured to be an insert compatible for use within a shoe and to be arranged therein in a confronting relationship with the bottom surface of the foot of a wearer.