Up to ~1.6%
Running performance improvement
Patent Study I reported running-performance improvements reaching approximately 1.6% in portions of the testing.
Patent-tested performance · Proprietary technology
Patented performance. Proprietary technology.
Springbak® combines patented performance-enhancing footwear technology with proprietary manufacturing knowledge developed beyond what is publicly disclosed in its patents.
U.S. Patent No. 6,589,630 B1 — Performance Enhancing Shoe Components and Methods documents performance testing involving speed, jumping, strength, resistance, peak work, energy return and heart performance.
But the issued patents do not disclose everything required to manufacture today’s Springbak technology.
Springbak retains proprietary formulations, manufacturing knowledge, production techniques, material-selection methods, process controls, performance optimization methods and other confidential know-how as protected company trade secrets.
Patent-reported results are historical testing results disclosed in the patent and are not a guarantee of individual performance.
Patent-tested performance
Performance wasn’t just the idea. It was tested.
+8.6 inches
Volleyball double-bound average
14 of 14 tested varsity volleyball athletes jumped farther, with an average improvement of approximately 8.6 inches.
252 vs. 202 ft-lb
Peak work measurement
Patent Study VII reported total peak work of 252 ft-lb with the tested component compared with 202 ft-lb without it.
34% more time
Force-plate resistance
Patent Study IX reported subjects remained on the force plate 34% longer while using Springsoles.
Run faster
31-athlete double-blind speed study
- 31 athletes participated.
- Participants included university and national-level athletes from track, football, baseball and soccer.
- 26 of 31 athletes ran significantly faster.
- Patent-reported running improvements reached approximately 1.6% in portions of the testing.
- Another university track study reported 13 of 14 athletes improved their average and best performances.
- Events represented included the 100m, 200m, 400m, hurdles, 800m and 1500m.
Patent-reported testing showed faster running for most tested athletes. Individual results vary; no particular improvement is claimed for every athlete or every Springbak customer.
Patent Studies I & II | Claim 16 — Running faster
Jumping performance
Jump higher. Jump farther.
Volleyball
+8.6 inches
average improvement
14 of 14 tested varsity volleyball athletes jumped farther.
Division I basketball
+5.6 inches
average improvement
12 of 12 tested Division I basketball athletes jumped farther.
Track & jump athletes
+9.6 inches
horizontal double-bound average
One tested group of university high jumpers and triple jumpers averaged +9.6 inches in horizontal double-bound distance.
One tested vertical-jump group averaged +3.25 inches.
Patent Studies III–V | Claim 17 — Jumping higher or farther
Strength & peak work
Strength beyond the feet
Upper-body strength measurement
187 → 221 ft-lb
Without187 ft-lb
With component221 ft-lb
≈18.2% higher
Total peak work
202 → 252 ft-lb
Without202 ft-lb
With component252 ft-lb
≈24.8% higher
The percentages above are calculations based on the raw values reported in the patent, not percentages printed directly in the patent.
Patent Studies VI & VII | Claims 14–15
Leg, torso & resistance performance
Leg / arm / torso strength
Patent Study IX evaluated university subjects using force-plate testing.
Average pushing force
71.4 lb without Springsoles
85.8 lb with Springsoles
Force-plate time
0.93 without Springsoles
1.25 with Springsoles
34% more time on the force plate
The patent itself reports the 34% figure.
Patent Study IX | Claims 14 & 20
Resistance under load
Patent Study IX also evaluated subjects while downward force was applied to their extended arms.
Without Springsoles
- Average force: 195 lb
- Average duration: 0.79
- In 18 trials, every arm came down.
With Springsoles
- Average force: 196 lb
- Average duration: 1.45
- In 18 trials, not one arm came down.
The average applied force was nearly identical in both conditions, while the resistance duration was substantially longer with the component in place — approximately 83.5% longer resistance duration. That figure describes duration only; it is not a measure of a strength increase.
Energy return technology
What happens beneath your feet matters.
U.S. Patent 6,589,630 B1 reports energy-return testing across several material configurations.
Conventional EVA configurations tested
~10–12%
energy return
Performance formulations tested
~47–75%
energy return
Claim 1 — at least 47% energy return
The patent specification also discusses preferred embodiments capable of approximately 50%, 65% and, in certain configurations, approximately 80% or more energy return. These are figures reported in the patent for the configurations described there; they should not be read as a statement that every current Springbak product achieves 75–80% energy return unless that specific product has independently been verified at that level.
Vibration, frequency & material response
More than energy return
At a high level, the Springbak patent portfolio discusses characteristics beyond simple cushioning: resilient material behavior, energy return, deformation and rebound characteristics, and aspects relating to vibration and frequency response.
The patents provide public disclosure of portions of the technology. Springbak’s commercial manufacturing knowledge extends beyond the information contained in those patents.
The part the patents don’t tell you
The patent is only part of the technology.
Springbak’s patents publicly disclose important principles behind the technology. They do not disclose every element required to reproduce Springbak’s current commercial performance products.
Over years of development, Springbak has retained additional proprietary manufacturing knowledge as confidential company trade secrets. These trade secrets may include proprietary know-how relating to:
- material selection
- material combinations
- manufacturing methodology
- production sequencing
- process controls
- performance tuning
- material preparation
- curing and processing knowledge
- dimensional and performance tolerances
- production techniques
- quality-control methodology
- application-specific optimization
- other confidential manufacturing know-how
Springbak does not publicly disclose its proprietary manufacturing trade secrets.
Patents + trade secrets
Two separate layers of protection
Patented technology
Publicly disclosed intellectual property may include
- performance-enhancing shoe-component architecture
- material characteristics described in the patents
- energy-return principles
- compression and rebound behavior
- placement within footwear
- performance applications
- running-performance claims
- jumping-performance claims
- strength-related claims
- resistance-related claims
- other issued patent claims
Proprietary Springbak know-how
Not publicly disclosed
- current proprietary manufacturing know-how
- confidential process optimization
- proprietary production techniques
- undisclosed material knowledge
- manufacturing tolerances
- commercial-scale processing knowledge
- application-specific engineering
- quality-control systems
- additional confidential Springbak technology
Patents protect the disclosed inventions. Trade secrets protect what Springbak intentionally keeps confidential.
OEM manufacturing model
Springbak-controlled OEM manufacturing
For standard OEM relationships, Springbak manufactures or controls the manufacture of the Springbak performance component for the footwear company. The footwear company receives the finished performance component for integration into its footwear.
- The customer does not need access to Springbak's confidential manufacturing trade secrets.
- Springbak retains control over its proprietary manufacturing knowledge, processes, specifications and confidential know-how.
- 1Springbak technology
- 2Springbak-controlled manufacturing
- 3OEM shoe partner
- 4Finished performance footwear
The technology can be integrated without giving away the technology.
Exclusive shoe-company partnerships
Strategic & exclusive manufacturing partnerships
In a major strategic relationship, Springbak may consider a different commercial structure for a footwear company seeking exclusive rights or the ability to manufacture certain Springbak technology internally. Any disclosure of confidential manufacturing know-how would occur only under a separately negotiated strategic agreement with appropriate legal protections.
Potential protections may include
- confidentiality agreements
- non-disclosure agreements
- restricted-use provisions
- intellectual-property protections
- manufacturing limitations
- field-of-use restrictions
- territory restrictions
- exclusivity provisions
- access controls
- need-to-know limitations
- technology-transfer agreements
- licensing provisions
Any potential transfer or disclosure of proprietary manufacturing knowledge would be separately negotiated and tightly controlled.
Absent such an agreement, Springbak’s confidential manufacturing know-how remains proprietary and is not disclosed.
Protecting the Springbak advantage
Some technology is patented. Some technology remains secret.
Springbak’s competitive advantage is not limited to what can be read in a patent. The company combines intellectual property protection with proprietary manufacturing knowledge accumulated through product development, testing, material science, production experience and continued refinement. This creates multiple layers of protection.
Patents
Protect disclosed inventions and methods.
Trade secrets
Protect confidential manufacturing knowledge that is intentionally not published.
Know-how
Protects the accumulated practical knowledge required to consistently manufacture and optimize the technology.
OEM control
Allows Springbak to supply partners with finished technology while maintaining control of confidential manufacturing information.
You can see what Springbak does.You don’t have to know everything we do to make it.
Inside the patent
Inside the patent: heart performance
U.S. Patent 6,589,630 B1 contains Study VIII — Heart Performance. The patent reports acoustical cardiogram testing and describes fewer fibrillations between heartbeats during the disclosed testing with the shoe component.
Claim 13 addresses heart performance within the issued patent claims.
This section is educational. It describes only what the patent reports and what the historical testing disclosed in the patent describes. Springbak® Springsoles are performance footwear components, not a medical device. No claim is made to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition, and no cardiovascular benefit is claimed.
Issued patent claims
Performance defined in the patent
Claim language above is summarized from U.S. Patent 6,589,630 B1.
Frequently asked questions
What performance testing is reported in U.S. Patent 6,589,630 B1?
The patent discloses historical testing covering running speed, jumping, strength, resistance, peak work, energy return and heart performance. Reported results include running-performance improvements reaching approximately 1.6% in portions of the testing, total peak work of 252 ft-lb with the component versus 202 ft-lb without, and subjects remaining on a force plate 34% longer. These are patent-reported historical test results, not a guarantee of individual performance.
How much energy return does the patent report?
The patent reports conventional EVA configurations tested at approximately 10–12% energy return and performance formulations tested at approximately 47–75%. Claim 1 recites at least 47% energy return, and the specification discusses preferred embodiments capable of approximately 50%, 65% and, in certain configurations, approximately 80% or more.
Do the patents disclose everything needed to manufacture Springbak technology?
No. The patents provide public disclosure of portions of the technology. Springbak's commercial manufacturing knowledge extends beyond the information contained in those patents, and is retained as confidential company trade secrets. Springbak does not publicly disclose its proprietary manufacturing trade secrets.
How does the Springbak OEM model protect confidential know-how?
For standard OEM relationships, Springbak manufactures or controls the manufacture of the performance component and supplies the finished component to the footwear company for integration. The customer does not need access to Springbak's confidential manufacturing trade secrets, and Springbak retains control over its proprietary processes, specifications and know-how.
Can a footwear company obtain exclusivity or manufacture internally?
In a major strategic relationship Springbak may consider a different commercial structure. Any potential transfer or disclosure of proprietary manufacturing knowledge would be separately negotiated and tightly controlled under appropriate legal protections. Absent such an agreement, Springbak's confidential manufacturing know-how remains proprietary and is not disclosed.
What is the difference between a patent-reported result and a trade secret?
A patent-reported result is a historical test outcome written into the published patent document, so anyone can read it in the public USPTO record — for example the 31-athlete speed testing, the jump measurements, the 252 vs. 202 ft-lb peak work figure and the energy-return ranges. A trade secret is commercial knowledge Springbak deliberately never published: the manufacturing methods, material handling, process controls and tuning used to build today's products. Patents show what the technology did in testing; trade secrets protect how it is made now.
Why did Springbak publish some information and keep the rest confidential?
Patents require public disclosure in exchange for enforceable claims, which is why the performance principles, architecture and claim language are public. Manufacturing know-how gains nothing from publication and would be easier to copy, so it is retained as a trade secret with no expiration date instead of being disclosed in a filing.
Are patent-reported results a promise of the same results for me?
No. Every figure cited on this page is a historical laboratory or field result reported inside the issued patent for the configurations tested there. Individual results vary, no particular improvement is claimed for any athlete or customer, and a patent-reported percentage should not be read as a specification for a current retail product unless that specific product has been separately verified.
Can an OEM partner verify the patent-reported figures independently?
Yes. Each performance card and claim on this page opens a citation panel listing the patent study and claim it came from, with direct links to the USPTO full-text record and the complete Google Patents specification for U.S. Patent 6,589,630 B1. Trade-secret material is not part of that record and is only discussed under an executed confidentiality agreement.
Explore the technology
Springbak® intellectual property
Springbak technology is protected by issued U.S. patents and additional proprietary intellectual property.
Public patent disclosures should not be interpreted as a disclosure of Springbak’s complete manufacturing technology.
Certain formulations, specifications, production techniques, process controls, material knowledge, manufacturing methods, engineering practices and other commercial know-how are confidential and maintained as proprietary Springbak trade secrets.
No license, manufacturing right, technology-transfer right, or right to use confidential Springbak know-how is granted by publication of information on this website.
Study summaries describe laboratory evaluations of Springbak® Springsoles conducted with the named investigators. Individual results vary. Springbak® Springsoles are performance footwear components and are not a medical device, and no claim is made to diagnose, treat or prevent any condition.