Method of illuminating an article

• US 10,306,726 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2015
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilken, Doug D., Siagian, Parluhutan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US14/744,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20160374171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole system secured to the upper. The sole system includes a bladder member with an illumination device. The bladder member is formed from at least a partially transparent or colored outer polymer layer that encloses a fluid. The illumination device is located within the sole system. Light from the illumination device may pass out the sole system by passing through the bladder member, thereby imparting the configuration of an illuminable fluid-filled bladder member.

Claims

1. A method of operating an illumination device comprising:

receiving, by a control unit, a threshold value for a condition-responsive parameter;

receiving, by the control unit, a current value of the condition-responsive parameter;

comparing, by the control unit, the current value of the condition-responsive parameter to the threshold value;

illuminating, by the control unit, the illumination device in a first illumination mode if the current value is less than the threshold value or in a second illumination mode if the current value is greater than the threshold value, the first illumination mode being different than the second illumination mode; and

directing light from the illumination device in the first illumination mode and in the second illumination mode into a bladder member to illuminate the bladder member.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing light into the bladder member includes directing light through an outer surface of the bladder member and into an interior cavity of the bladder member.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein directing light into the bladder member includes directing light into a fluid contained within the bladder member.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising positioning the illumination device adjacent to an outer surface of the bladder member.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein positioning the illumination device adjacent to an outer surface of the bladder member includes positioning the illumination device within a void defined by the outer surface of the bladder member.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a current value of the condition-responsive parameter includes receiving information from at least one sensor operable to measure at least one of temperature, velocity, and ambient light conditions.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a current value of the condition-responsive parameter includes receiving information pertaining to motion, speed, ambient light conditions, and/or biological data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein directing light from the illumination device into the bladder member includes directing light in at least two different directions.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein illuminating the illumination device in a second illumination mode different than the first illumination mode includes operating the illumination device in at least one of a different color and a different state than the first illumination mode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein directing light into the bladder member includes illuminating a sole structure of an article of footwear.

11. A method of operating an illumination device comprising:

receiving, by a control unit, a threshold value for a condition-responsive parameter;

receiving, by the control unit, a current value of the condition-responsive parameter;

comparing, by the control unit, the current value of the condition-responsive parameter to the threshold value;

illuminating, by the control unit, the illumination device in a first illumination mode if the current value is less than the threshold value or in a second illumination mode if the current value is greater than the threshold value, the first illumination mode being different than the second illumination mode; and

directing light from the illumination device in the first illumination mode and in the second illumination mode into a fluid contained by an article of footwear.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein directing light into a fluid includes directing light into a bladder member containing the fluid.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein directing light into the bladder member includes directing light through an outer surface of the bladder member and into an interior cavity of the bladder member.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising positioning the illumination device adjacent to an outer surface of the bladder member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein positioning the illumination device adjacent to an outer surface of the bladder member includes positioning the illumination device within a void defined by the outer surface of the bladder member.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a current value of the condition-responsive parameter includes receiving information from at least one sensor operable to measure at least one of temperature, velocity, and ambient light conditions.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving a current value of the condition-responsive parameter includes receiving information pertaining to motion, speed, ambient light conditions, and/or biological data.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein directing light from the illumination device into the fluid includes directing light in at least two different directions.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein illuminating the illumination device in a second illumination mode different than the first illumination mode includes operating the illumination device in at least one of a different color and a different state than the first illumination mode.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein directing light into the fluid includes illuminating a sole structure of an article of footwear.