Abstract: A device for use in a shoe includes a first foot, a second foot, a third foot, a fourth foot, a first flexible leg, a second flexible leg, a third flexible leg, and a fourth flexible leg. The first flexible leg extends from the first foot and is curved. The second flexible leg extends from the second foot and is curved. The third flexible leg extends from the third foot and is curved. The fourth flexible leg extends from the fourth foot and is curved. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are joined together with each other at a common area. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are configured to store energy when a force is applied to the common area, and to return energy when the force is removed from the common area.

Abstract: A shoe includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, filler material, springs, an insole, and a midsole. The first plate and the second plate are hingedly connected to each other. The filler material is located between the first plate and the second plate. The springs are located within openings in the filler material. The third plate is affixed to a top surface of the first plate. The insole is located above the third plate. The first plate is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the third plate is made of carbon fiber. Another shoe includes a midsole, a plate located above the midsole, springs located at least partially within openings in the midsole, and a spring holding unit located below the midsole for holding the springs. The spring holding unit includes spring holding members and branches connecting corresponding spring holding members.

Abstract: A device for use in a shoe includes a first foot, a second foot, a third foot, a fourth foot, a first flexible leg, a second flexible leg, a third flexible leg, and a fourth flexible leg. The first flexible leg extends from the first foot and is curved. The second flexible leg extends from the second foot and is curved. The third flexible leg extends from the third foot and is curved. The fourth flexible leg extends from the fourth foot and is curved. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are joined together with each other at a common area. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are configured to store energy when a force is applied to the common area, and to return energy when the force is removed from the common area.

Abstract: A device for use in a shoe includes a first foot, a second foot, a third foot, a fourth foot, a first flexible leg, a second flexible leg, a third flexible leg, and a fourth flexible leg. The first flexible leg extends from the first foot and is curved. The second flexible leg extends from the second foot and is curved. The third flexible leg extends from the third foot and is curved. The fourth flexible leg extends from the fourth foot and is curved. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are joined together with each other at a common area. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are configured to store energy when a force is applied to the common area, and to return energy when the force is removed from the common area.

Abstract: A device for use in a shoe includes a first foot, a second foot, a third foot, a fourth foot, a first flexible leg, a second flexible leg, a third flexible leg, and a fourth flexible leg. The first flexible leg extends from the first foot and is curved. The second flexible leg extends from the second foot and is curved. The third flexible leg extends from the third foot and is curved. The fourth flexible leg extends from the fourth foot and is curved. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are joined together with each other at a common area. The first flexible leg, second flexible leg, third flexible leg, and fourth flexible leg are configured to store energy when a force is applied to the common area, and to return energy when the force is removed from the common area.

Abstract: A shoe includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, filler material, springs, an insole, and a midsole. The first plate and the second plate are hingedly connected to each other. The filler material is located between the first plate and the second plate. The springs are located within openings in the filler material. The third plate is affixed to a top surface of the first plate. The insole is located above the third plate. The first plate is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the third plate is made of carbon fiber. Another shoe includes a midsole, a plate located above the midsole, springs located at least partially within openings in the midsole, and a spring holding unit located below the midsole for holding the springs. The spring holding unit includes spring holding members and branches connecting corresponding spring holding members.

Abstract: A shoe includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, filler material, springs, an insole, and a midsole. The first plate and the second plate are hingedly connected to each other. The filler material is located between the first plate and the second plate. The springs are located within openings in the filler material. The third plate is affixed to a top surface of the first plate. The insole is located above the third plate. The first plate is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the third plate is made of carbon fiber. Another shoe includes a midsole, a plate located above the midsole, springs located at least partially within openings in the midsole, and a spring holding unit located below the midsole for holding the springs. The spring holding unit includes spring holding members and branches connecting corresponding spring holding members.

Abstract: A shoe includes a first plate, a second plate, a third plate, filler material, springs, an insole, and a midsole. The first plate and the second plate are hingedly connected to each other. The filler material is located between the first plate and the second plate. The springs are located within openings in the filler material. The third plate is affixed to a top surface of the first plate. The insole is located above the third plate. The first plate is made of a thermoplastic elastomer, and the third plate is made of carbon fiber. Another shoe includes a midsole, a plate located above the midsole, springs located at least partially within openings in the midsole, and a spring holding unit located below the midsole for holding the springs. The spring holding unit includes spring holding members and branches connecting corresponding spring holding members.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a first cord, a second cord, and an adjustment mechanism. The first cord is pullable from and retractable around a first pulley. The second cord is pullable from and retractable around a second pulley. The adjustment mechanism allows for adjusting a pull-out tension provided by the first cord independently of a retraction tension provided by the first cord. The pull-out tension provided by the first cord is a tension provided by the first cord when the first cord is pulled from the first pulley. The retraction tension provided by the first cord is a tension provided by the first cord when the first cord is retracted around the first pulley.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus includes a first cord, a second cord, and an adjustment mechanism. The first cord is pullable from and retractable around a first pulley. The second cord is pullable from and retractable around a second pulley. The adjustment mechanism allows for adjusting a pull-out tension provided by the first cord independently of a retraction tension provided by the first cord. The pull-out tension provided by the first cord is a tension provided by the first cord when the first cord is pulled from the first pulley. The retraction tension provided by the first cord is a tension provided by the first cord when the first cord is retracted around the first pulley.

Abstract: Footwear for improving the visibility of the wearer uses a circuit including a mechanically operated pressure switching mechanism, disposed in the footwear, to turn a lighting system off and on. The switch is responsive to pressure from the foot of the wearer. When a wearer raises a foot from the ground, the lighting system is activated. When the foot is returned to the ground, the lighting system is deactivated. The system may be disabled by removing a source of power from the circuit, or through the provision of a mechanically operable deactivation mechanism.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (20) having an inflatable air bladder (52) integrated into the design and construction of the shoe, and apparatus (50) for inflating the air bladder, as well as apparatus (82) for sensing and indicating the pressure in the bladder, all incorporated into the design of the shoe.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (20) includes a sole (22), an upper (25), and a tongue (26), as well as fasteners (28), such as shoelaces. Incorporated into the sole (22) of the athletic shoe (20) is a receptacle (30) for receiving and retaining a plug-in module (32) in a slide-in, releasably locking arrangement. The plug-in module (32) preferably includes a battery (62), a light emitting device (54), and electrical circuit elements (58, 60, 72) arranged to selectively connect the battery (62) to the light emitting device (54).

Abstract: An athletic shoe (20) includes a sole (22), an upper (25), and a tongue (26), as well as fasteners (28), such as shoelaces. Incorporated into the sole (22) of the athletic shoe (20) is a receptacle (30) for receiving and retaining a plug-in module (32) in a slide-in, releasably locking arrangement. The plug-in module (32) preferably includes a battery (62), a light emitting device (54), and electrical circuit elements (58, 60, 72) arranged to selectively connect the battery (62) to the light emitting device (54).

Abstract: A replaceable shoe heel spring assembly allows the wearer of a shoe to selectively change the energy absorption and return characteristics of the heel portion of the shoe by changing shoe heel spring cartridges. The wearer activates a release mechanism located on an exterior surface of the shoe and a cartridge containing a shoe heel spring is ejected from a location in the mid-sole of the shoe. Another shoe heel spring cartridge having different energy absorption and return characteristics can then be inserted into the mid-sole. The cartridge is securely held in the mid-sole by a locking mechanism connected to the release mechanism. The shoe heel spring is provided with a cover which matches the material of the mid-sole. The cover assists in preventing debris from entering the mid-sole. The selectable range of energy absorption and return characteristics is limited only by the number of cartridges available.

Abstract: An athletic shoe (20) having an inflatable air bladder (52) integrated into the design and construction of the shoe, and apparatus (50) for inflating the air bladder, as well as apparatus (82) for sensing and indicating the pressure in the bladder, all incorporated into the design of the shoe.

Abstract: Footwear for improving the visibility of the wearer includes a processing circuit that responds to operation of switch to turn a lighting system disposed in the footwear off and on. The switch is responsive to pressure from the foot of the wearer. When a wearer raises a foot from the ground, the lighting system is activated. When the foot is returned to the ground, or at the expiration of a predetermined period of time, the lighting system is deactivated.

Abstract: An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and a wafer battery held in the case. The module has a case having a floor, a lighted end and an LED supporting cavity at the lighted end. An LED is supported in the case so that its lower conductor is adjacent the floor and its upper conductor is supported in a cantilevered manner from the transparent lens portion of the LED. A wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on each side thereof, is positioned so that one of its terminals continuously contacts the lower conductor of the LED and the upper conductor is positioned so that it is spaced from the other terminal of the wafer battery. A weight member is held above the upper terminal of the LED and the weight member has sufficient weight so that it will move the upper conductor downwardly when the weight is moving downwardly by inertia but will not have sufficient weight to move the upper conductor into contact with the wafer battery when the module is at rest.

Abstract: An adjustable shoe heel spring and stabilizer device provides the wearer of a shoe the ability to adjust the energy absorption and return characteristics of the shoe to suit their particular needs. An operable adjustment device is located on an exterior surface of the shoe. The wearer operates the adjustment device to selectively position a fulcrum at a desired location relative to upper and lower members of a spring mechanism disposed within the mid-sole of the shoe. The position of the fulcrum defines the energy absorption and return characteristics for the shoe. An indicator is provided for displaying to the wearer the relative position of the fulcrum, and hence the energy absorption and return setting for the shoe.

Abstract: An improved module of the type having a light emitting diode and a wafer battery held in the case. The module has a case having a floor, a lighted end and an LED supporting cavity at the lighted end. An LED is supported in the case so that its lower conductor is adjacent the floor and its upper conductor is supported in a cantilevered manner from the transparent lens portion of the LED. A wafer battery having a positive and a negative terminal on each side thereof, is positioned so that one of its terminals continuously contacts the lower conductor of the LED and the upper conductor is positioned so that it is spaced from the other terminal of the wafer battery. A weight member is held above the upper terminal of the LED and the weight member has sufficient weight so that it will move the upper conductor downwardly when the weight is moving downwardly by inertia but will not have sufficient weight to move the upper conductor into contact with the wafer battery when the module is at rest.