Footwear having sensor system

• US 9,462,844 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 10/11/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Schrock, Allan M., Nurse, Matthew A., Pisciotta, Jeffrey C., Amos, Michael S., Owings, Andrew A., Meschter, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Charioui, Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US12/483,828
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/41, 702/139, 702/160
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/006 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/00 Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/0006 for pitching
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/02 Tennis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/18 Baseball, rounders or similar games
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/182 Softball
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/22 Field hockey
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2102/32 Golf
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/53 Force of an impact, e.g. blow or punch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 : Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0025 : Football American football A63B2243/007
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2243/0066 : Rugby; American football
• 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: A63B 26/003 : for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 : Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1012 : involving biosensors worn by the player, e.g. for measuring heart beat, limb activity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1031 : using a wireless connection, e.g. Bluetooth, infrared connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0334 : Foot operated pointing devices

Abstract

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. The collected data can be further processed for a variety of different uses or applications.

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, the sole structure comprising an outsole member, a midsole member located between the outsole member and the foot-receiving chamber, and a foot contacting member located between the midsole member and the foot-receiving chamber;

an insert member engaging the sole structure and located between the midsole member and the foot contacting member, the insert member comprising an insert body, a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member in different locations, each force sensor configured for detecting a force exerted by a foot on the force sensor, and a plurality of sensor leads connected to the insert member, the sensor leads extending from the force sensors and having terminal ends that converge to a single location to form a consolidated interface configured for removable connection to an electronic module;

a well located in the sole structure and being at least partially defined within the midsole member, configured for removably receiving the electronic module, wherein the well defines an opening in an upper major surface of the midsole member configured to provide access for removing and inserting the electronic module into and out of the well, and wherein the foot contacting member covers the upper major surface of the midsole member to cover the opening of the well; and

a port accessible within the well and including the consolidated interface, the port having the consolidated interface exposed within the well and being configured for removable connection to the electronic module such that the port is configured to enable communication between the force sensors and the electronic module through the sensor leads and the consolidated interface when the electronic module is received in the well.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the insert member comprises a first flexible layer and a second flexible layer connected to each other in a superimposed manner.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein each force sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode positioned on the first flexible layer and spaced from each other, and a force-sensitive resistive material positioned on the second flexible layer and connecting the first electrode and the second electrode.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the sensor leads are also connected to the first flexible layer, in contact with the first and second electrodes.

5. The article of footwear of claim 2, further comprising the electronic module received in the well, and wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data gathered by the force sensors and communicating the data to an external computer device.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the electronic module comprises a complementary interface for communication through the port.

7. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls, and all of the sensor leads are connected to the port through a single side wall of the well, and wherein the consolidated interface is exposed on the single side wall of the well for contact with the electronic module.

8. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls, and the sensor leads are connected to the port through two or more of the side walls.

9. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, and the sensor leads are connected to the port through at least one side wall and the bottom wall of the well.

10. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, and all of the sensor leads are connected to the port through the bottom wall of the well.

11. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the well is partially contained within an underside of the foot contacting member.

12. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the force sensors are force-sensitive resistor sensors, and wherein the force sensors and the sensor leads are located on confronting surfaces of the first and second flexible layers and between the first and second flexible layers.

13. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the first and second flexible layers are formed of a Mylar material.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the insert member comprises a first flexible layer and a second flexible layer connected to each other in a superimposed manner, wherein the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer each have a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein each of the force sensors comprises a pair of electrodes connected to the insert member and a force-sensitive resistive material in contact with the electrodes.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the electrodes are mounted on the first flexible layer and the force-sensitive resistive material is mounted on the second flexible layer, such that the pair of electrodes for each force sensor are aligned and in contact with the force-sensitive resistive material of the respective force sensor when the first and second flexible layers are connected together.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the sensor leads are connected to the first flexible layer, in contact with the electrodes.

18. The article of footwear of claim 14, further comprising at least one power lead positioned on the insert member and connected from the consolidated interface to the plurality of force sensors, configured for providing electrical power from the electronic module to the force sensors when the electronic module is received in the well.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the article of footwear contains a single power lead positioned on the insert member and connected from the consolidated interface to all of the plurality of force sensors.

20. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the force sensors are force-sensitive resistor sensors and wherein the force sensors and the sensor leads are located on confronting surfaces of the first and second flexible layers and between the first and second flexible layers.

21. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the first and second flexible layers are formed of a Mylar material.

22. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein each force sensor is configured for quantitatively detecting a change in the force exerted by the foot on the force sensor during activity.

23. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the consolidated interface comprises a multi-pin connection accessible within the well, with each pin connected to one of the sensor leads.

24. The article of footwear of claim 14, further comprising a power lead connected from the consolidated interface to the plurality of force sensors, the power lead being positioned on the insert member and configured for providing electrical power from the electronic module to the force sensors when the electronic module is received in the well, wherein the consolidated interface comprises a multi-pin connection accessible within the well and configured for connecting the electronic module to the sensor leads and the power lead.

25. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising at least one power lead connected from the consolidated interface to the plurality of force sensors, configured for providing electrical power from the electronic module to the force sensors when the electronic module is received in the well.

26. The article of footwear of claim 25, wherein the article of footwear contains a single power lead connected from the consolidated interface to all of the plurality of force sensors.

27. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising the electronic module received in the well, and wherein the electronic module is configured for collecting data gathered by the force sensors and communicating the data to an external computer device.

28. The article of footwear of claim 27, wherein the electronic module comprises a complementary interface for communication through the port.

29. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each force sensor is configured for quantitatively detecting a change in the force exerted by the foot on the force sensor during activity.

30. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the consolidated interface comprises a multi-pin connection configured for connection to the electronic module.

31. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a power lead connected from the consolidated interface to all of the plurality of force sensors, the power lead configured for providing electrical power from the electronic module to the force sensors when the electronic module is received in the well, wherein the port comprises a multi-pin connection accessible within the well and configured for connecting the electronic module to the sensor leads and the power lead.

32. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each force sensor comprises a force-sensitive resistor.

33. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each force sensor comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a force-sensitive resistive material connecting the first electrode and the second electrode.

34. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls, and all of the sensor leads are connected to the port through a single side wall of the well, and wherein the consolidated interface is exposed on the single side wall of the well for contact with the electronic module.

35. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls, and the sensor leads are connected to the port through two or more of the side walls.

36. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, and the sensor leads are connected to the port through at least one side wall and the bottom wall of the well.

37. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the well has a plurality of side walls and a bottom wall, and all of the sensor leads are connected to the port through the bottom wall of the well.

38. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the well is partially contained within an underside of the foot contacting member.

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;

a plurality of force sensors connected to the sole structure, each force sensor configured for detecting a force exerted by a foot on the force sensor through contact-based sensing, wherein each sensor comprises a first electrode and a second electrode;

a well located in the sole structure, configured for removably receiving an electronic module;

a port accessible within the well and being connected to an interface, the port being configured for connection to the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the well;

a plurality of sensor leads connecting the force sensors to the port, configured to enable communication between the force sensors and the electronic module through the sensor leads and the port when the electronic module is received in the well, wherein the sensor leads are connected to the second electrode of each of the force sensors; and

a single power lead connected from the port to all of the plurality of force sensors by connection to the first electrode of each of the force sensors, wherein the single power lead is configured for providing power from the electronic module to all of the plurality of force sensors.

40. The article of footwear of claim 39, wherein the single power lead is configured to connect to the electronic module through the interface to provide power from the electronic module to all of the plurality of force sensors.

41. 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 comprises an outsole member, a midsole member located between the outsole member and the foot-receiving chamber, a foot contacting member located between the midsole member and the foot-receiving chamber, and an insert member positioned within the foot-receiving chamber, the insert member comprising a first flexible layer and a second flexible layer connected to each other in a superimposed manner, wherein the first flexible layer and the second flexible layer each have a thickness of 0.05 mm to 0.2 mm;

a plurality of force sensors positioned on the insert member, between the first and second flexible layers, each force sensor configured for detecting a force exerted by a foot on the force sensor;

a well located in the sole structure, configured for removably receiving an electronic module, wherein that the well defines an opening in an upper major surface of the midsole member configured to provide access for removing and inserting the electronic module, and wherein the foot contacting member covers the upper major surface of the midsole member to cover the opening of the well; and

a port accessible within the well and being connected to an interface, the port being configured for connection to the electronic module when the electronic module is received in the well; and

a plurality of sensor leads positioned on the insert member, between the first and second flexible layers, the sensor leads connecting the force sensors to the port and being configured to enable communication between the force sensors and the electronic module through the sensor leads and the port when the electronic module is received in the well.

42. The article of footwear of claim 41, further comprising a plurality of sensor leads connected to the insert member, the sensor leads extending from the force sensors and having terminal ends that converge to a single location to form the interface as a consolidated interface configured for removable connection to an electronic module.