Inflatable charging device applied to a shoe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10694805-B2
Application number	US-201815949380-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2018
Priority date	Apr 11, 2017
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

An inflatable charging device is applied to a shoe. The shoe includes a shoe body and a bottom part connected therewith. The inflatable charging device includes an inflatable cushion, an air pump, an air passage, a weight sensor, an air pressure sensor, a control module, and a charging power source. When the weight sensor detects a load, the weight sensor sends an enabling signal to the control module, and the control module drives the air pump to operate according to the enabling signal, so that the inflatable cushion is inflated and expanded. When the air pressure sensor detects the pressure inside the inflatable cushion is higher than a specific threshold interval, the air pressure sensor sends a disabling signal to the control module and the control module accordingly stops the operation of the air pump.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inflatable charging device applied to a shoe, wherein the shoe comprises a shoe body and a bottom part connected to the shoe body, such that a wear space and an opening communicated with the wear space are collaboratively defined by the shoe body and the bottom part, the inflatable charging device comprising:
an inflatable cushion disposed in the shoe body;
an air passage arranged between the inflatable cushion and the shoe body and in air communication with the inflatable cushion;
an air pump communicated with the air passage;
a weight sensor disposed on the bottom part;
an air pressure sensor disposed in the air passage;
a control module electrically connected with the air pump, the weight sensor and the air pressure sensor; and
a charging power source for charging an external electronic device, the charging power source is embedded in the bottom part and electrically connected with the control module, wherein the charging power source comprises a pressing plate, a pressure electric generator, a rechargeable battery, and a power source output port, wherein a first end of the pressing plate is pivotally connected with the pressure electric generator, and a second end of the pressing plate is disposed on the bottom part to be pressed by a foot of the user by which the pressure electric generator generates electric power, wherein the rechargeable battery is used for storing the electric power generated by the pressure electric generator and providing the electric power to the control module, and wherein the power source output port is connected with the electric power outputted from the rechargeable battery for charging the external electronic device;
wherein when the weight sensor detects a load, the weight sensor sends an enabling signal to the control module, and the control module drives the air pump to operate according to the enabling signal, making air guided by the air passage and introduced into the inflatable cushion, so that the inflatable cushion is inflated and expanded, wherein when the air pressure sensor detects the pressure inside the inflatable cushion is higher than a specific threshold interval, the air pressure sensor sends a disabling signal to the control module and the control module accordingly stops the operation of the air pump.

2. The inflatable charging device according to claim 1 further comprising a relief valve disposed on a surface of the shoe body and in communication with the air passage.

3. The inflatable charging device according to claim 2 , wherein the relief valve is manually actuated to discharge the air from the inflatable charging device through the relief valve.

4. The inflatable charging device according to claim 2 , wherein the relief valve is electrically connected with the control module, and when the weight sensor detects loss or disappearance of the load, the weight sensor sends a pressure relief signal to the control module, and the control module drives the relief valve according to the pressure relief signal to discharge the air from the shoe through the relief valve.

5. The inflatable charging device according to claim 1 , wherein the air pump is a piezoelectric air pump.

6. The inflatable charging device according to claim 5 , wherein the piezoelectric air pump comprises:
a gas inlet plate comprising at least one inlet, at least one convergence channel and a central cavity, wherein a convergence chamber is defined by the central cavity, and the at least one convergence channel corresponds to the at least one inlet, wherein after the air is introduced into the at least one convergence channel through the at least one inlet, the air is guided by the at least one convergence channel and converged to the convergence chamber;
a resonance plate having a central aperture, wherein the central aperture is aligned with the convergence chamber, wherein the resonance plate comprises a movable part near the central aperture; and
a piezoelectric actuator spatially corresponding to the resonance plate, wherein a gap is formed between the resonance plate and the piezoelectric actuator to define a first chamber, wherein when the piezoelectric actuator is driven, the air is introduced into the air pump through the at least one inlet of the gas inlet plate, converged to the central cavity through the at least one convergence channel, transferred through the central aperture of the resonance plate, and introduced into the first chamber, wherein the air is further transferred through a resonance between the piezoelectric actuator and the movable part of the resonance plate.

7. The inflatable charging device according to claim 6 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator comprises:
a suspension plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the suspension plate is permitted to undergo a curvy vibration;
an outer frame arranged around the suspension plate;
at least one bracket connected between the suspension plate and the outer frame for elastically supporting the suspension plate; and
a piezoelectric plate, wherein a length of the piezoelectric plate is smaller than or equal to a length of the suspension plate, and the piezoelectric plate is attached on the first surface of the suspension plate, wherein when a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric plate, the suspension plate is driven to undergo the curvy vibration.

8. The inflatable charging device according to claim 7 , wherein the suspension plate is a square suspension plate with a bulge.

9. The inflatable charging device according to claim 6 , wherein the piezoelectric air pump further comprises a conducting plate, a first insulation plate and a second insulation plate, wherein the gas inlet plate, the resonance plate, the first insulation plate, the conducting plate and the second insulation plate are stacked on each other sequentially.

Assignees

• Microjet Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mo Li-Pang
• Chen Shih-Chang
• Huang Chi-Feng
• Han Yung-Lung

Classifications

• A43B3/44

  with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position · CPC title

• A43B3/42 Primary

  where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means · CPC title

• A43B3/38

  with power sources · CPC title

• A43B23/029 Primary

  Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled · CPC title

• H02J7/342

  The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging (with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/68) · CPC title