Athletic or other performance sensing systems

• US 8,499,476 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2011
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Berner, William E. Jr., Shum, Albert, Case, Charles W. Jr., Schrock, Allan M., Niegowski, James A., Rauchholz, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, Marie
• Application Number:
  US13/229,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 361/00, 36/28, 361/36, 361/37, 36/30.A, 36/31, 36/54
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• 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: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices include: (a) a housing, optionally an asymmetrical housing, for receiving an electronic module; (b) release mechanisms for removably mounting the module in the housing; and/or (c) activation/authentication systems for selectively activating the module. Additionally, methods of making articles of footwear or other structures that include such housings, electronic modules, release systems, activation systems, authentication systems, etc. are described. Performance sensing systems and methods of using the above devices for sensing performance characteristics also are described.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber;

a sole structure engaged with the upper member; and

a housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the housing forming a portion of the upper member, wherein the housing defines a receptacle for receiving the electronic module, and wherein the receptacle for receiving the electronic module is accessible outside of the foot-receiving chamber.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the housing is included as part of a tongue member included as part of the upper member.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

the electronic module being releasably engaged at least partially within the housing.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one of location, movement speed, or movement distance associated with use of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the electronic module is a speed and distance sensor.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

a system for securing the electronic module within the housing.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the system includes a fastener for holding the electronic module in place with respect to the housing.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the system directly engages the electronic module.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the system includes a member that extends into a recess, opening, or groove defined in the electronic module.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna system engaged with at least one of the upper member or the sole structure.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the antenna system extends from the housing.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 11, further comprising:

the electronic module engaged at least partially within the housing and operatively coupled with the antenna system.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power source engaged with at least one of the upper member or the sole structure.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the power source includes an electrical contact or terminal located at or engaged with the housing.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 14, further comprising:

the electronic module engaged at least partially within the housing and in electrical communication with the power source.

17. A pair of shoes, comprising:

a first shoe including;

(a) a first upper member at least partially defining a first foot-receiving chamber, (b) a first sole structure engaged with the first upper member, and (c) a first housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the first housing forming a portion of at least the first upper member, wherein the first housing defines a first receptacle, and wherein the first receptacle is accessible outside of the first foot-receiving chamber; and

a second shoe including;

(a) a second upper member at least partially defining a second foot-receiving chamber, and (b) a second sole structure engaged with the second upper member.

18. The pair of shoes according to claim 17, further comprising:

a first electronic module provided in the first housing.

19. The pair of shoes according to claim 17, wherein the second shoe includes a second housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the second housing forming a portion of at least one of the second upper member or the second sole structure, wherein the second housing defines a second receptacle.

20. The pair of shoes according to claim 19, wherein the first housing and the second housing have the same size and shape.

21. The pair of shoes according to claim 19, further comprising:

a first electronic module configured for use in one of the first housing or the second housing.

22. The pair of shoes according to claim 19, further comprising:

a first electronic module provided in the first housing; and

a first fill element provided in the second housing to at least partially fill the second receptacle.

23. The pair of shoes according to claim 22, wherein the first fill element includes a foam material.

24. The pair of shoes according to claim 22, wherein the first fill element is a rigid block.

25. The pair of shoes according to claim 19, further comprising:

a first fill element provided in the first housing to at least partially fill the first receptacle; and

a second fill element provided in the second housing to at least partially fill the second receptacle.

26. The pair of shoes according to claim 17, wherein the first housing is included as part of a first tongue member included as part of the first upper member.

27. The pair of shoes according to claim 19, wherein the first housing is included as part of a first tongue member included as part of the first upper member, and wherein the second housing is included as part of a second tongue member included as part of the second upper member.