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US 12,402,685 B2Granted
Article of footwear and a charging system for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.
Claims20
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole structure;
- a rechargeable power source;
- a tensioning system, operatively coupled to the rechargeable power source, configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace;
- and
- a secondary wireless recharge antenna operatively coupled to and co-located with the rechargeable power source;
- wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is configured to have a current induced therein by a primary wireless recharge antenna of a charging component of a recharge system when the charging component is energized and placed in proximity of the sole structure, the recharge system configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source;
- wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.
5 more elements
A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:
- securing a sole structure to an upper;
- positioning a rechargeable power source;
- operatively coupling a tensioning system to the rechargeable power source, the tensioning system configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace;
- and
- positioning a secondary wireless recharge antenna to co-locate the secondary wireless recharge antenna with the rechargeable power source;
- and
- operatively coupling the secondary wireless recharge antenna to the rechargeable power source;
- wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is configured to have a current induced therein by a primary wireless recharge antenna of a charging component of a recharge system when the charging component is energized and placed in proximity of the sole structure, the recharge system configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source;
- wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.
6 more elements
A system, comprising:
- an article of footwear comprising:
- an upper;
- a sole structure;
- a rechargeable power source;
- a secondary wireless recharge antenna operatively coupled to and co-located with the rechargeable power source;
- and
- a tensioning system, operatively coupled to the rechargeable power source, configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace engaged with the upper;
- and
- a recharge system, configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source, comprising a charging component, the charging component configured to be in proximity of the article of footwear and comprising a primary wireless recharge antenna, the primary wireless recharge antenna configured to induce a current in the secondary wireless recharge antenna when energized by the external power source;
- wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.