Intelligent footwear systems

• US 8,234,798 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2009
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Adidas International Marketing BV (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: DiBenedetto, Christian, Oleson, Mark Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US12/496,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 361/32, 361/36, 361/37, 36/28, 36/29, 362/103, 702/182, 702/184, 340/539.1
• US Class Current: 36/132
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• 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 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• 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 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone

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. An intelligent footwear system comprising:

an article of footwear;

a system for monitoring at least one parameter of the article of footwear, the monitoring system at least partially disposed in the article of footwear, wherein the monitoring system comprises;

a sensor for sensing at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a device located remotely from the article of footwear and in communication with the monitoring system, the device configured to exchange data wirelessly with the monitoring system, wherein the device comprises;

a processor for determining whether the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter satisfies a predetermined criterion and for determining whether adjustment of the at least one parameter is required; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal to adjust the at least one parameter;

wherein the at least one parameter of the article of footwear corresponds to at least one mechanical property of the article of footwear selected from the group consisting of absolute compression, rate of compression, frequency of compression, change in rate of compression, uneven compression, time to peak compression, time to recovery, time of flight phase, time of stance phase, stability, stiffness, resiliency, compliancy, elasticity, damping, energy storage, cushioning, and comfort.

2. The intelligent footwear system of claim 1, wherein the device can be disposed in a portable electronic device.

3. The intelligent footwear system of claim 2, wherein the portable electronic device includes at least one of a watch and a personal digital assistant.

4. The intelligent footwear system of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a user input module.

5. The intelligent footwear system of claim 4, wherein the user input module allows a user to monitor a wearer'"'"'s athletic performance.

6. The intelligent footwear system of claim 5, wherein the user and the wearer are the same.

7. The intelligent footwear system of claim 4, wherein the user input module comprises a display panel.

8. An intelligent footwear system comprising:

an article of footwear;

a system for monitoring at least one parameter of the article of footwear, the monitoring system at least partially disposed in a sole of the article of footwear, wherein the monitoring system comprises;

a sensor for sensing at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a device in communication with the monitoring system and configured to exchange data with the monitoring system, wherein the device comprises;

a processor for determining whether the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter satisfies a predetermined criterion and for determining whether adjustment of the at least one parameter is required; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal to adjust the at least one parameter;

wherein the at least one parameter of the article of footwear corresponds to at least one mechanical property of the article of footwear selected from the group consisting of absolute compression, rate of compression, frequency of compression, change in rate of compression, uneven compression, time to peak compression, time to recovery, time of flight phase, time of stance phase, stability, stiffness, resiliency, compliancy, elasticity, damping, energy storage, cushioning, and comfort.

9. An intelligent footwear system comprising:

an article of footwear;

a system for monitoring at least one parameter of the article of footwear, the monitoring system at least partially disposed on the article of footwear, wherein the monitoring system comprises;

a sensor for sensing at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal corresponding to the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter; and

a device located remotely to the article of footwear and in communication with the monitoring system, the device configured to convert measurements related to the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter and to track and exchange data with the monitoring system, wherein the device comprises;

a processor for determining whether the sensed at least one value associated with the at least one parameter satisfies a predetermined criterion and for determining whether adjustment of the at least one parameter is required; and

a transmitter for transmitting a signal to adjust the at least one parameter;

wherein the at least one parameter of the article of footwear corresponds to at least one mechanical property of the article of footwear selected from the group consisting of absolute compression, rate of compression, frequency of compression, change in rate of compression, uneven compression, time to peak compression, time to recovery, time of flight phase, time of stance phase, stability, stiffness, resiliency, compliancy, elasticity, damping, energy storage, cushioning, and comfort.