Footwear having sensor system
First Claim
1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
- an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a central portion adapted to be engaged by a metatarsal portion of the foot, a first phalange portion extending from a front edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a first phalange of the foot, and a heel portion extending from a rear edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a heel of the foot,wherein the central portion has a length measured from the front edge to the rear edge and a width measured perpendicular to the length, and wherein the first phalange portion extends from the front edge of the central portion in an elongated manner and has a width that is narrower than the width of the central portion and a length that is greater than the width of the first phalange portion, andwherein the heel portion extends from the rear edge of the central portion in an elongated manner and has a width that is narrower than the width of the central portion and a length that is greater than the width of the heel portion; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the central portion, at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the first phalange portion, and at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the heel portion, and wherein the port is positioned on the central portion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user'"'"'s foot on the sensor. Each sensor includes two electrodes that are in communication with a force sensitive resistive material. The electrodes and the force sensitive resistive material may have multi-lobed shapes. Additionally, the sensor system may be provided on an insert that may form a sole member of the article of footwear. The insert may have slits therethrough, and may have a defined peripheral shape.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a central portion adapted to be engaged by a metatarsal portion of the foot, a first phalange portion extending from a front edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a first phalange of the foot, and a heel portion extending from a rear edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a heel of the foot, wherein the central portion has a length measured from the front edge to the rear edge and a width measured perpendicular to the length, and wherein the first phalange portion extends from the front edge of the central portion in an elongated manner and has a width that is narrower than the width of the central portion and a length that is greater than the width of the first phalange portion, and wherein the heel portion extends from the rear edge of the central portion in an elongated manner and has a width that is narrower than the width of the central portion and a length that is greater than the width of the heel portion; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the central portion, at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the first phalange portion, and at least one of the force sensors is positioned on the heel portion, and wherein the port is positioned on the central portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member having a thickness that is small in comparison to a length and a width of the insert member; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the insert member has a plurality of slits extending completely through the thickness of the insert member, the slits positioned proximate at least one of the force sensors of the sensor system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein at least one of the force sensors comprises; a patch of force-sensitive resistive material; a first electrode having a first lead connected to the port; and a second electrode having a second lead connected to the port, wherein the patch of force-sensitive resistive material has a multi-lobed structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe separated by a gap, wherein the first electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe, and the second electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear; a graphic layer comprising a sheet of material connected to a surface of the insert member in a layered configuration, the sheet of material having a graphic design thereon; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein at least one of the force sensors comprises; a patch of force-sensitive resistive material; a first electrode having a first lead connected to the port; and a second electrode having a second lead connected to the port, wherein the first and second electrodes form a peripheral boundary, wherein the first electrode has a plurality of first fingers extending toward the second electrode and the second electrode has a plurality of second fingers extending toward the first electrode, the first and second fingers in contact with the patch of force-sensitive resistive material, such that the first fingers and the second fingers intermesh with each other, and the first fingers are spaced from the second fingers by an average spacing of 0.25 mm to 1.5 mm, and wherein a ratio of a surface area of the first and second electrodes combined to a surface area of the force-sensitive resistive material within the peripheral boundary is between 3;
1 and 1;
3. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a central portion adapted to be engaged by a metatarsal portion of the foot, a first phalange portion extending from a front edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a first phalange of the foot, and a heel portion extending from a rear edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a heel of the foot, wherein the first phalange portion and the heel portion are narrowed in the medial-lateral direction with respect to the central portion; a sensor system comprising first, second, third, and fourth force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors comprises; a patch of force-sensitive resistive material; a first electrode having a first lead connected to the port; and a second electrode having a second lead connected to the port, wherein the patch of force-sensitive resistive material has a multi-lobed structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe separated by a gap and a bridge member spanning the gap and connecting the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein the first electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe, and the second electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein the first force sensor is positioned on the first phalange portion of the insert member, the second and third force sensors are positioned on the central portion of the insert member, and the fourth force sensor is positioned on the heel portion of the insert member, and wherein the insert member has a plurality of slits extending completely through the thickness of the insert member, the slits positioned proximate at least one of first, second, third, and fourth force sensors of the sensor system.
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Specification