Dynamically-controlled cushioning system for an article of footwear

• US 20030009913A1
• Filed: 07/23/2002
• Published: 01/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allan M. Schrock, Daniel R. Potter
• Original Assignee: Allan M. Schrock, Daniel R. Potter
• Inventors: Schrock, Allan M., Potter, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,477 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/44 with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position

Abstract

An article of footwear with a dynamically-controlled cushioning system is disclosed. The cushioning system includes a sealed, fluid-filled bladder formed with a plurality of separate cushioning chambers, and a control system. The control system, which includes a CPU, pressure sensors and valves, controls fluid communication between the chambers to dynamically adjust the pressure in the cushioning chambers for various conditions such as the activity that the footwear is used in, the weight of the individual and the individual'"'"'s running style. Certain adjustments can be made while the footwear is in use.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system, the system comprising:

a control system attached to the article of footwear;

a fluid-filled bladder received within a sole of the article of footwear, said bladder being closed to ambient air, and having a plurality of separate cushioning chambers in fluid communication with each other, each said chamber having;

a pressure detector in communication with said control system for detecting pressure in said chamber; and

a regulator in communication with, and actuated by, said control system for regulating the level of fluid communication of the chamber with other chambers;

said control system modulating the level of fluid communication between said chambers by actuating said regulators in a predetermined sequence to maintain a predetermined pressure in each chamber.

2. The article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system of claim 1, further including a variable volume reservoir in fluid communication with said cushioning chambers, said variable volume reservoir having:

a regulator in communication with, and actuated by, said control system for regulating the level of fluid communication of the reservoir with the chambers;

a pressure detector in communication with said control system for detecting pressure in said reservoir;

an actuator for modulating the volume of said reservoir, said actuator in communication with said control system wherein said control system modulates the volume of said reservoir and the regulators in a predetermined sequence to obtain a preset pressure in each chamber.

3. The article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system of claim 1, wherein said control system further includes:

a central processing unit received within said article of footwear;

a power source for powering said central processing unit; and

,

wherein said pressure detector is a transducer received within each said chamber and in electrical communication with said central processing unit.

4. The article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system of claim 3, wherein said regulator is an electronically-actuated valve in electrical communication with said central processing unit.

5. The article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system of claim 3, further including a user input device for selectively commanding the central processing unit to select one of a plurality of said predetermined pressure in each said chamber.

6. The article of footwear having a dynamically-controlled cushioning system of claim 1, further including a plenum joining said chambers in fluid communication.

7. A method for dynamically controlling the pressure in the cushioning system of an article of footwear, the cushioning system having a fluid-filled bladder received within a sole of the article of footwear that is closed to ambient air, and has a plurality of separate cushioning chambers in fluid communication with each other, each chamber having a regulator for regulating the level of fluid communication of the chamber with other chambers, said method comprising the steps of:

determining a desirable pressure for each said chamber;

detecting the pressure in each said chamber;

dynamically modulating said regulators in a predetermined manner while the article of footwear is being worn to obtain the desirable pressure in each said chamber.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining a desirable pressure step further includes obtaining input from a user indicating a desired activity level;

and determining the desirable pressure in each chamber for the indicated activity.