Fluid distributors and foot support systems including fluid movement controllers and adjustable foot support pressure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12446660-B2
Application number	US-202217969515-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2022
Priority date	Oct 29, 2021
Publication date	Oct 21, 2025
Grant date	Oct 21, 2025

Abstract

Foot support systems include a first foot support bladder, a fluid tank, and a fluid distributor. The fluid distributor's body may have: (a) first and second solenoid mounts, (b) a main fluid distribution channel in fluid communication with the first and second solenoid mounts, (c) a tank channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, (d) a first foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (e) a first foot support connector connecting the first foot support bladder with the first foot support bladder channel, and (f) a tank connector connecting the fluid tank with the tank channel. First and second solenoids are engaged with the fluid distributor at the first and second solenoid mounts, respectively. In some examples, the fluid distributor may include a third solenoid mount and a second foot support connector for use with a second foot support bladder.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A foot support system, comprising:
a first foot support bladder;
a fluid tank;
a fluid distributor that includes:
a distributor body that includes: (a) a first solenoid mount, (b) a second solenoid mount, (c) a main fluid distribution channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount and in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (d) a tank channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, (e) a first foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (f) a first foot support connector connecting the first foot support bladder with the first foot support bladder channel, and (g) a tank connector connecting the fluid tank with the tank channel, and (h) a fluid source connector that receives fluid from a fluid source and supplies the fluid to the main fluid distribution channel;

a first solenoid engaged with the fluid distributor at the first solenoid mount; and
a second solenoid engaged with the fluid distributor at the second solenoid mount,
wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a tank inflate configuration in which fluid moves: (i) from the fluid source connector, (ii) into the main fluid distribution channel, (iii) through the first solenoid, (iv) into the tank channel, (v) into the tank connector, and (vi) to the fluid tank.

2. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid source connector comprises a pump connector connecting with the main fluid distribution channel, and wherein the foot support system further comprises:
a pump connected with the pump connector.

3. The foot support system according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid distributor further includes a fluid inlet connector connected with the fluid source, and wherein the foot support system further comprises:
a fluid line connecting the fluid inlet connector with an inlet to the pump, and wherein an outlet of the pump supplies fluid to the pump connector.

4. The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second foot support bladder; and
a third solenoid, wherein the fluid distributor further includes: (a) third solenoid mount engaged with the third solenoid, (b) a second foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount, and (c) a second foot support connector connecting the second foot support bladder with the second foot support bladder channel.

5. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the distributor body further includes a fluid release channel in fluid communication with an ambient environment, and wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a stand by fluid flow configuration in which fluid moves: (a) from the fluid source connector, (b) into the main fluid distribution channel, (c) through the first solenoid, (d) into the fluid release channel, and (e) into the ambient environment.

6. The foot support system according to claim 5 , wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a first foot support bladder deflate configuration in which fluid moves: (a) from the first foot support bladder, (b) through the first foot support connector, (c) into the first foot support bladder channel, (d) through the second solenoid, (e) into the main fluid distribution channel, (f) through the first solenoid, (g) into the fluid release channel, and (h) into the ambient environment.

7. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a first foot support bladder inflate configuration in which fluid moves: (a) from the fluid tank, (b) to the tank connector, (c) into the tank channel, (d) through the first solenoid, (e) into the main fluid distribution channel, (f) through the second solenoid, (g) into the first foot support bladder channel, (h) through the first foot support connector, and (i) to the first foot support bladder.

8. The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a second foot support bladder, wherein the distributor body further includes: (a) a third solenoid mount, wherein the main fluid distribution channel is in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount, (b) a second foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the third solenoid mount, and (c) a second foot support connector connecting the second foot support bladder with the second foot support bladder channel; and
a third solenoid engaged with the fluid distributor at the third solenoid mount.

9. The foot support system according to claim 8 , wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a second foot support bladder inflate configuration in which fluid moves: (a) from the fluid tank, (b) to the tank connector, (c) into the tank channel, (d) through the first solenoid, (e) into the main fluid distribution channel, (f) through the third solenoid, (g) into the second foot support bladder channel, (h) through the second foot support connector, and (i) to the second foot support bladder.

10. The foot support system according to claim 8 , wherein the distributor body further includes a fluid release channel in fluid communication with an ambient environment, and wherein the foot support system is configured to be selectively placed in a second foot support bladder deflate configuration in which fluid moves: (a) from the second foot support bladder, (b) through the second foot support connector, (c) into the second foot support bladder channel, (d) through the third solenoid, (e) into the main fluid distribution channel, (f) through the first solenoid, (g) into the fluid release channel, and (h) into the ambient environment.

11. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the distributor body further includes a fluid inlet connector that supplies fluid to the fluid source connector.

12. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper;
a sole structure; and
the foot support system according to claim 1 engaged with one or both of the upper or the sole structure.

13. A foot support system comprising:
a first foot support bladder;
a fluid tank;
a fluid distributor that includes:
a distributor body that includes: (a) a first solenoid mount, (b) a second solenoid mount, (c) a main fluid distribution channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount and in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (d) a tank channel in fluid communication with the first solenoid mount, (e) a first foot support bladder channel in fluid communication with the second solenoid mount, (f) a first foot support connector connecting the first foot support bladder with the first foot support bladder channel, (g) a tank connector connecting the fluid tank with the tank channel, (h) a fluid source connector, and (i) a fluid inlet connector;

a first solenoid engaged with the fluid distributor at the first solenoid mount;
a second solenoid engaged with the fluid distributor at the second solenoid mount; and
a pump forming a fluid source for the fluid distributor, the pump having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet of the pump receives fluid from the fluid inlet connector and the outlet of the pump supplies fluid to the fluid source connector, and wherein the fluid source connector supplies the fluid to the main fluid distribution channel.

14. The foot support system according to claim 13 , further comprising:
a second foot support bladder; and
a third solenoid, wherein the fluid distributor further includes: (a) third solenoid mount engaged with the third solenoid, (b) a second foot support bl

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Ryabinin Stepan
• Chang Narissa Y
• Pieron Rémy
• Vollmer Adam
• Allison Michael
• Fairchild Michael
• Geile John
• Vella Ethan
• Weeks Daniel

Classifications

• A43B23/028

  Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing · CPC title

• A43B13/20

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

• A43B3/38

  with power sources · CPC title

• A43B7/087

  in the bottom of the sole · CPC title

• A43B23/029

  Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled · CPC title