Apparatus for enhanced human-powered locomotion

Abstract

A foot or shoe-borne apparatus comprises a spacer and spring assembly that can be oriented in two orientations. In the first orientation, the assembly is under the sole of a user's foot or shoe such that the assembly acts against the ground for enhanced locomotion for that foot or shoe. In the second orientation, the assembly is positioned away from the sole of the foot or shoe, thereby enabling ordinary use of that foot or shoe.

1 . A spring assembly attachable to a strap on a user's foot or shoe, comprising a pivot coupled to the strap configured to allow the spring assembly to pivot into a first quasi-stable orientation, whereby the spring assembly contacts the ground for spring-assisted use of the foot or shoe, and a second quasi-stable orientation, whereby the spring assembly does not contact the ground for normal, non-spring-assisted use of the foot or shoe. 
     
     
         2 . The spring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pivot possesses a lever or handle that facilitates pivoting the spring assembly from the first to the second orientation and back. 
     
     
         3 . The spring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the pivot comprises a mechanism that provides for the first quasi-stable orientation to be further stabilized or momentarily mechanically locked under forces generated by the action of the foot or shoe contacting the ground. 
     
     
         4 . The spring assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising additional housings, straps, and fastening means, configured to allow the spring assembly to be housed, strapped and fastened to a shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The spring assembly of  claim 1  wherein the spring assembly is integral to a shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The spring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly is chosen from the group consisting of coil springs, wave springs leaf springs, solid composite springs, and wireframes; air bladders, rubberized materials, and solid or quasi-solid compressive materials. 
     
     
         7 . The spring assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the spring assembly includes stiff members to effect ground-contact and shoe-contact of the spring assembly, the stiff members coupled by a compressive member comprising one or more of coil springs, wave springs, leaf springs, solid composite springs, wireframes; air bladders, other rubberized materials, and solid or quasi-solid compressive materials.