Footwear having sensor system
First Claim
1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
- a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and
a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port in communication with the force sensors, wherein the port is configured for communication with an electronic device,wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir defined between the first and second layers and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having a passage extending between the first and second layers from the respective air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoir through the passages.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper member and a sole structure, with a sensor system connected to the sole structure. The sensor system includes a plurality of sensors that are configured for detecting forces exerted by a user'"'"'s foot on the sensor. Each sensor includes two electrodes that are in communication with a force sensitive resistive material. Additionally, the sensor system may be provided on an insert that may form a sole member of the article of footwear. The insert may include an airflow system that includes one or more air chambers in communication with one or more air reservoirs through air passages extending therebetween. The insert may also have a multi-layered structure, with the airflow system provided between the layers.
365 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port in communication with the force sensors, wherein the port is configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir defined between the first and second layers and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having a passage extending between the first and second layers from the respective air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoir through the passages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port in communication with the force sensors, wherein the port is configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having an air passage extending between the first and second layers away from the air chamber, the airflow system further comprising at least one vent hole extending through at least one of the first and second layers, the vent hole being in fluid communication with the air passages, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow from the air chambers through the air passages and through the vent hole to an exterior of the insert member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a central portion adapted to be engaged by a metatarsal portion of the foot, a first phalange portion extending from a front edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a first phalange of the foot, and a heel portion extending from a rear edge of the central portion and adapted to be engaged by a heel of the foot, wherein the first phalange portion and the heel portion are narrowed in a medial-lateral direction with respect to the central portion, the insert member further comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; a sensor system comprising first, second, third, and fourth force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors comprises; a patch of force-sensitive resistive material connected to the first layer; a first electrode having a first lead connected to the port, the first electrode and the first lead connected to the first layer; and a second electrode having a second lead connected to the port, the second electrode and the second lead connected to the second layer, wherein the patch of force-sensitive resistive material has a multi-lobed structure comprising a first lobe and a second lobe separated by a gap and a bridge member spanning the gap and connecting the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein the first electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe, and the second electrode is in contact with the first lobe and the second lobe, wherein the first force sensor is positioned on the first phalange portion of the insert member, the second and third force sensors are positioned on the central portion of the insert member, and the fourth force sensor is positioned on the heel portion of the insert member, wherein the insert member has a plurality of slits extending completely through a thickness of the insert member, the slits positioned proximate at least one of first, second, third, and fourth force sensors of the sensor system, and wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising two air reservoirs and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers and located at the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors, each air chamber having a passage formed between the first and second layers and extending from the air chamber to one of the air reservoirs, such that compression of the first, second, third, and fourth force sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoirs through the air passages. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir, an air chamber located at a first sensor of the plurality of force sensors, and a passage extending from the air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the first sensor is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chamber and the air reservoir through the passage, wherein the plurality of force sensors are force sensitive resistor sensors comprising two electrodes and a force sensitive resistive material positioned between the electrodes.
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26. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir, an air chamber located at a first sensor of the plurality of force sensors, and a passage extending from the air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the first sensor is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chamber and the air reservoir through the air passage, wherein the insert comprises a first layer and a second layer connected in a layered configuration, wherein the air reservoir, the air chamber, and the passage are all positioned between the first and second layers, and wherein the plurality of force sensors each comprise a pair of electrodes in contact with a force-sensitive resistive material, and the sensor system further comprises a plurality of leads extending from the force sensors to the port, and wherein the electrodes and leads are located on the first layer and the force sensitive resistive material is located on the second layer.
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27. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the plurality of force sensors are force sensitive resistor sensors comprising two electrodes and a force sensitive resistive material positioned between the electrodes, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir defined between the first and second layers and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having a passage extending between the first and second layers from the respective air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoir through the air passages.
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28. An insert for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the insert comprising:
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a flexible polymer insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member comprising a first layer and a second layer connected together in superimposed relation; and a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member and a port configured for communication with an electronic device, wherein the plurality of force sensors each comprise a pair of electrodes in contact with a force-sensitive resistive material, and wherein the first layer has the electrodes located thereon and the second layer has the force sensitive resistive material thereon, wherein the insert member has an internal airflow system comprising an air reservoir defined between the first and second layers and a plurality of air chambers defined between the first and second layers, each air chamber located at one of the plurality of force sensors, and each air chamber having a passage extending between the first and second layers from the respective air chamber to the air reservoir, such that compression of the sensors is adapted to cause air to flow between the air chambers and the air reservoir through the air passages. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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Specification