Patent ID: 9730486
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A43B

Claim:
1. A footwear interface device comprising: a lower plane defining a frictional interface to a floor surface; a plurality of beams disposed on the lower plane and defining a set of beams extending substantially orthogonal to the lower plane, the set of beams including limiting beams and control beams, the control beams having a first height and the limiting beams having a second height, the first height based on a control threshold and the second height being greater than the first height and based on an injury threshold defined by a force greater than the control threshold; an upper plane slideably engaging the lower plane, the upper plane aligned with the lower plane for restricted movement based on the beams, the upper plane defining an interface to an operator; the beams configured to slideably engage the upper plane and deflect in response to a lateral movement of the upper plane relative to the lower plane, the limiting beams and control beams adapted to selectively exert force in response to a force of the lateral movement; and the set of beams adapted to deflect in response to forces exerted by the upper plane in response to the operator interface and opposed by frictional forces extended by the floor surface and the lower plane, and to subsequently return the upper plane to alignment with the lower plane in response to the lateral movement.