Bladders, compartments, chambers or internal sipes controlled by a web-based cloud computer system using a smartphone device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9709971-B2
Application number	US-201615298441-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 18, 2012
Publication date	Jul 18, 2017
Grant date	Jul 18, 2017

Abstract

A computer system including a Web site and/or a cloud array of computers configured to have a connection to a smartphone or other mobile computer device and use the device and connection to control a configuration of one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes located in a sole or removable inner sole insert of footwear. The computer system can also use the device and connection to transmit data to the computer system for storage and/or shared or independent processing and/or analysis, process data from sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert of the device user, and in, on, or near a center of gravity of the device user, and use the processed data to alter a configuration of the bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer system, comprising:
a Web site and/or a cloud array of computers;
wherein the computer system is configured to have a connection to a smartphone device or other mobile computer device and the computer system is configured to use the device and the connection to control a configuration of:
one or more computer-controlled bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes located in a footwear sole or a removable inner sole insert of both shoes or other footwear of a user of the device; and
wherein the computer system is further configured to use the device and the connection to:
transmit data to the computer system for storage and/or shared or independent processing and/or analysis,
process data received from one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert of the device user, and from at least one sensor located in, on, or near a center of gravity of the device user, and
use at least the processed data to alter the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes of the device user.

2. The computer system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor located in, on, or near the head of the device user; and
wherein the computer system is further configured to control the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes by using the device and the connection to:
process data received from the at least one sensor located in, on, or near the head of the device user, and
use at least the processed data from the sensor located in, on, or near the head of the device user to alter the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes of the device user.

3. The computer system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor located in the device; and
wherein the computer system is further configured to control the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes by using the device and the connection to:
process data received from the at least one sensor located in the device, and
use at least the processed data from the sensor located in, on, or near the head of the device user to alter the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes of the device user.

4. The computer system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one sensor located in, on, or near the head of the device user includes a gyroscope and is located and used so as to measure at least the motion of the head of the device user.

5. The computer system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor located in, on, or near the center of gravity of the device user is located on any article of apparel or personal equipment, including protective padding or armor, braces, prosthetics, or in any manner is attached or embedded in clothing, or attached with tape or a bandage or glue, or worn or attached onto or implanted in the wearer's body, temporarily in a body piercing or permanently in a body implant.

6. The computer system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor located in, on, or near the center of gravity of the device user is in the device.

7. The computer system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to cause the device to control the configuration of:
the one or more computer-controlled bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes located in the footwear sole or the removable inner sole insert of both the shoes or other footwear of the device user, and
wherein the computer system is further configured to cause the device to:
transmit data to the computer system for storage and/or shared or independent processing and/or analysis,
process data received from the one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert of the device user and from the at least one sensor located in, on, or near a center of gravity of the device user, and
use the processed data to alter the configuration of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes of the device user.

8. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is further configured to share access to the computer system among one or more authorized third parties and/or the device user.

9. The computer system of claim 8 , wherein the computer system is further configured for conducting real time or subsequent testing involving the one or more authorized third parties.

10. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system is further configured for conducting real time or subsequent testing involving an authorized third party who is a licensed doctor or a licensed podiatrist.

11. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system is further configured for conducting real time or subsequent testing involving an authorized third party who is a biomechanics specialist or other professional or semi-professional technician.

12. The computer system of claim 9 , wherein the computer system is further configured to analyze test data sets of groups or categories of device users.

13. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to alter either or both of the footwear soles including at least a magnetorheological fluid located in at least one of the one or more bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes, the magnetorheological fluid being controlled at least in part or completely by the device; and/or
wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to alter either or both of the footwear soles including at least one valve located between two or more of said bladders, compartments, chambers and internal sipes, the at least one valve being controlled at least in part or completely by the device; and/or
wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to alter either or both of the footwear soles including at least one electric and/or electronic and/or electromechanical component that is controlled at least in part or completely by the device.

14. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to control the configuration of one or more footwear soles of the device user by altering a relative longitudinal height, including positive or negative heel lift, or negative or positive forefoot lift, and/or a relative side-to-side height between lateral and medial sides, and/or a relative height between right and left footwear soles, or a combination of these relative height alterations; and/or
wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to control the configuration of one or more footwear soles of the device user by altering relative longitudinal firmness between heel area and forefoot area and/or side-to-side firmness between lateral and medial side areas, and/or relative firmness between right and left footwear soles, or a combination of these relative firmness alterations; and/or
wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to control the configuration of one or more footwear soles of the device user by altering relative height or firmness under one or more of the foot bones of the device user, including under a calcaneus, a lateral calcaneal tuberosity, a base of a fifth metatarsal, a longitudinal arch, a metatarsal arch, each head of a metatarsal, and each distal phalange, including a hallux or big toe; and/or
wherein the computer system is configured to use the device to control the footwear configuration at least once per full operation cycle o

Assignees

• Ellis Frampton E

Inventors

• Ellis Frampton E

Classifications

• A43B13/186

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title

• A61F5/14

  Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like · CPC title

• A61B5/6807

  Footwear · CPC title

• H04W84/18

  Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks · CPC title

• A43B3/00

  Footwear characterised by the shape or the use · CPC title