US 12,178,289 B2Granted

Article of footwear with dynamic support

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsThomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers, Nathan T Gilbreath

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Abstract

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A first article of footwear and a second article of footwear, the first article of footwear comprising:

a first power source;
a first microprocessor operatively coupled to the first power source;
a first pressure sensor in a first sole of the first article of footwear in communication with the first microprocessor;
a dynamic support system, comprising:
a motor, operatively coupled to the first power source, in communication with the first microprocessor;
a cable;
and
a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;
the second article of footwear comprising:
a second power source;
a second microprocessor operatively coupled to the second power source;
a second pressure sensor in a second sole of the second article of footwear in communication with the second microprocessor;
wherein the first microprocessor of the first article of footwear is configured to receive input from both the first pressure sensor of the first article of footwear and the second pressure sensor of the second article of footwear from the second article of footwear, and to respond to input received from the first and second pressure sensors by activating the first motor to operate the first dynamic support system.

10 more elements

A method of making a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear comprising:

making the first article of footwear by:
obtaining a first power source;
operatively coupling a first microprocessor to the first power source;
positioning a first pressure sensor in a first sole of the first article of footwear in communication with the first microprocessor;
positioning a dynamic support system in the first article of footwear, comprising:
a motor, operatively coupled to the first power source, in communication with the first microprocessor;
a cable;
and
a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;
making the second article of footwear by:
obtaining a second power source;
operatively coupling a second microprocessor to the second power source;
positioning a second pressure sensor in a second sole of the second article of footwear in communication with the second microprocessor;
configuring the first microprocessor of the first article of footwear to receive input from both the first pressure sensor of the first article of footwear and the second pressure sensor of the second article of footwear from the second article of footwear, and to respond to input received from the first and second pressure sensors by activating the first motor to operate the first dynamic support system.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/559,035Filed 22 Dec 2021 · continuation
Priority: 22 Apr 2014
Published: US 2022/0110402 A114 Apr 2022
Granted: 31 Dec 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification13 codes

A43B 3/34
Footwear characterised by the shape or the use: with electrical or electronic arrangements
A43B 3/44
With electrical or electronic arrangements: with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
A43B 3/48
With electrical or electronic arrangements: with transmitting devices, e.g. GSM or Wi-Fi®
A43B 5/025
Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby: characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear

Family

Application14/258,480Parent of this division · filed 22 Apr 2014
Application15/197,191Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jun 2016
Application16/105,090Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Aug 2018
US 2022/0110402 A1Pre-grant publication · published 14 Apr 2022
US 11,206,892 B2Parent of this continuation
US 10,070,683 B2Parent of this continuation
US 9,380,834 B2Parent of this division
Application15/197,191Parent of this division
US 2015/0296922 A1Published application
US 2016/0309830 A1Published application
US 2019/0082773 A1Published application
US 12,178,289 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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