Article of footwear and charging system

• US 10,477,911 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Beers, Tiffany A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nha T
• Application Number:
  US15/365,047
• Publication Number:
  US 20170150773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0054 provided with magnets, magnetic parts or magnetic substances
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/008 Combined fastenings, e.g. to accelerate undoing or fastening
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/165 characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

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 unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure;

an automated tensioning system that is configured to adjust a tension level of the article of footwear from a first tension level to a second tension level, wherein the first tension level is greater than the second tension level;

a charging assembly, the charging assembly comprising an internal charging device and a housing;

a sensor, the sensor providing information to the automated tensioning system when the charging assembly is connected to an external charging device; and

the automated tensioning system being configured to loosen the article of footwear from the first tension level to the second tension level when the automated tensioning system receives information from the sensor indicating that the charging assembly is connected to the external charging device.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the second tension level corresponds to an open state of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly includes a ferromagnetic material, and wherein the charging assembly is configured to magnetically couple with the external charging device.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the charging assembly includes an attractive component configured to strengthen the magnetic coupling between the charging assembly and the external charging device.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the internal charging device is an inductive charging device that is configured to inductively couple with the external charging device.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the article of footwear includes a battery that is charged through an inductive charging process.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to tighten the article of footwear from the second tension level to the first tension level when the automated tensioning system receives information indicating that a foot has been inserted into an interior cavity of the article of footwear and the battery has been charged.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the charging assembly includes a receiving recess configured to receive a portion of the external charging device.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein a height of the receiving recess is greater than a height of the external charging device.

10. A method of controlling an article of footwear including an upper, a sole structure, an interior cavity, an automated tensioning system, a battery, a charging assembly, and a sensor, the method comprising:

receiving information from the sensor, the sensor being configured to detect a connection of the charging assembly with an external charging device;

detecting if the charging assembly is connected to the external charging device; and

automatically loosening the article of footwear through an operation of the automated tensioning system when the sensor determines that the charging assembly is connected to the external charging device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining if the battery is charged;

determining if a foot is disposed in the interior cavity of the article of footwear; and

automatically tightening the article of footwear through an operation of the automated tensioning system when the battery is charged and a foot is disposed in the interior cavity.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of detecting a connection includes determining if magnetic coupling has occurred between the charging assembly and the external charging device.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of automatically loosening the article of footwear includes the step of instructing the automated tensioning system to loosen the article of footwear.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising inductively charging the article of footwear when the charging assembly is connected to the external charging device.

15. A kit of parts, the kit of parts comprising:

an article of footwear with an upper, a sole structure, an interior cavity, an automated tensioning system, a battery, a charging assembly, and a first sensor;

an external charging device configured to connect with the charging assembly in order to charge the battery of the article of footwear; and

the charging assembly including a ferromagnetic material, wherein the charging assembly is configured to magnetically couple with the external charging device;

wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to adjust a tension level of the article of footwear from a first tension level to a second tension level when the first sensor detects a connection between the charging assembly and the external charging device, and wherein the first tension level is greater than the second tension level.

16. The kit of parts of claim 15, wherein the article of footwear further includes a second sensor, wherein the automated tensioning system is configured to adjust the tension level of the article of footwear from the second tension level to a third tension level when the second sensor detects an insertion of a foot into the interior cavity of the article of footwear and the battery is charged, and wherein the third tension level is greater than the second tension level.

17. The kit of parts of claim 15, wherein the external charging device includes a first component, a second component, and a Y-type cable, the Y-type cable having a first end, a second end, and a third end, wherein the first end of the Y-type cable connects to the first component, the second end of the Y-type cable connects to the second component, and the third end of the Y-type cable is configured to connect to an external power source.

18. The kit of parts of claim 17, wherein the charging assembly is configured to connect with the first component or the second component.

19. The kit of parts of claim 17, wherein the charging assembly includes a receiving recess configured to receive the first component, and wherein a height of the receiving recess is greater than a height of the first component.

20. The kit of parts of claim 17, wherein the charging assembly includes an attractive component configured to help secure the article of footwear to the first component, and wherein the magnetic coupling between the charging assembly and the first component is configured to allow a user to remove a foot from the interior cavity of the article of footwear while the charging assembly is connected to the first component.