Reactive energy apparatus providing a custom fit and ankle support in a shoe upper

• US 5,430,961 A
• Filed: 09/27/1991
• Issued: 07/11/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Inventors: Burgess, Ian, Bowman, Tim, Swartz, Eric, Faulconer, Mark, Allen, Bernie, Parracho, Rui
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US07/767,075
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 36/88, 36/89, 36/91, 36/93, 36/71, 36/110, 36/9 R
• US Class Current: 36/93
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/029 Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0063 U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0407 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders

Abstract

A reactive energy apparatus providing a custom fit and ankle support in a shoe upper is comprised of a pair of fluid filled pads that are positioned in the upper on opposite sides of the Achilles tendon of the wearer. The fluid filled pads each contain one or more interior chambers containing fluid, and the pads are connected in fluid communication by a series of conduits extending between the pads and around the Achilles tendon of the wearer. The conduits are constructed to enable the free flow of fluid between the two pads, enabling the apparatus to provide a continuous custom fit and dynamic support for the wearer'"'"'s ankle while avoiding exerting any pressure on the Achilles tendon of the wearer that could potentially injure the tendon.

Claims

1. A reactive energy apparatus in a shoe upper providing a custom fit and support to an ankle of a wearer of the shoe, the apparatus comprising:

a first means for containing a fluid on a first side of said shoe upper,s aid first means containing a fluid and said fluid causing said first means to assume a one side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and causing said first means to engage in surface contact over the one side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle as said shoe upper is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle;

a second means for containing a fluid on a second side of said shoe upper, said second means containing a fluid and said fluid causing said second means to assume a shape complementary to a shape of a second side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and causing said second means to engage in surface contact over the second side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle as said shoe upper is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle; and

means for spacing said first fluid containing means from said second fluid containing means on opposite sides of an Achilles tendon of the wearer as said shoe upper is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle; and

said first fluid containing means and said second fluid containing means are both formed in side by side, spaced relation between a pair of overlapping sheets of flexible, fluid tight material, said first fluid containing means has a first interior chamber enveloped between said pair of sheets and said second fluid containing means has a second interior chamber enveloped between said sheets, said pair of overlapping sheets are sealed together along a perimeter boundary extending around both said first and second interior chambers, said pair of overlapping sheets are sealed together along a medial spacer spacing said first and second interior chambers from each other, said fluid is contained in said first and second interior chambers and said medial spacer prevents said fluid from readily passing between said first and second interior chambers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one fluid conducting conduit is formed between said pair of overlapping sheets extending across said medial spacer and providing fluid communication between said first and second interior chambers.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of fluid conducting conduits are formed between said pair of overlapping sheets extending across said medial spacer and providing fluid communication between said first and second interior chambers, said pair of overlapping sheets are sealed together at separate areas along said medial spacer, said separate areas separate said fluid conduits and said fluid conduits separate said sealed areas.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said first fluid containing means is a first pad having a plurality of interior chambers, each of said plurality of interior chamber contains a fluid and each of said plurality of interior chambers is interconnected in fluid communication; and

said second fluid containing means is a second pad having a second plurality of interior chambers, each of said second plurality of interior chambers contains a fluid and each of said second plurality of interior chambers is interconnected in fluid communication.

5. A reactive energy apparatus in a shoe upper providing a custom fit and support to an ankle of a wearer of the shoe, the apparatus comprising:

a first means for containing a fluid on a first side of said shoe upper, said first means containing a fluid and said fluid causing said first means to assume a shade of one side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and causing said first means to engage in surface contact over the one side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle as said shoe upper is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle;

a second means for containing a fluid on a second side of said shoe upper, said second means containing a fluid and said fluid causing said second means to assume a shape complementary to a shape of a second side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and causing said second means to engage in surface contact over the second side of the wearer'"'"'s ankle as said shoe upper is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle;

means for spacing said first fluid containing means from said second fluid containing means on opposite sides of an Achilles tendon of the wearer as said shoe is secured over the wearer'"'"'s ankle;

means for conducting fluid extend between said first and second fluid containing means, said means for conducting fluid providing fluid communication between said first and second fluid containing means;

said means for conducting fluid includes a plurality of fluid conduits extending between said first and second fluid containing means, said plurality of conduits extend substantially parallel to each other; and

said means for spacing said first fluid containing means from said second fluid containing means also spaces said plurality of conduits from each other, said spacing means being interposed between adjacent conduits of said plurality of conduits.