Foot support systems including fluid filled bladders with movement of fluid between bladders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11510458-B2
Application number	US-201916698138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2019
Priority date	Nov 29, 2018
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

Sole structures, fluid transfer systems, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other foot-receiving devices include one or more pumps (e.g., foot activated pumps) that facilitate movement of fluid within the sole structure/article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure (e.g., foot support pressure) in one or more fluid filled bladders included in the overall system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
a first pump including a first inlet and a first outlet in fluid communication with a first internal pump chamber defined by the first pump, wherein the first internal pump chamber includes an open space defined, at least in part, between a first wall and a second wall located opposite the first wall, wherein at least one of the first wall or the second wall is collapsible to decrease volume of the first internal pump chamber and force fluid to exit the first internal pump chamber via the first outlet;
a first fluid transfer line connected to the first inlet that moves fluid from an ambient air source into the first internal pump chamber via the first inlet;
a valve provided in the first fluid transfer line to prevent fluid from flowing from the first internal pump chamber and back to the ambient air source;
a first sole component having a first major surface and a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein the second major surface includes a first pump containing region, and wherein the first pump containing region defines a first pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the first wall of the first internal pump chamber;
a second sole component having a third major surface and a fourth major surface opposite the third major surface, wherein the fourth major surface includes a second pump containing region, and wherein the second pump containing region defines a second pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the second wall of the first internal pump chamber;
a second pump including a second inlet and a second outlet in fluid communication with a second internal pump chamber defined by the second pump, wherein the second internal pump chamber includes an open space defined, at least in part, between a third wall and a fourth wall located opposite the third wall, wherein at least one of the third wall or the fourth wall is collapsible to decrease volume of the second internal pump chamber and force fluid to exit the second internal pump chamber via the second outlet, and wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet to admit fluid pumped from the first pump into the second internal pump chamber;
a bladder in fluid communication with the second outlet of the second pump, wherein at least a portion of the bladder is located between the second major surface of the first sole component and the fourth major surface of the second sole component; and
a foot support bladder in fluid communication with the bladder, wherein the foot support bladder contacts the third major surface of the second sole component.

2. The sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second fluid transfer line having a first end engaged with the first outlet and a second end engaged with the second inlet.

3. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the second major surface of the first sole component includes a third pump containing region, and wherein the third pump containing region defines a third pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the third wall of the second internal pump chamber.

4. The sole structure according to claim 3 , wherein the fourth major surface of the second sole component includes a fourth pump containing region, and wherein the fourth pump containing region defines a fourth pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the fourth wall of the second internal pump chamber.

5. The sole structure according to claim 4 , wherein the second internal pump chamber has an ellipsoidal and/or spheroidal shape, wherein the third pump engaging surface has a semi-ellipsoidal and/or semi-spheroidal shape, and/or wherein the fourth pump engaging surface has a semi-ellipsoidal and/or semi-spheroidal shape.

6. The sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sole component formed as a separate component part from each of the first sole component and the second sole component, the third sole component having a fifth major surface and a sixth major surface opposite the fifth major surface, wherein the sixth major surface includes a third pump containing region, and wherein the third pump containing region defines a third pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the third wall of the second internal pump chamber; and
a fourth sole component formed as a separate component part from each of the first sole component, the second sole component, and the third sole component, the fourth sole component having a seventh major surface and an eighth major surface opposite the seventh major surface, wherein the eighth major surface includes a fourth pump containing region, and wherein the fourth pump containing region defines a fourth pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the fourth wall of the second internal pump chamber.

7. The sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sole component formed as a separate component part from each of the first sole component and the second sole component, the third sole component having a fifth major surface and a sixth major surface opposite the fifth major surface, wherein the sixth major surface includes a third pump containing region, and wherein the third pump containing region defines a third pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the third wall of the second internal pump chamber; and
wherein the fourth major surface of the second sole component includes a fourth pump containing region, and wherein the fourth pump containing region defines a fourth pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the fourth wall of the second internal pump chamber.

8. The sole structure according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a third sole component formed as a separate component part from each of the first sole component and the second sole component, the third sole component having a fifth major surface and a sixth major surface opposite the fifth major surface, wherein the sixth major surface includes a third pump containing region, and wherein the third pump containing region defines a third pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the third wall of the second internal pump chamber; and
wherein the second major surface of the first sole component includes a fourth pump containing region, and wherein the fourth pump containing region defines a fourth pump engaging surface configured to lie immediately adjacent an exterior side of the fourth wall of the second internal pump chamber.

9. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first major surface of the first sole component is a ground facing surface of the sole structure and includes a first protrusion located and configured to activate the first pump and a second protrusion located and configured to activate the second pump.

10. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first pump is located in a heel region of the sole structure and the second pump is located in a forefoot region of the sole structure.

11. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first sole component is an outsole component and/or the second sole component is a foam midsole component.

12. A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
a first pump including a first inlet and a first outlet in fluid communication with a first internal pump chamber defined by the first pump, wherein

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Bailly Devin
• Langvin Elizabeth
• Patton Levi J
• Vollmer Adam

Classifications

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• A43B13/206

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

• A43B13/203 Primary

  provided with a pump or valve · CPC title

• A43B13/186 Primary

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title

• A43B7/1455

  with special properties · CPC title