US 11,766,088 B2
Footwear cushion with internal conformal electronics
Nathan Andrew Jacobsen, Portland, OR (US); Holli Pheil, Portland, OR (US); and Drew McLain Skeels, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on May 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/874,051.
Application 16/874,051 is a division of application No. 15/577,436, granted, now 10,687,578, previously published as PCT/US2016/034785, filed on May 27, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/167,720, filed on May 28, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2020/0268093 A1, Aug. 27, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 13/20 (2006.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 7/144 (2022.01); A43B 13/02 (2022.01); A43B 21/26 (2006.01); H01Q 1/38 (2006.01); A43B 21/28 (2006.01); B32B 37/04 (2006.01); D03D 1/00 (2006.01); H01Q 1/22 (2006.01); B32B 37/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/24 (2006.01); B29D 35/12 (2010.01); A43B 13/18 (2006.01); H01Q 1/27 (2006.01); H01Q 7/00 (2006.01); H04B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 3/34 (2022.01) [A43B 7/144 (2013.01); A43B 13/023 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/189 (2013.01); A43B 13/20 (2013.01); A43B 21/265 (2013.01); A43B 21/28 (2013.01); B29C 65/242 (2013.01); B29D 35/122 (2013.01); B32B 37/0076 (2013.01); B32B 37/04 (2013.01); D03D 1/0088 (2013.01); H01Q 1/2225 (2013.01); H01Q 1/273 (2013.01); H01Q 1/38 (2013.01); H01Q 7/00 (2013.01); A43B 13/186 (2013.01); B32B 2305/342 (2013.01); H04B 5/0062 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
programming authentication information into an electronic communication device, wherein the authentication information comprises manufacturing origin information;
positioning the electronic communication device between two plies of polymer laminate;
heating the two plies of polymer laminate to form a weld area and a cushion area, wherein the electronic communication device becomes encapsulated between the two plies of polymer laminate;
inflating the cushion area with a gas;
interweaving an antenna of the electronic communication device within the cushion area to form a coil winding such that windings of the coil winding are free-standing within the gas of the cushion area;
sealing the cushion area such that the two plies of polymer laminate form a cushion;
embedding the cushion within a midsole of the article of footwear; and
programming the electronic communication device with ownership information for the article of footwear.