Article of footwear with variable support structure

• US 7,254,908 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2004
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Ungari, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US10/774,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 361/37
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/265 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0285 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel or water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements

Abstract

An article of footwear having a variable support structure includes a sole structure and an upper secured to the sole structure. At least one reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid is positioned in at least one of the upper and the sole structure. A magnet assembly is positioned proximate each reservoir, and a magnetic field produced by the magnet assembly transforms the magneto-rheological fluid from a fluid state to a near-solid state.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having a variable support structure comprising, in combination:

a sole structure;

an upper secured to the sole structure;

at least one reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid in the upper; and

a magnet assembly comprising a plurality of electromagnets proximate each reservoir; and

a load cell configured to activate the electromagnets upon detection of a force from a user'"'"'s foot and positioned in a sidewall of the upper;

wherein a magnetic field produced by the magnet assembly transforms the magneto-rheological fluid from a fluid state to a near-solid state.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a power source connected to the electromagnets.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid is located in a lateral sidewall of the upper.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid is located in a medial sidewall of the upper.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the magnet assembly comprises a plurality of magnets on a first side of a reservoir and a plurality of magnets on an opposed second side of the reservoir.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid comprises magnetic particles suspended in oil.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid comprises iron molecules suspended in silicon.

9. An article of footwear having a variable support structure comprising, in combination:

a sole structure;

an upper secured to the sole structure;

a reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid in a sidewall of the upper;

a plurality of electromagnets in the sidewall; and

a load cell configured to activate the electromagnets upon detection of a force from a user'"'"'s foot and positioned in a sidewall of the upper;

wherein a magnetic field produced by the electromagnets transforms the magneto-rheological fluid from a fluid state to a near-solid state.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, further comprising a power source connected to the electromagnets.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the power source comprises a battery.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid is located in a lateral sidewall of the upper.

13. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid is located in a medial sidewall of the upper.

14. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the electromagnets comprise a plurality of electromagnets on a first side of a reservoir and a plurality of electromagnets on an opposed second side of the reservoir.

15. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid comprises magnetic particles suspended in oil.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the magneto-rheological fluid comprises iron molecules suspended in silicon.

17. An article of footwear having a variable support structure comprising, in combination:

a sole structure;

an upper secured to the sole structure;

a first reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid formed in a lateral sidewall of the upper;

a second reservoir of magneto-rheological fluid formed in a medial sidewall of the upper;

a first plurality of electromagnets positioned in the lateral sidewall;

a second plurality of electromagnets positioned in the medial sidewall; and

a load cell configured to activate the electromagnets upon detection of a force from a user'"'"'s foot and positioned in a sidewall of the upper;

wherein each plurality of electromagnets is configured to produce a magnetic field in a corresponding reservoir and transforms the magneto-rheological fluid from a fluid state to a near-solid state.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, further comprising a power source connected to the electromagnets.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the power source comprises a battery.