Footwear having sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9549585-B2
Application number	US-201213399935-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2012
Priority date	Jun 13, 2008
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user's foot on the sensor. Each sensor includes two electrodes that are in communication with a force sensitive resistive material. Additionally, the sensor system may be provided on an insert that may form a sole member of the article of footwear. The insert may include an airflow system that includes one or more air chambers in communication with one or more air reservoirs through air passages extending therebetween. The insert may also have a multi-layered structure, with the airflow system provided between the layers.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port in communication with the force sensors, wherein the port is configured for communication with an electronic device,
wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir defined between the first and second layers and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having a passage extending between the first and second layers from the respective air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoir through the passages.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system comprises at least four sensors, including a first phalange sensor positioned on a first phalange portion of the insert member, a first metatarsal sensor and a fifth metatarsal sensor positioned on a central portion of the insert member, and a heel sensor positioned on a heel portion of the insert member.

3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system further comprises a plurality of leads extending from the port to each of the plurality of force sensors.

4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of force sensors are force sensitive resistor sensors comprising two electrodes and a force sensitive resistive material positioned between the electrodes.

5. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers of the insert member each comprise a flexible polymer webbing.

6. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of force sensors each comprise a pair of electrodes in contact with a force-sensitive resistive material, and wherein the first layer has the electrodes located thereon and the second layer has the force sensitive resistive material thereon.

7. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the airflow system further comprises a second air reservoir and an additional air chamber having a second passage located at one of the plurality of force sensors, the second passage extending from the additional air chamber to the second air reservoir, such that compression of the force sensor located at the additional air chamber is adapted to cause air to flow between the additional air chamber and the second air reservoir through the second passage.

8. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the first and second layers are connected by a bonding material applied to at least one of the first and second layers, and wherein the air chambers, the passages, and the air reservoir are formed by areas not covered by the bonding material.

9. The insert of claim 1 , further comprising a vent hole in fluid communication with the internal airflow system, the vent hole permitting passage of air from the internal airflow system to an exterior of the insert.

10. The insert of claim 9 , wherein the vent hole is in fluid communication with at least the air reservoir of the internal airflow system.

11. The insert of claim 1 , wherein each air chamber has a multi-lobed structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe separated by a gap, and a bridge member connecting the first lobe and the second lobe.

12. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port in communication with the force sensors, wherein the port is configured for communication with an electronic device,
wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having an air passage extending between the first and second layers away from the air chamber, the airflow system further comprising at least one vent hole extending through at least one of the first and second layers, the vent hole being in fluid communication with the air passages, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow from the air chambers through the air passages and through the vent hole to an exterior of the insert member.

13. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the internal airflow system further comprises a first air reservoir in fluid communication with the vent hole, wherein the first air reservoir is in fluid communication with a first air chamber positioned at a first sensor of the plurality of sensors via a first air passage, such that compression of the first sensor is further adapted to cause air to flow from the first air chamber through the first air passage to the first air reservoir.

14. The insert of claim 13 , wherein the internal airflow system further comprises:
a second air reservoir, a second air chamber located at a second sensor of the plurality of force sensors and a second passage extending from the second air chamber to the second air reservoir, such that compression of the second sensor is adapted to cause air to flow from the second air chamber through the second air passage to the second air reservoir; and
a third air chamber located at a third sensor of the plurality of force sensors and a third passage extending from the third air chamber to the first air reservoir, such that compression of the third sensor is adapted to cause air to flow from the third air chamber through the third passage to the first air reservoir.

15. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the sensor system comprises at least four sensors, including a first phalange sensor positioned on a first phalange portion of the insert member, a first metatarsal sensor and a fifth metatarsal sensor positioned on a central portion of the insert member, and a heel sensor positioned on a heel portion of the insert member.

16. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the sensor system further comprises a plurality of leads extending from the port to each of the plurality of force sensors.

17. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of force sensors are force sensitive resistor sensors comprising two electrodes and a force sensitive resistive material positioned between the electrodes.

18. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the air chamber has a multi-lobed structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe separated by a gap, and a bridge member connecting the first lobe and the second lobe.

19. The insert of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of force sensors each comprise a pair of electrodes in contact with a force-sensitive resistive material, and the sensor system further comprises a plurality of leads extending from the force sensors to the port, and wherein the electrodes and leads are located on the first layer and the force sensitive resistive material i

Assignees

• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A
• Schrock Allan M
• Dean Anthony C
• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Amos Michael S
• Owings Andrew A
• Schrock Allan M
• Dean Anthony C

Classifications

• A43B13/203

  provided with a pump or valve · CPC title

• G01L1/205

  using distributed sensing elements · CPC title

• A43B17/035

  provided with a pump or valve · CPC title

• A63F2300/1031

  using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth®, infrared connections · CPC title

• A61B2562/0247

  Pressure sensors · CPC title