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US 2020/0046071 A1Published application
Adjustable Foot Support Systems Including Fluid-Filled Bladder Chambers
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsOlivier Henrichot, Timothy P. Hopkins, Elizabeth Langvin, Austin Orand, Levi J. Patton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.
Claims22
A fluid-tight foot support system, comprising:
- a foot support bladder for supporting at least a portion of a wearer's foot;
- a pump;
- a first fluid transfer line extending between the foot support bladder and the pump;
- a first valve allowing fluid transmission from the foot support bladder to the pump via the first fluid transfer line but not allowing fluid transmission from the pump to the foot support bladder via the first fluid transfer line;
- a fluid reservoir;
- a second fluid transfer line extending between the pump and the fluid reservoir;
- a second valve allowing fluid transmission from the pump to the fluid reservoir via the second fluid transfer line but not allowing fluid transmission from the fluid reservoir to the pump via the second fluid transfer line;
- a reserve reservoir;
- a third fluid transfer line extending between the reserve reservoir and at least one of the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the second fluid transfer line;
- a first fluid flow control structure for changing the third fluid transfer line between:
- (a) an open condition in which fluid transfers between the reserve reservoir and at least one of the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the second fluid transfer line and (b) a closed condition in which fluid does not transfer between the reserve reservoir and any of the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the second fluid transfer line;
- a fourth fluid transfer line extending between the fluid reservoir and the foot support bladder;
- and
- a second fluid flow control structure for changing the fourth fluid transfer line between:
- (a) an open condition in which fluid transfers between the fluid reservoir and the foot support bladder and (b) a closed condition in which fluid does not transfer between the fluid reservoir and the foot support bladder.
12 more elements
A fluid-tight foot support system, comprising:
- a foot support bladder for supporting at least a portion of a wearer's foot;
- a pump;
- a first fluid transfer line extending between the foot support bladder and the pump;
- a fluid reservoir;
- a second fluid transfer line extending between the pump and the fluid reservoir;
- a reserve reservoir;
- a third fluid transfer line extending between the reserve reservoir and at least one of the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the second fluid transfer line;
- a fourth fluid transfer line extending between the fluid reservoir and the foot support bladder;
- and
- a fluid pressure regulating system for moving fluid between the foot support bladder and the fluid reservoir and for changing fluid pressure in the foot support bladder between a first pressure condition, a second pressure condition at a lower pressure than the first pressure condition, and a third pressure condition at a lower pressure than the second pressure condition.
7 more elements
11-22. (canceled)
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a fluid reservoir;
- a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes (a) a foot support bladder for supporting at least a portion of a wearer's foot, (b) a pump arranged to be activated by contact between the wearer's foot and a contact surface, and (c) a first fluid transfer line extending between the foot support bladder and the pump;
- a second fluid transfer line extending between the pump and the fluid reservoir;
- a reserve reservoir;
- a third fluid transfer line extending between the reserve reservoir and at least one of the pump, the fluid reservoir, or the second fluid transfer line;
- a fourth fluid transfer line extending between the fluid reservoir and the foot support bladder;
- and
- a fluid pressure regulating system for moving fluid between the foot support bladder and the fluid reservoir and for changing fluid pressure in the foot support bladder between a first pressure condition, a second pressure condition at a lower pressure than the first pressure condition, and a third pressure condition at a lower pressure than the second pressure condition.
5 more elements
32-38. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.