FOOTWEAR WITH DEPLOYABLE AND RETRACTABLE TRACTIVE FEATURES
A footwear with a fluid which flows through integral chambers and passageways within the sole in which additional traction elements may be selectively and forcedly deployed and retracted. Valves on the footwear in combination with a control system, control the flow of the fluid allowing the user to choose between a range of traction deployment options to suit the needs of the user.
Specialty footwear for improving traction is currently available. For example, football and golf shoes have various studs that protrude beyond the sole in order to increase traction with soft ground. These studs dig into the soft ground surface and increase the lateral and fore/aft tractive forces. However, this type of specialty footwear has limitations. The stud protuberances are not easily retracted or removed, hence the user must exercise care and caution when walking or running on hard surfaces in which the studs have little traction. The studs also generate considerable noise when used on hard surfaces. Additionally, these studs can potentially damage vulnerable ground surfaces such as putting greens, wood or tile floors.
Information relevant to attempts to address these problems can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,578,631 and 6,125,556. However, each of these references suffers disadvantages. One such disadvantage is the excessive hardware and tubing used, which is rigid, heavy and bulky, which necessarily increases the weight and thickness of the sole of the footwear, while simultaneously decreasing the comfort of the wearer. Also, referenced specialty mechanisms can become obstructed by things such as soil and water rendering them ineffective. They also have the additional disadvantage of being complicated and difficult to operate and offer too little in the way of traction options.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for easily operated footwear with light, comfortable and functional deployable and retractable traction for varying walking surfaces.
SUMMARYAccording to one embodiment of the footwear comprising a midsole. The midsole having a first main pocket formed therein and a first plurality of slave pockets formed therein. The footwear also comprising an outsole having a second main pocket formed therein and a second plurality of slave pockets formed therein. The first and second main pockets cooperate to form a master chamber between the midsole and outsole. The first and second plurality of slave pockets cooperate to form slave chambers. The master chamber and the slave chambers are fluidly connected by way of a fluid transfer passageway having a fluid therein. The footwear also comprises a valve at least partially disposed within the fluid transfer passageway to control the flow of the fluid. Additionally, a plurality of elastomeric bodies at least partially disposed within said outsole and positioned substantially at said slave chambers such that said fluid flows into and out of said slave chambers shifting said elastomeric bodies relative to said outsole.
According to another embodiment of the footwear comprising a midsole and an upper membrane having a first main pocket formed therein and a first plurality of slave pockets formed therein. The footwear also comprising a lower membrane having a second main pocket formed therein and a second plurality of slave pockets formed therein. The first and second main pockets cooperate to form a master chamber between the upper and lower membranes. The first and second plurality of slave pockets cooperate to form slave chambers. The master chamber and the slave chambers are fluidly connected by way of a fluid transfer passageway having a fluid therein. The footwear also comprising a valve at least partially disposed within the fluid transfer passageway to control the flow of the fluid. Additionally, the footwear has an outsole coupled to said midsole such that the upper and lower membranes are at least partially disposed therein. Furthermore, a plurality of elastomeric bodies at least partially disposed within said outsole and positioned substantially at said slave chambers such that said fluid flows into and out of said slave chambers shifting said elastomeric bodies relative to said outsole.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to the drawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. The specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
The present disclosure may be embodied in various forms. The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose an article of footwear 20 in accordance with the present disclosure. Footwear 20 may be any style of footwear including, for example, footwear that typically includes cleats such as Baseball cleats, soccer cleats, football cleats, and golf shoes. However, footwear 20 is not to be restricted to types of footwear known to have cleats. Footwear 20 could also be any style of footwear that could accommodate a retractable body for additional traction and/or support in certain circumstances, such as a boot, a basketball shoe, a tennis shoe, a climbing shoe or a running shoe.
For purposes of general reference, as shown in
Unless otherwise stated, or otherwise clear from the context below, directional terms used herein, such as rear, rearwardly, front, forwardly, inwardly, outwardly, lower, downwardly, upper, upwardly, etc., refer to directions relative to footwear 20 itself. Footwear 20 is shown in
A fluid is used as a medium for power transmission. The fluid can be a compressible or incompressible fluid. Compressible fluids include gases such as air, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, helium, etc. whereas, incompressible fluids include water, mineral oil and other hydraulic fluids.
Disposed at least partially within the outsole 30 is a plurality of elastomeric bodies 50.
In an alternative embodiment, disposed at least partially within each elastomeric bodies 50 is a member 52.
In one possible embodiment, the sensor 56 is an accelerometer which senses lateral movement of the footwear 20, this lateral movement triggers the actuation of the solenoid valve 62, ultimately shifting the elastomeric bodies 50 downwardly relative to the outsole 30, increasing the amount of tractive force with the surface 54. When further predefined criteria are met the solenoid valve is actuated, permitting the elastomeric bodies 50 to shift upwardly relative to the outsole 30. It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that at least one additional sensor 56 may be added to further enhance features of the footwear 20.
For example, on a rainy day a remote device 66 such as a cell phone could sense weather and GPS data and send an electrical signal 59, signaling that it is wet and you are walking outside, to the footwear 20. The footwear 20 receives the message from the remote device through the transceiver 58 the micro processor 60 would then make a decision whether to deploy additional traction based on predefined criteria. If the criteria for additional traction is met, then the solenoid 62 will be energized and the valve 48 will shift to the appropriate deployed position, allowing the flow of fluid from the master chamber 34 to the slave chambers 36. the weight of the wearer causes the volume of the master chamber 34 to decrease forcing the fluid to flow from the master chamber 34 to the slave chambers 36, increasing the volume of the slave chambers 36 and shifting the elastomeric bodies 50 downwardly relative to the outsole 30 entering the deployed state. The elastomeric bodies 50, when in the deployed state make greater contact with the walking surface 54, adding additional tractive force to the wearer. Additional tractive force is beneficial when on smooth, slippery or sloped walking surfaces 54.
In an alternative embodiment of the footwear 20, the valve 48 controls the flow of the fluid from the master chamber 34 to the slave chambers 36 such that the slave chambers 36 are fluidly configured into groups. The groups of slave chambers 36 may be divided based on location on the outsole 30 front to back as well as inward to outward. Additionally, groups may be divided to alternate in patterns or even placed strategically to maximize the effect of the various tractive members 52. The control system 49 allows for the selection of varying quantities of elastomeric bodies 50 to deploy. This embodiment allows the footwear 20 to selectively deploy a plurality of types of members 52. The footwear 20 may be configured to switch between a soft traction pad and sports cleat optimizing traction for multiple surfaces.
Claims
1. A footwear with deployable and retractable tractive features, comprising:
- a midsole having a first main pocket formed therein and a first plurality of slave pockets formed therein;
- an outsole having a second main pocket formed therein and a second plurality of slave pockets formed therein, wherein the first and second main pockets cooperate to form a master chamber between the midsole and outsole, and wherein the first and second plurality of slave pockets cooperate to form slave chambers, wherein the master chamber and the slave chambers are fluidly connected by way of a fluid transfer passageway having a fluid therein;
- a valve at least partially disposed within the fluid transfer passageway to control the flow of the fluid; and
- a plurality of elastomeric bodies at least partially disposed within said outsole and positioned substantially at said slave chambers such that said fluid flows into and out of said slave chambers shifting said elastomeric bodies relative to said outsole.
2. The footwear of claim 1 further comprising a member at least partially disposed in each of said plurality of elastomeric bodies.
3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said fluid is an incompressible fluid.
4. The footwear of claim 1 further comprising a control system disposed onto said valve, actuating said valve.
5. The footwear of claim 4 wherein said control system is configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote device.
6. The footwear of claim 4 wherein said control system is configured with a sensor.
7. The footwear of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of said master chambers.
8. The footwear of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of master chambers is fluidly connected to exclusive said slave chambers.
9. A footwear with deployable and retractable tractive features, comprising:
- a midsole;
- an upper membrane having a first main pocket formed therein and a first plurality of slave pockets formed therein;
- a lower membrane having a second main pocket formed therein and a second plurality of slave pockets formed therein, wherein the first and second main pockets cooperate to form a master chamber between the upper and lower membranes, and wherein the first and second plurality of slave pockets cooperate to form slave chambers, wherein the master chamber and the slave chambers are fluidly connected by way of a fluid transfer passageway having a fluid therein;
- a valve at least partially disposed within the fluid transfer passageway to control the flow of the fluid;
- an outsole coupled to said midsole such that the upper and lower membranes are at least partially disposed therein;
- a plurality of elastomeric bodies at least partially disposed within said outsole and positioned substantially at said slave chambers such that said fluid flows into and out of said slave chambers shifting said elastomeric bodies relative to said outsole.
10. The footwear of claim 9 further comprising a member at least partially disposed in each of said plurality of elastomeric bodies.
11. The footwear of claim 9 wherein said fluid is an incompressible fluid.
12. The footwear of claim 9 further comprising a control system disposed onto said valve, actuating said valve.
13. The footwear of claim 12 wherein said control system is configured to communicate wirelessly with a remote device.
14. The footwear of claim 12 wherein said control system is configured with a sensor.
15. The footwear of claim 9 wherein there is a plurality of said master chambers.
16. The footwear of claim 15 wherein each of said plurality of master chambers is fluidly connected to exclusive said slave chambers.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 6, 2016
Publication Date: Jan 11, 2018
Inventor: Patricia Vandervoort
Application Number: 15/203,784