Conventional articles of footwear generally include an upper and a sole structure. The upper provides a covering for the foot and securely positions the foot relative to the sole structure. The sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and is configured so as to be positioned between the foot and the ground when a wearer is standing, walking, or running.
Conventional footwear is often designed with the goal of optimizing a shoe for a particular condition or set of conditions. For example, sports such as tennis and basketball require substantial side-to-side movements. Shoes designed for wear while playing such sports often include substantial reinforcement and/or support in regions that experience more force during sideways movements. As another example, running shoes are often designed for forward movement by a wearer in a straight line. Difficulties can arise when a shoe must be worn during changing conditions, or during multiple different types of movements.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the invention.
In at least some embodiments, an incline adjuster may include a variable-volume lateral chamber and a variable-volume medial chamber. The incline adjuster may further include a transfer channel extending between the lateral chamber and the medial chamber, an electrorheological fluid filling the lateral chamber, the transfer channel, and the medial chamber, and opposing electrodes exposed to the electrorheological fluid along the transfer channel. The electrodes may be formed from, e.g., metal sheet or conductive rubber.
In some embodiments, an incline adjuster may include a variable-volume first chamber and a variable-volume second chamber. The incline adjuster may further include a transfer extending between the first chamber and the second chamber, an electrorheological fluid filling the first chamber, the transfer channel, and the second chamber, and opposing electrodes exposed to the electrorheological fluid along the transfer channel. The first chamber may include a flexible first chamber wall that further includes a first chamber wall central section and a first chamber wall side section surrounding the first chamber wall central section. The first chamber wall side section may include at least one fold defining a bellows shape of the first chamber.
In some embodiments, a method of fabricating an incline adjuster may include molding a first component in which first portions of medial and lateral chambers and a first portion of a transfer channel are defined therein, and in which a portion of a first electrode is exposed along the first portion of the transfer channel. The method may also include molding a second component in which second portions of medial and lateral chambers and a second portion of a transfer channel are defined therein, and in which a portion of a second electrode is exposed along the second portion of the transfer channel.
The method may additionally include bonding the first component to the second component to create an incline adjuster in which the first and second portions of the medial chamber are combined to form the medial chamber, the first and second portions of the lateral chamber are combined to form the lateral chamber, the first and second portions of the transfer channel are combined to form the transfer channel, and the transfer channel connects the medial and lateral chambers.
Additional embodiments are described herein.
Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements.
In various types of activities, it may be advantageous to change the shape of a shoe or shoe portion while a wearer of that shoe is running or otherwise participating in the activity. In many running competitions, for example, athletes race around a track having curved portions, also known as “bends.” In some cases, particularly shorter events such as 200 meter or 400 meter races, athletes may be running at sprint paces on a track bend. Running on a flat curve at a fast pace is biomechanically inefficient, however, and may require awkward body movements. To counteract such effects, bends of some running tracks are banked. This banking allows more efficient body movement and typically results in faster running times. Tests have shown that similar advantages can be achieved by altering the shape of a shoe. In particular, running on a flat track bend in a shoe having a footbed that is inclined relative to the ground can mimic the benefits of running on a banked bend in a shoe having a non-inclined footbed. However, an inclined footbed is a disadvantage on straight portions of a running track. Footwear that can provide an inclined footbed when running on a bend and reduce or eliminate the incline when running on a straight track section would offer a significant advantage.
In footwear according to some embodiments, electrorheological (ER) fluid is used to change the shape of one or more shoe portions. ER fluids typically comprise a non-conducting oil or other fluid in which very small particles are suspended. In some types of ER fluid, the particles may be have diameters of 5 microns or less and may be formed from polystyrene or another polymer having a dipolar molecule. When an electric field is imposed across the ER fluid, the viscosity of the fluid increases as the strength of that field increases. As described in more detail below, this effect can be used to control transfer of fluid and modify the shape of a footwear component. Although track shoe embodiments are initially described, other embodiments include footwear intended for other sports or activities.
“Shoe” and “article of footwear” are used interchangeably herein to refer to an article intended for wear on a human foot. A shoe may or may not enclose the entire foot of a wearer. For example, a shoe could include a sandal-like upper that exposes large portions of a wearing foot. Shoe elements can be described based on regions and/or anatomical structures of a human foot wearing that shoe, and by assuming that the interior of the shoe generally conforms to and is otherwise properly sized for the wearing foot. A forefoot region of a foot includes the heads and bodies of the metatarsals, as well as the phalanges. A forefoot element of a shoe is an element having one or more portions located under, over, to the lateral and/or medial side of, and/or in front of a wearer's forefoot (or portion thereof) when the shoe is worn. A midfoot region of a foot includes the cuboid, navicular, and cuneiforms, as well as the bases of the metatarsals. A midfoot element of a shoe is an element having one or more portions located under, over, and/or to the lateral and/or medial side of a wearer's midfoot (or portion thereof) when the shoe is worn. A heel region of a foot includes the talus and the calcaneus. A heel element of a shoe is an element having one or more portions located under, to the lateral and/or medial side of, and/or behind a wearer's heel (or portion thereof) when the shoe is worn. The forefoot region may overlap with the midfoot region, as may the midfoot and heel regions.
Shoe 10 includes an upper 11 attached to a sole structure 12. Upper 11 may be formed from any of various types or materials and have any of a variety of different constructions. In some embodiments, for example, upper 11 may be knitted as a single unit and may not include a bootie of other type of liner. In some embodiments, upper 11 may be slip lasted by stitching bottom edges of upper 11 to enclose a foot-receiving interior space. In other embodiments, upper 11 may be lasted with a strobel or in some other manner. A battery assembly 13 is located in a rear heel region of upper 11 and includes a battery that provides electrical power to a controller. The controller is not visible in in
Sole structure 12 includes a footbed 14, an outsole 15, and an incline adjuster 16. Incline adjuster 16 is situated between outsole 15 and footbed 14 in a forefoot region. As explained in more detail below, incline adjuster 16 includes a medial side fluid chamber that supports a medial forefoot portion of footbed 14, as well as a lateral side fluid chamber that supports a lateral forefoot portion of footbed 14. ER fluid may be transferred between those chambers through a connecting transfer channel that is in fluid communication with the interiors of both chambers. That fluid transfer may raise the height of one chamber relative to the other chamber, resulting in an incline in a portion of footbed 14 located over the chambers. When further flow of ER fluid through the channel is interrupted, the incline is maintained until ER fluid flow is allowed to resume.
Outsole 15 forms the ground-contacting portion of sole structure 12. In the embodiment of shoe 10, outsole 15 includes a forward outsole section 17 and a rear outsole section 18. The relationship of forward outsole section 17 and rear outsole section 18 can be seen by comparing
Outsole 15 may be formed of a polymer or polymer composite and may include rubber and/or other abrasion-resistant material on ground-contacting surfaces. Traction elements 21 may be molded into or otherwise formed in the bottom of outsole 15. Forefoot outsole section 17 may also include receptacles to hold one or more removable spike elements 22. In other embodiments, outsole 15 may have a different configuration.
Footbed 14 includes a midsole 25. In the embodiment of shoe 10, midsole 25 has a size and a shape approximately corresponding to a human foot outline, is a single piece that extends the full length and width of footbed 14, and includes a contoured top surface 26 (shown in
Fulcrum element 34 is attached to top surface 33 of lower support plate 29. Fulcrum element 34 is positioned between FSRs 31 and 32 in a front portion of bottom support plate 29. Fulcrum element 34 may be formed from hard rubber or from one or more other materials that is generally incompressible under loads that result when a wearer of shoe 10 runs.
Incline adjuster 16 is attached to top surface 33 of lower support plate 29. A lateral chamber 35 of incline adjuster 16 is positioned over lateral FSR 31. A medial chamber 36 of incline adjuster 16 is positioned over medial FSR 32. Incline adjuster 16 includes an aperture 37 through which fulcrum element 34 extends. At least a portion of fulcrum element 34 is positioned between chambers 35 and 36. Through holes 51 in incline adjuster 16 may be used when fabricating incline adjuster 51, as described in more detail below. Through holes 51 may also be used to position and secure incline adjuster 16 relative to lower support plate 29. Corresponding protrusions, not shown in
A top support plate 41 is located in the plantar region of shoe 10 and is positioned over incline adjuster 16. In the embodiment of shoe 10, top support plate 41 is generally aligned with bottom support plate 29. Top support plate 41, which may also be formed from a relatively stiff polymer or polymer composite, provides a stable and relatively non-deformable region against which incline adjuster 16 may push, and which supports the forefoot region of footbed 14.
A forefoot region portion of the midsole 25 underside is attached to the top surface 42 of top support plate 41. Portions of the midsole 25 underside in the heel and side midfoot regions are attached to a top surface 43 of rear outsole section 18. End 19 of forward outsole section 17 is attached to rear outsole section 18 behind the rear-most location 44 of the front edge of section 18 so as to form joint 20. In some embodiments, end 19 may be a tab that slides into a slot formed in section 18 at or near location 14, and/or may be wedged between top surface 43 and the underside of midsole 25.
Also shown in
Lateral chamber 35 is in fluid communication with medial chamber 36 through a fluid transfer channel 60 defined in a central portion of main body 65 and extending between chambers 35 and 36. Incline adjuster 16 is opaque in the embodiment of
A pair of opposing electrodes is positioned within transfer channel 60 on bottom and top sides and extends along a flow regulating portion 61 of transfer channel 60, indicated in
In some embodiments, height of the transfer channel may practically be limited to a range of at least 0.250 mm to not more than 3.3 mm. An incline adjuster constructed of pliable material may be able to bend with the shoe during use. Bending across the transfer channel locally decreases the height at the point of bending. If sufficient allowance is not made, the corresponding increase in electric field strength may exceed the maximum dielectric strength of the ER fluid, causing the electric field to collapse. In the extreme, electrodes could become so close that they actually touch, with the same resultant electric field collapse.
The viscosity of ER fluid increases with the applied electric field strength. The effect is non-linear and the optimum field strength is in the range of 3 to 6 kilovolts per millimeter (kV/mm). The high-voltage dc-dc converter used to boost the 3 to 5 V of the battery may be limited by physical size and safety considerations to less than 2 W or a maximum output voltage of less than or equal to 10 kV. To keep the electric field strength within the desired range, the height of the transfer channel may therefore be limited in some embodiments to a maximum of about 3.3 mm (10 kV/3 kV/mm).
The width of a transfer channel may be practically limited to a range of at least 0.5 mm to not more than 4 mm. The maximum width of a channel may be limited by the physical space between the two chambers of the incline adjuster. If the channel is wide, the material within the middle layer may become thin and unsupported during construction, and walls of the channel may be easily dislodged. The equivalent series resistance of ER fluid will also decrease as the channel width increases, which increases the power consumption. For a shoe size range down to M7 (US) the practical width may be limited to less than 4 mm.
The opposing electrodes in flow regulating portion 61 of transfer channel 60 may be energized to increase the viscosity of ER fluid 59 in flow-regulating portion 61, thereby slowing or stopping flow of ER fluid 59 through channel 60. When flow through transfer channel 60 is enabled, downward force on section 72 forces ER fluid 59 out of medial chamber 36, through transfer channel 60, and into lateral chamber 35. As ER fluid 59 is transferred out of medial chamber 36 and into lateral chamber 35, section 72 moves downward toward main body 65 and section 71 moves upward away from main body 65. Conversely, downward force on section 71 (when flow through transfer channel 60 is enabled) forces ER fluid 59 out of lateral chamber 35, through transfer channel 60, and into medial chamber 36. As ER fluid 59 is transferred out of lateral chamber 35 and into medial chamber 36, section 71 moves downward toward main body 65 and section 72 moves upward away from main body 65. As discussed in more detail below in connection with
The desired length of the transfer channel may be a function of the maximum pressure difference between chambers of the incline adjuster when in use. The longer the channel, the greater the pressure difference that can be withstood. Optimum channel length may be application dependent and construction dependent and therefore may vary among different embodiments. A detriment of a long channel is a greater restriction to fluid flow when the electric field is removed. In some embodiments, practical limits of channel length are in the range of 25 mm to 350 mm. In at least some embodiments, flow-regulating portion 61 may have an L/w ratio of at least 50, where L is the length of flow-regulating portion 61, and wherein w is the average width of flow-regulating portion 61. Exemplary minimum values for the L/w ratio of a transfer channel flow-regulating portion in other embodiments include 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and 170. In some embodiments, the minimum area of each opposing electrode that contacts ER fluid in a flow-regulating transfer channel portion may be, for transfer channels with an average channel width of 4 mm, 800 square millimeters. As explained in more detail below, mounting features of electrodes may be encapsulated within the wall of the channel and thus may not contact the ER fluid. The total area of the electrode may therefore be greater than the exposed functional area.
As seen in
In some embodiments, incline adjuster chambers may have bellows shapes. For example, and as seen in
In some embodiments, incline adjuster 16 may be fabricated by separately forming bottom and top components. The bottom component may include regions 69 and 70 of chambers 35 and 36, respectively, a bottom portion of transfer channel 60, and a bottom electrode. The top component may include walls 67 and 68 of chambers 35 and 36, respectively, a top portion of transfer channel 60, and a top electrode. Once formed, a top side of the bottom component may be bonded to the bottom side of the top component. An internal volume comprising internal volumes of chamber 35, chamber 36, and transfer channel 60 may then be filled with ER fluid 59, and the internal volume sealed.
Bottom electrode 107, also shown in
Extensions 103 and 104 will form portions of necks that will have sprues through which incline adjuster 16 may be filled with ER fluid 59. After filling, those sprues may be sealed and the necks removed. A channel 129 in extension 103 will form a portion of a lateral side sprue. A channel 110 in extension 104 will form a portion of a medial side sprue.
In
After attachment of electrode 107 and lead 53, a second layer 112 is overmolded onto layer 101. The resulting bottom component 115 of incline adjuster 16 is shown in
In some embodiments, layer 101 may be injection molded from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Layer 112 may be overmolded onto layer 101 (with attached electrode 107 and lead 53) by injection molding of additional TPU. Layer 112 may be formed from the same type of TPU used to form layer 101.
Top electrode 157 is also shown in
Electrode 157 is attached to raised portion 156 in
After attachment of electrode 157 and lead 54, a second layer 162 is overmolded onto layer 151. The resulting top component 165 of incline adjuster 16 is shown in
In some embodiments, layer 151 may be injection molded from TPU. Layer 162 may be overmolded onto layer 151 (with attached electrode 157 and lead 54) by injection molding of additional TPU. Layers 151 and 162 may be formed from the same type of TPU used to form layers 101 and 112, or may be formed from a different type of TPU.
Neck 193 is formed by rear extensions 103 and 113 of layers 101 and 112, respectively, as well as by rear extensions 153 and 163 of layers 151 and 162, respectively. A sprue 191, formed by channels 129 and 179, provides a passage into lateral chamber 35. Neck 194 is formed by rear extensions 104 and 114 of layers 101 and 112, respectively, as well as by rear extensions 154 and 164 of layers 151 and 162, respectively. A sprue 192, formed by channels 110 and 160, provides a passage into medial chamber 36. ER fluid 59 may then be injected through one of sprues 191 or 192 until it flows out of the other of sprues 191 or 192. In some embodiments, a degassing procedure such as is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0150785 (incorporated by reference herein) may be used. In some embodiments, a degassing procedure such as is described in a U.S. Provisional Patent Application titled “Degassing Electrorheological Fluid” (filed on the same date as the present application (incorporated by reference herein) may be employed. After filling and degassing, sprues 191 and 192 may be sealed (e.g., by RF welding across sprues 191 and 192), thus sealing an internal volume formed by the internal volumes of chambers 35 and 36 and transfer channel 60. Portions of necks 193 and 194 rearward of the seals may then be cut away.
Controller 47 includes the components housed on PCB 46, as well as converter 45. In other embodiments, the components of PCB 46 and converter 45 may be included on a single PCB, or may be packaged in some other manner. Controller 47 includes a processor 210, a memory 211, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 213, and a low energy wireless communication module 212 (e.g., a BLUETOOTH communication module). Memory 211 stores instructions that may be executed by processor 210 and may store other data. Processor 210 executes instructions stored by memory 211 and/or stored in processor 210, which execution results in controller 47 performing operations such as are described herein. As used herein, instructions may include hard-coded instructions and/or programmable instructions.
IMU 213 may include a gyroscope and an accelerometer and/or a magnetometer. Data output by IMU 213 may be used by processor 210 to detect changes in orientation and motion of shoe 10, and thus of a foot wearing shoe 10. As explained in more detail below, processor 10 may use such information to determine when an incline of a portion of shoe 10 should change. Wireless communication module 212 may include an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) and be used to communicate programming and other instructions to processor 210, as well as to download data that may be stored by memory 211 or processor 210.
Controller 47 includes a low-dropout voltage regulator (LDO) 214 and a boost regulator/converter 215. LDO 214 receives power from battery pack 13 and outputs a constant voltage to processor 210, memory 211, wireless communication module 212, and IMU 213. Boost regulator/converter 215 boosts a voltage from battery pack 13 to a level (e.g., 5 volts) that provides an acceptable input voltage to converter 45. Converter 45 then increases that voltage to a much higher level (e.g., 5000 volts) and supplies that high voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 of incline adjuster 16. Boost regulator/converter 215 and converter 45 are enabled and disabled by signals from processor 210. Controller 47 further receives signals from lateral FSR 31 and from medial FSR 32. Based on those signals from FSRs 31 and 32, processor 210 determines whether forces from a wearer foot on lateral fluid chamber 35 and on medial fluid chamber 36 are creating a pressure within chamber 35 that is higher than a pressure within chamber 36, or vice versa.
The above-described individual elements of controller 47 may be conventional and commercially available components that are combined and used in the novel and inventive ways described herein. Moreover, controller 47 is physically configured, by instructions stored in memory 211 and/or processor 210, to perform the herein described novel and inventive operations in connection with controlling transfer of fluid between chambers 35 and 36 so as to adjust the incline of the forefoot portion of the shoe 10 footbed 14.
In
Also indicated in
In some embodiments, a left shoe from a pair that includes shoe 10 may be configured in a slightly different manner from what is shown in
The locations of medial side stop 83 and of lateral side stop 82 are represented schematically in
Upon reducing the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 to a Vfe level, the viscosity of ER fluid 59 in channel 60 drops. ER fluid 59 then begins flowing out of chamber 36 and into chamber 35. This allows the medial side of top plate 41 to begin moving toward bottom plate 29, and the lateral side of top plate 41 to begin moving away from bottom plate 29. As a result, the incline angle α begins to increase from αmin.
In some embodiments, controller 47 determines if shoe 10 is in a step portion of the gait cycle and in contact with the ground based on data from IMU 213. In particular, IMU 213 may include a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. Using data from the accelerometer and gyroscope, and based on known biomechanics of a runner foot, e.g., rotations and accelerations in various directions during different portions of a gait cycle, controller 47 can determine whether the right foot of the shoe 10 wearer is stepping on the ground. Controller 47 may determine if ΔPM-L is positive based on the signals from FSR 31 and FSR 32. Each of those signals corresponds to magnitude of a force from a wearer foot pressing down on the FSR. Based on the magnitudes of those forces and on the known dimensions of chambers 35 and 36, controller 47 can correlate the values of signals from FSR 31 and FSR 32 to a magnitude and a sign of ΔPM-L.
In some embodiments, a wearer of shoe 10 may be required to take several steps in order for top plate 41 to reach maximum incline. Accordingly, controller 47 may be configured to raise the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 when controller 47 determines (based on data from IMU 213 and FSRs 31 and 32) that the wearer foot has left the ground. Controller 47 may then drop that voltage when it again determines that shoe 10 is stepping on the ground and ΔPM-L is positive. This can be repeated for a predetermined number of steps. This is illustrated in
At time T1, controller 47 determines that top plate 41 of shoe 10 should transition to the maximum incline condition. At time T2, controller 47 determines that shoe 10 is stepping on the ground, but that ΔPM-L is negative. At time T3, controller 47 determines that shoe 10 is stepping on the ground and that ΔPM-L is positive, and controller reduces the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 to Vfe. As a result, incline angle α of top plate 41 begins to increase from αmin. At time T4, controller 47 determines that shoe 10 is no longer stepping on the ground, and controller raises the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 to Vfi. As a result, incline angle α holds at its current value. At time T5, controller 47 again determines that shoe 10 is stepping on the ground, but that ΔPM-L is negative. At time T6, controller 47 determines that shoe 10 is stepping on the ground and that ΔPM-L is positive, controller 47 again reduces the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 to Vfe, and incline angle α resumes increasing. At time T7, incline angle α reaches αmax. Incline angle α stops increasing because further tilting of top plate 41 is prevented by medial stop 83. At time T8, controller 47 determines that shoe 10 is no longer stepping on the ground, and controller 47 again raises the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 to Vfj. Controller 47 maintains that voltage at Vfj through further step cycles until controller 47 determines that top plate 41 should transition to the minimum incline condition.
In the above example, controller 47 lowered the voltage across electrodes 107 and 157 during two step cycles to transition between incline conditions. In other embodiments, however, controller 47 may lower that voltage during fewer or more step cycles. The number of step cycles to transition from minimum incline to maximum incline may not be the same as the number of step cycles to transition from maximum incline to minimum incline.
In some embodiments, controller 47 makes the determination of when to transfer to maximum incline position by counting the number of steps taken since initialization, and determining if that number of steps is enough to have located the shoe 10 wearer in a portion of a track bend. Typically, track athletes are very consistent in the lengths of their strides. Track dimensions and distances from the starting line to the bends in each track lane are known quantities that can be stored by controller 47. Based on input from a shoe 10 wearer to controller 47 indicating the track lane assigned to that shoe 10 wearer, as well as input indicating the length of that wearer's stride, controller 47 can determine the wearer's track location by keeping a running count of steps taken. As discussed above, controller 47 can determine where shoe 10 may be within a gait cycle based on data from IMU 213. These gait cycle determinations can indicate when a step has been taken.
In some embodiments, a left shoe of the pair that includes shoe 10 may operate in a manner similar to that described above for shoe 10, but with a maximum incline condition representing a maximum inclination of the left shoe top plate toward the lateral side. Operations performed by the left shoe controller would be similar to those described above in connection with
In some embodiments, a shoe controller may determine when to transition from minimum incline to maximum incline, and vice versa, based on other types of inputs. In some such embodiments, for example, a shoe wearer may wear a garment that includes one or more IMUs located on the wearer's torso and/or at some other location displaced from the shoe. Output of those sensors could be communicated to the shoe controller over a wireless interface similar to wireless module 212 (
A controller need not be located within a sole structure. In some embodiments, for example, some or all components of a controller could be located with the housing of a battery assembly such as battery assembly 13 and/or in another housing positioned on a footwear upper.
Incline adjuster 316 includes a main body 365. A portion of a lateral chamber 335 is bounded by a flexible contoured wall 367 that extends upward from a lateral side of the top 366 of main body 365. Another portion of lateral chamber 335 bounded by a corresponding region 369 in main body 365 (
Lateral chamber 335 is in fluid communication with medial chamber 336 through a fluid transfer channel 360 (
Chamber 335 has a shape in the plane of main body 365 that is similar to that of chamber 35 in the plane of main body 65, but has a vertical contour that differs from that of chamber 35. In particular, the outer side sections of wall 367 do not include folds. Like chamber 35, however, chamber 335 includes a depression in its exterior shape. Similarly, chamber 336 has a shape in the plane of main body 365 that is similar to that of chamber 36 in the plane of main body 65, but has a vertical contour that differs from that of chamber 36. As with wall 367 of chamber 335, the outer side sections of wall 368 do not include folds. A top of chamber 336 is generally flat, but includes a trough 599 formed in one region.
Unlike incline adjuster 16, which includes electrodes 107 and 157 formed from metal sheet, incline adjuster 316 includes electrodes formed from conductive rubber. Moreover, the electrodes of incline adjuster 316 have cross-sectional profiles and relative positions that are different from those of electrodes 107 and 157. As seen in
In some embodiments, the radius of the inner concave side of electrode 457 exposed to ER fluid 59 and the radius of the portion of electrode 407 projecting into the concavity are both circular and concentric so that the cross-sectional shape of transfer channel 60 is a half-annulus. In some such embodiments, values for the radius of the inner concave side of electrode 457 exposed to ER fluid 59 and the radius of the portion of electrode 407 projecting into the concavity are 1.5 mm and 0.5 mm, respectively. One example of a material from which electrodes 407 and 457 may be formed is the thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer (TEO) with embedded stainless steel fibers, sold by RTP Co. under the product designation EMI 2862-60A, having a Shore A hardness of 60, and having the following typical electrical properties: volume resistivity less than 1 ohms-cm (measured according to ASTM D 257), surface resistivity less than 10,000 ohms/square (measured according to ASTM D 257 and ESD STM11.11), surface resistance less than 1000 ohms (measured according to ESD STM11.11), and static decay (per MIL-PRF-81705D, 5 kV to 50 V, 12% RH) less than 2 seconds (measured according to FTMS101C 4046.1).
In other embodiments, an incline adjuster may be similar to incline adjuster 316 (and include electrodes similar to electrodes 407 and 457), but further include bellows-shaped chambers (e.g., similar to chamber 35 and 36 of incline adjuster 16). Alternatively, only one of the chambers in such an embodiment may include a bellows shape.
Incline adjuster 316 may be fabricated by separately forming a bottom component 315 and a top component 365, as shown in
Bottom component 315 may be formed in a two-step injecting molding procedure. In the first step, a layer corresponding to bottom component 315 without electrode 407 is molded. In that layer, groove 596 (see
Top component 365 may also be formed in a two-step injecting molding procedure. In the first step, a layer corresponding to top component 365 without electrode 457 is molded. In that layer, a groove 597 (see
After components 315 and 365 have been formed, a top side of bottom component 315 may be bonded to a bottom side of top component 365. Components 315 and 365 are assembled so that the bottom and top portions of transfer channel 360 are aligned to form transfer channel 360, and with edges of electrode 457 extending into grooves 594 and 595. Region 369 is aligned with the opening to the interior of the cavity bounded by wall 367 to form lateral chamber 335. Region 370 is aligned with the opening to the interior of the cavity bounded by wall 368 to form medial chamber 336. The alignment of components 315 and 365 during assembly may be performed in a manner similar to that described in connection with
The foregoing description of embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit embodiments of the present invention to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments. The embodiments discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principles and the nature of various embodiments and their practical application to enable one skilled in the art to utilize the present invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Any and all combinations, subcombinations and permutations of features from herein-described embodiments are the within the scope of the invention. In the claims, a reference to a potential or intended wearer or a user of a component does not require actual wearing or using of the component or the presence of the wearer or user as part of the claimed invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/119,084 titled “FOOTWEAR INCLUDING AN INCLINE ADJUSTER” and filed Aug. 31, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/552,548, titled “FOOTWEAR INCLUDING AN INCLINE ADJUSTER” and filed Aug. 31, 2017, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20210204648 A1 | Jul 2021 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62552548 | Aug 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16119084 | Aug 2018 | US |
Child | 17207094 | US |