Footwear having sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10070680-B2
Application number	US-201213399786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2012
Priority date	Jun 13, 2008
Publication date	Sep 11, 2018
Grant date	Sep 11, 2018

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the insert member has an opening extending completely through the insert member;
a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the insert member;
a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors; and
a port connected to the insert member and the plurality of sensor leads, the port comprising:
a housing connected to the insert member and adapted to be at least partially received within the sole structure of the article of footwear such that the housing is accessible through the opening in the insert member, the housing comprising a plurality of side walls defining a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein, the housing further comprising a retaining member located at a rear end of the housing, wherein the retaining member is a resilient tab located on at least one of the side walls; and
an interface engaged with the housing at a front end of the housing opposite the rear end and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber, the interface being adapted to form an electrical connection with the module such that the module engages the at least one electrical contact when the module is received within the chamber,

wherein the retaining member is adapted to exert a downward force on the module to retain the module within the housing, and wherein the retaining member is further adapted to exert a forward force on the module to push the module into contact with the interface.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the housing has four side walls forming a substantially rectangular chamber.

3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the tab is adapted to be received in a notch in the electronic module.

4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a bottom wall defining a bottom of the chamber, with the side walls extending upward from the bottom wall.

5. The insert of claim 4 , the chamber further having an open top adapted to permit insertion of the module into the chamber.

6. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the interface further comprises at least one electrical connector positioned along at least one of the side walls of the chamber, the at least one electrical connector holding the at least one electrical contact so that the at least one electrical contact is exposed to the chamber.

7. The insert of claim 6 , wherein the housing further comprises a slot adjacent one of the side walls, and the at least one electrical contact has a portion that is received in the slot to mount the at least one electrical contact within the chamber.

8. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the interface is engaged with at least one of the side walls defining the chamber.

9. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert member further comprises a strip of the flexible polymer material extending from the insert member into the opening and into the housing and having the sensor leads thereon, wherein the sensor leads are connected to the force sensors, and wherein the at least one electrical contact is connected to the sensor leads on the strip.

10. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the insert member has an opening extending completely through the insert member;
a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the insert member;
a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors; and
a port connected to the insert member and the plurality of sensor leads, the port comprising:
a housing adapted to be at least partially received within the sole structure of the article of footwear such that the housing is accessible through the opening in the insert member, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to removably receive an electronic module therein; and
an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts, the interface further comprising a support structure engaged with the housing and supporting the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber, such that the interface is adapted to form an electrical connection with the module such that the module engages the electrical contacts when the module is received within the chamber, the insert member further comprising a strip of flexible material extending from the insert member into the opening to extend into the housing, the strip having the sensor leads thereon, wherein the sensor leads are configured to be connected to the plurality of sensors, and wherein the electrical contacts are connected to the sensor leads on the strip.

11. The insert of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contacts comprise a plurality of electrical contact pads, the electrical contact pads each having a flat contact surface.

12. The insert of claim 10 , wherein the housing comprises a slot, and a mounting portion of the support structure is received within the slot to connect the support structure to the housing.

13. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the chamber is defined by a plurality of side walls, and wherein the slot is positioned at one end of the chamber and extends across the chamber between two opposed side walls.

14. The insert of claim 10 , wherein the electrical contacts comprise a plurality of electrical contact pads, the electrical contact pads each having a flat contact surface, wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of ribs, each rib having one of the contact pads mounted thereon such that the flat contact surface of each contact pad faces toward an interior of the chamber.

15. An article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, comprising:
a sole structure comprising an outsole member and a midsole member supported by the outsole member, the midsole member having a well therein;
an upper portion connected to the sole structure;
a sensor system comprising a flexible insert member connected to the sole structure, a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member, and a plurality of sensor leads connected to the insert member and extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by the foot, wherein the insert member has an opening extending completely through the insert member; and
a port connected to the sole structure and the sensor system, the port comprising:
a housing at least partially received within the well in the midsole member such that the housing is accessible through the opening in the insert member, the housing comprising a plurality of side walls defining a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module; and
an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed to the chamber and adapted to be engaged by the module to form an electrical connection, the insert member further comprising a strip of flexible material extending from the flexible insert member into the opening to

Assignees

• Molyneux James
• Weast Aaron B
• Rice Jordan M
• Schrock Allan M
• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A
• Stillman Martine
• Horrell Joseph B
• Knight Jonathan Bing
• Weitmann Dane R
• Hebert Jeffrey J
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Molyneux James
• Weast Aaron B
• Rice Jordan M
• Schrock Allan M
• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A
• Stillman Martine
• Horrell Joseph B
• Knight Jonathan Bing
• Weitmann Dane R
• Hebert Jeffrey J

Classifications

• A63B2102/18

  Baseball, rounders or similar games · CPC title

• A63B2069/0006

  for pitching · CPC title

• A63B2220/836

  Sensors arranged on the body of the user · CPC title

• A63B69/00

  Training appliances or apparatus for special sports (training of parachutists B64D23/00) · CPC title

• A63B2102/02

  Tennis · CPC title