Adjustable Foot Support Systems Including Fluid-Filled Bladder Chambers

Abstract

Fluid systems, foot support systems (including sole structures), and/or articles of footwear include: (a) a foot support bladder; (b) a fluid reservoir; (c) a pump (e.g., a foot-activated pump) including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to one of the fluid reservoir or the foot support bladder; (d) a first fluid line placing the foot support bladder or the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump; and (e) a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. Such fluid systems, foot support systems, and/or articles of footwear further may include one or more of: (i) a fluid line support member (e.g., for supporting one or both of the fluid lines); and/or (ii) a switch (e.g., for changing at least one of the fluid lines between an open configuration and a closed configuration).

We claim: 
     
         1 . A fluid system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a foot support bladder;   a fluid reservoir;   a pump including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to the foot support bladder;   a first fluid line placing the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;   a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and   a switch configured to change the second fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein when the second fluid line is in the closed configuration, the pump moves fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder, and wherein movement of sufficient fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder with the second fluid line in the closed configuration decreases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the switch includes a protrusion that is movable to pinch the second fluid line when the switch places the second fluid line in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the second fluid line is in the open configuration, fluid pressure is equalized throughout the fluid system. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein interaction with the switch to change the second fluid line from the closed configuration to the open configuration increases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein interaction with the switch to change the second fluid line from the closed configuration to the open configuration causes an immediate increase in a height dimension of the fluid reservoir as fluid pressure is equalized throughout the fluid system. 
     
     
         6 . A foot support system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a foot support bladder;   a fluid reservoir;   a pump including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to the foot support bladder;   a first fluid line placing the fluid reservoir in fluid communication with the inlet of the pump;   a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and   a switch configured to change the second fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein when the second fluid line is in the closed configuration, the pump moves fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder, and wherein movement of sufficient fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder with the second fluid line in the closed configuration decreases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         7 . The foot support system according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first midsole component extending between and at least partially separating the foot support bladder and the fluid reservoir, wherein the first midsole component includes a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface engages at least a portion of the fluid reservoir, and wherein the top surface engages at least a portion of the foot support bladder.   
     
     
         8 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , further comprising a second midsole component, wherein at least a portion of the foot support bladder is located between the first midsole component and the second midsole component. 
     
     
         9 . The foot support system according to  claim 6 , wherein the switch includes a protrusion that is movable to pinch the second fluid line when the switch places the second fluid line in the closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The foot support system according to  claim 6 , wherein when the second fluid line is in the open configuration, fluid pressure is equalized in the foot support bladder and the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         11 . The foot support system according to  claim 6 , wherein interaction with the switch to change the second fluid line from the closed configuration to the open configuration increases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The foot support system according to  claim 6 , wherein interaction with the switch to change the second fluid line from the closed configuration to the open configuration causes an immediate increase in a height dimension of the fluid reservoir as fluid pressure is equalized in the foot support bladder and the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         13 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a foot support bladder;   a fluid reservoir;   a foot-activated pump including: (i) an inlet receiving fluid from the fluid reservoir and (ii) an outlet supplying fluid to the foot support bladder;   a fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and   a switching system configured to change the foot support bladder between: (i) a high pressure foot support configuration in which the fluid line is closed and (ii) a low pressure foot support configuration in which the fluid line is open, wherein when the foot support bladder is in the high pressure foot support configuration, the foot-activated pump moves fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder, and wherein movement of sufficient fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder decreases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir.   
     
     
         14 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the switching system includes a switch button having a protrusion that is movable to pinch the fluid line closed when the switching system places the foot support bladder in the high pressure foot support configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein when the foot support bladder is in the high pressure foot support configuration, the foot-activated pump incrementally moves fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder in response to a wearer's steps. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein the movement of sufficient fluid from the fluid reservoir to the foot support bladder causes the fluid reservoir to collapse. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein when the switching system places the foot support bladder in the low pressure foot support configuration, fluid pressure in the foot support bladder equals fluid pressure in the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein interaction with the switching system to change the foot support bladder from the high pressure foot support configuration to the low pressure foot support configuration increases a height dimension of the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein interaction with the switching system to change the foot support bladder from the high pressure foot support configuration to the low pressure foot support configuration causes an immediate increase in a height dimension of the fluid reservoir as fluid pressure increases in the fluid reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . The sole structure according to  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of an upper surface of the fluid reservoir is located beneath at least a portion of a lower surface of the foot support bladder, and wherein the sole structure further comprises a midsole component located between the upper surface of the fluid reservoir and the lower surface of the foot support bladder.