CPC A43B 7/20 (2013.01) [A61H 1/0266 (2013.01); A61H 3/00 (2013.01); A61H 2003/007 (2013.01); A61H 2201/14 (2013.01); A61H 2201/164 (2013.01); A61H 2201/165 (2013.01)] | 9 Claims |
1. A motion-assist shoe comprising:
an upper;
a sole portion coupled to the upper, the sole portion comprising a forward portion and a rearward portion; and
a force translator comprising a base portion and a leg portion, the base portion and the leg portion coupled by a dynamic portion;
wherein the base portion, the leg portion and the dynamic portion are unitary one with another;
wherein the base portion is embedded within the sole portion;
wherein the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to, a leg above an ankle of a user of the shoe;
wherein the shoe comprises a stressed configuration and an unstressed configuration;
wherein, in the stressed configuration, the base portion and the leg portion are substantially perpendicular relative to each other;
wherein, in the unstressed configuration, the base portion and the leg portion are no longer substantially perpendicular relative to each other;
wherein the dynamic portion is configured to bias the shoe toward the unstressed configuration to thereby bias the rearward portion upward relative to the forward portion;
wherein the dynamic portion is comprised of a resiliently deformable material; and
wherein the dynamic portion is comprised of an s-spring, and the leg portion is configured to contact, and conform to a shin of a user.
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