Article Of Footwear With A Tactile Feedback System

• US 20170127753A1
• Filed: 11/09/2015
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Kohatsu, Shane S., Cook, Christopher S., Schoolmeester, Bret, Pauk, Matthew R., Gibson, Lee
• Granted Patent: US 10,448,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/022 with waterproof breathable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a cushioning element. The cushioning element can be disposed in the upper and/or the sole structure. The cushioning element is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user during pronation events. The cushioning element can be a dynamically responsive material or shape that exhibits dilatant behavior in response to the application of a force.

Claims

1. An article of footwear with a cushioning system, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper, the upper including at least a first layer;

the first layer at least partially forming an interior cavity of the article of footwear;

the upper comprising a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, a forefoot portion, a heel portion, and a midline;

a central axis extending in the longitudinal direction from the forefoot portion to the heel portion, the central axis being approximately aligned with the midline of the article of footwear, and the central axis dividing the upper into two opposing sides across the lateral direction;

the two sides of the upper comprising a first side and a second side;

the cushioning system comprising at least a first cushioning element;

the first cushioning element being disposed adjacent to the first layer along the first side of the upper;

the first cushioning element comprising an adjustable thickness in response to the application of a force;

wherein the first cushioning element includes a dynamically responsive material that exhibits dilatant behavior in response to an application of the force.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a sole structure, wherein a second cushioning element is disposed adjacent to the sole structure, and wherein the second cushioning element includes the dynamically responsive material that exhibits dilatant behavior in response to the application of the force.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first cushioning element includes a shear thickening fluid.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first layer is an innermost layer of the upper.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first side is associated with a medial side of the upper.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning system is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user while the user is wearing the article of footwear.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the first cushioning element includes a dynamically responsive geometry, wherein an application of a first force deforms the geometry of the first cushioning element to a greater extent than the application of a second force when the second force is larger than the first force.

8. An article of footwear with a pronation feedback system, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure,

the pronation feedback system comprising at least a first cushioning element located adjacent to the upper;

the first cushioning element comprising a substantially pyramidal geometry;

at least a portion of the pronation feedback system comprising an adjustable thickness due to the inclusion of the first cushioning element;

wherein the first cushioning element includes a dynamically responsive material that exhibits dilatant behavior in response to an application of a force.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first cushioning element includes a substantially smooth base end and a tapered end, wherein the substantially smooth base end is disposed closer to a surface of the upper relative to the tapered end.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the tapered end is configured to deform at a first strain rate in response to a first force and wherein the tapered end is configured to deform at a second strain rate in response to a second force, wherein the first strain rate is greater than the second strain rate when the first force is less than the second force.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the upper further comprises a first layer and a second layer, and wherein the first cushioning element is disposed at least partially between the first layer and the second layer of the upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the upper further comprises a medial side and a lateral side, and wherein the first cushioning element is disposed along the medial side of the upper.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the pronation feedback system includes a second cushioning element attached to the sole structure, and wherein the second cushioning element comprises the dynamically responsive material that exhibits dilatant behavior in response to the application of the force.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element are contiguous.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a shear thickening fluid.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the second cushioning element comprises a smaller volume than the first cushioning element.

17. An article of footwear with a cushioning system configured to provide tactical feedback to a user during pronation, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure,

the cushioning system comprising a first cushioning element and a second cushioning element;

the first cushioning element disposed adjacent to the upper, the second cushioning element disposed adjacent to the sole structure; and

the first cushioning element comprising a first region of adjustable thickness, and the second cushioning element comprising a second region of adjustable thickness.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17, further comprising a third cushioning element disposed along the upper, wherein the third cushioning element is spaced apart from the first cushioning element, and wherein the third cushioning element comprises a third region of adjustable thickness.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein a first rate of pronation by the user is associated with a first level of deformation of the first cushioning element, wherein a second rate of pronation by the user is associated with a second level of deformation of the first cushioning element, and wherein the first level of deformation is greater than the second level of deformation when the first rate of pronation is less than the second rate of pronation.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a round geometry.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a pyramidal geometry.

22. The article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the first cushioning element comprises a substantially teardrop-like cross-sectional shape.