Athletic shoe having inflatable bladder
First Claim
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1. An athletic shoe, comprising:
- (a) a bladder, said bladder comprising a first sheet of flexible material and a second sheet of flexible material attached together to form said bladder therebetween wherein said bladder includes a first bladder chamber for providing cushioning to a wearer and a second bladder chamber for providing cushioning to the wearer, wherein said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber are both formed substantially by said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet;
(b) a pump for selectively introducing air to said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber;
(c) a channel disposed between said pump and said bladder, said channel providing a substantial portion of a conduit to at least one of said first and second bladder chambers and being formed by said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet such that said channel, said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber are all formed substantially from said first sheet of flexible material and said second sheet of flexible material; and
(d) a valve disposed between said pump and said bladder for selectively preventing air from being introduced into one of said first and second bladder chambers wherein said valve includes a backer plate having a projection and a backer plate surface, said projection defining a circular opening, and a cam device rotatable disposed within the circular opening, wherein said bladder is disposed between said backer plate surface and said cam device, whereby said backer plate and said cam device pinch selective areas of said bladder to restrict the flow of air in said areas.
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Abstract
An athletic shoe is described, provided with an inflatable tongue or bladder for a more secure fit to the user'"'"'s foot. The bladder may include a plurality of chambers with a valve disposed therebetween to selectively inflate the chambers. The inflatable tongue or bladder has a lightweight pump disposed thereon.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An athletic shoe, comprising:
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(a) a bladder, said bladder comprising a first sheet of flexible material and a second sheet of flexible material attached together to form said bladder therebetween wherein said bladder includes a first bladder chamber for providing cushioning to a wearer and a second bladder chamber for providing cushioning to the wearer, wherein said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber are both formed substantially by said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet; (b) a pump for selectively introducing air to said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber; (c) a channel disposed between said pump and said bladder, said channel providing a substantial portion of a conduit to at least one of said first and second bladder chambers and being formed by said first flexible sheet and said second flexible sheet such that said channel, said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber are all formed substantially from said first sheet of flexible material and said second sheet of flexible material; and (d) a valve disposed between said pump and said bladder for selectively preventing air from being introduced into one of said first and second bladder chambers wherein said valve includes a backer plate having a projection and a backer plate surface, said projection defining a circular opening, and a cam device rotatable disposed within the circular opening, wherein said bladder is disposed between said backer plate surface and said cam device, whereby said backer plate and said cam device pinch selective areas of said bladder to restrict the flow of air in said areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A bladder system for providing cushioning and support, comprising
(a) a first sheet of flexible material, said first sheet of flexible material being substantially fluid impervious; -
(b) a second sheet of flexible material, said second sheet of flexible material being substantially fluid impervious; (c) said first and second sheets of flexible material being attached together to form a first bladder chamber, a second bladder chamber and a channel wherein said channel has a first passageway allowing fluid communication between said channel and said first bladder chamber and a second passageway for allowing fluid communication between said channel and said second bladder chamber; (d) a pump for introducing a fluid into said channel; (e) a one-way valve disposed downstream of said pump for preventing fluid moved by said pump from flowing therethrough in the direction of said pump; (f) a switch for selectively preventing fluid from flowing into one of said first and second bladder chambers, said switch comprising a backer plate disposed adjacent one of said sheets of flexible material and a cam device having a longitudinal axis, said cam device being disposed adjacent the other of said sheets of flexible material wherein upon rotating said cam device relative to said backer plate about said longitudinal axis, said cam device selective prevents fluid from passing into one of said first bladder chamber and said second bladder chamber by pinching off the flow of air into one of said chambers; and (g) a release valve for venting air from at least one of said first and second bladder chambers. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification