Gait feedback system

Abstract

A system may be provided for incorporation in an article of footwear that has an upper coupled to a sole, where the sole has an insole and an outsole and the upper and the insole define an interior space for receiving a foot of a user. The system may include a device configured to be coupled to the footwear beneath the user's foot and a structure for fixing the device in place in a predetermined position in the footwear. In such system, the structure may include a compressible portion coupled to a substantially incompressible portion, and the device may be directly supported by the hard plastic portion of the structure to provide a feedback signal to the user when a pressure applied to the device by the user's foot exceeds a threshold value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gait feedback system for footwear, comprising:
 a compressible insert including an upper insert side and a lower insert side; and   a sensory feedback device including a hard base and a spring, the spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring resting on the hard base and the spring being held in place on the hard base, the sensory feedback device being fixed inside the compressible insert between the upper insert side and the lower insert side with the hard base being nearer the lower insert side than the spring and the second end of the spring being nearer the upper insert side than the first end of the spring;   wherein:   the compressible insert is configured for insertion into an interior space defined by an upper of an article of footwear and an inner surface of a sole of the article of footwear so that the lower insert side is adjacent to the inner surface of the sole;   the second end of the spring is separated from the interior space by a layer of a compressible material when the compressible insert is placed into the interior space with the lower insert side adjacent to the inner surface of the sole; and   the spring is configured so that when the spring is compressed by force to bring the first end and the second end closer together, the spring deforms abruptly producing a sensory feedback signal in response to the force exceeding a predetermined force threshold value, whereby a wearer of the footwear receives the sensory feedback signal when the force applied by a foot of the wearer on the second end exceeds the threshold value.   
     
     
         2 . The gait feedback system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible insert is shaped as an insole and the lower insert side conforms to the inner surface of the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The gait feedback system of  claim 2 , wherein the spring is a dome spring comprising a dimpled portion at the second end. 
     
     
         4 . The gait feedback system of  claim 3 , wherein the dome spring is made of steel. 
     
     
         5 . The gait feedback system of  claim 3 , wherein the compressible insert comprises a heel area and the sensory feedback device is fixed in the heel area. 
     
     
         6 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the hard base comprises ABS. 
     
     
         7 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the hard base is made of hard plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The gait feedback system of  claim 7 , wherein the compressible insert comprises foam. 
     
     
         9 . The gait feedback system of  claim 7 , wherein the compressible insert comprises EVA. 
     
     
         10 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the hard base comprises portions defining a flat surface and a ridge configured to support the dome spring on the flat surface at an edge of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the compressible insert comprises portions defining a cutout for receiving the sensory feedback device. 
     
     
         12 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensory feedback signal comprises an audible sound produced by the spring when the spring deforms abruptly in response to the force exceeding the predetermined force threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensory feedback signal comprises a haptic signal produced by the spring when the spring deforms abruptly in response to the force exceeding the predetermined force threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined force threshold value is equivalent to the weight of about 4,000 grams. 
     
     
         15 . The gait feedback system of  claim 5 , wherein the sensory feedback device further comprises a piece of an adhesive tape or shrink-wrap material holding the spring in place on the hard base. 
     
     
         16 . A gait feedback system for footwear, comprising:
 a compressible insert including an upper insert side and a lower insert side; and   a sensory feedback device including a hard base and a spring, the spring having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring resting on the hard base and the spring being held in place on the hard base, the sensory feedback device being fixed inside the compressible insert between the upper insert side and the lower insert side with the hard base being nearer the lower insert side than the spring and the second end of the spring being nearer the upper insert side than the first end of the spring;   wherein:   the compressible insert is configured for insertion into an interior space defined by an upper of an article of footwear and an inner surface of a sole of the article of footwear so that the lower insert side is adjacent to the inner surface of the sole;   the sensory feedback device at the second end of the spring is exposed to the interior space when the compressible insert is placed into the interior space with the lower insert side adjacent to the inner surface of the sole; and   the spring is configured so that when the spring is compressed by force to bring the first end and the second end closer together, the spring deforms abruptly producing a sensory feedback signal in response to the force exceeding a predetermined force threshold value, whereby a wearer of the footwear receives the sensory feedback signal when the force applied by a foot of the wearer on the second end of the sensory feedback device exceeds the threshold value.   
     
     
         17 . The gait feedback system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the compressible insert is shaped as an insole and the lower insert side conforms to the inner surface of the sole;   the spring is a dome spring comprising a dimpled portion at the second end;   the compressible insert comprises a heel area and the sensory feedback device is fixed in the heel area;   the hard base is made of hard plastic material; and   the compressible insert comprises foam.   
     
     
         18 . The gait feedback system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensory feedback device further comprises a piece of an adhesive tape or shrink-wrap material holding the spring in place on the hard base. 
     
     
         19 . The gait feedback system of  claim 17 , wherein the hard base comprises portions defining a flat surface and a ridge configured to support the dome spring on the flat surface at an edge of the base. 
     
     
         20 . A combination comprising the gait feedback system of  claim 17  and the article of footwear. 
     
     
         21 . A gait feedback device for footwear, comprising:
 a slider;   rollers; and   a spring;   wherein:   the slider comprises a track supported by the sliders and siding on the sliders over and parallel to the spring, and a bump protruding from the truck towards the spring; and   the spring comprises a straight portion and a raised portion extending from the straight portion towards the track, the bump clearing the straight portion when the bump is over the straight portion, the bump pushing the raised portion when the slider slides on the rollers parallel to the spring and brings the bump into impingement on the raised portion thereby deforming the spring and providing a feedback signal to a wearer of the article of footwear, the feedback signal being indicative of undesirable gait.   
     
     
         22 . The gait feedback of  claim 21 , further comprising a body fixing the rollers and the spring. 
     
     
         23 . The gait feedback device of  claim 22 , wherein the feedback signal is indicative of overstriding. 
     
     
         24 . The gait feedback device of  claim 23 , wherein the slider further comprises a projection at a first end, the projection extending from the track in the same direction as the bump. 
     
     
         25 . The gait feedback of  claim 22 , wherein the projection prevents the slider from sliding forward beyond a triggered position in which the bump impinges on the raised portion.