公开(公告)号：US11622596B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-11

申请号：US16592868

申请日：2019-10-04

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown ,  Winton Parker ,  James J. Muller ,  Abigale McAdams ,  Pedro D. Oporto ,  Josephine Bowen ,  Sarah Duquette ,  Eric Motler ,  Tristin J. Carlton ,  Nicholas Workman ,  Michael Doyle ,  Jessica Shelsky ,  Jessica K. Y. Cheu ,  Lorenzo M. Dube ,  Olivia G. Steen ,  Andrew R. Vickery

IPC: A43B13/18 ,  A43B7/148 ,  A43B13/12 ,  A43B7/1445 ,  A43B7/144

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that forces between the shoe upper and planar sole surface in ground contact are absorbed by force mitigation assemblies disposed in the shoe sole. A force mitigation assembly adapted for an athletic shoe includes a linkage to a wearer interface responsive to movement based on activity of the wearer. An attachment to a sole surface receives ground forces transmitted from frictional contact between the sole surface and a surface against which the sole is disposed, such as for running, turning, etc. A force mitigation assembly absorbs these forces received from the sole surface for directing the received force in a controlled manner. An elastic field in the force mitigation assembly is defined by a resilient material adapted to deform in response to the received force.

公开(公告)号：US11445784B2

公开(公告)日：2022-09-20

申请号：US16592883

申请日：2019-10-04

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown ,  James J. Muller ,  Winton Parker ,  Allysa Grant ,  Tristin J. Carlton ,  Nicholas Workman ,  Michael Doyle ,  Jessica Shelsky ,  Jessica K. Y. Cheu ,  Lorenzo Dube ,  Pedro D. Oporto ,  Olivia G. Steen ,  Andrew R. Vickery

IPC: A43B13/18 ,  A43B13/12 ,  A43B13/04

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that forces between the shoe upper and planar sole surface in ground contact are absorbed by force mitigation structures disposed in the shoe sole. A footwear article includes a split-sole system that redefines a shoe sole as coplanar surfaces having a force mitigating interface for receiving sudden forces and effectively mitigating these forces by storing kinetic energy and releasing it over time. An elastic field in the force mitigation structure is defined by a resilient material adapted to deform in response to the received force. Frictional engagement between the upper and lower sole may also be augmented by surface characteristics such as dimples, voids and lubricants, in addition to interference engagement with an elastic field.

公开(公告)号：US20210127783A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-06

申请号：US17094978

申请日：2020-11-11

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown ,  Tristin J. Carlton ,  Eric Motler ,  Douglas Rives ,  Austin Lindner ,  Joshua M. Herlands ,  Jessica K.Y. Chen ,  Lorenzo M. Dube ,  James J. Muller ,  Pedro D. Oporto ,  Olivia G. Steen ,  Andrew R. Vickery

IPC: A43B13/18 ,  A43B13/20 ,  A43B5/02 ,  A43B13/12 ,  A43B13/22 ,  A43B13/14

Abstract: A protective headgear device, or helmet, protects against head injuries such as concussions and CTE by imposing a network of constant force members (CFMs) between an outer impact shell and an inner fitted capsule engaging the skull/head surface. CFMs exhibit a force absorbing behavior that differs from conventional linear spring behavior that impose a counterforce proportional to the displaced distance. CFMs occupy a compact void between the outer impact shell and the inner fitted capsule by component miniaturization and tethers that redirect forces within the void. An absence of conventional foam and straps increases accommodation for the CFMs and connection tethers/attachments. The CFMs exhibit a substantially constant force that avoids a sharp impactful response associated with head injuries.

公开(公告)号：US10888138B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-12

申请号：US15675989

申请日：2017-08-14

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown ,  Nicholas Workman ,  Michael Doyle ,  Jessica Shelsky ,  Jessica K. Y. Cheu ,  Lorenzo M. Dube ,  James J. Muller ,  Pedro D. Oporto ,  Olivia G. Steen ,  Andrew R. Vickery

IPC: A43B13/12 ,  A43B13/18 ,  A43B13/20 ,  A43B5/02 ,  A43B13/22 ,  A43B13/14

Abstract: An impact absorbing footwear device employs opposed planar sole portions engaged by a selective resistance coupling that biases the opposed planar sole portions in a non-linear manner in response to forces exerted by the wearer against the sole portion in frictional contact with a floor surface. The planar sole portions are disposed in a footwear appliance that takes the form of an athletic shoe sole. The selective resistance coupling includes a plurality of resilient deformation members that engage the planar sole portions in an opposed circumferentially aligned manner, selectively deform in response to pressure exerted by the wearer for preventing ACL and other impact related injuries, and recover to an undeformed rest position without breakaway to allow the wearer uninterrupted usage while dampening forces that surpass an injury threshold from the resilient deformation that allows the planar sole portions to temporarily misalign.

公开(公告)号：US20200077743A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16568839

申请日：2019-09-12

Applicant: Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Inventor： Christopher A. Brown

IPC: A43B13/20

Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that the shoe sole is adapted to be disposed against a ground surface such as turf, grass or dirt. A ground interface member having a general appearance of a footwear cleat extends from the planar sole surface. Within the sole, the ground interface member couples to a force mitigation assembly for absorbing forces against the cleat. The force mitigation assembly includes an elastic field of a resilient, compressible material, and an inclined surface is disposed against the elastic field and oriented to compress the elastic field. A linkage or connecting surface transmits a displacement force for disposing the inclined surface across the elastic field, where the inclined surface compresses the elastic field as it moves across. In response, the elastic field exerts a counterforce against the ground interface member.