Dixon v. Elnekaveh Et. Al.

7/29/2019 Dixon v. Elnekaveh Et. Al.

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IJNITED STATES DISTRICT COIJRTFOR TH E SOUTIIERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA

CASE NO.

ROY J. DIXONPlaintx ,VKALEXANDER ELNEK AVEH d/b/a,GRAVITY DEFYER lNC.,lNN o I N ,IZARDAROA MARU TIN G GADGET IJM VERS ,STRONG IDEA, and ESRIM VE SM VA HOLDING CORR,Defendants.

JURY DEM m ED

/COM PLM NT

'Ihis action arises under 35 USC j 271 agsinKt the Defendants Alexander Elnekaveh Wbl%Gravity Defyer Inc., Innovation W izxrd, Aroa M arketing, Gadget Universe, Skong Idew lnc.,andEsrim Ve Sheva Holding Corp., Crefendnntsn) for patent infringement.

13-cv-80949-Ryskamp/Hopk

13-cv-80949-Ryskamp/Hopkins


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1. JIJRISDICTIONThis Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this complaint pursusnt to under 35 USC

j 271. n e amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.00.2. 'Ihis Court may exercise m rsonal jurisdiction over the aM ve Defendnnts bsKe.d um n its

contacts w1t11 thisjudicial disGct.3. Venue is promr in thisjudicial district pursllnnt to 35 USC j 271.

II. TIIE PARTIES4. Plaintif Roy J Dixon, C Dixon'') is the owner of the United States Patent N0.6,546,648, and a

resident of the State of Floridw residing at 163 m vera Court Royal Pslm Beach, Florida 33411.5. Defendnnt Alexander Elnekaveh, is the owner of GOWT Defyer lnc., Innovaion Wizard,

Aroa Marketing, Gadget Universe, Skong Idea Inc., and Esrim Ve Sheva Holding Corm ratiowCrefendnnts'') with its principal place of business at 10643 Glenoaks Blvd Pacoimw CA 91331

1. STATEG NT OF CASE6. On April 15, 2003, the United States Patent and Trademark Oce CPTO'') issued Plaintif

the United States Letters Patent N0.6,546,648, titled, uAthletic Shoe W ith Stabilized DiscreteResilient Elements ln Heel''C648''). Since that date, PlaintiFhn. been and sill is the owner of thoseLetters Patented. See Plainti/s Exbibit A

Defendnnts, have been infringing said Patent Letters since 2006,by making, selling, and usingshoes with fstabilized Discrete Resilient Elements in the heel of the shoes embodying the patentedhwention, and continues to do so unless enjoined by this court.8. Defendnnts have one store in the State of Florida that sells Gravity Defyer shoes.9. Plaintif has placed the required statutory notice on a11 shoes mantlfactll-zl and sold by the

Defendnnts tmder said Letters Patent, and has given written notice to Defendnnts of his saidinfringement. S4e Ple ti/s Exlzibits B & C

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10. The patent absH ct for 648'' patent reads ms follows:An athletic shoe includes sube ntially horizontal chamber substantially within a heel portion of amidsole, the chamar havily aeospheric comme cation at its lateral sides. ne cbamber includes anupper substanially rigid honzontal plate having at le>ct four am rtures therein and a lower substantiallyrigid holizontal supmrt glate having a corresponding ylurality of at le-qKt four apertures. Flexibleresilient unitary sleeves mtegrallyjoin resmctive vertlcal pairs of the amrtures of the upmr and lowerplates xsm ctively. Dism sed within each of the resilient sleeves are resilient memY rs each havingspring constant and spring rate F eater tha11 that of the sleeves.

Defendants, infringes said US t$648'' patent letters chim 1 (a)(b)(c), which follows:Claim 1

1. An aX etic shoe having a subqtantially horizontal chamber sube ntially within a heel portionof a mid sole thereof, said chama r having a% ospheric communication at lateral sides thereof, thechame r comprising:Claim 1. t'Part m b. c)

(a) an upper subsfnntially rigid horizontal supmrt plate having a plumlity of transversedownwardly directed resilient cavlties therein, each of said caviies defmed by an upm r resilientsleeve;(b) a lower subentially rigid horizontal support plate having a corresmndinq ylurality ofupwardly directed resilient cavitles thereins each of said cavities defmed by a lower reslllent sleeve inwhich each opposing pair of said vertical cavities comprises resm ctive portions of a singlecircumferential resilient sleeve deGning an integraon of said upm r and lower sleeves; and(c) a pllxmlity of resilient me>nq dism sed within an agvegate length of each opposing pairof said upper and lower cavities, said resilient mesnK comprising a cylindrical body of a solid resilientmaterial, said Cylindrical body extending downwardly tbrough said lower plate to a Y ttommostsurface of an outer sole of said shoe, said resilient m-ns each having a g eater spring rate and springconRtxnt than that of said resilient sleeve.Defendants, manufactures and sells a shoe marketed under the name cyravity Defyer'' (the

tcyravity Defyernl.13. Gravity Defyer contains a vacuity in the heel portion of the shoe,within which is a set of

three springs, an AV S system that contains Y ne -Way Vent and Air Chnnnels'' Undemeath the toeportion of Cvavity Defyer is a second vacuity. Between the flrs't and second vacuities is a air flowpmssageway, which facilitates the movement of air *om the flrst to the second vacuity.n is eme diment in&inges claim 1, where as the chame r having ae ospheric communication at lateralsides thereof -3-



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14. Gravity Defyer shoe, also known as the G-Dtfy shoe, includes ua subenntially horizontalchamber substanGally within a heel N rtion of a mid-x le thereof.'' The chame r provides fora% osphetic communication at lateral sides thereof. This is describe in G-Defy AVS One-W ay Ventand Air Channels which apm ar to the leh and right of the hl m rtion. Fundion of these vents andchannel is alx described by G-Defy as follows:Gair is drawn 9om the shoe's interior and exm lled, cooling the foot and reducing microbial powtlt''See Plaintips Exhibits D15. Defendnnts, infringes Claim 1. (a)

(a) An upmr sube ntially ri/d support plate includes a plxlmlity of downwardly directedresilient cavities (URC) therein, each of the caviies defmed by an upmr resilient sleeve (URSI.n is is shown by the photop aphs in exhibit E. The resilient cavities marked URC and dem nd 9oman upmr rigid supm rt plate marked ((;P). That is, the cavities defme the upmr resilient sleeves (URS)also is shown in exhibits E, in the exploded view of the Versoshock shoe.See Plaintifl's Exhibit E16. Defendnnts, infringes Claim 1. (b)

(b) a lower substantially rigid horizontal supm rt plate having a corresw nding plurslity ofupwardly directed resilient cavities therein, each of said cavities defmed by a lower resilient sleeve inwbich each opm sing pair of said vertical cavities com prises respective m rtions of a singlecircum ferential resilient sleeve degning an integration of said upm r and lower sleeves; andas shown in exhibit F, photon phs is the lower substantially rigid holizontal supm rt plate marked RLP''and similarly marked in the Versoshock advertisement. The lower horizontal support plate CLP''),likethe upper plate CUP'') possesses a plnmlity of resilient caviues, LRS in the photon phs, each of whichcavities are defined by a correspmding cirmlmferential resilient sleeve marked in the photon ph LRS.See Plsinti/s Exhibit F , G, H

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n e upper and lower paim of vertical cavities join to form a single circumferential resilient sleevedefmed by the inten tion of said Opper and lower sleeves'' as set forth in the limitadon of PM (b) ofClaim 1.

17. In the illu> ations of the avity Defyer shoe photon ph, exhibit I , there is shown aVersoshock heel platform (LP) 9om which the resilient cavities depend upwardly. Plainti/s Exhibit l18. n e stabilization of the inten ted upm r and lower msilient cavities is shown in the G-Defy

advertising on exhibit J & K photop aphs.19. Dism sed within the resilient sleeve are xsilient mean ) and so-called ttwin'' stabilizer

springs'' and smart memory m aster spring'' of the G-Defy shoe. See Plainti/s Exbibit G20. Defendnnts, infringes Claim 1. (c

(c) a plllmlity of resilient disposed witbin an agvegate length of torth opm sing pair of saidupper and lower cavities, said resilient me>ns comprising a cylindrical hldy of a solid resilientmatedal, said CylinM cal body extending downwardly tbrough said lower plate to a bottommostsurface of an outer sole of Y d shoe, said resilient me>ns each having a greater spring rate and springconstant than that of said resilient sleeve.21. Claim 1, tpart c 1) calls for plurality of resilient means (RM) within an agm gate length of

each opposing pair of upper and lower cavities. n ese resilient means are cylindrical M dies of a solidresilient material. n e G-Defyer shoe photon ph, exhibit K shows the upm r plate (W ) andthe lower plate (LP). Therefrom may be seen demnding dgid cylinddcal bodies (RM) fonned of asolid but resilient material. n e bodies are disposed within the resilient cavities or sleeves as shown inthe photopaph. Resilient cylindrical bodies contact each other in the course of normal om ration of theshoe, as is shown in G-Defyer advertising schematic marked G-Defyer sport footwear

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22. n e Cylindrical body, as ae ve defmed, extends downwardly to and through the lower plate toa bottommost surface of an outer sole of the spring shoe s shown in the G-Defyer advertisingschematic. As shown in G- fyer Versoshock advertisement materials, the resilient cylindrical bodies(RM) extend downwe y and Ycome a part of the lower horizontal support plate (LHSP) in thenormal function thereof. Only by such a structure is the maximum shock absomtion and so calledNnergy reciprx ating m wer'' of the G-Defyer shoe possible. See PlaintiFs Exhibit I23. n e G-Defyer spring shoes could not flmction if the resilient means within the heel were not

mechanically inte- ted into the lower holizontal support plate, termed in the O vity Defyer litemturems the Versoshock heel platform. Plainti/s Exhibit I24. Defendnnts, infringes Clnim 2. the nthletic shoe as recited in clsim 1 further comprising a

metallic spiral spring disposed circumferentially ahmt said solid cylindrical body.See Plninti/s Exhibit L

Defendnnts infringes Clsim 4 n e atbletic shoe as recited in chim 3, in which said cylinddcalbody includes a hollow nnnular cross-sedion. See Plaintils Exhibit H

PATENT INFRINGEG NT COUNTS26. Dixon is the owner of aIl right, title, and interes't in the U.S. Patent No. 6,546,648 C648'').

Defendnnts have prosted through infringement of Dixon's Patent letters. As a result ofDefendants' lmlawful inm ngement of Dixon's Patent Dixon hms se ered and V B continue tosuFer damage. Dixon is entitled to recover from Defendnnts the dnmages suFered by Dixon as a resultof Defendants' unlawful acts.28. On information and Y lietl Defendnnts' infringement of Dixon's Patent is willful and

deliberate, entitling Dixon to enhanced dsmages.

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29. On information and bdief, Defendants intend to continue their unlawful infringing activity,and Dixon continues to and will continue to sufer irrepo ble bsrm- for which there is no adequateremedy at law- *om such unlawful infringing activity unless Defendants are enjoined by this Court.

COIJNT 1INFRINGEG NT OFU.S.PATENT NO.6.546.64830. Dixon realleges and incorm mtes by reference the allegations set forth in parapaph 1-32.31. Dixon is the owner of a11 right, title, and interest in the U .S. Patent C$648''), enitleds

CCATHLETIC SHOE W ITH STABILIZED DISCRETE RESILIENT ELEW NTS IN IIEEL'' duly andprom rly issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Om ce on April 15,2003. A copy of the C648'')patent is aftnched as Plainti/s Exhibit A.32. Defendants have been and/or are directly infringing and/or inducing infringement of and/or

conubutorily infringing the (:164855) patent by, among other t%ings, msking, using, olering to sell orselling in the UnitH states, or imm rting into the United States,products and/or services that arecovered by at lemKt clnim 1 (a)@)(c) and clsims 2 and 4 of the C648'') patent, including, by way ofexample and not limitationa s shown G-Defyer Versoshock advertisement materials.

DEM AND FOR JURY TRIAL33. Purslmnt to Rule 381) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedum Dixon respedfully requests a

trial byjury of a11 issues properly Zable byjury.Plainti/Dixon demands a trial byjury as to a11 issues so triable.

PlaintiF incorm rates by reference attached exhibits w1t11 the same force and eFect as sd forth herein.

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PRAYER FOR RELIEFW IG REFORE, Dlxon prays f@r a lief as follows:

A. Forjudn ent declnring that Defendants have infringed Dixon's U.S. Patent;B. Forjudo ent awarding Dixon commnsatory damages as a restllt of Defendnnts' infringement

of Dixon's Patent together w1t11 interest and costs,and in no event less thlm a re%onable royalty;C. For ajudo ent declsring that Defendnnts' infringement of Dixon's Patent hms %en willful and

delie rate;D. For ajudm ent awarding Dixon treble dnmages and pre-judm ent interest under 35 U.S.C. j

284 as a result of Defendnnts' willful and delibemte infringement of Dixon's Patent;E. For a grant of a mrmanent injuncdon purslmnt to 35 U.S. C. 9 283, enjoining the Defendsnts

9om furtber acts of infringement; andF. For such other and further relief ms the Court deemsjux and proper.Resm ctfully submitted,DATED this 19* day of September 2013.

VV *ov J. DixonRoy J. Dixon Jr. pro K163 Rivera Court,Royal Pslm Beacha F1. 33411Cellular (561) 707-0528-8-



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I:K I:::1::IR::IIU500654664882(12) United States Patent (1c) ratent No.: Us 6,.546,648 82ixen (4s) Date of Patent: Apr.15, 2* 3

(54) ATIILETIC SHOE WITH STABO EDDISCRETE RFltR N'f H AMEN'Y IN HEEL(76) Iaventor: Roy Dlxon, 7.,* l.,K PaI Mas St,RoyalPalm BeacK FL (USI 3M11

Noticc: Subjcct to any dl=llimor t:e term of tlzispatent Ls cxtended or XIJIIS*,II ttndor 35U.S.C. 15* ) by 0 days.(21) & pl. No.: 09/**7v..1(22) Fikd: Jun. I.K 21(65) W'lor Publication Data

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36/35 K 59 A(55) Relerence CiteU.S. P DO N'Y

1.3,87-5 A * 6/1921 Monnett et al

An atbktic shoe inchld subslntially horiznnul cham% rsubstantially witbin abeel mrtion of a midsole,tbe chamM raving &tmosplxric communication at its lateral sixs.ThecbamGr includes an upmr substantiany rigid Norizontalplate baving at lcgst four am rttlrcs thercin acd & lowersubstantially rigid hon'znntal supm rt phte baving a corrt-sm sding plurality of at least four ayerturesFlexible rosil-ient unitary sl=ves inlogrglly join resmctive vertical pairsof the am rtur> of tbc upper and lower plates rospeclivdy.kslxsed within oach of tbe r>ilieat sloeves are msilientmomtxls eacb baving spring txlnstant and spring rato greaterthan that of the sleoves

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4,616,431 A * 1W19+ Da ler4,715,1% A * 12/19r Scatena5,224,278 A * 7/1% Jeon5,353,5% A * 1W1% Kilgore d aI5.544,431 A * &19* Dixon* cited by eYaminerPrimary flar- zle'r-n>ed Kavanaugh(74) AH- Ly Agen/, or Fiml- . K. Silverman(57) ABSTIIACT

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US 6,546,648 821ATHLETIC SHOE W lTH STABEJZEDDISCRETE RESIIJENT EA ENTS IN IIEEL SUMMARY OF RME INVENTIONBACKGROUND OF THE PBG NX ON1. Area of Inventionne instant iovention rehte,s to athletic sb',s havingresilent springm or spring equivalentsy witbin tlx heee1thereof.2. Prior Artn e iYtant invonlion comprir &(l improvement of myU.S. Plt. No. 5,544,431 (1996) ontitlod Sbce ' ' gSh with Atjustable Insert and abo mpriKs an improve-ment twer the invention of U.S.Pa1. No. 5,343,639 (1994)to Kilgore, et al, entitled Shoe with Improved Mie le andover U.S. Pat. No. 6 (e ,449 (1*9) to Orlowsz, et almntitlcd Footwear Hm ng Spring A- mblies ln tbc lnxlcs reof.Nttmorous patenks exist in the eld of footwar'Itoroin,a primary purpo% tvroof is to proteu tbe foot fzom injury.urtber,the *le of the slxx provides tradion arxl cushion-ing. In the ntexl of an atbletic shoe,various attempts havebetn made in the prior art lo lcorm rate a spriag,a springmodlllc, or spring equivalont 1nt0 oiter or bot: tix lxd orforcfoot tbcreof. Howcvcr

,spring bn=zl athletic sboes of tlxpau were me ly novelty prtxlucls IUWIV an lmprediclablephtform that would xact unpredictably to various force,sprovidod, t11+ in dimd rclation to % impact applied by theheel of tbo foot to tbe splinp spring module or springequivalent. Accordingly,a pn'rnary problem in tlx inrpo-ratio:l of sprinp into te beol of z shx has befn that ofcontrollability ther*f.U.S. Pat. No. 5,7,82.325 disc1co a sport shoe lzavinjspring dusposed in tile K1e of tbe sbe in which the spnngoperates t provi& bias to t*e foot in a ra-' zl Nsition andclmhioning of the sboe aqainst shfxk from tbo m und. ncspring omployed tberein ls a torsion spring positional alongtbe loagitudinal ax'F. dislxemd boneynntal to tbe groand andusing the spring nstant to reesist X xing of the pring.'llxabove referenctd U.S. patent to Kilgore provides animproved midsole and heel utillym a group of hollowcylindrical lumms within the heel portion ud,ttmrdn, tlleuse of eilber gas bladders of a mio-cellular foam-llematelial tberein lo provide a desired depee of sriffnerxs to thermsmctive xlumns respoasivc to impau tbereupon. Given 4sthe esscntially passive nature of tlx air bladdtr or microcellular supported c,01* % of said sptem,tho ond result isa sboe baving improvod mleioning but,however, lackingthe rtquksite g'reo of xsilimnt sping-action for mse incertain sporls such as baskelball. xnmy said U.S. Pat. No.5,544,431 (1996) ks descri/d asbock abxrbie adjustable inqert for m% wi1bin tbe Ycl ofthe rle wllich mprirs a spriug module systom havingparticayl&r value in oertain zctivilies mzcb as baAketball andotber jumping sports. nermin, flx spdng action omrates as 55a sbock alwaflxr for tbe ft and provides an aclratingspring adion following tbe mpmoion whicb pxctdes znyumplg molion of an atbloto.'llx i-tant invention may,ereby, Ix viowud ms an intogration of tho spring and springplatform support feamres of m'y said U .S. Pal. No. 5,544,41 60witb tlw ure of comp- ibk vertical mlumns as is taugbt bysaid Kilgore. Additionally.llx iastant invention refeds arecognition tbat, given the existen of conteznmrary h+'impact, Nigh resiliesl N lymeric matorim a co-iderm crange of spring tquivalonc 'rax wbicb,in tcnns of lmlil 55spring coastant and spring rate,can behave in a mparablqyet more coneollabl: fpKhlon than cla ical springs

My invention relate.s to an athlotic shoe having stabiliediw eet resilient eletlmnts substantially within a bon'xmtalchamlxr s'ubstantially wilhin a 11=l lrtion of a mie le5 lhereeof, said chamer having atmosplxnc commlmicadon athteral sklos tMremf'l'im improvement more particqlllrlycomprises (a midxle cbamYr having an upper subslantiallyrigid horizontal plate with at 10ast fottr amrturos tlreinl alower sabstantially rigid horizontal mlpport phtc with a1c rmspolxliag pluraEty of at least four amrtures tlxreiu.LY pmvidcd are ioxible resiliont unitary slotves integrallyjoining resmctive vertical pairs of %id aporture.s of saidupper nncl lowor phtu rermectivdy.Yot fuztber provide aresolid msilient meanm dislx- d within each of said sleevos,aid resilient mems each having a greater e ring coastant5 atxl spring rato tban tbat of said resilient slowos,whombyirectionality of said pring rate is cxmtrollM by saidsleeves. Means are pmvided for securing said horimntalchamber betwe,n upm r and lower xles of the s% .It ks Accordingly a prim- object of tbo presenl invention0 ido an athlotic sh adapted to roliove sbock Ioadso provexperiend by d10 wearer ard to maximize the s'pring efectof tlx beel tbereof.It is another object to provide an improved ahletic sboeusing spring elomenl or spring olomont emuivalonts having25 improved stability relovo to shoe commnents above arxldow such tlements.It is a fttrtber objecwt of tbe invention to pmvide an atlzleticshx particularly adapted for use in baskmtball and otlwrjllmping Smrts.30 ne abovo and yet other ejocts and advanwges of tbepmxnt invention will bemme appamnt from tlle hereinafterset fortb Brief Dcscription of tNe Drawings, Ehetwile,dDoxription of tbe Invention. and Claifns appende here.-with.35 BRIEF DF.SCRIM ON OF TllE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 is a viewrst m rsm ctive breakaway scllomatic of aeal ' at of tile invention sbowing tbe inventivemidsole cbamlxr of tbe atbletic shoe,showing tlle use of40 spring elomtmls.FIG. 2 is a boriantal t'rois-sectional view taken througbLino 2-2 of PIG. 1.RG. 3 ks a vertic.al cM s-xdional viow taken througbI inc 3-3 of FIG. 1.FIG.4 is a breakaway Klxmatic viow of a xcondembodimont of 11x 1f1st=. invontion,using a solid resilientelement in lieu of spring elemenl.FIG. 5 is a vortical croas-sectional view takon along 1.1'ne5- 5 of FIG. 4.FIG. 6 is a horizontal crorxs-redional view takcn throughLilx 6--6 of FIG.4.FIGS. 7 and # am rosmctivo vorlical anH horiantalcrow - tional views of & variation of the embodiment ofFIGS. 4 to 6 in whic: a llollow resilient element is substi-tuteed for a solid resili:nt dementFIG. 9 is a breakaway Kbematic viow of a furtheremlw liment of tbe inventiow generally similar to tlmmmhadiment of FIGS.4 to 6 in wbich oacb of the msiliontintornal nzter elements thoreof oxtends tbrougb tlze lowerplatform and to tlx external outersole of tbe sh- .FIG. 16 is a mar breakaway view of tbe embrvlimnt ofHG. 9.FIG. 1.1 is & breoknway e ematic viow of a furtheremlxdimenl in whicb railion! elements are 'tqea withinspringelements interually to tlx resttimnt vetticalxhtmnsofthe system.



19/31

US 6,546,648 823HG. 12 is a vertical cross-xctioual vigw lakon along Lino12-12 of FIG. 11.FIG. 13 ks a borizontal c'ro%-sectional vimw taken alongI Jne 13- 13 of FIG. 11.DETAILED DESCRHVION OF 'IMEINVENTIONWitb reference to tbe mrspective breAkaway view of HG.: the iaventive atbletic sbx may lx reaen to include anupm r mrtion t forming a covodng for i- rtion of a footAIXI a lowcr portion. typically referrod to as a solc 12,stcurod to said uplmr portion for sapmrt of 111: ba of tlxfoot. %10 12 mprises au upmr Kle M ,& midsok 38. anda lower sol 36. acurment of upm r mryion 1: lo uppersolt M occllm along an interface 14.Below ILS intedacr sad within t*e midxle 3: is formtd a suetantially bori-zontal chamlr 16 having atmpheric communication attbe lateral sides thereof. A horiantal chamVr of th1 tym,oweveris one baving a greater ratio of beigbt-to-length Lstaugbt irl my alxwe j'eforenfxd U.S. Pat. No. 5,544.431Saidolizontal chamar 1$, oxhibits a ratio of longitudinal lengkhto vertical heigbt of appmximalely 4 to 1. n orein isismsed Rtl upmr substatizlly rigid borizontal supmrtplate 18 having therein a pluralily of transvo- downwardlydircctcd cavitiu 20. Said cavities arc defnod by a corrc-25mnding plurality of upm r resilient sleeves & .See H G. 8.Furthor provided is a lower sulwtantially rigid bodzontalpbte 24 baving a plurality of tralxsverx upwardly dirececavitie.s 26 therein, wlzich are deflne by respectwe lowerrmsilient s1eevms-27.W bea'e said upper and lower sleevo 23 xnd 27 rosw divoly aro more Eexibk tban resienl meazls 2*lbat arc dipoe wilhin an aggregate of upmr and lowercavitks 20 and 26. Said upmr and lower sleves maya ume tho form of a single continuous sleeevt 25 ts is sbownin HGS. la 3 and 5. Howeverwhem the material of whichsaid sleeves are formed is moro Hpdthan tbat of the springmtans dksmst,d within said cavitie,s tbe upptr and lowercavily flniag sloevts will bo discroet fro oae otbor,mss slmwn in tlx embodiment of FIG. 3& fulther d- rilxdIxlow.lt isto bo undtlstood that in a prefermd emhxlimentyortical sleeves 22/27 w111 be molded intepally witb uppcrzxl lower rigid horizontal supports 16 and M rev ctiv:ly,uclz that tlx joinder of tiw sleeves 22 and 27 tilereof * 1occur aftor roilient means 28 has bten dropmd into am r- 4,ures 31 within upm r rigid horim ntal supm rt plate 16 priorto adY ion or otber sectutment of sole 12 to uppor slllxportion 1: ora convev ly. after said mea> iuve Ixendropmd into aperturews 32 witbin lower rigid plate 24.ereafler, such amrtures must Ix Raled it is thereby.to l>e soapmeciated that any of a numar of preumzon ec11111qtlmsmay be employod in ordor to Rmtre xsilient within itsres- tive xsiliont sleeve 2247.It Ls itowever anticipatedtbat in most pre uction scenaliow l'nKertion of said *roughtlx lower phte 24 will lx : morc pradical strategy. ssn tl borizonul Goss-rectional view of FIG. 2 is sbownlowcr suv rt plato 24.integratod rcsilicnt keeves r and27, alxl resilitnl mcatks M lxatrd witbin cavities 20.In thctransverv vertical c'mss-sectional vew of HG.3 are shown

upmr wtxj lowor support phtes 1* and 24 respectively,saidcavities 20. and tlx transverse horiznntal cb mhor 1Kdefneed by said upper and lower plates 18 and M . n emie le 36 inly a1m be r n in FIG.3. In tk embMimentof FIGS. 1-3, = x1resilient moafks comprises a mdallicspring. 6st Ls thereby to lx appmdated tbat 1n.:1s28w111 compressresm nsive to downward fomes origim dng fmm uppr m r

4lion 10, tbat 1, tl)e hed of the ft of a uxr. ln theemlxdimmnt of HG.3A. u- r and lower slreevrs 122 alxlr are more delineated in tlzata in tbis mlxxlimeat, saidsleeve.s are formed of a material wbich Ls more rigid thanhat of spring 2#.Accoraingly, a gap 132 must Ix providedbetween said upm rand lower sleeve,s to pormit comprossionof spric 28 witl!in tbe vertical cavities 2B.In tEe resilientme iment of FIG. 4, means areexpre- d as cyEnrs of nzbber Q9A or a hard but resilient10 m lm er.llaving z ro&iliency comparable to tbat of a springof HGS 1-3. Furthcrit hms becn found that mzch Grubbersprinm'' in combination witb upm r and lower phtes 1: a:xl24 respedivmly ord Gxcelltnt slability to thc f k particxu-larly when urw,d witb cavity-deflning sleevos r5.n e termKrlzbber spdng'' 9 doftned as any oloment baving a spricgconstant and spling rate greater tban tbat of cavity deliningskoves 27 or 225. 11 ks thereby to be appreciae tbt saidslmevos 225 wd tbt cavities QIN1 formod thereby tbus sefvelo K:ltmk'' tbe spring meaasawllether tlmy mpcix mttallicsprinp or Rmbbor spinps'e in place relafive to uppor amllower plates 1# and 24. lt bas more partilarly teen foundtbat te use of said rigid upNr and lower supmrt platos 1*l1xl 24 precludo sidq-yo-k movement of tbe intemalresilient elemenl without interfehng with tbe rntmbioning ofkmer xlc 34, midmlo M ,lower solc 3$. and be'el pordon 12of tbe sboe. It ilo tbereby been found that tbe tkx of plates18 ud 24 ac't to balan-.the upm r sbx rmhtive to 1he lowersbx in mucb thc fmsKon that the bY y of an automobile isbalanoed ulmn its w> l av mbly tizrough the function of avehicle chaRqiR susw nsion.11 hs aISO been fouY that thewolgEt of oacb plato can lx as 1ow as on= oun each mzcblhaq in combinztion w101 the roilioat elemtutsyas little asour ouns is added to an athlelic sb formed in accorda= witb tbe pr- nt invention.35 It l)as also been fovnd tbat tl)e spling ctusbioning elect oftile preRnt system intml.tms tM Kk of tbo fxt from shockotbcrwise tra mittr,d tbmugb thc >le mlx ms 34,Msazxj 3: of the sbtx itselfacting in mucb the fnqhon of ashock absorlxr in a vebicle.Roultingly, when walking or0 ' witb a +oe of tbe prmsent lype,enerr impactingum n the lower Kle 36 from the pavement w111 lx transmitted upwardly through spring meams 18 or r# therebyproviding sn incremmntal uplift to one's walking,maning orother m ivity. 11 has lxon furtber found *at impact uponmany pa!ts of tlx lxxjy inclusivo of tbo footpkneo, bim AIKIspix are diminished througb lhe shock abKrbing elfect ofthe internal mling or rubber cylinder aa mbly.It bas boen additionally detmrminod tbat tbe lmrim ntalchamber 16 cealod by the horizontal plates 18 aM 24alords a most aetbetic apNaring Mhletic s< .In tbe crorxs-xctional views takon along Lines 5- 5 alxlfof b4G. 4 may lx appreciated tbe geometry lxtwtathe Rsjxdive plates afler tbe rubber cylinders 2% bw eeen irksered.ln FIGS. 7 and 8 are shown a vaziation of lhe emlmdimeatof H GS. 4 to 6 in whicb t'o radizl crow seuion of oa&nlbber or polm eric cyle er 22# ckfilxs & hollow slexvehaving an Annular geomdry within eacb sloeve 225.60 n ee y. the fundion of fbe c'ylinder as a spring is morecleuly mplicated,this subje'ct to a m'mcient ratlial an131:111s,aY choi of material of !lm cylinder 22#.in which itsspring constant alxl sprtng rate oxceed that of sleove 225.In tlle emlwvh'ment of FIGS.9 and 1: is shown z variationof tbe emlvxliment of FIGs. 4 thnl 6 w:erein tbere aroprvided rtzbtxr cylinders 32* which exlvnd tltroul amrtures 320 witbin lower plale 324.this &s may be more funy



20/31

US 6,546,648 825soon in th rear breakaway vi:w of FIG. 10.In th1semtxxlimtnt, dongale nlbkr cylinder 32* impad directlyupon tbe soor (x' pavement but are still stabiliyAd by tlxaction of upmr and lower plates 31: alxl 324 respectively.urtlxr, nlblxr sprinps 32# are Mabiliyed relativo to tbeupmr and lower pla*s by vertical slem es 325.As may bt noted in HGS. 11-13,re lilnt cylirvVrs 428may bc plaee.d within metallicspring 429 and within integralsleeeves 4:5.

6(c) a plurality of resilient means dispoxd within anagpegate length of oacb opmsing pair of said upperand lower cavities. said resilimnt mearks comprising acylindrical bcxly of a solid r-ilient ma*rial, saidcylindrical bey extendlngdownwardly tbrough saidlowor plate to a e ttommost surfatx or an outer Fo1m ofsaid shoe, said resilient means eacb having a e atermring ratm and spring cxmslant tban tbat of a1:1 xsllientslxve.2.n e athletic sbY s redted itl clal'm 1 furt%r comprising a meollic spiral s'pring dismsod circumfercntially atxmtsaid Klid cylindrical body.3. An axetic slltx baving a substaatizlly borimnlallycllambeer suetanG lly witln'n a boel portion of a mid *le15 tbemof, said chamber baving atmospheric communicadon athttral sides tberoot said chamGr cqomprising:(a) an upmr suYantizly ligid borizontal wpmrt phte;(b) a lower abstantially rigld boriwmul support plattbaving a plurality of at least four aperlurrs therein;K (c) Eexible resilient unitary sleeves integrally joining saidamrtures of said lower plato to opposing mlrfatxs of%1d upper plate; and(d) resilicnt mcans each colnprising a cylinan'cal body of

zs a ruilieat mlterial oxtending from said hpm r platt anddownwardly lbrnugb said lower plate to a bottommosts'uda of an outor sole of sbom,said resilient meanseacb baving a spring Onstant arvl spring rate greatertban tbat of said slcvos.30 4. n e athltlic sboo as redted in cla.m 3.in wbicll saidcylindrical body includes a hollow annuhr cmu-scction.5. 'lxe atbletic sb as rocited in claim 3,further com-prising a motallic spring div sV' d outwardly of said cylindrical hxly and inwardly of %id unitary sleeves.

10hilc thcre hms been shown and d- ribed tbo prefcrrr,dcmhxlimont of tbo instant invcntion it ks to be apprcchtr,dthat the invention may be embcdied otherwi% than is bereinsmcically sbown aM dcxribed and that, within saidtmbcxlimqnt, certe cbuges may bo mxdt in tbeform andarrangemont of t116 parts without departing from the under-lying ideas or principl> of this invention as Rt forth in tbeClaimK appeaded htawitb.Having tbus dewrilxd my invention what I claim ms new,tl-ful and none vious and,accordingly, secure by lxttorsPatent of tbe Uni*d Slales 1:1. An athl:tic shoe having a subslandally horimntalcbamlxr sutstantially witbin : %el mrtion of & mid-solethereot mnldclum%r having .tmaslkleric communicafion athtcral sidms tbercot tbo chambor cornprising:(a) an apper substantially rigid bon'ynntal supmrt pla?having a plurality of transverse downwardly dmctedresilitnt cavities tberein, eacb of nid cavitios desnedby an upptr ruiliont sleeve;(b) a lower subslantially rigid lmrizontal support platehavicg a corresponding plurality of upwardly dimctrdmsilitnt cavities thtrein, tach of said cavities defmedby a lowrr resilient sloeve in which eacb opptwing pairof said vertical cavitios mprises rev ctive m rtionsof a siugk drcumfexntial ree ent sleeve defning anintegration of said upper .nd lower sleevea; and



21/31

To: GM VITY DEFYER INC.15206 Ventura Blvd.Suite #300Sherman Oaks, Ca 91403ATTN: M r. Alexander ElnekavehFrom: Roy Dixon163 Rivel'a CourtRoyal Palm Beacha Florida 33411RE: Patent M ringement

Dear M r. Elnekaveh, enclosed you will fmd two of my patents that l believe you have infringed.Nevertheless, out of good faith, I would like to oFer you the opm rtunity to license or buy my patent

January 22, 2011

I MX 'rl

fmm me before any legal action rises I have searched the United States Patent and TrademarkO ce to see whether you have a patent on the spring shoes that your company are selling.I foundthree patents that belongs to you, which are a tM oney Clip/card Holder'' Patent No. 6,823,910, a GilotDog Griller'' Desir Patent D515,864 and a isteinhausen W atch'' desiN Patent D490,001. lf you havea spring shoe patent application pending or a spring shoe patent on the spring shoes that you are selling,could you please forward m e a copy and disregard my concernsTlmnk you

lf you do not have a patent on the spring shoes and would like to accept my business prom sition,

1 can be reach at (561) 385-9443

Sincerely YoursRoy J. Dixon



22/31

Case # 117659 Created: COW LAINT ON SHOESM on, Jun 4, 2012 2:26 pm

- - - - -original M essage-----Gravity Defyerrom customercre@n vildeer.coe ide detailsTo nrmarguard [email protected] j Pcc:IBFln snk you for contacting Gravity Defyer Custom er Support.Your request for mssistance has been received.Case #1 17659 - ''COM PLM NT ONSHOES'' has been created for you. A member of our customer care team willrespond to your case as soon as possible.

M essage History



23/31

Claim 11. An athletic she having a substantially horizontal chamber substantially within a hees portionof a mid-sole tbereof, said chamber having atmospheric com munication at lateral sides tbereot the

chamber comprising:

*:**1. . '

AV5 c rao-w oy veratorao AIr chorarw ts

j = 'lGravity DeWer shoe, also known as the G-Defy shoe, includes as is shown in the above view ffasubstantially horizontal chamber substantially within a heel portion of a mid-sole thereof'' Thechamber provides for atmospheric communication at Iateral sides thereof. This is described in theabove view as the AVS One-way Vent and Air Channels which appear to the Ieft and the right of the heelportion. Fundion of these vents and channels is also described W G-Defy a, follows:''air is drawn from the shoe's in&erior and expelled,cooling the foot and reducing microbial growth.''



24/31

claim 1, lpart al

(a) an upper substantially rigid borizontal support plate bavinga plurality of tranwerseownwardly direded resilient cavities therein,each of said cavities defined by an upper resilient sleeve;

I PX JS sURS uRc

RM

., uRc:f': ;.

t,,:. uRs

't::L ,J;'ju UP

Claim 1, (Part a).An upper substantially rigid support plate includes a plurality of downwardly directed resilient cavities(URC) therein, each of the cvities defined by an upper resilient sleeve (URS). This is shown by thehotogoph above, the resilient cavities marked URC and depend from an upper rigid support platemarked (UP). That is, the cavities desne the upper resilient sleeves (URS) also shown in the explodedview of the Versoshock shoe which follows.



25/31

Ualm 1. (Part b)(b) a Iower substantially rigid horizontal support plate having a corresponding plurality ofupwardly directed resilient cavities lherein,each of said cavities defined by a lower resilient sleeve inwhich each opposing pair of said vertital cavltles comprises respective portions of a singlecircumferential resilient sleeve deining an integration of said upper and lower sleeves; and

o, 'URC .LRS

LPM

j Px :1 ml , : . . s-#--w--*s-+++* ' ' %*'----M-- *-$+-+.- ---: . .. - . ! ... -

. . a ve:.,' . .UP -

' A> >. . :.. 'h; .n ... a .. . . . .. .,, w w a. . ' . :. - -

. kX. q- :'x.. l .7 '.

LP



26/31



27/31



28/31



29/31

claim 1. (Part t-11(c) a plurality of resilient means disposed within an aggregate Iength of each opposing pair ofsaid upper and lower cavities,said resllient means comprising a cylindrical body of a solid resilientmaterial,

RMuRc

dJ. LRS';.'.o

Q'e.Z.t'.

LPI P* :> F

4. .tzrt .'. )+. . . : -ayjo . :/.. l .- ''.A.73 r i '1. , -.

RM LP

LRSLRC



30/31

Claim 1. (Part c.21Cyclindrical body extending downwardly through said Iower plate to a bottommost surface of anouter sole of said shoe, said resilient means each having a greater spring rate and spring constant thanthat of said resilient sleeve.

UPtr/v forz* te p* e a :le %Would N 9d** O k e eO PWWW WWWWO OTWV -' '*' ' ' ' ' U0llexefm O Sha . llowe- , the ele e sh)ei du try wu > ' w * A *lnne i/nWiM l*1* hM tb4 flG of ilYIZ = r lwiprtMe'ng &b* %G *%Kle Zadr- e e glxhe----'r-ls! - RMmavitytG sebxlogywas inveneby .e are Klnm vehe wxq- i- e ,-' . . -' . '- -W*VYPW by tl/ lme R- m:Tedmolor V AH*aenT%g(1RW .).1X@Czloille r* WK+ntifex .- .eoa w th a h-' &sm ( A *) -a- UndG* Y tACOOMH.OG-V/ e we * :h* = --*reciprocaa resls- mwere u ewearerY wmgkt slY to tie lnll of *

tBM Z fM W XOfhlmte * > * ' ' 'Y em WWeee Y o x e is '* ''e te 'we- Wel*moFe- e y.

! M *1 r

Claim 1, (Part c.2):defined, extends downwardly to and through the Iower plate to aottommost stlrface of an outer sole of the shoe. As shown in the following page of Versoshcokadvertising materials, the resilient Wlindrical means (RM) extend downwardly and become a part of theower horizontal support plate (LHSP) in the normal fundion tbereof. Only by sucb a strudure is themaximum shock absorption and so-called ''energy reciprocating powe' of the G- Defy shoe possible. Asnoted in the text to the Ieft of the above illustration,the Gravity Defyer shoes could not fundion if theresilient means within the heel were not mechanically integrated inlo the Iower horizontal supportplate, termed in the gravity Defyer Iiterature as the Versoshock beel platform. As such,the limitation of'through- versus ''to'' the lower beel platform (LP) is not a material Iimitation of Claim 1,Part c.2.

The Cylindrical body, as above

The 5nal part of the Part c.2 of Claim 1 requires that t*e resilient means (RM) possess a spring constantthat is greater than tha: of the resilient sleeves (QRS and LRS in tbe illustra&ions). n e resllient meansRM)are mde of a solid resilient material axially disposed wlthin thin outer resilient sleeves (RS), asbove described, the RM's are greater in bulk mass and resilience and therefore inherently possess agreater spring rate and spring constant than that of the circumferential resilient (RS) sleeve or theavities (RC).



31/31

Qaim 22. The athletic shoe as recited In Claim 1 further comprising a metallic spiral springisposed circqmferentially about said solid Alindrical body.

gr c

R M O Y L

X > ' ' 'R W - ,w -

j Pcn1 u .I

Claim 2 above is easily met because of the use by the Gravity Defyer springs which are disposedircumferentially abouteach of the solid cylindrical means as above described. As may be seen in thebove photograph of the Versoshock heel platform,that is, the annular region between the respediveesilient means (RM) and their corresponding sleeves (RS) operate to position the springs of theersoshock system in a vertical and lransverse orientation.


Dixon v. Elnekaveh Et. Al.

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