A self-actuated spring-action human bipedal device includes a back-mounted frame att-ached to the upper torso of a user, and separate articulated right and left leg frames pivotallyattached by U-joints to lower portions of the back frame. The user's feet are secured to the legframes so that the bottoms of the leg frames contact the ground, rather than the user's feet, be-hind the point where each foot is attached to its leg frame. A spring actuator is carried on theback frame, and endless cord-like main springs are engaged with the spring actuator. Left andright tension lines running from the left and right leg frames to the spring actuator are arrangedso that compression of the leg frames, cause by the force of downward movement of the user'sfeet and torso, acting on the ground, pulls on the tension lines to apply a pulling force to thespring actuator for stretching the main springs. The tension lines are also each attached to apart of the leg frame which engages on the user's foot so that extension of the user's leg pulls onthe tension lines, also stretching the main springs. The energy stored in the stretched mainsprings is then transferred back to the torso of the user and to the user's feet to cause the user tojump into the air by a distance above the ground approximately proportional to the amount ofcompression of the leg frame and the amount of stretch transferred to the main springs. Sepa-rate pick-up springs connected to each leg frame keep the tension lines under positive tension sothat tension on each leg frame will not go slack and will apply a pick-up force to the leg frameto raise it and prevent foot dragging to simulate a natural walking gait.
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