Vacuum system for article of footwear or apparel

Abstract

A vacuum system for a wearable article includes an adjustable element operable to form at least a portion of the wearable article. The adjustable element includes a bladder that defines an exterior surface and an interior void and a port disposed on the exterior surface of the bladder. The port is operable to provide selective communication with the interior void of the bladder. The vacuum system also includes a pump operable to automatically draw a predetermined volume of fluid out of the interior void upon engagement with the port to move the adjustable element from a relaxed state to a constricted state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum system for a wearable article, the vacuum system comprising:
 an adjustable element operable to form at least a portion of the wearable article and including (i) a bladder defining an exterior surface and an interior void, (ii) a compressible component disposed within the interior void of the bladder, and (iii) a port disposed on the exterior surface of the bladder and operable to provide selective communication with the interior void of the bladder; and   a pump operable to selectively engage the port of the adjustable element to adjust a pressure of the interior void between a first pressure and a second pressure different than the first pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the pump includes a cartridge in selective fluid communication with the interior void of the bladder to adjust the pressure of the interior void. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum system of  claim 2 , wherein the cartridge of the pump is at a predefined vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum system of  claim 3 , wherein the predefined vacuum pressure of the cartridge provides the second pressure of the interior void when the pump is engaged with the port. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the compressible component includes a lattice structure operable between a relaxed state when the interior void is at the first pressure and a contracted state when the interior void is at the second pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the port includes a first port disposed at a first location of the article and a second port disposed at a second location of the article different than the first location. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the port is biased into a closed state to restrict movement of fluid into or out of the interior void. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum system of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure defines an expanded state of the interior void and the second pressure defines a constricted state of the interior void. 
     
     
         9 . An article of apparel incorporating the vacuum system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         10 . An upper for an article of footwear including the vacuum system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A vacuum system for a wearable article, the vacuum system comprising:
 an adjustable element operable to form at least a portion of the wearable article and including (i) a bladder defining an exterior surface and an interior void and (ii) a port disposed on the exterior surface of the bladder and operable to provide selective communication with the interior void of the bladder; and   a pump operable to automatically draw a predetermined volume of fluid out of the interior void upon engagement with the port to move the adjustable element from a relaxed state to a constricted state.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum system of  claim 11 , wherein the pump includes a cartridge in selective fluid communication with the interior void of the bladder when the pump is engaged with the port. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum system of  claim 11 , further comprising a compressible component disposed within the interior void of the bladder. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressible component is formed from a resilient material. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum system of  claim 13 , wherein the compressible component includes a lattice structure defining a plurality of reliefs. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum system of  claim 15 , wherein the bladder is formed from a first barrier element and a second barrier element, at least one of the first barrier element and the second barrier element being drawn into reliefs of the plurality of reliefs when the adjustable element is in the constricted state. 
     
     
         17 . The vacuum system of  claim 11 , wherein the port includes a first port disposed at a first location of the article and a second port disposed at a second location of the article different than the first location. 
     
     
         18 . The vacuum system of  claim 11 , wherein the port is biased into a closed state to restrict movement of fluid into or out of the interior void. 
     
     
         19 . An article of apparel incorporating the vacuum system of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         20 . An upper for an article of footwear including the vacuum system of  claim 11 .