Footwear having sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12514326-B2
Application number	US-202318370011-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2023
Priority date	Feb 22, 2012
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

An insert for an article of footwear includes an insert member having top and bottom sides, and an opening extending therethrough, and a housing connected to the insert member to receive an electronic module. The housing includes a tub positioned at least partially on the bottom side of the insert member to receive the module, a flange connected to the tub and extending outward around at least a portion thereof to cover at least a portion of the top side of the insert member, and a peg extending from the flange downward through the opening to the tub. A port is connected to the insert and has an interface accessible within the housing for communication with the module within the housing. A plurality of force sensors are connected to the insert member, and a plurality of conductive leads on the insert connect the sensors to the interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An insert for use with an article of footwear, comprising:
an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of the article of footwear, the insert member having a top side and a bottom side, and further having a housing hole extending through the insert member from the top side to the bottom side, a first opening spaced from the housing hole, and a second opening spaced from the first opening and spaced from the housing hole, the first and second openings extending through the insert member from the top side to the bottom side; a housing connected to the insert member and configured to receive an electronic module therein, the housing comprising:
a tub positioned at least partially on the bottom side of the insert member and configured to receive the electronic module by insertion through the housing hole, the housing having a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the base wall;
a flange connected to the tub and extending outward from the tub around at least a portion of the housing hole to cover at least a portion of the top side of the insert member;
a first peg connected to the tub and the flange and extending from the flange downward through the first opening to the tub; and
a second peg connected to the tub and the flange and extending from the flange downward through the second opening to the tub;
a port connected to the insert and having an interface accessible within the housing, wherein the port is configured for communication with the electronic module through the interface when the electronic module is received in the housing; a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member; and a plurality of conductive leads located on the insert and connecting the force sensors to the interface of the port.

2 . The insert of claim 1 , wherein the tub has a first receiver and a second receiver, and the first peg is received in the first receiver and the second peg is received in the second receiver.

3 . The insert of claim 2 , wherein the first peg is welded within the first receiver and the second peg is welded within the second receiver.

4 . The insert of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the insert member is sandwiched between the flange and the tub.

5 . The insert of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier connected to the tub and supporting a plurality of electrical contacts of the interface to be accessible within the housing.

6 . The insert of claim 5 , wherein the tub further comprises a first lateral slot, and the carrier is snugly received within the first lateral slot.

7 . The insert of claim 6 , wherein the tub further comprises a second lateral slot located behind the carrier, wherein the conductive leads are connected to the electrical contacts within the second lateral slot, and wherein a filler material is injected into the second lateral slot.

8 . An insert for use with an article of footwear, comprising:
an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of the article of footwear, the insert member having a top side and a bottom side, and further having a first opening extending through the insert member from the top side to the bottom side; a housing connected to the insert member and configured to receive an electronic module therein, the housing comprising:
a tub positioned at least partially on the bottom side of the insert member and configured to receive the electronic module;
a flange connected to the tub and extending outward around at least a portion of the tub to cover at least a portion of the top side of the insert member; and
a first peg connected to the tub and the flange and extending from the flange downward through the first opening to the tub;
a port connected to the insert and having an interface accessible within the housing, wherein the port is configured for communication with the electronic module through the interface when the electronic module is received in the housing; a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member; and a plurality of conductive leads located on the insert and connecting the force sensors to the interface of the port.

9 . The insert of claim 8 , wherein the tub has a first receiver, and the first peg is received in the first receiver.

10 . The insert of claim 9 , wherein the insert member further comprises a second opening spaced from the first opening and extending through the insert member from the top side to the bottom side, and the housing further comprises a second peg connected to the tub and the flange and extending from the flange downward through the second opening to the tub, and wherein the tub has a second receiver, and the second peg is received in the second receiver.

11 . The insert of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the insert member is sandwiched between the flange and the tub.

12 . The insert of claim 8 , further comprising a carrier connected to the tub and supporting a plurality of electrical contacts of the interface to be accessible within the housing.

13 . The insert of claim 12 , wherein the tub further comprises a first lateral slot, and the carrier is snugly received within the first lateral slot, and the tub further comprises a second lateral slot located behind the carrier, wherein the conductive leads are connected to the electrical contacts within the second lateral slot, and wherein a filler material is injected into the second lateral slot.

14 . An insert for use with an article of footwear, comprising:
an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of the article of footwear, the insert member having a top side and a bottom side, and further having a first opening and a second opening spaced from the first opening, the first and second openings extending through the insert member from the top side to the bottom side; a housing connected to the insert member and configured to receive an electronic module therein, the housing comprising:
a base member positioned at least partially on the bottom side of the insert member;
a cover member positioned the top side of the insert member and connected to the base member, wherein the housing has a chamber configured for receiving the electronic module, the chamber being defined in part by the cover member and the base member;
a first peg connected to the base member and the cover member and extending from the cover member downward through the first opening to the base member; and
a second peg connected to the base member and the cover member and extending from the cover member downward through the second opening to the base member;
a port connected to the insert and having an interface accessible within the housing, wherein the port is configured for communication with the electronic module through the interface when the electronic module is received in the housing; a sensor system comprising a plurality of sensors connected to the insert member, the sensors being electrically connected to the interface of the port.

15 . The insert of claim 14 , wherein the base member has a first receiver and a second receiver, and the first peg is received in the first receiver and the second peg is received in the second receiver.

16 . The insert of claim 15 , wherein the first peg is welded within the first receiver and the second peg is welded within the second receiver.

17 . The insert of claim 14 , wherein a portion of the insert member is sandwiched between the cover member and the base member.

18 . The insert of claim 14 , wherein the i

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A
• Rice Jordan M
• Schrock Allan M
• Walker Steven H
• Hebert Jeffrey J
• Stillman Martine W
• Tempel Mark A
• Weitmann Dane
• Steier Andreas Heinrich
• Atang Ndikum Protus

Classifications

• A43B3/34

  with electrical or electronic arrangements · CPC title

• G01L1/20

  by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids (of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18); by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress · CPC title

• A61B2562/227

  Sensors with electrical connectors · CPC title

• A61B2562/222

  Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables · CPC title

• A61B2562/168

  Fluid filled sensor housings · CPC title