Article of footwear with dynamic support
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsThomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers, Nathan T Gilbreath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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
A wearable article, comprising:
- a power source;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the power source;
- an accelerometer;
- a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor;
- and
- a dynamic support system, comprising:
- a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;
- a cable;
- and
- a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
- receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer, and
- respond to input received from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system;
- and
- wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the wearable article while providing a second force on a second location on the wearable article, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.
A system, comprising:
- a power source;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the power source;
- a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor;
- an accelerometer;
- and
- a dynamic support system, comprising:
- a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;
- a cable;
- and
- a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
- receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer;
- and
- respond to input received from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system;
- and
- wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the system while providing a second force on a second location on the system, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.
A method of making a wearable article, comprising:
- operatively coupling a power source to a microprocessor;
- operatively coupling a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor;
- operatively coupling an accelerometer in communication with the microprocessor;
- operatively coupling a dynamic support system with the microprocessor, the dynamic support system comprising:
- a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;
- a cable;
- and
- a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;
- wherein the microprocessor is configured to:
- receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer;
- and
- respond to input received from the pressure sensor an the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system;
- and
- wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the wearable article while providing a second force on a second location on the wearable article, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.