US 12,274,328 B2
Footwear including an incline adjuster
Steven H. Walker, Camas, WA (US); Raymond L. Nicoli, Seattle, WA (US); and Rolando Pausal, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/993,741.
Application 17/993,741 is a continuation of application No. 17/207,094, filed on Mar. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,576,464.
Application 17/207,094 is a continuation of application No. 16/119,084, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,980,312, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/552,548, filed on Aug. 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0087070 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 3/24 (2006.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 5/06 (2022.01); A43B 5/10 (2006.01); A43B 7/24 (2006.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 3/246 (2013.01) [A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 5/06 (2013.01); A43B 5/10 (2013.01); A43B 7/24 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/143 (2013.01); A43B 13/189 (2013.01); A43B 13/187 (2013.01); A43B 13/188 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article comprising:
an incline adjuster comprising a main body, a variable-volume first chamber extending on a first side of the main body, and a variable-volume second chamber extending on a second side of the main body, wherein the first side of the main body is one of a medial and a lateral side of the main body and the second side is the other of the medial and the lateral side of the main body, and wherein the incline adjuster further comprises:
a transfer channel extending between the first chamber and the second chamber;
an electrorheological fluid filling the first chamber, the transfer channel, and the second chamber;
a first electrode exposed to the electrorheological fluid along the transfer channel; and
a second electrode and exposed to the electrorheological fluid along the transfer channel in a position opposite the first electrode,
wherein the first chamber comprises a first chamber wall central section and a first chamber wall side section surrounding the first chamber wall central section, and wherein the first chamber wall central section comprises an exterior shape that includes a depression, and
wherein a concave side of the first electrode is exposed to the electrorheological fluid and a portion of the second electrode projecting into a concavity of the concave side is exposed to the electrorheological fluid.