Footwear having motorized adjustment system and removable midsole

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10092065-B2
Application number	US-201414253042-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2014
Priority date	Apr 15, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a ground-contacting outer member and a removable midsole. The footwear may further include a motorized tensioning system including a power source, a control unit, a tensile member, and a motorized tightening device, the motorized tightening device being attached to an outer surface of the upper, and the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. In addition, the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system may be configured to be removably disposed in the removable midsole.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, having an instep portion configured to extend over an instep of the foot of the wearer, and including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions;
a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a sockliner, a ground-contacting outer member, and a removable midsole;
a motorized tensioning system including a power source, a control unit, a motorized tightening device, the tightening device being attached to an outer surface of the upper, and a tensile member having a first end connected to the tightening device and a second end connected to the tightening device, the tensile member extending from the first end forwardly along a side of the upper to a forefoot region of the upper and then across the instep portion and then rearwardly along an opposed side of the upper rearwardly to the second end at a heel region of the upper, and the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear; and
a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on one or more of the inelastic portions of the upper along each side of the upper,
wherein the tensile member extends through the lace receiving members such that some of the lace receiving members are pulled upwardly and some of the lace receiving members are pulled downwardly toward one another when tension is applied in the tensile member, and
wherein the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system are configured to be removably disposed in the removable midsole.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tightening device is disposed within a tightening device housing.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the tightening device housing is fixedly attached to the upper of the article of footwear and the tightening device is removably attached to the upper.

4. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the tightening device housing has a tamper-resistant construction, including a first portion formed of a first, substantially rigid plastic, and a second portion formed of a second material fixedly attached to the first portion, the second portion configured to be destructively opened to provide access for removal of the tightening device.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tightening device is attached to a heel portion of the upper of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the tightening device is removably attached to a rearmost portion of a heel of the upper.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the removable midsole includes at least one recess on a lower side of the midsole configured to receive the power source and the control unit.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the tightening device is attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear; and
wherein the lower side of the midsole further includes one or more grooves extending from the recess to a rear portion of the midsole, the grooves being configured to receive one or more electrical wires extending between the tightening device and the power source or the control unit.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the tensioning system further includes: one or more electrical wires extending from the tightening device and one or more wires extending from the power source or the control unit; and
one or more releasable connectors configured to selectively connect the electrical wires extending from the tightening device with the one or more wires extending from the power source or the control unit.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the removable midsole is configured to be removed from the article of footwear through an opening configured to receive a foot of a wearer.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, having an instep portion configured to extend over an instep of the foot of the wearer, and including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions;
a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a sockliner, a ground-contacting outer member, and a removable midsole;
a motorized tensioning system including a tensile member, and a motorized tightening device, the tensile member having a first end connected to the tightening device and a second end connected to the tightening device, the tensile member extending from the first end forwardly along a side of the upper to a forefoot region of the upper and then across the instep portion and then rearwardly along an opposed side of the upper rearwardly to the second end at a heel region of the upper, the motorized tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear;
a tightening device housing in which the tightening device is disposed, the tightening device housing being fixedly attached to the upper of the article of footwear and the tightening device being removably attached to the upper;
a power source configured to power the tightening device;
a control unit configured to control operation of the tightening device; and
a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on one or more of the inelastic portions of the upper along each side of the upper,
wherein the tensile member extends through the lace receiving members such that some of the lace receiving members are pulled upwardly and some of the lace receiving members are pulled downwardly toward one another when tension is applied in the tensile member, and
wherein the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system are configured to be removably disposed in a recess in the removable midsole.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the tightening device housing has a tamper-resistant construction, including a first portion formed of a first, substantially rigid plastic, and a second portion formed of a second material fixedly attached to the first portion, the second portion configured to be destructively opened to provide access for removal of the tightening device.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11 , further including:
one or more electrical wires extending from the tightening device and one or more wires extending from the power source or the control unit; and
one or more releasable connectors configured to selectively connect the electrical wires extending from the tightening device with the one or more wires extending from the power source or the control unit.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the tightening device is attached to a heel portion of the article of footwear; and
wherein a lower side of the midsole includes one or more grooves extending from the recess to a rear portion of the midsole, the grooves being configured to receive one or more electrical wires extending between the tightening device and the power source or the control unit.

15. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the motorized tightening device is configured to be controlled by a remote device.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , further including a remote device configured to control the motorized tightening device.

17. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the motorized tensioning system further includes a separate electrical wire ext

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Rushbrook Thomas J
• Beers Tiffany A

Classifications

• A43B17/00

  Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined · CPC title

• A43C11/165

  characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation · CPC title

• A43D86/00

  Machines for assembling soles or heels onto uppers, not provided for in groups A43D25/00 - A43D83/00, e.g. by welding · CPC title

• A43B11/00 Primary

  Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps · CPC title

• A43C11/22 Primary

  Fastening devices with elastic tightening parts between pairs of eyelets, e.g. clamps, springs, bands · CPC title