Footwear having sensor system
First Claim
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1. A sensor system comprising:
- an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers;
a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module;
a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; and
one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port,wherein the spacer layer includes a first hole aligned with the first sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the first and second contacts of the first sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a first channel extending from the first hole to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent, andwherein the first layer is positioned above the second layer, and the second layer defines a bottom surface of the insert member, and wherein the first vent comprises an opening in a bottom surface of the insert member, extending through the second layer.
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Abstract
A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.
240 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; and one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port, wherein the spacer layer includes a first hole aligned with the first sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the first and second contacts of the first sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a first channel extending from the first hole to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent, and wherein the first layer is positioned above the second layer, and the second layer defines a bottom surface of the insert member, and wherein the first vent comprises an opening in a bottom surface of the insert member, extending through the second layer.
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2. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; and a second sensor formed on the insert member, the second sensor comprising a third contact located on the first layer and a fourth contact located on the second layer, wherein the second sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the third and fourth contacts to change a resistance of the second sensor; and one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port, wherein the one or more leads further connect the third and fourth contacts to the port, wherein the spacer layer includes a first hole aligned with the first sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the first and second contacts of the first sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a first channel extending from the first hole to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent, and wherein the spacer layer includes a second hole aligned with the second sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the third and fourth contacts of the second sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a second channel extending from the second hole to the first vent, wherein the second channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the second sensor to the exterior of the insert member, through the first vent. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; a second sensor formed on the insert member, the second sensor comprising a third contact located on the first layer and a fourth contact located on the second layer, wherein the second sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the third and fourth contacts to change resistance of the second sensor; and one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port, wherein the one or more leads further connect the third and fourth contacts to the port, wherein the spacer layer includes a first hole aligned with the first sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the first and second contacts of the first sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a first channel extending from the first hole to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent, and wherein the spacer layer includes a second hole aligned with the second sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the third and fourth contacts of the second sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a second channel extending from the second hole to a second vent in the insert member, wherein the second channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the second sensor to the exterior of the insert member, through the second vent. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change resistance of the first sensor; one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port; a channel located between the first and second layers and extending from the first sensor to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent; and a first selectively permeable closure covering the first vent, the first closure permitting inward and outward flow of air, while resisting inward flow of moisture and particles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An article of footwear comprising:
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a sole structure configured to support a foot of a user, the sole structure comprising a compressible sole member; an insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer, the insert member being configured to be supported by the sole structure with a bottom surface of the second layer in confronting relation to the sole member; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change resistance of the first sensor; one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port; a first channel located between the first and second layers and extending from the first sensor to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member by exiting through the first vent; and a first cavity within the sole member extending laterally from the first vent to a distal end located outside a peripheral boundary of the insert member, the first cavity configured to permit the air exiting the first vent to pass away from the insert member. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An article of footwear comprising:
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a sole structure configured to support a foot of a user, the sole structure comprising a compressible sole member; an insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer, the insert member being configured to be supported by the sole structure with a bottom surface of the second layer in confronting relation to the sole member; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port; a first channel located between the first and second layers and extending from the first sensor to a first vent in the second layer of the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member by exiting downwardly through the first vent; and a first cavity within the sole member located directly below the first vent, wherein the first cavity is configured such that the air exiting the first vent passes into the first cavity. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A sensor system comprising:
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an insert member configured to be inserted into a foot-receiving chamber of an article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a spacer layer located between the first and second layers; a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module; a first sensor formed on the insert member, the first sensor comprising a first contact located on the first layer and a second contact located on the second layer, wherein the first sensor is configured such that pressure on the insert member causes increased engagement between the first and second contacts to change a resistance of the first sensor; and one or more leads located on the first layer and the second layer, the leads connecting the first and second contacts to the port, wherein the spacer layer includes a first hole aligned with the first sensor to permit at least partial engagement between the first and second contacts of the first sensor through the spacer layer, and further includes a first channel extending from the first hole to a first vent in the insert member, wherein the first channel permits air to flow between the first and second layers from the first sensor to an exterior of the insert member, through the first vent, and wherein the first vent comprises an opening in a side edge of the insert member, wherein the channel extends to the side edge and forms the opening between the first and second layers at the side edge.
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Specification