Differential-stiffness impact-attenuation members and products including them

Abstract

A differential-stiffness impact-attenuation member includes at least one spring element. The spring element has dimensions in height, length and width directions. The height dimension extends from a top surface to a bottom surface. The length dimension extends from a front end to a back end. At least one of the top and bottom surfaces is adapted for mounting. The impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the back end of the spring element. The spring element may define a cavity. A tension element may engage the spring element and be located at least partially within the cavity. The impact-attenuation member may engage at least one of a foot-covering member, a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member associated with a foot-receiving device.

1 . An impact-attenuation member comprising:
 a spring element defining a cavity, the spring element having dimensions in height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface adapted for mounting, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end; and   wherein the impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the back end of the spring element.   
   
   
       2 . The member of  claim 1 , further comprising a tension element located at least partially within the cavity and engaging the spring element, the tension element extending across the cavity in the width direction. 
   
   
       3 . The member of  claim 2 , wherein the tension element is substantially planar and wherein the tension element engages one or more receptacles in the spring element. 
   
   
       4 . The member of  claim 1 , wherein the width dimension of at least one of the spring element and the cavity varies linearly along at least a portion of the length dimension of the spring element. 
   
   
       5 . The member of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the front end and the back end is at least partially curved. 
   
   
       6 . The member of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. 
   
   
       7 . The member of  claim 1 , wherein the spring element is a tri-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape. 
   
   
       8 . An impact-attenuation member comprising:
 a spring element characterized by dimensions in mutually perpendicular height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface adapted for mounting,   wherein at most one of two mutually perpendicular planes, each extending in the height direction, defines a plane of symmetry of the spring element.   
   
   
       9 . The member of  claim 8  wherein
 one of two mutually perpendicular planes, each extending in the height direction, defines a plane of symmetry of the spring element.   
   
   
       10 . The member of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a tension element engaging the spring element and extending in the width direction of the spring element;   wherein the spring element defines a cavity, and   wherein the tension element is located at least partially within the cavity.   
   
   
       11 . The member of  claim 10 , wherein the tension element is substantially planar, and wherein the tension element engages one or more receptacles in the spring element. 
   
   
       12 . The member of  claim 8 , wherein the length dimension of the spring element extends from a front end to a back end and wherein at least one of the front end and the back end is at least partially curved. 
   
   
       13 . The member of  claim 8 , wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. 
   
   
       14 . The member of  claim 8 , wherein the spring element is a tri-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape. 
   
   
       15 . A foot-receiving device comprising:
 at least one of a foot-covering member, a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member; and   at least one impact-attenuation member engaged with the at least one of the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member and the surface-contacting member, the impact-attenuation member comprising:
 at least one spring element defining a cavity, the spring element having dimensions in height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface adapted for mounting, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end; and 
 wherein the impact-attenuation member has a first stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the front end of the spring element and a second stiffness characteristic in the height direction at the back end of the spring element. 
   
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 15 , further comprising a tension element located at least partially within the cavity and engaging the spring element, the tension element extending across the cavity in the width direction. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the tension element is substantially planar, and wherein the tension element slidingly engages the spring element. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the top surface of the spring element engages the foot-supporting member and the bottom surface of the spring element engages the surface-contacting member. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring element is a truncated, hollow, substantially conical shape. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the spring element is a ti-lobed, hollow, substantially spherical shape. 
   
   
       21 . A foot-receiving device comprising:
 at least one of a foot-covering member, a foot-supporting member and a surface-contacting member; and   at least one impact-attenuation member having a mounting surface mounted to the at least one of the foot-covering member, the foot-supporting member and the surface-contacting member, the impact-attenuation member comprising:
 at least one spring element characterized by dimensions in mutually perpendicular height, length and width directions, the height dimension extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface comprising the mounting surface; 
 wherein at most one of two mutually perpendicular planes, each extending in the height direction, defines a plane of symmetry of the spring element. 
   
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a tension element engaging the spring element and extending in the width direction of the spring element. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein one of two mutually perpendicular planes, each extending in the height direction, defines a plane of symmetry of the spring element. 
   
   
       24 . A method of using an impact-attenuation member, the impact-attenuation member characterized by mutually perpendicular height, length and width dimensions, the length dimension extending from a front end to a back end, the impact-attenuation member having a spring element and a tension element extending at least partially across the width dimension of the impact-attenuation member between a first engagement portion engaging the spring element and a second engagement portion engaging the spring element, the method comprising:
 decreasing the height dimension of the impact-attenuation member at the front end as a function of a first spring constant;   decreasing the height dimension of the impact-attenuation member at the back end as a function of a second spring constant, wherein the second spring constant differs from the first spring constant; and   increasing a distance between the first and second engagement portions, thereby stretching the tension element.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the tension element engages a receptacle in the spring element, and wherein the method further comprises: closing the receptacle around the tension element.