Pump for article of footwear or apparel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025092869-A1
Application number	US-202418965777-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2024
Priority date	Aug 2, 2021
Publication date	Mar 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
a pump comprising:
a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state and extending from a first end disposed at a medial side of the article of footwear to a second end disposed at a lateral side of the article of footwear;
a coil disposed within the conduit and including an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state; and
a manifold in fluid communication with the inner volume and operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.

2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the coil is formed from a different material than a material forming the conduit.

3 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the coil is formed from a foam material.

4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the coil has a helical shape.

5 . The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the coil defines a passageway formed therethrough.

6 . The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein the passageway includes a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil.

7 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the manifold includes a first valve permitting fluid flow into the inner volume and preventing fluid flow out of the inner volume in the first mode and a second valve permitting fluid flow out of the inner volume and preventing fluid flow into the inner volume in the second mode.

8 . The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

9 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising an upper, the pump extending across an instep region of the upper.

10 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a sole structure defining a ground-engaging surface, at least one of the first end of the pump and the second end of the pump being disposed proximate to the sole structure.

11 . An article of footwear comprising:
an upper; and a pump comprising:
a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state and extending across an instep region of the upper;
a coil disposed within the conduit and including an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state; and
a manifold in fluid communication with the inner volume and operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.

12 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the coil is formed from a different material than a material forming the conduit.

13 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the coil is formed from a foam material.

14 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the coil has a helical shape.

15 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the coil defines a passageway formed therethrough.

16 . The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the passageway includes a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the coil.

17 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the manifold includes a first valve permitting fluid flow into the inner volume and preventing fluid flow out of the inner volume in the first mode and a second valve permitting fluid flow out of the inner volume and preventing fluid flow into the inner volume in the second mode.

18 . The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve is a check valve.

19 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the coil substantially fills the conduit.

20 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , further comprising a sole structure defining a ground-engaging surface, at least one of a first end of the pump and a second end of the pump being disposed proximate to the sole structure.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hopkins Timothy P
• Long Nicholas R
• Miller Todd W
• Nordstrom Matthew D
• Orand Austin J
• Hansen Richard Kristian
• Sokol Kimberly A

Classifications

• A43B3/26

  adjustable as to length or size · CPC title

• F04B41/02

  having reservoirs · CPC title

• F04B45/06 Primary

  having tubular flexible members (F04B45/02, F04B45/08 take precedence) · CPC title

• F04B43/084

  the tubular member being deformed by stretching or distortion · CPC title

• F04B33/00

  Pumps actuated by muscle power, e.g. for inflating · CPC title