Spring-supported shoe appliance
United States Patent McNaughton Apr. 8, 1975 SPRING-SUPPORTED SHOE APPLIANCE l.33l.952 2/1920 Brant et al 36/78 7 [75] I e tor: e y N g S rboro gh, 2.55-,393 5/195] Benner 36/7.8  
  Ontario. Canada FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Assignee; Lawrence Piska A iM I 432.639 3/[924 Germany 36/7.8  
  New York, NY. [22] Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 Primary E \&#39;aminer-Patrick D. Lawson [2|] App]. No.: 444,762  
 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 3617.8 A spring&#39;suppmted Shoe pp i nce Comprising a supsu rm. Cl A43b 3/10 P Plate, a helica&#39; Spring at the underside of the 58 Field of Search 36/78 Plate and means fur Securing the P having the spring attached thereto, to the users foot. The appli- [56] References Cied ance may include a flexible curtain or sleeve sur- UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1906 Hanson 36/78 rounding the spring.  
 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PHENTEUAFR 31975 QBYS&#39;GBS mum :mm  
 SPRING-SUPPORTED SHOE APPLIANCE The present invention relates to an entertainment device, particularly a spring-supported shoe appliance.  
  In the prior art various apparatus supported by springs are disclosed, these apparatus generally having a relatively complicated structure that is more expensive to produce.  
  The present invention provides a relatively simple structure that can be produced at a lower cost and offers other advantages. the invention being depicted in the drawings.  
 DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a bottom plan view of the spring-supported shoe appliance in place on the wearer&#39;s shoe.  
  FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively a front elevation view and a sectional side elevation view (along axis 3-3) of the appliance in FIG. 1.  
  FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the invention according to a further embodiment.  
 PREFERRED EMBODIMENT According to an embodiment of the invention, the entertainment shoe appliance I comprises a support plate 12 that includes first and second major surfaces 14 and I6 and a number of apertures or slits 18 therein, a single helical spring 20 having one end 22 disposed at and connected to the first major surface 14 of the support plate 12 and the other end 24 remote therefrom, and means for removably securing the support plate 12, and therefore the spring 20, as well, to the wearer&#39;s shoe. The securing means may be, for example. a flexible strand 27, such as a strap, cord, etc.  
  It is preferred that the support plate 12, which can have, e.g.. a circular configuration (as in FIGS. 1 to 4) or otherwise and/or have a size slightly larger than the cross-sectional area ofthe spring 20, comprise a rim 28 at the periphery of the first major surface 14 such that the end 22 of the spring rests within the rim and it surrounded thereby. The cross-sectional area of the spring can be made to exceed slightly that of the space bounded by the rim so that the rim 28 engages spring end 22 and maintains the spring 20 in place on the appliance. Alternatively, the spring 20 may be connected to the support plate I2 by other means. e.g., welding, clamps, etc. Where it is desired. the strands 27 may be laced through the support plate apertures 18 so that parts of the spring 20 are located between the strands 27 and the support plate 12 (as shown in FIG. 3) so that the spring 20 is maintained in position by the strands According to a preferred embodiment. portions of the support plate 12 and of the spring 20 extend laterally beyond the wearers shoe, thus providing greater stability to the user.  
  According to still another embodiment, the springsupported shoe appliance 50 (FIG. 4, where parts similar to those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are assigned corresponding numbers) comprises a flexible sleeve 52 that is suspended from the support plate and extends partly or (as in FIG. 4) substantially completely along the length of the spring 20. The sleeve 52 can be of, for example, a plastic material and transparent, opaque, or otherwise. This sleeve 52 prevents other persons fingers from being pinched by the spring and results in a more attractive product.  
  To use the appliance 10 or 50, the user secures an appliance to each foot by means of the strands and jumps or walks with the appliances in place.  
  Having herein described the invention, what is claimed as new is:  
 l. A spring-supported shoe appliance, comprising:  
 a. a support plate comprising first and second opposite major surfaces and a rim portion at said first surface;  
 b. a single helical spring having one end disposed at said first major surface and connected to said support plate said spring being disposed partially within said rim portion; and  
 0. means for removably securing said support plate to said shoe, said shoe engaging said support plate at said second surface.  
  2. A spring-supported shoe appliance as defined in claim I, wherein said support plate comprises plural apertures and said securing means comprises a flexible strand laced through said apertures.  
  3. A spring-supported shoe appliance as defined in claim 1, further comprising a flexible sleeve element suspended from said support plate and surrounding said spring.  
  4. A spring-supported shoe appliance as defined in claim I, wherein the lateral portions of said spring extend beyond those of said shoe of the person utilizing said appliance.  
  5. A spring-supported shoe appliance as defined in claim 1, wherein said support plate comprises plural apertures and said securing means comprises a flexible strand laced through said apertures, and wherein an end portion of said spring is disposed between said support plate and a portion of said flexible strand.