GB2432100A

GB2432100A - Sprung footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2432100A
Application number: GB0522839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leonard Arthur Harry Poole
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-09
Filing date: 2005-11-09
Publication date: 2007-05-16
Also published as: GB0522839D0

Abstract

Footwear comprises spring means 7A, 7B between the sole/heel 3, 4 of the footwear and a ground plate 15 that contacts the ground when the wearer walks to provide a bouncing motion by virtue of the compression of the spring means due to the weight of the wearer. Preferably the spring means are attached to a sole plate that is detachably attached to the sole/heel of the footwear. The spring means may be an individual spring or a group of springs that may be either a leaf, 8A, 8B coil 9A, 9B, torsion or resilient elastomeric spring. Where a group of springs are used, each spring may have its own ground plate. The spring means may also be enclosed by means which allows The ground plate may have a high friction facing on the ground engaging surface that may be replaceable (fig 6). Buffers 18 may be provided between the sole plate and the ground plate to prevent the springs from being over compressed. Alternatively the ground plate may have a blade of an ice skate, a roller blade, snow shoe or ski attached.

Description

I

SPRUNG FOOTWEAR

This specification relates to foot wear incorporating springing.

There have been many examples of playthings for children, many of which involve enabling the children to bounce or jump around. Specific examples are rubber balls, with handholds, on which the child can sit and bounce about, metal poles, incorporating foot rests and springing, on which the child can stand and bounce about. Other playthings are based on movement, e.g. roller skates and roller blades, which have been developed into skateboards. Skateboarding has become into a sport, with specially designated areas provided, including ramps, curved surfaces for jumping and other acrobatic feats.

The development of roller skates into skateboards is an indication of the ingenuity of the users and designers. Another possible development is to incorporate springing directly into footwear, so that normal walking and running may be given another dimension for the adventurous child or adult. With such an option, play times, running errands and the general interaction between children will acquire an additional interest and allow new skills to be developed Sprung footwear may also have application in the other fields. For example, in physiotherapy to help people with leg problems either to strengthen, or to compensate for, wasted muscles, tendons, etc. Another example might be to help old people to walk properly as opposed to shuffling' along. Sprung footwear according to the invention may be used on any essentially flat, even, firm surface.

There is thus a need for sprung footwear, whether for recreational or medical needs.

According to the invention, there is provided sprung footwear, each item of such footwear comprising a shoe I boot, firmly attachable to the foot of the wearer, spring means fast with the sole and heel of the shoe I boot and directed downwardly therefrom, the spring means having a first end attached to the sole / heel of the shoe I boot and a second end attached to a ground plate contactable with the ground on which the wearer is walking, characterised in that the springing essentially covers the whole of the sole and heel area of the shoe / boot and that by, by wearing the footwear, the wearer experiences a bouncing motion as he I she takes steps by virtue of the compression of the spring means due to the weight of the wearer and relaxation of the spring means as the weight is removed.

According to a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the items of footwear are provided in pairs, for the left and right feet respectively.

According to a second variation of the apparatus of the invention the shoe I boot provides support to the ankle of the wearer.

According to a third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the boot provides support to the lower leg of the wearer.

According to a fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, a sole plate is provided attached to the sole and heel of the shoe I boot According to a fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the sole plate is removably attachable to the sole and heel of the shoe / boot.

According to a sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the sole plate has an extension at the toe and / or heel end(s).

According to a seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the sole plate has an extended area at a side.

According to an eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means are removably attached to the sole plate According to a ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means includes leaf springs.

According to a tenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means includes coil springs.

According to an eleventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means includes torsion springs.

According to a twelfth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means includes resilient elastomeric springs.

According to a thirteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means consists of a number of separate springing means.

According to a fourteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the separate spring means are arranged underneath the sole and heel of the shoe / boot to provide essentially uniform support over the whole sole and heel area.

According to a fifteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the separate spring means are arranged underneath the sole and heel of the shoe / boot to provide an asymmetric support over the whole sole and heel area According to a sixteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, an individual spring means, or a group of spring means, is / are attached to a ground plate According to a seventeenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, each of a plurality of individual spring means or groups of spring means, is / are attached to their own ground plate According to an eighteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the number of spring means and / or their location(s) and / or modulus of elasticity of each spring means is / are chosen according to the resistance to compression required for each particular area, or part of a particular area, of the sole and / or heel of the shoe / boot.

According to a nineteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the mod uli of elasticity of each one of the plurality of spring means is chosen individually to give a particular overall springing effect to the item of footwear.

According to a twentieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the second end of the spring means is removably attached to the ground plate.

According to a twenty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the ground plate has a high friction facing on the surface in contact with the ground.

According to a twenty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the high friction facing on the ground plate is replaceable.

According to a twenty third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the sole plate and ground plate are essentially parallel to each other in the unloaded condition.

According to a twenty fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, buffers are provided between the sole plate and a / the ground plate According to a twenty fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, buffers are provided within, or adjacent to, the spring means.

According to a twenty sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the buffers are shaped, sized and made of an appropriate material to give an increasing modulus elasticity as the buffers are compressed.

According to a twenty seventh variation on the method of the invention, the number, and br location(s) and / or size(s) and / or shape(s) and / or modulus / moduli of elasticity of the I each buffers is / are chosen individually to give a particular overall buffering effect to the item of footwear.

S

According to a twenty eighth variation of the method of the invention, the number, location(s) and moduli of the / each spring element(s) complement the number, locations, sizes, shapes and moduli of the / each buffer(s) to give a composite springing and buffering action, with a progressively increasing resilience.

According to a twenty ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the spring means are enclosed by means which allow the spring means to compress and extend without restriction from the enclosing means.

According to a thirtieth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the individual parts of enclosing means are provided with clearance so that they do not contact each other during the periods when the spring means are being compressed.

According to a thirty first variation of the apparatus of the invention, one side of a plate is attached to the second ends of the springs and another item is attached to the other side of said plate.

Accord ing to a thirty second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the other item is the blade of an ice skate According to a thirty third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the other item is a roller blade.

According to a thirty fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the other item is a snowshoe.

In a preferred design of the apparatus, each of a pair of boots is provided with a sole plate, covering the whole of the sole and heel area, having a series springs attached to the underside of the sole plate. The distal ends of the springs are secured to one, or more, ground plates. By wearing the boots, a person experiences a bouncing motion as they walk, or run, along. This will add a whole new dimension to play for children or competitive activities for older people. High friction soles are provided on the ground plates to grip the ground The springs may be of any suitable type, provided that they have an appropriate modulus of elasticity. The springs may be affixable to, and detachable from, the sole and ground plates so that particular combinations of springing may be changed for specific activities, e.g. walking, running, acrobatics, etc., or as the wearer gains more confidence with the use of the footwear.

Buffers may be provided between the sole and ground plates to prevent the springs being over compressed, beyond their elastic limits. Like the springs, the size, location and elastic modulus of each buffer may be chosen to give a specific overall performance for any item of footwear. Thus, the springs and buffers may be used together to give specific bouncing characteristics to the footwear.

In addition to play and usage by healthy people, the footwear of the invention is applicable to those recovering from leg injuries and for use by elderly persons.

The principle of the invention is applicable to any footwear, which is suitable for use on any essentially flat, even and firm surface, including ice skates, roller blades, snow shoes, etc. For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an item of sprung footwear, according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of another item of sprung footwear, according to the invention; Figure 3 is a part plan view of the spring arrangement of the item of sprung footwear shown in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a part plan view of an alternative spring arrangement; Figure 5 is a part plan view of a further spring arrangement attached to a larger sole plate 20 Figure 6 is a part sectional side elevation on the plane BB (Fig. 7) of the variation of the item of sprung footwear, shown in Fig. 2, showing an enclosure around the springs Figure 7 is a part sectional plan view on the plane AA (Fig. 6) of the spring arrangement of the item of sprung footwear shown in Fig. 6.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for identical parts, or for different parts fulfilling an identical function.

Referring to Fig. 1, an item of sprung footwear 1 comprises a boot 2 with sole 3 and heel 4 both attached to a sole plate 5. Fast with the underside of sole plate 5 are mounting plates 6 carrying spring members 7. The lower faces of spring members 7 are fast with mounting plates 10 and ground plates 11. Preferably mounting plates 6 are removably secured to the underside of sole plate 5 and mounting plates 10 are removably secured to ground plates 11, e.g. by screws (not shown).

Spring members 7 consist of a leaf spring 8 and a coil spring 9. Leaf springs 8 are secured to mounting members 6 and 10 by appropriate means, e.g. welding or bolting (not shown).

In the example shown, two separate spring members 7A, under sole 3, and 7B, under heel 4, are shown, each with separate ground plates, hA and 1 lB. Boot 2 is provided with lower leg support 12 and may be secured to the wearer's foot either by VelcroT devices 13 or by laces (not shown) in holes 14.

An alternative design is shown in Fig. 2 where the two ground plates 11 are replaced by a single plate 15. Plate 15 has extensions I 5A at the toe and 1 5B at the heel and is fitted with buffers 16 and 17 respectively. In use, the wearer would have sprung footwear 1 on both feet and could walk and bounce on the springs 7. To accommodate the maximum degree of springing, without overstressing the springs (i.e. exceeding the elastic limits), buffers 16, 17 are provided. Buffer 16 would strike the toe extension 5A of sole plate 5 and buffer 17 would strike the heel extension 5B of sole plate 5 in the event that the wearer was using the footwear to bounce excessively either forwards or backwards, respectively. The lower surface of ground plate 15 is provided with a high friction surface (not shown) to grip the ground and give the user of the footwear confidence to walk, run, jump, etc. The high friction surface (not shown) would be replaceable, as it became worn with usage.

Additional buffers 18, are provided to avoid overstressing (for example, over-compressing) springs 8 or 9 when the user is bouncing vertically. Buffers 18 may be located between the folds of leaf springs 8, as shown, and I or alongside coil springs 9 (not shown), e.g mounted on ground plate 15 and buffering onto sole plate 5. Preferably, buffers 16, 17 and 18 would be made from elastomeric materials with a high modulus of elasticity, e.g. rubber.

The modulus of elasticity of the rubber of buffers 16,17 and 18 and their shapes are chosen to complement the modulus of the springs 7 so that the net stiffness of springs 7 progressively increases to a point where no further compression is possible. Like springs 8 and 9, buffers 16, 17 and 18 are replaceable so that different shapes, sizes and stiffnesses may be used to provide a wide range of net modulus characteristics.

For example, when a person is bouncing in boots 2, springs 7 would initially compress with a first modulus of elasticity until buffers 18 came into contact. Thereafter, the combined modulus of elasticity would increase to a second value. As further compression of springs 7 and buffers 18 occurred, the modulus would progressively increase from the second value, due to the shape of buffer 18, because the area of rubber of buffer 18 being compressed progressively increases. At a particular point, the modulus of the rubber would reach a high value and no further compression would be possible (with the sorts of loadings likely from a person, e.g. doing acrobatics); this would, of course, be within the elastic limit of springs 7, so that they are not overstressed Coil springs 9 are mounted on members 19, fast with springs 8 and will act to stiffen the central fold of spring 8 and stop it being excessively compressed. The arrangement of leaf springs 8, coil springs 9 and buffers 18 shown in Figs. 1-3 is just one example of how these items may be arranged. In another arrangement (not shown), upper and lower buffers 18 could be replaced, or supplemented, by additional coil springs 9 so that each spring means 7 would consist of one leaf spring 8 and three coil springs 9 Torsional springs (not shown), either in conjunction with leaf or coil springs or instead of one or other or both, may also be used, if required.

Elastomeric springs (not shown) may be used wholly, or partly, in place of either or both of springs 8 or 9 or torsional springs (not shown) or buffers 16, 17 or 18. The elastomeric spnngs (not shown) may be natural or synthetic polymers and either as a single phase or interleaved with more resilient members, e.g. metal plates (not shown). As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7, sole plate 5 and ground plates 11, 15, and base plate 24, are essentially parallel to each other Fig. 3 shows a plan view of one arrangement of the spring means 7 under a left foot sole plate 5. (This is the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2.) Here, leaf springs 8A and 8B are arranged under the sole 3 and heel 4 respectively and the location of coil springs 9A and 9B are shown by the circles. In this case, the leaf springs 8 are preferred to provide resistance to overbalancing sideways and the coil springs 9 provide increased modulus of elasticity for the springs 7. By using a combination of leaf 8 and coil springs 9 and buffers 18 (not shown in Fig. 3 to avoid confusion), the modulus of the combined spring 7 and buffer 18 assembly can be adjusted for a range of requirements, e.g. soft springs for beginners and harder springs for experts. Also, as explained, the change in modulus under compression may be varied, e.g. by using stiffer rubbers for the buffers or different buffer shapes.

Buffers 16 and 17 are not shown, to avoid confusion.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative spring arrangement where pairs of leaf springs 21 and pairs of coil springs 22 are used. In this case, the leaf springs 21A, 21 B are located at the sides, to increase stability (i.e. resist overturning), and the coil springs 22A, 22B are located centrally, to increase overall stiffness.

The relative moduli of toe springs 21A, 22A and heel springs 21 B and 22B may be adjusted to allow for the particular requirements of the wearers, e.g. weight distribution between sole 3 and heel 4. Because spring members, e.g 7, and buffers 18 (not shown in Fig. 4) are removably attached via individual mounting plates 6 and 10, e.g. by screws (not shown), it is possible to change the spring members 8, 9 and buffers 18 to give appropriate moduli to the composite springs 7 for individual people, engaged in particular activities.

Fig. 5 shows a further arrangement in which an extended sole plate 20 is used, with the sole plate 5C of Figs. 3 and 4 shown dashed (for comparison purposes). (Sole plate 20 is extended forwards 20A, rearwards 20B and leftwards 20C but not significantly to the right 20D to avoid contacting the sole plate on the right foot. The right foot sole plate would be similarly asymmetric.) This allows leaf springs 21A and 21B to be placed further apart and / or made stiffer to cover an increased in area of ground and give greater stability to the wearer. Alternative arrangement of sets of three coil springs 23A, or 23B and 23C or 23D are shown. (As before, Buffers 16, 17 and 18 are not shown to avoid confusing detail.) There is an almost infinite number of springing arrangements which may be provided to accommodate any particular usage, so that sprung footwear according to the invention may be provided for any given individual and tailored to his / her specific requirements.

According to the invention, springing is provided over the whole of the sole and heel areas.

In Figs. 3-5, show a number of different arrangements of leaf springs 8 and coil springs 9 to give specific levels of resistance at particular points over the total area of sole plate 5 or 20.

Similarly, the size, shape, stiffness and location of buffers 16, 17 and 18 are equally chosen to give the appropriate levels of buffering to complement any given spring configuration.

Thus, because the numbers, stiffnesses and locations of springs 8 and 9 and sizes, shapes, stiffnesses and locations of buffers 16, 17 and 18 are all individually selectable, so that any particular user can personalise his I her sprung footwear I to his / her specific requirements. For example, a person can individually tune' his I her footwear 1 to a first requirement and then retune' for a second requirement. Perhaps, a beginner might use the arrangement shown in Fig. 3. After gaining a certain level of proficiency, the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 might be more appropriate. For competitions, or demonstrating acrobatic stunts, arrangements such as shown in Fig. 5 might be required. Though coil springs 23A or 23B and 23C or 23D are suggested above as alternatives, they could all be used together, i.e. 23A and 23B under sole 3 with 23C and 23D under heel 4.

Though the skilled man will know how to design the mechanical arrangement for fixing the springs 7 and buffers 16-17 and 18, single, or multiple mounting plates 6 and 10 may be used under both sole 3 and heel 4, if required. However, plate, or plates, 10 would preferably be secured to a single plate I 1A under the sole 3 or 11 B under the heel 4 or a plate 15 for both sole and heel. Replaceable high friction surfaces (not shown) on the undersides of ground plates 11 or 15 may be selected for specific applications.

Though combinations of leaf 8 and coil 9 springs have been taught, any arrangement of leaf, coil, torsional or resilient polymer springing, either individually or in any combination, with appropriate buffering 16, 17 and 18, is equally possible, all covered by the principle of the invention. It is a feature of the invention that springing is provided underneath the whole of the sole and heel areas and the modulus of this springing may be essentially uniform over the whole of the sole and heel area or be different, i.e. asymmetric, according to specific requirements.

For medical applications, the vertical height between sole plate 5 and ground plate 11 or 15 might be reduced to give the patient a greater sense of security. Old people, or those recovering from serious muscle, tendon or ligament leg injuries or conditions, tend to shuffle' along, rather than lifting their feet and walking normally. The use of sprung footwear, according to the invention, would tend to push the rear of the trailing foot upwards, off the ground, as the person walks forward. This will encourage the walker to oend the knee, lift the foot clear of the ground and swing it forward, as in normal walking.

Thus, footwear according to the invention would be beneficial to those requiring temporary, or permanent, physiotherapical treatment.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a variation of the footwear shown in Fig. 2, in which springs 7 and buffers 18 are enclosed by rectangular members 26 and 27. Fig. 6 is a part section along the line BB in Fig. 7 and Fig. 7 is a part section along the line AA in Fig. 6 As shown there is clearance (not referenced) between springs 7 and members 26 or 27 to allow the springs 8 to deflect under load, without interference. Similarly, a clearance 28 is provided between enclosures 26 and 27, so that they will not contact each other when the boot 1 is used normally. In the particular application shown in Fig. 6, springs 7 are attached to a base plate 24, which has a skate runner 25 fast with its lower face. Because of the additional flexibility between the foot in boot 1 and the ice under skate 25, skate 25 may be of the double blade variety.

Fig. 7 shows the plan arrangement of members 26, 27 and clearance 28. Not numbered is the clearance between springs 8 and member 27. The use of enclosure 26, 27 will tend to keep the spring and buffer assemblies clean of the sort of debris which might be collected if the footwear is used outside on other than prepared surfaces In an alternative arrangement (not shown), members 26 and 27 may be journalled together as a sliding fit to provide additional resistance to lateral overturning and thus provide additional support to the ankles of the used. This alternative arrangement will limit the springing action just to vertical motion rather than the rocking and vertical motion available to non-joumalled enclosures (Fig. 6) or the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 2 In the particular application shown in Fig. 6, springs 7 are attached to a base plate 24, which is used in the place of ground plate 15. On the underside of base plate 25 is a skate runner 25 fast with its lower face. Because of the additional flexibility between the foot in boot 1 and the ice under skate 25, skate 25 may be of the double blade variety In place of skate 25, other items attachable to the underside of base plate 24 include a roller blade, a ski, a snow shoe, etc. all falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims: 1 Sprung footwear, each item of such footwear compnsing a shoe

/ boot, firmly attachable to the foot of the wearer, spring means fast with the sole and heel of the shoe / boot and directed downwardly therefrom, the spring means having a first end attached to the sole / heel of the shoe / boot and a second end attached to a ground plate contactable with the ground on which the wearer is walking, characterised in that, the springing essentially covers the whole of the sole and heel area of the shoe I boot and that by wearing the footwear, the wearer experiences a bouncing motion as he / she takes steps by virtue of the compression of the spring means due to the weight of the wearer and relaxation of the spring means as the weight is removed.

2. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the items of footwear are provided in pairs, for the left and right feet respectively 3. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shoe / boot provides support to the ankle of the wearer.

4 Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the boot provides support to the lower leg of the wearer.

5. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 3 or 4, wherein a sole plate is provided attached to the sole and heel of the shoe / boot 6 Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sole plate is removably attachable to the sole and heel of the shoe I boot.

7. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sole plate has an extension(s) at the toe and I or heel end(s).

8. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 6 or 7, the sole plate has an extended area at a side.

9. Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spring means are removably attached to the sole plate.

10. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring means includes leaf springs 11 Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring means includes coil springs 12 Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring means includes torsion springs.

13. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring means includes resilient elastomeric springs 14. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 10-13, wherein the spring means consists of a number of separate springing means.

Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the separate spring means are arranged underneath the sole and heel of the shoe / boot to provide essentially uniform support over the whole sole and heel area.

16. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the separate spring means are arranged underneath the sole and heel of the shoe / boot to provide an asymmetric support over the whole sole and heel area.

17. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 15 and 16, wherein an individual spring means, or a group of spring means, is I are attached to a ground plate.

18. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 15 and 16, wherein each of a plurality of individual spring means or groups of spring means, is / are attached to their own ground plate.

19. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 17 or 18, wherein the number of spring means and / or their location(s) and I or modulus of elasticity of each spring means is / are chosen according to the resistance to compression required for each particular area, or part of a particular area, of the sole and / or heel of the shoe / boot.

Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 19, wherein the moduli of elasticity of each one of the plurality of spring means is chosen individually to give a particular overall springing effect to the item of footwear 21 Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the second end of the spring means is removably attached to the ground plate.

22. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 21, wherein the ground plate has a high friction facing on the surface in contact with the ground.

23. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 22, wherein the high friction facing on the ground plate is replaceable.

24. Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sole plate and ground plate are essentially parallel to each other in the unloaded condition.

Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein buffers are provided between the sole plate and a I the ground plate.

26. Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein buffers are provided within, or adjacent to, the spring means.

27. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 25 or 26, wherein the buffers are shaped, sized and made of an appropriate material to give an increasing modulus elasticity as the buffers are compressed. lb

28. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 27, wherein the number, and br location(s) and / or size(s) and I or shape(s) and / or modulus / moduli of elasticity of the I each buffers is / are chosen individually to give a particular overall buffering effect to the item of footwear.

29. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claims 20 and 28, wherein the number, location(s) and moduli of the I each spring element(s) complement the number, locations, sizes, shapes and moduli of the / each buffer(s) to give a composite springing and buffering action, with a progressively increasing resilience.

Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the spring means are enclosed by means which allows the spring means to compress and extend without restriction from the enclosing means.

31. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 30, wherein the individual parts of enclosing means are provided with clearance so that they do not contact each other during the periods when the spring means are being compressed.

32. Sprung footwear, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one side of a plate is attached to the second ends of the springs and another item is attached to the other side of said plate 33. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the other item is the blade of an ice skate.

34. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the other item is a roller blade.

Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the other item is a snow shoe 36. Sprung footwear, as claimed in claim 32, wherein the other item is a ski.

37. Sprung footwear, as described in and by the above statement with reference to the accompanying drawings