Abstract: An energy return device for footwear has a flattenable conical disk with a ring spring arranged around the base of the conical disk. A rigid upper heel-receiving plate is connected to the apex of the flattenable conical disk. The heel-receiving plate may be rigidly or semi-rigidly attached to the apex of the conical disk to stabilize an angle of the heel-receiving plate. There may be a conical damping disk between a lower surface of the heel-receiving plate and an upper surface of the conical disk. There may be protrusions on the bottom of the heel-receiving plate which interact with pockets in the upper surface of the conical disk, for example distorting the conical damping disk. There may be viscoelastic inserts in the pockets, for example providing damping in place of or in addition to the damping disk.

Abstract: A spring for a spring shoe, the spring including a conical disk, the conical disk having a flexible flange around the perimeter of the conical disk. A spring comprising a conical disk and a ring spring around the conical disk, the ring spring being movable up and down relative to the conical disk to adjust the spring force of the spring. A threaded engagement between the ring spring and the conical disk so that rotation of the conical disk moves the ring spring up or down relative to the conical disk. A damper ring around the perimeter of the conical disk to resist the expansion of the circumference of the conical disk. An eccentric ring or cam to adjust the position of the apex of the conical disk relative to an insole by rotating the eccentric ring or cam. An asymmetric conical disk to adjust the position of the apex of the conical disk by rotating the conical disk. A damper for a spring shoe comprising a flexible container containing a material with little or no propensity to return to its original shape.