Intelligent footwear systems

• US 7,631,382 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2006
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Oleson, Mark Arthur, DiBenedetto, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US11/387,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 121/42.P, 361/32, 361/36
• US Class Current: 12/142.00P
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• 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 3/0042 with circular or circle shaped parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

The invention is directed to intelligent systems for articles of footwear that adjust automatically in response to a measured performance characteristic. The intelligent systems include one or more adjustable elements coupled to a mechanism that actuates the adjustable elements in response to a signal from a sensor to modify the performance characteristic of the article of footwear. The intelligent system adjusts the performance characteristics of the article of footwear without human intervention.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a performance characteristic of an article of footwear during use, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a sensor signal from a sensor at least partially disposed within a sole of the article of footwear;

determining whether the article of footwear has experienced a peak condition;

upon determining that the article of footwear has experienced a peak condition, determining whether adjustment of the article of footwear is required; and

upon determining that adjustment is required, adjusting a performance characteristic of the article of footwear.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the peak condition is based on a change in state of the article of footwear as a result of an activity selected from the group consisting of a jump, a landing, a sprint, a turn, a cut, a push-off, and a stop.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the change in state of the article is represented by at least one of absolute compression, rate of compression, frequency of compression, change in rate of compression, uneven compression, velocity, acceleration, jerk, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically adjusting a threshold value for determining the peak condition.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of evaluating when the peak condition is over and automatically returning the threshold value to its previous setting.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

tracking a plurality of peak conditions experienced by the article of footwear; and

automatically determining a new threshold value for determining whether the article of footwear has experienced a peak condition based on the plurality of peak conditions experienced.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a state of the article of footwear;

determining if the article is inactive; and

upon determining that the article of footwear is inactive, enabling a sleep mode in the intelligent system.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of monitoring the state of the article of footwear comprises sampling the sensor signal at set intervals.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the determining step further comprises determining whether the sensor signal has remained substantially constant for a set time period.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of enabling a sleep mode in the intelligent system comprises reducing power to at least one portion of the intelligent system.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising reactivating the intelligent system upon an indication of use of the article of footwear.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of use is based on the article of footwear experiencing at least one of a vibration, a force, acceleration, velocity, a change in capacitance, and an increase in temperature within the shoe.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a user input related to an adjustment of the performance characteristic through a user interface; and

adjusting an adjustable element at least partially disposed within the article of footwear in response to the user input.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the user interface is selected from the group consisting of a capacitive user interface, a button, a switch, a slider, and a dial.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing an indication of a setting of the performance characteristic through an indicator.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the indicator comprises at least one electro-luminescent element disposed on the article of footwear.

17. A method for modifying a performance characteristic of an article of footwear during use, the method comprising the steps of:

measuring a sensor signal from a sensor at least partially disposed within a sole of the article of footwear;

determining whether the article of footwear has experienced a desirable performance characteristic;

upon determining that the article of footwear has not experienced the desirable performance characteristic, determining whether adjustment of the article of footwear is required; and

upon determining that adjustment is required, adjusting a performance characteristic of the article of footwear during use.

18. A method for modifying a performance characteristic of an article of footwear during use, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a sensor signal from a sensor at least partially disposed within a sole of the article of footwear;

determining whether the article of footwear has experienced a desirable performance characteristic by at least analyzing the sensor signal to compare a measured performance characteristic to the desired performance characteristic;

upon determining that the article of footwear has not experienced the desirable performance characteristic, determining whether adjustment of the article of footwear during use is required; and

upon determining that adjustment is required, adjusting a performance characteristic of the article of footwear during use.