Athletic or other performance sensing systems

• US 8,015,732 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Rauchholz, William F., Berner, William E. Jr., Schrock, Allan M., Shum, Albert, Case, Charles W. Jr., Niegowski, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson; Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/605,811
• Publication Number:
  US 20100037489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 036/100, 036/28, 036/136, 036/137, 036/30.A, 036/31, 036/54
• US Class Current: 36/136
• 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; and

a housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the housing being located between a midsole member and an outsole member of the sole structure thereby forming a portion of the sole structure, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect, and wherein the housing is further located between impact-attenuating column structures included as part of the sole structure.

2. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the housing forms a portion of the midsole member of the sole structure.

3. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the housing is formed in a heel portion of the sole structure.

4. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the electronic module receiving chamber is accessible from outside of the foot-receiving chamber.

5. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic module releasably engaged at least partially within the housing.

6. An article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the electronic module provides data relating to at least one physical or physiological parameter associated with use of the article of footwear.

7. An article of footwear according to claim 6, 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.

8. An article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the electronic module is a speed and distance sensor.

9. An article of footwear according to claim 5, further comprising:

a system for securing the electronic module with the housing.

10. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the system includes a cover element engaged with at least one of an impact-attenuating member and the housing, and wherein the cover element extends across the receptacle.

11. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the system includes a retaining device engaged with at least one of an impact-attenuating member and the housing that extends at least partially across the receptacle.

12. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the system includes a fastener for holding the module in place with respect to the housing.

13. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the system directly engages the electronic module.

14. An article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the system includes a member that extends into a recess, opening, or groove defined in the electronic module.

15. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

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

16. An article of footwear according to claim 15, further comprising:

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

17. An article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising:

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

18. An article of footwear according to claim 17, wherein the power source includes an electrical contact or terminal located at or engaged with the housing.

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

an electronic module engaged at least partially within the housing and in electrical communication with the power source.

20. An article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the housing is located at a medial posting location in the article of footwear.

21. An article of footwear comprising:

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

a sole structure engaged with the upper member;

a housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the housing forming a portion of at least one of the upper member or the sole structure, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, and wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect; and

an antenna system engaged with at least one of the upper member and the sole structure, and wherein the antenna system extends from the housing.

22. 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, and (c) a housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the housing forming a portion of at least one of the upper member or the sole structure, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, and wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect;

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, the transmission system including an antenna for wireless transmission and wherein at least a portion of the transmission system is engaged with or formed as part of the upper member.

23. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, wherein at least another portion of the transmission system is engaged with or formed as part of the sole structure.

24. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the antenna is engaged with or formed as part of the electronic module.

25. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, further comprising:

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

26. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, further comprising:

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

27. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 26, further comprising:

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

28. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, 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.

29. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 28, wherein the electronic module is a speed and distance sensor.

30. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, further comprising:

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

31. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 30, 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.

32. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 30, wherein the power source is included as part of the electronic module.

33. A physical or physiological sensing system according to claim 22, wherein the receptacle includes a pocket member.

34. 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, and (c) a first housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the first housing forming a portion of at least one of the first upper member or the first sole structure, wherein the first housing defines a first receptacle, and wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the first receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect; and

a second shoe including;

(a) a second upper member at least partially defining a second foot-receiving chamber, and (b) a second sole structure engaged with the second upper member, wherein the second shoe does not include an electronic module receiving chamber.

35. A pair of shoes according to claim 34, further comprising:

a first fill element provided in the first housing to at least partially fill the first receptacle.

36. A pair of shoes according to claim 34, further comprising:

a first electronic module provided in the first housing.

37. 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, and (c) a first housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the first housing forming a portion of at least one of the first upper member or the first sole structure, wherein the first housing defines a first receptacle, and wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the first receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect;

a first electronic module provided in the first housing; and

a second shoe including;

(a) a second upper member at least partially defining a second foot-receiving chamber, and (b) a second sole structure engaged with the second upper member,

wherein the second shoe further includes a second housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the second housing forming a portion of at least one of the second upper member or the second sole structure, wherein the second housing defines a second receptacle, and wherein an electronic module receiving chamber of the second receptacle is asymmetrical in at least one respect, and wherein the first fill element includes a foam material.

38. A pair of shoes according to claim 37, wherein the first electronic module provides data relating to a first physical or physiological parameter and a second electronic module, provided in the second housing, provides data relating to a second physical or physiological parameter that differs from the first physical or physiological parameter.

39. An article of footwear, comprising:

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

a sole structure engaged with the upper member; and

a housing for releasably receiving an electronic module, the housing forming a portion of the sole structure, wherein the housing defines a receptacle, and wherein the housing is located between impact-attenuating column structures included as part of the sole structure.