Electronically controlled bladder assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An article of footwear comprising:
- a bladder;
a reservoir;
an electronically controlled valve having a fluid port in fluid communication with the bladder and a fluid port in fluid communication with the reservoir;
an antenna;
a pressure sensor configured to output bladder pressure values; and
an electronic control unit configured to receive information from the antenna and information from the pressure sensor, and further configured todetermine if a target pressure value received from the antenna and representing a target pressure is greater than or less than a current bladder pressure value received from the pressure sensor and representing a current bladder pressure,as a result of determining the target pressure value is less than the current bladder pressure value, iteratively reduce bladder pressure by opening the valve during heel strikes, and then maintain bladder pressure substantially at the target pressure until a new target pressure value is received from the antenna, andas a result of determining the target pressure value is greater than the current bladder pressure value, iteratively increase bladder pressure by opening the valve between heel strikes, and then maintain the bladder pressure substantially at the target pressure until a new target pressure value is received from the antenna.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronically controlled bladder assembly includes an adjustable pressure bladder and a constant pressure reservoir connected by an electronically controlled valve. The electronically controlled valve is operated in a manner that inflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is below a target pressure and in a manner that deflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is above the target pressure. The inflation and deflation of the adjustable bladder are achieved in an iterative manner by controlling the flow of fluid between the constant pressure reservoir and the adjustable bladder over several cycles of heel strikes.
49 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An article of footwear comprising:
-
a bladder; a reservoir; an electronically controlled valve having a fluid port in fluid communication with the bladder and a fluid port in fluid communication with the reservoir; an antenna; a pressure sensor configured to output bladder pressure values; and an electronic control unit configured to receive information from the antenna and information from the pressure sensor, and further configured to determine if a target pressure value received from the antenna and representing a target pressure is greater than or less than a current bladder pressure value received from the pressure sensor and representing a current bladder pressure, as a result of determining the target pressure value is less than the current bladder pressure value, iteratively reduce bladder pressure by opening the valve during heel strikes, and then maintain bladder pressure substantially at the target pressure until a new target pressure value is received from the antenna, and as a result of determining the target pressure value is greater than the current bladder pressure value, iteratively increase bladder pressure by opening the valve between heel strikes, and then maintain the bladder pressure substantially at the target pressure until a new target pressure value is received from the antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An article of footwear comprising:
-
a bladder and a reservoir, wherein the bladder and the reservoir are filled with one or more gases; an electronically controlled valve having a fluid port in fluid communication with the bladder and a fluid port in fluid communication with the reservoir; a pressure sensor configured to output bladder pressure values; and an electronic control unit configured to receive information from the pressure sensor and to iteratively open the valve to permit transfer of the one or more gases to the bladder from the reservoir, or from the bladder to the reservoir, until a target bladder pressure is reached. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification