Footwear having sensor system

• US 10,674,782 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Molyneux, James, Rice, Jordan M., Weast, Aaron B., Hebert, Jeffrey J., Stillman, Martine W., Weitmann, Dane, Horrell, Joseph B., Knight, Jonathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max H
• Application Number:
  US15/896,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20180184751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 846 Days
• Field of Search: 73862041
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/006 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/38 with power sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1425 situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/149 Pads, e.g. protruding on the foot-facing surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance

Abstract

An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user'"'"'s foot on the sensor. The sensor system also includes a port that is configured to receive a module to place the module in communication with the sensors. The port includes a housing with a chamber configured to receive the module and an interface engaged with the housing and having at least one electrical contact exposed to the chamber. Additional retaining structure and interface structure may be included.

Claims

1. An insert configured for use in an article of footwear, comprising:

an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material;

a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by a foot; and

a port connected to the insert member and the sensor system, the port comprising;

a housing connected to the insert member, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein, wherein the housing has a slot adjacent to the chamber; and

an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the plurality of sensor leads, the interface further comprising a base engaged with the housing and received within the slot, wherein the base is positioned at least partially within the chamber and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber, and wherein the interface is adapted to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electronic module engages the electrical contacts when the electronic module is received within the chamber.

2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the slot is positioned at a first end of the chamber.

3. The insert of claim 2, wherein the housing further comprises a retaining member located at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end, wherein the retaining member is configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

4. The insert of claim 3, wherein the base further comprises a lip located at the first end of the chamber and configured to engage a top of the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

5. The insert of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, with the bottom wall and the side walls defining the chamber, and wherein the slot is located in one of the side walls.

6. The insert of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a retaining tab located within the slot and engaging the base to retain the base within the slot.

7. The insert of claim 6, wherein the base further comprises a complementary retaining tab engaging the retaining tab of the housing.

8. The insert of claim 6, wherein the base further comprises a second retaining tab located within the slot and engaging the base to retain the base within the slot, wherein the retaining tab and the second retaining tab are located at opposite ends of the slot.

9. The insert of claim 1, wherein the insert member has an opening and the housing is received within the opening of the insert member.

10. A port for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the port comprising:

a housing adapted to be at least partially received within the sole structure of the article of footwear, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein, wherein the housing has a slot adjacent to the chamber; and

an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts, the interface further comprising a base engaged with the housing and received within the slot, wherein the base is positioned at least partially within the chamber and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber, and wherein the interface is adapted to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electronic module engages the electrical contacts when the electronic module is received within the chamber.

11. The port of claim 10, wherein the slot is positioned at a first end of the chamber.

12. The port of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a retaining member located at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end, wherein the retaining member is configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

13. The port of claim 12, wherein the base further comprises a lip located at the first end of the chamber and configured to engage a top of the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

14. The port of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a bottom wall and a plurality of side walls extending upward from the bottom wall, with the bottom wall and the side walls defining the chamber, and wherein the slot is located in one of the side walls.

15. The port of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises a retaining tab located within the slot and engaging the base to retain the base within the slot.

16. The port of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises a complementary retaining tab engaging the retaining tab of the housing.

17. The port of claim 15, wherein the base further comprises a second retaining tab located within the slot and engaging the base to retain the base within the slot, wherein the retaining tab and the second retaining tab are located at opposite ends of the slot.

18. An insert configured for use in an article of footwear, comprising:

an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material;

a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by a foot; and

a port connected to the insert member and the sensor system, the port comprising;

a housing connected to the insert member, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein; and

an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts in communication with the plurality of sensor leads, the interface further comprising a base engaged with the housing at a first end of the chamber, wherein the base is positioned at least partially within the chamber and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber, and wherein the interface is adapted to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electronic module engages the electrical contacts when the electronic module is received within the chamber,

wherein the housing has a retaining member at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end and configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and wherein the base comprises a lip located at the first end of the chamber and configured to engage a top of the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber in combination with the retaining member.

19. The insert of claim 18, wherein the housing further comprises a slot, and the base is received within the slot.

20. The insert of claim 18, wherein the insert member has an opening and the housing is received within the opening of the insert member.

21. The insert of claim 18, wherein the retaining member is a flexible member that is moveable between a first position, where the retaining member is configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and a second position, wherein the retaining member is adapted to permit the electronic module to be inserted into or removed from the chamber.

22. The insert of claim 21, wherein the retaining member is a flexible tab having a ramped surface that is adapted to be engaged by the electronic module during insertion into the chamber to flex the flexible tab to the second position to permit insertion of the electronic module into the chamber.

23. The insert of claim 18, wherein the housing further comprises a second retaining member at the second end of the chamber and configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

24. The insert of claim 18, wherein the retaining member is also configured to engage the top of the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

25. The insert of claim 18, wherein the lip and the retaining member are both configured to exert a downward force on the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and wherein the housing further comprises a biasing member adapted to engage the electronic module and exert an upward biasing force on the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber.

26. A port for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the port comprising:

a housing adapted to be at least partially received within the sole structure of the article of footwear, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to receive an electronic module therein; and

an interface engaged with the housing and having a plurality of electrical contacts, the interface further comprising a base engaged with the housing at a first end of the chamber, wherein the base is positioned at least partially within the chamber and supports the electrical contacts to position the electrical contacts to be exposed to the chamber, and wherein the interface is adapted to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electronic module engages the electrical contacts when the electronic module is received within the chamber,

wherein the housing has a retaining member at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end and configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and wherein the base comprises a lip located at the first end of the chamber and configured to engage a top of the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber in combination with the retaining member.

27. The port of claim 26, wherein the retaining member is a flexible member that is moveable between a first position, where the retaining member is configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and a second position, wherein the retaining member is adapted to permit the electronic module to be inserted into or removed from the chamber.

28. The port of claim 27, wherein the retaining member is a flexible tab having a ramped surface that is adapted to be engaged by the electronic module during insertion into the chamber to flex the flexible tab to the second position to permit insertion of the electronic module into the chamber.

29. The port of claim 26, wherein the housing further comprises a second retaining member at the second end of the chamber and configured to engage the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber.

30. The port of claim 26, wherein the lip and the retaining member are both configured to exert a downward force on the electronic module to retain the electronic module within the chamber, and wherein the housing further comprises a biasing member adapted to engage the electronic module and exert an upward biasing force on the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the chamber.