32 years ago, the invention of the Toe-Articulated Stilt was patented. It was the most revolutionaly & profound advancement of stilt technology of all time. At that time there were only 150 existing patents on stilts, which were mostly “wooden stick” type stilts, and the famous aluminum drywall stilts (DuroStilt).
In 1983, the outragious claims of a stilt which gave stiltwalkers perfect balancing capibilities that the patent examiners called me in for a live demonstration of the invention to dispute the claims. Up to this time, stilts generally were feared as a good way to fall and get injured. So, I gave them a demonstration of a lifetime and changed their perception of stilts forever. I did a boogie-woogie TAP DANCE ON 30” TALL STILTS right in their office in front of 4 patent examiners.
One examiner smiled & raised his arms above his head, and waved his hands at me, and said this demonstration was so amazing, there was no question this patent application would sail though approval. In fact they said this stilt performed so well that not only would they classify my Toe-Articulated Stilt as a “STILT” but this will be the first stilt ever classified as an “ARTIFICIAL LIMB”. I think to this day, that distinction is still remains unique of the Bigfoot Toe-Articulated Stilt.
Below is a drawing my 8th prototype concept of a Toe-Articulated stilt. I remember about 34 years ago, that I finished construction about 3 am and it was raining, but I could not resist putting them on. It only took a minute to realize they were truly MAGICAL. I can’t say so much for prototypes #1 thru #7, which were total fails as walkable stilts, except they were important part of the evolution of discovery of what a Toe-Articulated Stilt needed to be. Here I was, between 3 and 6 am in the middle the wet asphalt street, grinning from ear to ear, walking, running, jumping, spinning in circles, doing side steps, doing the Wizard of Oz dance step, and all kinds of cavorting never before possible on any stilt.
All the prototypes were hand made, cave-man style, using only a hand hack saw, metal file, electric hand drill, drill bits, a heliarc welding machine (that was enormous in size), some wrenches, determination, and my affection for stilts.