Pressure-adjustable shoe bladder assembly
First Claim
1. A shoe bladder assembly, comprising:
- pressure-adjustable first and second bladder chambers positionable in a shoe;
pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in said first and second bladder chambers to adjust the fit of a foot in the shoe with said chambers in position therein;
a passageway assembly including a plurality of passageways in fluid communication with said first and second bladder chambers; and
selector means for selecting whether said pressure adjusting means is in operative fluid communication, via said passageways, with alternative said first and second bladder chambers,wherein said selector means comprises a rotational member having a central bore and side openings into said central bore, said side openings providing fluid communication between said central bore and said passageways, and a resiliently-biased release valve in said rotational member and providing fluid communication with said central bore.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A bladder assembly for an athletic shoe and having at least first and second chambers. The chambers are independently and separately pressure adjustable by the user to conform to different concavity areas of his foot, such as the arch, ankle and metatarsal areas, to thereby enhance fit, comfort and athletic performance. Both chambers are inflatable by the same articulated on-board pump and deflatable by the same on-board depressible plunger. A dial on the lateral side of the upper allows the user to select which of the chambers is to be pressure adjusted, that is, which of the chambers is in pressure communication with the pump and the plunger. When the dial is in a neutral position, accidental inflation or deflation of either chamber is prevented.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shoe bladder assembly, comprising:
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pressure-adjustable first and second bladder chambers positionable in a shoe; pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in said first and second bladder chambers to adjust the fit of a foot in the shoe with said chambers in position therein; a passageway assembly including a plurality of passageways in fluid communication with said first and second bladder chambers; and selector means for selecting whether said pressure adjusting means is in operative fluid communication, via said passageways, with alternative said first and second bladder chambers, wherein said selector means comprises a rotational member having a central bore and side openings into said central bore, said side openings providing fluid communication between said central bore and said passageways, and a resiliently-biased release valve in said rotational member and providing fluid communication with said central bore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An adjustable fit shoe, comprising:
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a shoe upper having an opening; a ring at said shoe upper opening, secured to said shoe upper and having a ring opening; a bladder disposed generally within said shoe upper, said bladder including first and second generally separate bladder chambers; plunger means for controllably deflating said bladder; a housing assembly in which said plunger means is at least partially disposed; snap fit means for holding said housing assembly in said ring opening and allowing said housing assembly to rotate relative to said bladder, said housing assembly when in a first position communicates said plunger means with said first chamber and when in a different second rotation position communicates said plunger means with said second chamber; and securing means for securing said housing assembly to said bladder. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An adjustable fit shoe comprising:
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a sole; an upper attached to said sole; pressure-adjustable first and second bladder chambers positioned in the shoe; pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in said first and second bladder chambers to adjust the fit of a foot in the shoe; a passageway assembly including a plurality of passageways in fluid communication with said first and second bladder chambers; selector means for selecting whether said pressure adjusting means is in operative fluid communication, via said passageways, with alternative said first and second bladder chambers; wherein said selector means includes a barrel operatively associated with said pressure adjusting means, said barrel having barrel lateral openings, and said barrel being repositionable with respect to said passageway assembly to communicate said openings with the corresponding desired said passageways to adjust the pressure in the desired said first and second bladder chambers; and wherein said barrel and said passageway assembly are mounted substantially below an outer wall of said upper such that said barrel and said passageway assembly are substantially obstructed from view from outside of said shoe by said upper and protrude from said upper only a limited extent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A shoe bladder assembly, comprising:
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pressure-adjustable first and second bladder chambers positionable in a shoe; pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure in said first and second bladder chambers to adjust the fit of a foot in the shoe with said chambers in position therein; a passageway assembly including a plurality of passageways in fluid communication with said first and second bladder chambers; and selector means for selecting whether said pressure adjusting means is in operative fluid communication, via said passageways, with alternative said first and second bladder chambers; wherein said selector means includes a rotatable barrel operatively associated with said pressure adjusting means, said barrel having barrel lateral openings, and said barrel being rotatable with respect to said passageway assembly to communicate said openings with the corresponding desired said passageways to adjust the pressure in the desired said first and second bladder chambers; and wherein said selector means is adjustable to alternatively define a first barrel position providing communication between said pressure adjusting means and said first chamber, a second intermediate barrel position wherein communication between said pressure adjusting means and both said chambers is blocked, and a third barrel position providing communication between said pressure adjusting means and said second chamber. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification