US 12,446,659 B2
Electrorheological fluid structure with attached conductor and method of fabrication
Steven H. Walker, Camas, WA (US); and Chin-Yuan Cheng, Kirkland, WA (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Feb. 12, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/438,767.
Application 17/154,125 is a division of application No. 15/363,432, filed on Nov. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,932,523, issued on Mar. 2, 2021.
Application 18/438,767 is a continuation of application No. 17/154,125, filed on Jan. 21, 2021, granted, now 11,925,235.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/260,890, filed on Nov. 30, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0245167 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 5/06 (2022.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/12 (2006.01); A43C 15/16 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/04 (2006.01); B29D 35/12 (2010.01); B29D 35/14 (2010.01); B29L 31/50 (2006.01); F16K 99/00 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/189 (2013.01) [A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 5/06 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/12 (2013.01); A43C 15/16 (2013.01); B29C 65/04 (2013.01); B29C 66/40 (2013.01); B29D 35/122 (2013.01); B29D 35/142 (2013.01); F16K 99/0049 (2013.01); B29L 2031/504 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for a footwear sole component to control an incline in between a footbed and an outsole comprising:
an incline adjuster positioned between the footbed and the outsole, the incline adjuster comprising:
a polymeric housing having a first fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber, and a fluid transfer channel in fluid communication between the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber;
a controller comprising a processor, a memory, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), and a low energy wireless communication module, wherein:
the memory stores instructions that may be executed by the processor,
the processor executes instructions stored by memory and/or stored in the processor,
the IMU comprises an accelerometer and a gyroscope, wherein using data from the accelerometer and the gyroscope, the controller determines if the outsole is in a step portion of a gait cycle and in contact with the ground; and
the low energy wireless communication module communicates information or instructions between the memory, processor, or IMU; and
the controller determines whether forces from a wearer foot on the first fluid chamber and on the second fluid chamber are creating a pressure within the first fluid chamber that is higher than a pressure within the second fluid chamber, or vice versa; and
based on the data from the accelerometer and the gyroscope and the determined pressures of the first and second fluid chambers, the controller adjusts the pressures of the fluid chambers.