Article of Footwear With Sensory Elements

• US 20160095389A1
• Filed: 10/01/2014
• Published: 04/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Minami, Tetsuya T., Smith, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,779,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/025 characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/146 provided with acupressure points or means for foot massage

Abstract

An article of footwear includes sensory elements. The sensory elements are embedded in an upper of an article of footwear, the upper having a first layer and a second layer. Sensory elements are proximally disposed toward a foot when contacted by an object. Sensory elements may partially protrude from the first layer and/or the second layer. Sensory elements may also be fully covered between the first layer and the second layer.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper connected to the sole structure, the upper comprising;

a first layer having a first exterior portion and a first interior portion;

a second layer having a second exterior portion and second interior portion;

a plurality of sensory elements disposed between the first layer and the second layer;

wherein the upper further comprises a plurality of sensory portions corresponding to portions of the upper in contact with the plurality of sensory elements;

wherein the upper further comprises an intermediate portion extending between the plurality of sensory portions; and

wherein the second interior portion of the second layer is engaged with the first interior portion of the first layer in the intermediate portion of the upper and wherein the second interior portion is separated from the first interior portion in the plurality of sensory portions of the upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first layer includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of sensory elements and wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the plurality of sensory elements.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of sensory elements partially protrude from the first layer through the plurality of apertures.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of apertures is co-planar with the first layer.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensory elements have an approximately spherical geometry.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensory elements comprise sensory elements having a geometry selected from the group consisting of:

an ellipsoid geometry, an hour-glass geometry, a cylindrical geometry and a three-dimensional clover geometry.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second layer includes a plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of sensory elements;

and wherein each of the plurality of apertures is configured to receive one of the plurality of sensory elements.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures is co-planar with the second layer.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures is elevated by a first distance with respect to the second layer.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer includes a first plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of sensory elements;

wherein the second layer includes a second plurality of apertures corresponding to the plurality of sensory elements; and

wherein the plurality of sensory elements is nested between the first plurality of apertures and the second plurality of apertures.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensory elements may move in a distal and proximal direction, and wherein the plurality of sensory elements do not move in a direction approximately parallel to the first layer.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensory elements include a first sensory element, and wherein the first sensory element is proximally displaced when an object contacts the first sensory element.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensory elements includes a first sensory element, and wherein the first sensory element is proximally displaced when an object contacts a layer of the upper that is disposed between the object and the first sensory element.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer has a first hardness, the second layer has a second hardness, and the plurality of sensory elements has a third hardness;

wherein the third hardness is greater than the first hardness; and

wherein the third hardness is greater than the second hardness.

15. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper connected to the sole structure, the upper comprising a base portion and the upper comprising a plurality of sensory elements embedded within the base portion;

wherein the base portion has a first hardness and the plurality of sensory elements has a second hardness; and

wherein the second hardness is greater than the first hardness.

16. The article according to claim 15, wherein base portion is comprised of at least one layer of material, and wherein the at least one layer of material can be displaced from a stationary position in response to external forces.

17. The article according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of sensory elements are raised with respect to an exterior portion of the base portion.

18. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper connected to the sole structure, the upper comprising a base portion and the upper comprising a plurality of sensory elements embedded within the base portion;

wherein the positions of the plurality of sensory elements are fixed with respect to the base portion; and

wherein the plurality of sensory elements are substantially incompressible.

19. The article according to claim 18, wherein the plurality of sensory elements are fixed between a first layer of the base portion and a second layer of the base portion.

20. The article according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of sensory elements can move with the base portion when forces are applied to the upper.