Shoe having an inflatable bladder

• US 20050028404A1
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Marvin, William, Davis, Paul M., Busse, Mark, Swales, Geoff, Litchfield, Paul E., Ellis, Todd, Christensen, Brian J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,278,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/029 Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0052 X-shaped or cross-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/789 Central mount
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87555 Having direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism may be monolithic with the bladder or may be a satellite inflation mechanism coupled to the bladder. The article of footwear may also include a deflation mechanism. The deflation mechanism may include a release valve capable of remaining in a open position and/or an adjustable check valve. The deflation mechanism may also be a combination check valve and release valve accessing a single opening in the bladder.

Claims

1. An article of foot wear, comprising:

a sole;

an upper attached to said sole, including an opening therein for inserting a user'"'"'s foot, wherein at least a portion of said upper is formed from a one-piece inflatable bladder, said inflatable bladder includes an X-shaped portion, wherein the center of said X-shaped portion is positioned across a vamp portion of said article of footwear;

an inflation mechanism located in said article of footwear such that said inflation mechanism is actuated by the downward force of a user'"'"'s foot;

wherein one or more arms of said X-shaped portion extends towards a heel portion of said article of footwear and substantially surrounds said opening of said upper.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said article of footwear further comprises a deflation mechanism fluidly connected to said bladder.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said deflation mechanism is a combination check valve and release valve.

4. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said deflation mechanism includes a release valve capable of remaining in a open position.

5. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said deflation mechanism includes an adjustable check valve.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein an air entry to said inflation mechanism is covered by a material that is permeable to air but not to moisture.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said inflation mechanism and said bladder are monolithic.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said inflation mechanism is a satellite inflation mechanism fluidly connected to said bladder.

10. The article of foot wear of claim 9, wherein said inflation mechanism is connected to said bladder via one of a portion of said bladder, tubing, a barb fitting or a combination thereof.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein said inflation mechanism includes a first one-way valve at an inlet to said inflation mechanism and a second one-way valve at an outlet to said bladder, wherein said first and second one-way valves are enclosed in a housing of the same material as said inflation mechanism and monolithic with said inflation mechanism.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder defines cut out portions of said upper.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein one of padding or breathable mesh material is sewn into said cut out portions of said upper.

7. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said material is one of GORE-TEX or VERSAPORE.

14. An article of foot wear, comprising:

a sole;

an upper attached to said sole, including an opening therein for inserting a user'"'"'s foot, wherein at least a portion of said upper is formed from an inflatable bladder;

an inflation mechanism located in said article of footwear such that said inflation mechanism is actuated by the downward force of a user'"'"'s foot;

wherein said bladder includes a periphery weld line having eyelets formed therein and a lace laced through said eyelets.

15. A deflation mechanism for an inflatable article, comprising:

a base;

a cap engaging said base;

a first fluid inlet fluidly connected to said inflatable article;

a sealing pad forming a seal with said first fluid inlet when in a first position and removed from said first fluid inlet when in a second position.

16. The deflation mechanism of claim 15, wherein said sealing pad is coupled to a switch, wherein switch is capable of moving said sealing pad from said first position to said second position by rocking said switch back and forth via pivots.

17. The deflation mechanism of claim 16, wherein said switch is accessible through a hole in said cap.

18. The deflation mechanism of claim 16, wherein said cap covers said switch includes a flexible membrane for rocking said switch back and forth.

19. The deflation mechanism of claim 15, wherein said sealing pad is coupled to said cap, wherein said cap is capable of moving said sealing pad from said first position to said second position by rocking back and forth.

20. The deflation mechanism of claim 15, further comprising a sealing mechanism which is capable of moving said sealing pad to said first position upon a first depression of said cap and to said second position upon a second depression of said cap.

21. The deflation mechanism of claim 15, further comprising:

a second fluid inlet fluidly connected to said inflatable article and

a check valve forming a second seal with said second fluid inlet,

wherein said second seal is released when the fluid pressure at said second fluid inlet is greater than a predetermined pressure;

22. The deflation mechanism of claim 21, wherein said check valve is adjustable in that the predetermined pressure at which said first seal is released is adjustable.

23. The deflation mechanism of claim 22, wherein said check valve is an umbrella valve having a flap which lifts when a predetermined pressure is applied to said flap and wherein pressure applied to a crown of said umbrella valve increases said predetermined pressure.

24. The deflation mechanism of claim 15, wherein said inflatable article is an inflatable bladder of an article of footwear.

25. The deflation mechanism of claim 24, wherein at least one of said base or said cap includes a flange which is sealed to said inflatable bladder around an opening therein.

26. The deflation mechanism of claim 25, wherein said opening in said inflatable bladder is sealed between a cap flange and a base flange.

27. The deflation mechanism of claim 25, wherein said deflation mechanism and said inflatable bladder are incompatible materials and said flange includes an intermediate material which is sealed to said inflatable bladder.

28. A deflation mechanism for an inflatable article, comprising:

a base

a cap engaging said base;

a first and second fluid inlet fluidly connected to said inflatable article;

a check valve forming a first seal with said first fluid inlet, wherein said first seal is released when the fluid pressure at said first fluid inlet is greater than a predetermined pressure;

a release valve forming second fluid seal with said second fluid inlet, wherein said second fluid seal is released when actuated by a user;

wherein a resistance of said check valve is adjustable in that said predetermined pressure at which said first seal is released is adjustable.

29. The deflation mechanism of claim 28, wherein said check valve is an umbrella valve and wherein applying pressure to a crown of said umbrella valve adjusts the predetermined pressure at which said first seal is released.

30. The deflation mechanism of claim 29, further comprising:

a lever having a first end coupled to said base and a second end contacting said crown of said umbrella valve, and

a sliding switch in contact with said lever, such that said sliding switch applies increasing amounts pressure to said lever as it slides along a length of said lever towards said second end and increases the resistance of said check valve.

31. The deflation mechanism of claim 30, wherein said sliding switch includes a stop and a plurality of divots to hold said sliding switch at various positions along said length of said lever.

32. The deflation mechanism of claim 29, further including a pressure disk, wherein turning said pressure disk in a first direction applies increasing pressure to said crown of said umbrella valve and increases the resistance of said check valve.

33. The deflation mechanism of claim 32, wherein said pressure disk includes a plurality of divots which engage a stop coupled to one of said cap or said base to hold pressure disk at various positions when turning and to provide particular various resistances of said check valve.

34. The deflation mechanism of claim 32, wherein said pressure disk transmits pressure to said crown of said umbrella valve via a cam.

35. The deflation mechanism of claim 34 wherein said cam contacts a lever which contacts said crown of said umbrella valve.

36. The deflation mechanism of claim 32, wherein the pressure disk contacts said crown of said umbrella valve.

37. The deflation mechanism of claim 28 wherein said second seal is formed from a plunger biased towards said second fluid inlet, and wherein pressure on said plunger releases said second seal.

38. The deflation mechanism of claim 28, further comprising at least one indicia for indicating a particular predetermined pressures at which said first seal is released.

39. The deflation mechanism of claim 28, wherein said inflatable article is an inflatable bladder of an article of footwear.

40. The deflation mechanism of claim 39, wherein at least one of said base or said cap includes a flange which is sealed to said inflatable bladder around an opening therein.

41. The deflation mechanism of claim 40, wherein said opening in said inflatable bladder is sealed between a cap flange and a base flange.

42. The deflation mechanism of claim 40, wherein said deflation mechanism and said inflatable bladder are incompatible materials and said flange includes an intermediate material which is sealed to said inflatable bladder.

43. A deflation mechanism for an inflatable article, comprising:

a base

a cap engaging said base;

a first fluid inlet fluidly connected to said inflatable article;

an umbrella check valve forming a first seal with said first fluid inlet, wherein said first seal is released when the fluid pressure at said first fluid inlet is greater than a predetermined pressure; and

a mechanism for applying pressure to a crown of said umbrella valve to adjust the predetermined pressure at which said first seal is released;

wherein said predetermined pressure is adjustable with respect to an amount of pressure applied to a crown of said umbrella valve.

44. The deflation mechanism of claim 43, further comprising:

a second fluid inlet fluidly connected to said inflatable article; and

a release valve forming second fluid seal with said second fluid inlet, wherein said second fluid seal is released when actuated by a user.