Patent ID: 7839058

Claim:
A device for harvesting energy from a support structure, comprising a composite structure, wherein said composite structure has a first end region and a second end region, wherein said first end region includes a member for attaching to the support structure and for receiving energy from the support structure while said second end region is unconstrained, wherein said composite structure includes a piezoelectric flexure and a length-constraining element, wherein said piezoelectric flexure has a first piezoelectric flexure end and wherein said length-constraining element has a first length-constraining element end, wherein said first piezoelectric flexure end is located in said first end region and wherein said first length-constraining element end is located in said first end region, wherein said length-constraining element provides said piezoelectric flexure with a bowed shape, wherein said piezoelectric flexure has a first stable bowed position and a second stable bowed position.