Athletic or other performance sensing systems

• US 20070260421A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Shum, Albert, Berner, William, Schrock, Allan, Niegowski, James, Case, Charles, Rauchholz, William
• Granted Patent: US 7,607,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/00 Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
• 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: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt

Abstract

Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices include: (a) a housing, optionally an asymmetrical housing, for receiving an electronic module; (b) release mechanisms for removably mounting the module in the housing; and/or (c) activation/authentication systems for selectively activating the module. Additionally, methods of making articles of footwear or other structures that include such housings, electronic modules, release systems, activation systems, authentication systems, etc. are described. Performance sensing systems and methods of using the above devices for sensing performance characteristics also are described.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber;

a sole structure engaged with the upper member, wherein the sole structure includes an exterior outsole surface and an impact-attenuating member located between the outsole surface and the foot-receiving chamber, wherein a major surface of the impact-attenuating member has an opening or recess defined therein; and

a housing provided in the opening or recess, wherein the housing defines a receptacle and the receptacle has an opening for removably receiving an electronic module facing the foot-receiving chamber.

2. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber;

a sole structure engaged with the upper member, wherein the sole structure includes an exterior outsole surface and an impact-attenuating member located between the outsole surface and the foot-receiving chamber, wherein a major surface of the impact-attenuating member has an opening or recess defined therein;

a housing provided in the opening or recess, wherein the housing defines a receptacle facing the foot-receiving chamber; and

an object removably mounted in the receptacle, wherein the object is selected from the group of;

an electronic module and a fill element.

3. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the object is the fill element.

4. An article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the fill element includes a foam material.

5. An article of footwear according to claim 3, wherein the fill element is a rigid block.

6. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the object is the electronic module.

7. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear.

8. An article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one of location, movement speed, or movement distance associated with use of the article of footwear.

9. An article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the electronic module is a speed and distance sensor.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 6, further comprising:

a system for securing the electronic module with the housing.

11. An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the system directly engages the electronic module.

12. An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein the system includes a member that extends into a recess, opening, or groove defined in the electronic module.

13. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the electronic module is structured such that it will fit in the housing in no more than two orientations with respect to the housing.

14. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the impact-attenuating member includes a midsole element.

15. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the housing is located in an arch or midfoot portion of the article of footwear.

16. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the housing is located in a heel area of the article of footwear.

17. An article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising:

a foot-contacting member at least partially covering the housing.

18. An article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the foot-contacting member includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

an insole member, a sock liner, and a bootie element.

19. An article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising:

a cover member at least partially covering the housing.

20. An article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the cover member includes an impact-attenuating material.

21. An article of footwear according to claim 20, wherein the cover member is integrally formed as part of a foot-contacting member, wherein the foot-contacting member includes at least one member selected from the group consisting of:

an insole member, a sock liner, and a bootie element.

22. An article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the cover member includes a rigid plastic material that extends at least partially over the housing.

23. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle is asymmetrical in a direction extending from the foot-receiving chamber toward the outsole surface.

24. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle of the housing is asymmetrical.

25. An article of footwear according to claim 24, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received, wherein the upper perimeter is asymmetrical in at least one respect.

26. An article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising:

a system for securing the object with the housing.

27. An article of footwear according to claim 26, wherein the system includes a retaining device engaged with at least one of the impact-attenuating member or the housing that extends at least partially across the receptacle.

28. An article of footwear according to claim 26, wherein the system includes a fastener for holding the object in place with respect to the housing.

29. An article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising:

an antenna system engaged with at least one of the upper member or the sole structure.

30. An article of footwear according to claim 29, wherein the antenna system extends from the housing.

31. An article of footwear according to claim 29, further comprising:

an electronic module engaged at least partially within the housing and operatively coupled with the antenna system.

32. An article of footwear according to claim 2, further comprising:

a power source engaged with at least one of the upper member or the sole structure.

33. An article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the power source includes an electrical contact or terminal located at or engaged with the housing.

34. An article of footwear according to claim 32, wherein the object is the electronic module, wherein the electronic module is engaged at least partially within the housing and in electrical communication with the power source.

35. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the housing is a rigid housing.

36. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter has a larger circumference than a circumference of the lower perimeter.

37. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter is larger than the lower perimeter.

38. An article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter is shaped different from the lower perimeter.

39. A physical or physiological parameter sensing system, comprising:

an article of footwear, including;

(a) an upper member at least partially defining a foot-receiving chamber, (b) a sole structure engaged with the upper member, wherein the sole structure includes an exterior outsole surface and an impact-attenuating member located between the outsole surface and the foot-receiving chamber, wherein a major surface of the impact-attenuating member has an opening or recess defined therein, and (c) a housing provided in the opening or recess, wherein the housing defines a receptacle facing the foot-receiving chamber;

an electronic module provided in the housing, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear; and

a transmission system operatively coupled to the electronic module for transmitting data relating to the physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear.

40. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the transmission system includes an antenna for wireless transmission.

41. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 40, wherein at least a portion of the transmission system is engaged with or formed as part of the sole structure.

42. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 40, wherein at least a portion of the transmission system is engaged with or formed as part of the upper member.

43. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 40, wherein the antenna is engaged with or formed as part of the electronic module.

44. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, further comprising:

a display device for displaying information relating to the physical or physiological parameter.

45. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 44, wherein the display device is a member selected from the group of:

a watch, an audio playback device, a PDA device, a cellular telephone, a pager device, a video playback device, an audio/video playback device, a portable radio, a portable television, and a portable music player device.

46. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, further comprising:

a processing system for receiving the data relating to the physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear.

47. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 46, further comprising:

a display device for receiving information from the processing system and displaying information relating to the physical or physiological parameter.

48. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one of location, movement speed, or movement distance associated with use of the article of footwear.

49. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 48, wherein the electronic module is a speed and distance sensor.

50. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle of the housing is asymmetrical.

51. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle is asymmetrical in a direction extending from the foot-receiving chamber toward the outsole surface.

52. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received, wherein the upper perimeter is asymmetrical in at least one respect.

53. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, further comprising:

a power source operatively connected to at least partially power the electronic module.

54. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 53, wherein the power source is engaged with the article of footwear and includes an electrical contact or terminal located at or engaged with the housing.

55. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 53, wherein the power source is included as part of the electronic module.

56. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the housing is a rigid housing.

57. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter has a larger circumference than a circumference of the lower perimeter.

58. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter is larger than the lower perimeter.

59. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 39, wherein the receptacle includes an upper perimeter through which the object is received and a lower perimeter, wherein the upper perimeter is shaped different from the lower perimeter.

60. A pair of shoes, comprising:

a first shoe including;

(a) a first upper member at least partially defining a first foot-receiving chamber,

(b) a first sole structure engaged with the first upper member, wherein the first sole structure includes a first exterior outsole surface and a first impact-attenuating member located between the first outsole surface and the first foot-receiving chamber, wherein a major surface of the first impact-attenuating member has a first opening or a first recess defined therein, and

(c) a first housing provided in the first opening or first recess, wherein the first housing defines a first receptacle facing the first foot-receiving chamber;

a second shoe including a second upper member at least partially defining a second foot-receiving chamber and a second sole structure engaged with the second upper member; and

an object removably mounted in the first receptacle, wherein the object is selected from the group of;

a first electronic module and a first fill element.

61. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the object is the first electronic module.

62. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the second sole structure includes a second exterior outsole surface and a second impact-attenuating member located between the second outsole surface and the second foot-receiving chamber, wherein a major surface of the second impact-attenuating member has a second opening or a second recess defined therein, and wherein the second shoe includes a second housing provided in the second opening or second recess, wherein the second housing defines a second receptacle facing the second foot-receiving chamber.

63. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first housing and the second housing have the same size and shape.

64. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first electronic module is provided in one of the first housing or the second housing.

65. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first electronic module is provided in the first housing, and the first fill element is provided in the second housing to at least partially fill the second receptacle.

66. A pair of shoes according to claim 65, wherein the first fill element includes a foam material.

67. A pair of shoes according to claim 65, wherein the first fill element is a rigid block.

68. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first fill element is provided in the first housing to at least partially fill the first receptacle, and a second fill element is provided in the second housing to at least partially fill the second receptacle.

69. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first electronic module is provided in the first housing, and a second electronic module is provided in the second housing.

70. A pair of shoes according to claim 69, wherein the first electronic module provides data relating to a first physical or physiological parameter and the second electronic module provides data relating to a second physical or physiological parameter that differs from the first physical or physiological parameter.

71. A pair of shoes according to claim 62, wherein the first housing and the second housing are rigid housings.

72. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the second impact-attenuating element does not include a housing.

73. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the first housing is located in an arch or midfoot portion of the first shoe.

74. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the first housing is located in a heel area of the first shoe.

75. A pair of shoes according to claim 60, wherein the first housing is a rigid housing.

76-272. -272. (canceled)