Control systems and foot-receiving device products containing such systems
First Claim
1. A footwear system, comprising:
- an article of footwear including an upper member and a sole member;
a sensing device engaged with the article of footwear, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of contact between the article of footwear and a surface when the article of footwear is in use;
a footwear control system that controls a characteristic of the article of footwear based on output from the sensing device; and
a distance monitoring system at least partially engaged with the article of footwear for detecting or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the article of footwear.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Foot-receiving devices, such as articles of footwear, include: (a) a sensing device that senses a characteristic of an interaction between a user'"'"'s foot and a foot-receiving device; (b) a control system that receives output from the sensing device and controls a characteristic of the foot-receiving device based on this output; and (c) a monitoring system for detecting and/or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the foot-receiving device. The monitoring system may receive input from the same sensing device used for providing data to the control system. The control system may alter the impact attenuation characteristics, the traction characteristics, the flexibility characteristics, the fit characteristics, or the like of the article of footwear. Methods of making and using such foot-receiving devices also are described.
525 Citations
100 Claims
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1. A footwear system, comprising:
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an article of footwear including an upper member and a sole member;
a sensing device engaged with the article of footwear, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of contact between the article of footwear and a surface when the article of footwear is in use;
a footwear control system that controls a characteristic of the article of footwear based on output from the sensing device; and
a distance monitoring system at least partially engaged with the article of footwear for detecting or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 23, 26, 27)
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11-19. -19. (canceled)
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21-22. -22. (canceled)
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24-25. -25. (canceled)
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28. A foot-receiving device system, comprising:
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a foot-covering member;
a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member;
a sensing device engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of an interaction between a user'"'"'s foot and the foot-receiving device when the foot-receiving device is in use;
a control system that controls a characteristic of the foot-supporting member based on output from the sensing device; and
a monitoring system at least partially engaged with the foot-receiving device for detecting or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the foot-receiving device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 47, 50, 53, 54)
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38-46. -46. (canceled)
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48-49. -49. (canceled)
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51-52. -52. (canceled)
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55. A method of providing a footwear system, comprising:
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engaging a sensing device with an article of footwear, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of contact between the article of footwear and a surface when the article of footwear is in use;
providing a footwear control system programmed and adapted to receive an output from the sensing device and to control a characteristic of the article of footwear based on the output from the sensing device; and
providing a distance monitoring system at least partially engaged with the article of footwear, wherein the distance monitoring system is programmed and adapted to detect or store data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 62, 64, 77, 80, 81)
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58-61. -61. (canceled)
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63. (canceled)
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65-76. -76. (canceled)
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78-79. -79. (canceled)
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82. A method of using a footwear system, comprising:
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sensing contact between an article of footwear and a surface as the article of footwear is used, wherein the contact is sensed using a sensing device at least partially engaged with the article of footwear;
controlling a characteristic of the article of footwear based, at least in part, on output from the sensing device; and
determining user speed or distance information based, at least in part, on output from the sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84, 89, 95, 96, 99, 100)
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85-88. -88. (canceled)
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90-94. -94. (canceled)
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97-98. -98. (canceled)
Specification