Article of footwear and a charging system for an article of footwear
First Claim
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1. A charging system for articles of footwear, comprising:
- a first charging device comprising an external inductive loop;
a first article of footwear including a first sole structure;
wherein the first sole structure comprises a first sole plate and a first midsole;
wherein the first midsole has a first size different from a second size of a second midsole of a second sole structure of a second article of footwear, and wherein the first and second midsoles each form a recess configured to securely receive the first charging device;
wherein the first sole plate includes a first cavity with a first component, and wherein the second sole plate includes second cavity with a second component, wherein the first and second cavities are in alignment with the recess;
wherein a volume of the first cavity is substantially similar to a volume of the second cavity;
wherein the first component includes a first internal inductive loop and wherein the second component includes a second internal inductive loop, the recess of the first midsole configured to bring the external inductive loop in alignment with the first internal inductive loop when the first charging device is received in the recess of the first midsole, and the recess of the second midsole configured to bring the external inductive loop in alignment with the second internal inductive loop when the first charging device is received in the recess of the second midsole.
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Abstract
A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.
82 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A charging system for articles of footwear, comprising:
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a first charging device comprising an external inductive loop; a first article of footwear including a first sole structure; wherein the first sole structure comprises a first sole plate and a first midsole; wherein the first midsole has a first size different from a second size of a second midsole of a second sole structure of a second article of footwear, and wherein the first and second midsoles each form a recess configured to securely receive the first charging device; wherein the first sole plate includes a first cavity with a first component, and wherein the second sole plate includes second cavity with a second component, wherein the first and second cavities are in alignment with the recess; wherein a volume of the first cavity is substantially similar to a volume of the second cavity; wherein the first component includes a first internal inductive loop and wherein the second component includes a second internal inductive loop, the recess of the first midsole configured to bring the external inductive loop in alignment with the first internal inductive loop when the first charging device is received in the recess of the first midsole, and the recess of the second midsole configured to bring the external inductive loop in alignment with the second internal inductive loop when the first charging device is received in the recess of the second midsole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A charging system for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a container, configured to admit the article of footwear; a charging device, positioned in the container, comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are integrally joined; wherein the charging device includes a first end associated with the first portion and a second end associated with the second portion; wherein the first portion has a first thickness, the second portion has a second thickness, and wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness; wherein the first portion includes an external inductive loop configured to generate an alternating magnetic field; wherein the first portion is configured to be secured in a recess formed on an exterior surface of a sole structure of the article of footwear to bring the external inductive loop in alignment with an internal inductive loop of the article of footwear to enable wireless charging of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of charging an article of footwear, comprising:
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mounting a first article of footwear onto a charging device by inserting the charging device into a recess formed in a sole structure of the first article of footwear, wherein the first article of footwear has a first size; aligning an exposed portion of a first sole plate associated with the first article of footwear with a first portion of the charging device; charging the first article of footwear; removing the first article of footwear; mounting a second article of footwear onto the charging device by inserting the charging device into a recess formed in a sole structure of the second article of footwear, wherein the second article of footwear has a second size different from the first size; aligning an exposed portion of a second sole plate associated with the second article of footwear with the first portion of the charging device, wherein the second sole plate is substantially similar in size to the first sole plate; and charging the second article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification