Shoe having spring system

Abstract

A shoe spring kit for a shoe includes a V-shaped spring portion having a lower platform portion and a raised springboard portion, the raised springboard portion intersecting the lower platform portion at an intersection point to form an angle relative to the lower platform portion such that the raised springboard portion is spaced apart from the lower platform portion by a distance at a location opposite the intersection point. The raised springboard portion is configured, at a static position, to bend and move closer to and away from the lower platform portion so as to provide a cantilever spring effect. The V-shaped spring portion can be placed inside of the shoe or outside of the shoe.

1 . A shoe spring kit for a shoe, comprising:
 a fulcrum configured to be coupled to a sole of the shoe;   a V-shaped spring configured to be disposed inside the shoe; and   a front spring having a front end and a back end, the back end of the front spring configured to be coupled to the fulcrum.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the V-shaped spring comprises a lower platform portion and a raised springboard portion coupled to the lower platform portion, the lower platform portion and the raised springboard portion intersect at an intersection location to form an angle, the raised springboard portion being configured to move closer to and away from the lower platform portion so as to provide a cantilever spring effect by pushing on the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower platform portion and the raised springboard portion are integrally formed as one piece from a single material. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower platform portion is configured to contact a back sole portion at an interior surface of the sole. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the raised springboard portion is spaced apart from the lower platform portion by a distance at a location opposite the intersection location. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 5 , wherein the distance is from 0.25 inch to 4.0 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 2 , wherein the V-shaped spring is coupled to the sole using an adhesive or fasteners, or both. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the front spring has a curved portion between the front end and the back end, the curved portion being configured to contact ground and to provide spring recoil. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the front spring comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front strike plate configured to be coupled to a front of the sole, wherein the front spring includes a polymer material tip at the front end of the front spring to facilitate slipping forward of the front end when the front end of the front spring meets the front strike plate. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 10 , wherein the front end of the front spring is spaced apart from the front strike plate by about 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum is configured to be coupled to the sole of the sole at a mid-point of the sole, the fulcrum being configured to facilitate shifting of a weight of a wearer of the shoe from back to front to sequentially accelerate shifting of the weight between the V-shaped spring and the front spring, and to facilitate a movement of a foot in leaving ground. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein lower surfaces of the V-shaped spring and the front spring that are configured to meet the ground include a layer of rubber material or polymer material to enhance traction of a wearer of the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole configured to support a foot of a wearer;   an upper portion configured to cover the foot of the wearer;   a fulcrum configured to be coupled to the sole;   a V-shaped spring disposed inside the shoe; and   a front spring having a front end and a back end, the back end of the front spring being coupled to the fulcrum,   wherein the front end of the front spring is spaced apart from the sole, and the V-shaped spring is in contact with an interior surface of the sole.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe according to  claim 15 , further comprising a front strike plate configured to be coupled to a front of the sole, wherein the front spring includes a polymer material tip at the front end of the front spring to facilitate slipping forward of the front end when the front end of the front spring meets the front strike plate. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe spring kit for a shoe comprising:
 a V-shaped spring portion having a lower platform portion and a raised springboard portion, the raised springboard portion intersecting the lower platform portion at an intersection point to form an angle relative to the lower platform portion such that the raised springboard portion is spaced apart from the lower platform portion by a distance at a location opposite the intersection point,   wherein the raised springboard portion is configured to bend and move closer to and away from the lower platform portion so as to provide a cantilever spring effect.   
     
     
         18 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , wherein the lower platform portion is configured to contact a sole of the shoe and the raised springboard portion is configured to support a heel of a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , wherein the lower platform portion is configured to contact the ground and the raised springboard portion is configured to contact a sole of the shoe at a heel area of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , wherein the distance between the raised springboard portion and the lower platform portion at the location opposite the intersection point is from 0.25 inch to 4.0 inches. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a springboard fulcrum disposed between the lower platform portion and the raised springboard portion, the springboard fulcrum being configured to counter react to a force applied to the raised springboard portion and spring load a position of an ankle of a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , wherein the V-shaped spring portion is an integral single piece made from a resilient composite material. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a springboard fulcrum attached to the raised springboard portion, wherein the springboard fulcrum is configured to be positioned on the raised springboard portion at a desired distance from the intersection point to adjust a stiffness of the raised springboard portion. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 17 , further comprising a fulcrum configured to be coupled to a sole of the shoe; and a front spring having a front end and a back end, the back end of the front spring configured to be coupled to the fulcrum. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe spring kit according to  claim 1 , wherein, when mounted to the shoe, the front end of the front spring is spaced apart from the sole, and the V-shaped spring is in contact with an interior surface of the sole.