Footwear cushion with internal conformal electronics
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsNathan Andrew Jacobsen, Holli Pheil, Drew McLain Skeels
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear can comprise: an upper, and a sole assembly connected to the upper to form a receptacle for a human foot, the sole assembly can comprise: a cushion comprising an exterior wall that forms an enclosure; an antenna disposed within the enclosure; and a microchip connected to the antenna. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear can comprise: positioning an electronic communication device between two plies of polymer laminate; heating the two plies of polymer laminate to form a weld area and a cushion area, wherein the electronic communication device becomes encapsulated between the two plies of polymer laminate, inflating the cushion area with a gas; and sealing the cushion area.
Claims14
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- programming authentication information into an electronic communication device, wherein the authentication information comprises manufacturing origin information;
- positioning the electronic communication device between two plies of polymer laminate;
- heating the two plies of polymer laminate to form a weld area and a cushion area, wherein the electronic communication device becomes encapsulated between the two plies of polymer laminate;
- inflating the cushion area with a gas;
- interweaving an antenna of the electronic communication device within the cushion area to form a coil winding such that windings of the coil winding are free-standing within the gas of the cushion area;
- sealing the cushion area such that the two plies of polymer laminate form a cushion;
- embedding the cushion within a midsole of the article of footwear;
- and
- programming the electronic communication device with ownership information for the article of footwear.
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- programming authentication information into an electronic communication device;
- positioning the electronic communication device between two plies of polymer laminate;
- encapsulating the electronic communication device within an air cushion formed of the two plies of polymer laminate such that the electronic communication device is completely encapsulated within a joint area joining the two plies of polymer laminate, wherein the joint area encompasses different portions of the two plies of polymer laminate that are flush against each other and flush against the electronic communication device;
- and
- encapsulating the air cushion within a midsole of the article of footwear.
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
- programming authentication information into an electronic communication device, wherein the authentication information comprises manufacturing origin information;
- positioning the electronic communication device between two plies of polymer laminate;
- heating the two plies of polymer laminate to form a weld area and a cushion area, wherein the electronic communication device becomes encapsulated between the two plies of polymer laminate;
- inflating the cushion area with a gas;
- sealing the cushion area such that the two plies of polymer laminate form a cushion;
- encapsulating the electronic communication device between two outer layers of polymer laminate surrounding the two plies of polymer laminate so that the electronic communication device is positioned between upper and lower fluid layers formed on opposite sides of the two plies of polymer laminate where the electronic communication device is encapsulated within the cushion area;
- embedding the cushion within a midsole of the article of footwear;
- and
- programming the electronic communication device with ownership information for the article of footwear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.