Pump for article of footwear or apparel
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorMatthew D. Nordstrom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pump is provided and includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material. The conduit is movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. An auxetic infill is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit. The auxetic infill is configured to expand laterally and longitudinally when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
Claims20
A pump comprising:
- a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state;
- an auxetic infill disposed within the conduit and including an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the auxetic infill configured to expand laterally and longitudinally when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state;
- and
- a manifold in fluid communication with the inner volume and operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
A pump comprising:
- a conduit defining an inner volume and movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state, an effective length of the conduit being increased when moved from the relaxed state to the expanded state;
- an infill disposed within the conduit, including an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, and having an effective length that is increased when the conduit is moved from the relaxed state to the expanded state, the infill configured to expand laterally and longitudinally when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state;
- and
- a manifold in fluid communication with the inner volume and operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.