Footwear having sensor system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9924760-B2
Application number	US-201514949521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 17, 2011
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

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. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insert configured for use in an article of footwear, comprising:
an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the insert member has an opening defined through the insert member, and a strip of the polymer material of the insert member extends into the opening;
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors and extending on the strip of the polymer material, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by a foot; and
a port connected to the insert member and the sensor system, the port comprising:
a housing received within the opening in the insert member, the housing comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the side walls defining a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein; and
an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed to the chamber and adapted to be engaged by the electronic module to form an electrical connection,

wherein the strip of the polymer material extends into the chamber, and the electrical contacts are connected to the strip of the polymer material within the chamber to connect the electrical contacts to the sensor leads and thereby place the electrical contacts in electronic communication with the force sensors.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the housing has four side walls forming a substantially rectangular chamber.

3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the housing further has an open top adapted to permit insertion of the electronic module into the chamber.

4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the interface is engaged with at least one of the side walls defining the chamber.

5. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the interface further comprises a base engaged with the housing and positioned at least partially within the chamber, wherein the base engages the strip of the polymer material and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber.

6. The insert of claim 5 , wherein the base has a first retaining tab and the housing has a second retaining tab, and wherein the first retaining tab of the base engages the second retaining tab of the housing to retain the base at least partially within the chamber.

7. The insert of claim 5 , wherein the base receives the strip of the polymer material to support a connection between the electrical contacts and the sensor leads.

8. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the insert member further includes a plate connected to the strip of the polymer material and supporting a connection between the electrical contacts and the sensor leads.

9. An article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, comprising:
a sole structure comprising an outsole member and a midsole member supported by the outsole member, the sole structure having a well therein;
an upper portion connected to the sole structure;
an insert member in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear and positioned above the midsole member, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the insert member has an opening defined through the insert member and aligned with the well, and a strip of the polymer material of the insert member extends into the opening;
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors and extending on the strip of the polymer material, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by the foot; and
a port connected to the insert member and the sensor system, the port comprising:
a housing received within the opening in the insert member and the well in the sole structure, the housing comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the side walls defining a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein; and
an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed to the chamber and adapted to be engaged by the electronic module to form an electrical connection,

wherein the strip of the polymer material extends into the chamber and is engaged with the interface, and the electrical contacts are connected to the strip of the polymer material within the chamber to connect the electrical contacts to the sensor leads and thereby place the electrical contacts in electronic communication with the force sensors.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the housing has four side walls forming a substantially rectangular chamber.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the housing further has an open top adapted to permit insertion of the electronic module into the chamber.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the interface is engaged with at least one of the side walls defining the chamber.

13. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the interface further comprises a base engaged with the housing and positioned at least partially within the chamber, wherein the base engages the strip of the polymer material and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the base has a first retaining tab and the housing has a second retaining tab, and wherein the first retaining tab of the base engages the second retaining tab of the housing to retain the base at least partially within the chamber.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the base receives the strip of the polymer material to support a connection between the electrical contacts and the sensor leads.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the insert member further includes a plate connected to the strip of the polymer material and supporting a connection between the electrical contacts and the sensor leads.

17. An insert configured for use in an article of footwear, comprising:
an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material;
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by a foot; and
a port connected to the insert member and the sensor system, the port comprising:
a housing adapted to be at least partially received within a well in a midsole member of the article of footwear, the housing comprising a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the side walls defining a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein, the bottom wall further comprising a biasing member adapted to engage the electronic module and exert an upward biasing force on the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber, wherein the housing further comprises a retaining member adapted to exert a downward force on the electronic module opposite the biasing force of the biasing member to retain the electronic module within the chamber; and
an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Molyneux James
• Rice Jordan M
• Weast Aaron B
• Hebert Jeffrey J
• Horrell Joseph B
• Knight Jonathan B
• Stillman Martine W
• Weitmann Dane R

Classifications

• A61B5/11

  Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)} · CPC title

• A43B3/0031

  provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card · CPC title

• A43B7/149

  Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface · CPC title

• A63B2220/51

  Force · CPC title

• A43B17/006

  multilayered · CPC title