# US 11,076,655 B2 · Sensor for an article of footwear

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- Number: US 11,076,655 B2
- Document ID: US11076655B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/687,066
- Filed: 2019-11-18
- Published: 2020-03-19
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers; Andrew A. Owings
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076655B2

## CPC

- A43B 3/44: with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
- A43B 3/34: with electrical or electronic arrangements
- A43C 11/008: {Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening}
- A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation}
- G01L 1/20: 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
- G01L 5/00: Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes
- G01L 1/18: using properties of piezo-resistive materials, i.e. materials of which the ohmic resistance varies according to changes in magnitude or direction of force applied to the material
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)

## Abstract

An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of moving air in a force sensitive resistor, comprising:
compressing an active portion of a force sensitive resistor in response to a force placed on the active portion to move air from the active portion into a horizontal passageway between the active portion and a tail portion of the force sensitive resistor the force sensitive resistor, the force sensitive resistor further comprising a top substrate layer, an adhesive layer, and a bottom substrate layer,
in response to compressing the active portion, moving air from the active portion to a vertical channel disposed in the bottom substrate layer in the tail portion, the vertical channel leading to an opening formed in the bottom substrate layer, an elastic membrane secured over the opening;
determining the force on the active portion based on a deformation of the elastic membrane; and
returning air to a chamber formed in the active portion when the active portion is no longer compressed.

### Claim 2

A method of moving air in a force sensitive resistor, comprising:
compressing an active portion of a force sensitive resistor in response to a force placed on the active portion to move air from the active portion into a horizontal passageway between the active portion and a tail portion of the force sensitive resistor the force sensitive resistor, the force sensitive resistor further comprising a top substrate layer, an adhesive layer, and a bottom substrate layer,
in response to compressing the active portion, moving air from the active portion to a vertical channel disposed in the bottom substrate layer in the tail portion, the vertical channel leading to an opening formed in the bottom substrate layer, an elastic membrane secured over the opening; and
determining the force on the active portion based on a deformation of the elastic membrane;
wherein the step of moving air from the active portion into the horizontal passageway further comprises moving air from a chamber that is formed between the top substrate layer and the bottom substrate layer within the active portion and into a channel that is formed in the tail portion.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of moving air of claim 1, further comprising contracting the elastic membrane when the air returns to the chamber in the active portion.

### Claim 4

A method of moving air in a force sensitive resistor, comprising:
compressing an active portion of a force sensitive resistor in response to a force placed on the active portion to move air from the active portion into a horizontal passageway between the active portion and a tail portion of the force sensitive resistor the force sensitive resistor, the force sensitive resistor further comprising a top substrate layer, an adhesive layer, and a bottom substrate layer;
in response to compressing the active portion, moving air from the active portion to a vertical channel disposed in the bottom substrate layer in the tail portion, the vertical channel leading to an opening formed in the bottom substrate layer, an elastic membrane secured over the opening;
determining the force on the active portion based on a deformation of the elastic membrane; and
wherein the deformation of the elastic membrane further comprises the elastic membrane expanding in a direction that is away from the tail portion and toward a cavity that is formed in a sole structure of an article of footwear.