Flexible Footplate for Robotic Walking Assistance
This patent describes a specialized composite footplate for footwear that includes a mechanical joint to help users with natural foot movements like pointing toes up or down, and rolling their ankles, especially when connected to an exoskeleton.
Original patent title: “Unidirectional actuated exoskeleton device”
This patent describes a specialized composite footplate for footwear that includes a mechanical joint to help users with natural foot movements like pointing toes up or down, and rolling their ankles, especially when connected to an exoskeleton. Granted to Dephy in 2022 with 15 claims and 1 forward citation, and it is expected to expire in 2039.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a composite footplate built into the sole of a shoe, positioned between the inner and outer soles (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This footplate is made from strong, layered materials like carbon fiber, allowing it to be flexible around the metatarsal joint region (the ball of the foot) and vary in thickness. A key feature is a mechanical joint on the footplate that moves in multiple ways, including plantar flexion (pointing toes down), dorsiflexion (pointing toes up), eversion (rolling the ankle outward), and inversion (rolling the ankle inward) relative to the user's lower leg (Claim 1). This mechanical joint often includes an "upstanding portion" with a lever arm that can connect to an external exoskeleton actuator, which is a motor that helps power the movement (Claim 3). For example, a person using an exoskeleton for walking assistance might have this footplate in their shoe, and the exoskeleton could use the lever arm to help push off the ground during a step.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover footplates made of a single, non-composite material or those without varied thickness.
- Does not cover footplates that are rigid and lack flexibility at the metatarsal joint region.
- Does not cover mechanical joints that only allow a single type of foot movement, like just dorsiflexion.
- Does not cover footplates that extend upward from both sides of the footwear, as it specifies extending upward only from one lateral most side.
- Does not cover exoskeletons that attach directly to the leg without an integrated footplate within the shoe.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in creating a composite footplate that is not only flexible and varied in thickness but also incorporates a multi-axis mechanical joint directly into the footwear. This joint is specifically designed to allow for complex, natural foot movements (plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, eversion, inversion) and to easily connect to an exoskeleton actuator, enabling powered assistance that feels more integrated with the user's natural gait.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Dephy Inc.'s own Exoboot or Exo-Knee products
Assistive walking devices for stroke patients
Rehabilitation exoskeletons for spinal cord injury
Exoskeletons for industrial workers or military personnel
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is important for the development of more advanced and comfortable exoskeletons, particularly for assisting human walking. By integrating a multi-axis mechanical joint directly into a shoe's footplate, it allows for more natural and adaptable movement compared to rigid systems. This technology can benefit fields like rehabilitation, helping people with mobility impairments, or even enhancing performance for athletes or workers in physically demanding jobs.
Filed
March 7, 2019
Granted
April 19, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Dephy Inc., the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is actively developing and selling autonomous exoskeleton devices that would likely incorporate or build upon this technology. Other companies in the wearable robotics and rehabilitation space, such as Ekso Bionics, ReWalk Robotics, and Cyberdyne, are also working on similar assistive devices that could benefit from or inspire such integrated footplate designs.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing evolution of the exoskeleton market by enabling the creation of more integrated and natural-feeling assistive devices. By focusing on the interface between the human foot and the robotic system, it helps address challenges related to comfort, gait efficiency, and user acceptance. This can lead to broader adoption of exoskeletons in clinical rehabilitation, personal mobility, and industrial applications, potentially expanding the market for these advanced wearable technologies.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a composite footplate built into the sole of a shoe, positioned between the inner and outer soles (Claim 1). This footplate is made from strong, layered materials like carbon fiber, allowing it to be flexible around the metatarsal joint region (the ball of the foot) and vary in thickness. A key feature is a mechanical joint on the footplate that moves in multiple ways, including plantar flexion (pointing toes down), dorsiflexion (pointing toes up), eversion (rolling the ankle outward), and inversion (rolling the ankle inward) relative to the user's lower leg (Claim 1). This mechanical joint often includes an "upstanding portion" with a lever arm that can connect to an external exoskeleton actuator, which is a motor that helps power the movement (Claim 3). For example, a person using an exoskeleton for walking assistance might have this footplate in their shoe, and the exoskeleton could use the lever arm to help push off the ground during a step.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in creating a composite footplate that is not only flexible and varied in thickness but also incorporates a multi-axis mechanical joint directly into the footwear. This joint is specifically designed to allow for complex, natural foot movements (plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, eversion, inversion) and to easily connect to an exoskeleton actuator, enabling powered assistance that feels more integrated with the user's natural gait.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover footplates made of a single, non-composite material or those without varied thickness.
- Does not cover footplates that are rigid and lack flexibility at the metatarsal joint region.
- Does not cover mechanical joints that only allow a single type of foot movement, like just dorsiflexion.
- Does not cover footplates that extend upward from both sides of the footwear, as it specifies extending upward only from one lateral most side.
- Does not cover exoskeletons that attach directly to the leg without an integrated footplate within the shoe.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
6/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
10/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$99K – $317K
Midpoint $198K · 12.4 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
15 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Mooney, L., & Duval, J. (2022). Flexible Footplate for Robotic Walking Assistance (U.S. Patent No. 11,304,827). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11304827/unidirectional-actuated-exoskeleton-device
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Flexible Footplate for Robotic Walking Assistance cover?
This patent describes a specialized composite footplate for footwear that includes a mechanical joint to help users with natural foot movements like pointing toes up or down, and rolling their ankles, especially when connected to an exoskeleton.
Who owns patent US 11304827?
Dephy owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on March 7, 2039, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11304827 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 1 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is important for the development of more advanced and comfortable exoskeletons, particularly for assisting human walking. By integrating a multi-axis mechanical joint directly into a shoe's footplate, it allows for more natural and adaptable movement compared to rigid systems. This technology can benefit fields like rehabilitation, helping people with mobility impairments, or even enhancing performance for athletes or workers in physically demanding jobs.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover footplates made of a single, non-composite material or those without varied thickness.
Patent monitoring