Support members with variable viscosity fluid for footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10058146-B2
Application number	US-201514926785-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2015
Priority date	Mar 5, 2013
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a support member comprising a bladder having:
an inner chamber that is defined by an inner wall and filled with a rheological fluid; and
an outer chamber that is defined between the inner wall and an outer wall, wherein the outer chamber is coaxial with the inner chamber and is sealed from the inner chamber by the inner wall;
a reservoir in fluid communication with the inner chamber; and
an electromagnetic device associated with the support member, wherein the electromagnetic device can be activated to vary the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the inner chamber.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the outer wall has an approximately cylindrical shape.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2 , wherein the support member includes an upper bladder wall and a lower bladder wall that are joined to both the outer chamber and the inner chamber.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3 , wherein the upper bladder wall, the lower bladder wall, and the outer chamber bound the inner chamber.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4 , wherein the lower bladder wall includes a fluid port and wherein the electromagnetic device is disposed adjacent to the fluid port.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , further comprising a gas sealed in the outer chamber, wherein the gas is substantially compressible and wherein the rheological fluid is substantially incompressible.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the support member has a column-like geometry.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Meschter James C
• Chamblin Mike A
• Owings Andrew A

Classifications

• A43B13/189 Primary

  filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water · CPC title

• A43B1/0054

  provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances · CPC title

• A43B13/20

  Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/206

  provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members · CPC title