US 12,310,448 B2
Incline adjuster with multiple discrete chambers
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 Apr. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/138,554.
Application 18/138,554 is a continuation of application No. 17/207,126, filed on Mar. 19, 2021, granted, now 11,666,116.
Application 17/207,126 is a continuation of application No. 16/118,890, filed on Aug. 31, 2018, granted, now 10,980,314, issued on Apr. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/552,551, filed on Aug. 31, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0263266 A1, Aug. 24, 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 7/24 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43B 13/14 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/189 (2013.01) [A43B 3/246 (2013.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 5/06 (2013.01); A43B 7/24 (2013.01); A43B 13/12 (2013.01); A43B 13/141 (2013.01); A43B 13/143 (2013.01); A43B 13/187 (2013.01); A43B 13/188 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article comprising:
an incline adjuster comprising a main body and at least three variable-volume chambers extending outward from the main body,
wherein each of the chambers contains an electrorheological fluid and is configured to change outward extension in correspondence to change in volume of the electrorheological fluid within the chamber,
wherein the chambers are connected in a series by transfer channels, each of the transfer channels permitting flow between two of the chambers, the transfer channels comprise a flow-regulating transfer channel, the flow-regulating transfer channel comprising opposing first and second electrodes extending along an interior of a field-generating portion of the flow-regulating transfer channel, the field-generating portion has a length L and an average width W, and a ratio L/W is at least 50, and
wherein the chambers comprise one or more medial chambers located on a medial side of the incline adjuster and one or more lateral chambers located on a lateral side of the incline adjuster.