Foot Support Systems Including Fluid Filled Bladders With Movement of Fluid Between Bladders

Abstract

Sole structures, fluid transfer systems, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other foot-receiving devices include one or more pumps (e.g., foot activated pumps) that facilitate movement of fluid within the sole structure/article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure (e.g., foot support pressure) in one or more fluid filled bladders included in the overall system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foot support system, comprising:
 a first bladder including an interior volume for containing fluid, the first bladder including a medial side portion and a lateral side portion;   a first pump including a first pump chamber, a first inlet, and a first outlet, wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder, and wherein the first outlet supplies fluid to the interior volume of the first bladder; and   a first fluid transfer line connected to the first inlet and placing the first pump in fluid communication with an external fluid source, wherein the first fluid transfer line moves fluid received from the external fluid source into the first pump chamber via the first inlet.   
     
     
         2 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a midsole component overlaying the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, and the first pump, and wherein the midsole component includes a pump-engaging surface configured to directly contact a portion of an exterior surface of the first pump chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a second pump including a second pump chamber, a second inlet, and a second outlet, wherein the second outlet is connected to the first fluid transfer line such that the second pump supplies fluid to the first pump. 
     
     
         4 . The foot support system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder. 
     
     
         5 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a second bladder; and a fluid transfer control system to control flow of fluid between the first bladder and the second bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The foot support system according to  claim 5 , further comprising a midsole component including: (a) a first major surface that overlays the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, and the first pump, and (b) a second major surface located opposite the first major surface, wherein the second bladder overlays the second major surface. 
     
     
         7 . A foot support system, comprising:
 a first pump including a first pump chamber, a first inlet, and a first outlet;   a first fluid transfer line connected to the first inlet and connecting the first pump with an external fluid source, wherein the first fluid transfer line moves fluid from the external fluid source into the first pump chamber via the first inlet;   a second pump including a second pump chamber, a second inlet, and a second outlet;   a second fluid transfer line connected to the second inlet and admitting fluid discharged from the first outlet into the second pump chamber via the second inlet;   a third fluid transfer line connected to the second outlet and receiving fluid discharged from the second pump chamber; and   a bladder in fluid communication with the third fluid transfer line and receiving fluid discharged from the second pump chamber via the second outlet.   
     
     
         8 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, and wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the bladder. 
     
     
         9 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, and wherein the second pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the bladder, and wherein the second pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the bladder. 
     
     
         11 . The foot support system according to  claim 10 , further comprising a midsole component overlaying the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, the first pump, and the second pump, wherein the midsole component includes a first pump-engaging surface configured to directly contact a portion of an exterior surface of the first pump chamber, and wherein the midsole component includes a second pump-engaging surface configured to directly contact a portion of an exterior surface of the second pump chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bladder is a reservoir bladder, wherein the reservoir bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the reservoir bladder, and wherein the foot support system further comprises: a midsole component including: (a) a first major surface that overlays the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, and the first pump, and (b) a second major surface located opposite the first major surface. 
     
     
         13 . The foot support system according to  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a foot support bladder, wherein the foot support bladder overlays the second major surface of the midsole component; and   a fluid transfer control system for moving fluid from the bladder to the foot support bladder.   
     
     
         14 . A foot support system, comprising:
 a first bladder including an interior volume for containing fluid, a first longitudinal area, and a second longitudinal area located forward of the first longitudinal area;   a first pump including a first pump chamber, a first inlet, and a first outlet, wherein the first pump is located at or adjacent the first longitudinal area of the first bladder;   a first fluid transfer line connected to the first inlet and connecting the first pump with an external fluid source, wherein the first fluid transfer line moves fluid from the external fluid source into the first pump chamber via the first inlet;   a second pump including a second pump chamber, a second inlet, and a second outlet, wherein the second pump is located at or adjacent the second longitudinal area of the first bladder;   a second fluid transfer line connected to the second inlet and admitting fluid discharged from the first outlet into the second pump chamber via the second inlet; and   a third fluid transfer line connected to the second outlet and receiving fluid discharged from the second pump chamber, wherein the first bladder is in fluid communication with the second pump at least in part via the third fluid transfer line.   
     
     
         15 . The foot support system according to  claim 14 , wherein the second longitudinal area is located in a forefoot region of the foot support system, and wherein the first longitudinal area is located in a heel region of the foot support system. 
     
     
         16 . The foot support system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, and wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The foot support system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, and wherein the second pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder. 
     
     
         18 . The foot support system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder, and wherein the second pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the first bladder. 
     
     
         19 . The foot support system according to  claim 14 , wherein the first bladder is a reservoir bladder, wherein the reservoir bladder includes a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, wherein the first pump is located between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the reservoir bladder, and wherein the foot support system further comprises: a midsole component including: (a) a first major surface that overlays the medial side portion, the lateral side portion, and the first pump, and (b) a second major surface located opposite the first major surface. 
     
     
         20 . The foot support system according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a foot support bladder, wherein the foot support bladder overlays the second major surface of the midsole component; and   a fluid transfer control system for moving fluid from the reservoir bladder to the foot support bladder.