Footwear having sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12225980-B2
Application number	US-202318216332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2023
Priority date	Jun 13, 2008
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
an insert configured to be received in a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear and having a lower surface configured to be in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear and an upper surface configured to face into the foot-receiving chamber, the insert formed at least partially from a foam material;
a port connected to the insert and having an opening configured for receiving an electronic module and electronic connections configured for connection to the electronic module, wherein the opening is accessible through the lower surface of the insert; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert and distributed across the insert, including a first force sensor located in a metatarsal head region of the insert and a second force sensor located in a heel region of the insert, and a plurality of leads connected to the insert and extending from the force sensors to the electronic connections of the port to place the force sensors in communication with the port.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a shoe-shaped peripheral edge including convex toe and heel edges and medial and lateral edges that include concave portions.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the port is located in a middle arch region of the insert.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the leads are connected to the port, and the port has internal circuitry connecting all of the leads to a consolidated interface configured for connection to the electronic module.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured as a sockliner or insole member for the article of footwear.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insert is configured to be positioned between a foot-contacting member and a midsole member of the sole structure of the article of footwear.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the insert further comprises an insert member connected to the foam material and formed of a thin polymer webbing, wherein the force sensors are connected to the insert member, and the leads extend on the insert member from the force sensors to the port.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force sensors and the leads are at least partially embedded within the insert.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the force sensors and the leads are connected to a bottom surface of the insert.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an external port in communication with the electronic connections of the port and configured to provide data transfer and/or battery charging to the electronic module through the electronic connections and the external port, wherein the external port is accessible from an exterior of the insert.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the port further comprises a well configured for removably receiving the electronic module, and wherein the opening of the port is located on a lower major surface of the insert, and the well extends upward from the opening to a closed top end defined within the insert, such that the port is accessible through the lower major surface of the insert.

12. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber;
a sole structure engaged with the upper member;
an insert received in the foot-receiving chamber and having a lower surface in contact with the sole structure and an upper surface facing into the foot-receiving chamber, the insert formed at least partially from a foam material;
a port connected to the insert and having an opening configured for receiving an electronic module and electronic connections configured for connection to the electronic module, wherein the opening is accessible through the lower surface of the insert; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert and distributed across the insert, including a first force sensor located in a metatarsal head region of the insert and a second force sensor located in a heel region of the insert, and a plurality of leads connected to the insert and extending from the force sensors to the electronic connections of the port to place the force sensors in communication with the port.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the insert has a shoe-shaped peripheral edge including convex toe and heel edges and medial and lateral edges that include concave portions.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the port is located in a middle arch region of the insert.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the leads are connected to the port, and the port has internal circuitry connecting all of the leads to a consolidated interface configured for connection to the electronic module.

16. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the insert is configured as a sockliner or insole member for the article of footwear.

17. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the insert is positioned between a foot-contacting member and a midsole member of the sole structure of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the insert further comprises an insert member connected to the foam material and formed of a thin polymer webbing, wherein the force sensors are connected to the insert member, and the leads extend on the insert member from the force sensors to the port.

19. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the force sensors and the leads are at least partially embedded within the insert.

20. The article of footwear of claim 12 , further comprising an external port in communication with the electronic connections of the port and configured to provide data transfer and/or battery charging to the electronic module through the electronic connections and the external port, wherein the external port is accessible from an exterior of the article of footwear.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20 , further comprising the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is received in the port and comprises an internal battery configured for charging through the external port and the electronic connections.

22. The article of footwear of claim 12 , further comprising the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is removably received in the opening of the port.

23. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the port further comprises a well configured for removably receiving the electronic module, and wherein the opening of the port is located on a lower major surface of the insert, and the well extends upward from the opening to a closed top end defined within the insert, such that the port is accessible through the lower major surface of the insert.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Nurse Matthew A
• Pisciotta Jeffrey C
• Schrock Allan M
• Meschter James C
• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A

Classifications

• A61B2560/0475

  Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards · CPC title

• A61B5/742

  using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339) · CPC title

• A61B5/6807

  Footwear · CPC title

• A61B5/486

  Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375) · CPC title

• A61B5/1038

  Measuring plantar pressure during gait · CPC title