Patent ID: 8707582

Claim:
A spring shoe, comprising: a sole having a heel and a forefoot; an upper secured to the sole; a spring positioned in the sole, the spring having a spring range of travel under compression of the sole by a foot supported by the spring shoe, the spring range of travel extending between end points; the spring comprising a disk and a ring spring extending along a periphery of the disk, the disk comprising a rigid element and the ring spring comprising an elastic element, the ring spring and the disk being connected together to oppose flattening of the disk; the spring having a spring rate that is zero at a point between the end points of the range of travel; and a biased damper in the sole and disposed within the spring, the biased damper being oriented to oppose compression of the sole and dissipate energy as the spring compresses beyond the point of zero spring rate and towards maximum compression; wherein the biased damper applies a force to the spring to resist compression of the spring; wherein the force increases as the spring compresses beyond the point of zero spring rate.