Footwear having sensor system

• US 10,357,078 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2017
• Issued: 07/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Synapse Product Development LLC (DXC Technology Company), Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Rice, Jordan M., Schrock, Allan M., Walker, Steven H., Richmond, Kate, Steier, Andreas Heinrich, Atang, Ndikum Protus
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max H
• Application Number:
  US15/677,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20170340049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 73862046
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/386 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/084 characterised by the location of the holes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/088 in the side of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/164 the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/222 Electrical cables or leads therefor, e.g. coaxial cables or ribbon cables
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/227 Sensors with electrical connectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 : Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1124 : Determining motor skills
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/20 : by measuring variations in ohmic resistance of solid materials or of electrically-conductive fluids of piezo-resistive materials G01L1/18; by making use of electrokinetic cells, i.e. liquid-containing cells wherein an electrical potential is produced or varied upon the application of stress
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 : using distributed sensing elements

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.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

an insert member formed at least partially of a flexible film material;

a sensor system connected to the insert member, wherein the sensor system comprises a plurality of sensors configured to sense pressure on the insert member; and

a sole member configured to be a portion of a sole structure for an article of footwear, wherein the sole member includes a recess having a same peripheral shape as the insert member, wherein the insert member is received within the recess and connected to the sole member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor system further comprises a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the port comprises a housing configured to hold the electronic module, and the sole member includes a space for receiving the housing.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the space is a hole extending completely through the sole member, and the housing extends completely through the sole member.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the insert member has an opening extending through the insert member, and the housing is received through the opening.

6. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the sensor system further comprises a plurality of leads extending from the sensors to the port to permit communication between the sensors and the port.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sole member is a compressible foam member, and an underside of the insert member has an adhesive bonding the insert member to the sole member.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert member comprises a first layer and a second layer of the flexible film material positioned in superimposed manner, and wherein the sensors are positioned between the first and second layers.

9. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure comprising a sole member having a recess in a top surface thereof;

an upper member connected to the sole structure to define a foot-receiving cavity;

an insert member formed at least partially of a flexible film material and connected to the top surface of the sole member such that the insert member is received in the recess, wherein the recess has a same peripheral shape as the insert member; and

a sensor system connected to the insert member, wherein the sensor system comprises a plurality of sensors configured to sense pressure on the insert member.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the sole structure further comprises a midsole and an outsole, wherein the sole member is positioned above and in confronting relation to the midsole.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the sole structure further comprises a strobel member positioned between the sole member and the midsole, wherein the strobel member is connected to the sole structure by stitching, and the sole member covers the stitching.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the sensor system further comprises a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module, and wherein the port comprises a housing configured to hold the electronic module, and the sole member includes a space for receiving the housing.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the space is a hole extending completely through the sole member, and the housing extends completely through the sole member, and wherein the sole structure further includes a well positioned below the hole and receiving a portion of the housing therein.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the insert member has an opening extending through the insert member, and the housing is received through the opening.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the sole structure further comprises a foot contacting member at least partially covering the sole member and the insert member, and wherein the foot contacting member further comprises a reclosable door positioned above the port and configured to provide access to the port through the foot contacting member.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the sole member is a compressible foam member, and an underside of the insert member has an adhesive bonding the insert member to the sole member.

17. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure comprising a midsole and a foot contacting member positioned above the midsole;

an upper member connected to the sole structure to define a foot-receiving cavity, such that the foot contacting member is exposed to the foot-receiving cavity;

an insert member formed at least partially of a flexible film material and positioned between the midsole and the foot contacting member; and

a sensor system connected to the insert member, wherein the sensor system comprises a port configured for connection to an electronic module, plurality of sensors configured to sense pressure on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port,

wherein the foot contacting member further comprises a reclosable door positioned above the port and configured to provide access to the port through the foot contacting member.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the sensor system further comprises a port connected to the insert member and configured for communication with an electronic module, and wherein the port comprises a housing configured to hold the electronic module, and the midsole includes a well receiving a portion of the housing therein.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the housing has an open top, and wherein the door is positioned above the well and provides access to the open top of the housing.

20. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the door comprises a hinge along one edge, such that the door is configured to be opened and closed by swinging at the hinge.