Control systems and foot-receiving device products containing such systems

Abstract

Foot-receiving devices, such as articles of footwear, include: (a) a sensing device that senses a characteristic of an interaction between a user's foot and a foot-receiving device; (b) a control system that receives output from the sensing device and controls a characteristic of the foot-receiving device based on this output; and (c) a monitoring system for detecting and/or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the foot-receiving device. The monitoring system may receive input from the same sensing device used for providing data to the control system. The control system may alter the impact attenuation characteristics, the traction characteristics, the flexibility characteristics, the fit characteristics, or the like of the article of footwear. Methods of making and using such foot-receiving devices also are described.

1 . A footwear system, comprising: 
 an article of footwear including an upper member and a sole member;    a sensing device engaged with the article of footwear, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of contact between the article of footwear and a surface when the article of footwear is in use;    a footwear control system that controls a characteristic of the article of footwear based on output from the sensing device; and    a distance monitoring system at least partially engaged with the article of footwear for detecting or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the article of footwear.    
     
     
         2 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control an amount of impact attenuation provided by the article of footwear.  
     
     
         3 . A footwear system according to  claim 2 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control the amount of impact attenuation by altering a stiffness of a midsole portion of the sole member.  
     
     
         4 . A footwear system according to  claim 2 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control the amount of impact attenuation at least in a heel portion of the article of footwear.  
     
     
         5 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control a degree of traction provided by the sole member.  
     
     
         6 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control a degree of flexibility in at least one portion of the article of footwear.  
     
     
         7 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control tightness of a securing system for the article of footwear.  
     
     
         8 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control at least one aspect of the manner in which the article of footwear fits a user's foot.  
     
     
         9 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control the characteristic of the article of footwear so as to reduce or eliminate pronation when the article of footwear is in use.  
     
     
         10 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance monitoring system utilizes output from the sensing device for determining the speed or distance information.  
     
     
         11 - 19 . (canceled)  
     
     
         20 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a device in communication with the footwear control system for providing user input to the footwear control system.    
     
     
         21 - 22 . (canceled)  
     
     
         23 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a device in communication with the distance monitoring system for providing the speed or distance information to a user.    
     
     
         24 - 25 . (canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device includes a magnet and a sensor for detecting changes in a detected magnetic field as a result of the contact.  
     
     
         27 . A footwear system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device senses contact pressure or a pressure change induced by the contact.  
     
     
         28 . A foot-receiving device system, comprising: 
 a foot-covering member;    a foot-supporting member engaged with the foot-covering member;    a sensing device engaged with at least one of the foot-covering member or the foot-supporting member, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of an interaction between a user's foot and the foot-receiving device when the foot-receiving device is in use;    a control system that controls a characteristic of the foot-supporting member based on output from the sensing device; and    a monitoring system at least partially engaged with the foot-receiving device for detecting or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the foot-receiving device.    
     
     
         29 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control an amount of impact attenuation provided by the foot-supporting member.  
     
     
         30 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 29 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control the amount of impact attenuation by altering a stiffness of at least a portion of the foot-supporting member.  
     
     
         31 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 29 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control the amount of impact attenuation at least in a heel portion of the foot-receiving device.  
     
     
         32 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control a degree of traction provided by the ground-contacting member.  
     
     
         33 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control a degree of flexibility in at least one portion of the foot-receiving device.  
     
     
         34 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control tightness of a securing system.  
     
     
         35 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control at least one aspect of the manner in which at least a portion of the foot-receiving device system fits a user's foot.  
     
     
         36 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the control system is programmed and adapted to control the characteristic so as to reduce or eliminate pronation in a user's gait.  
     
     
         37 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the monitoring system utilizes output from the sensing device for determining the speed or distance information.  
     
     
         38 - 46 . (canceled)  
     
     
         47 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a device in communication with the control system for providing user input to the control system.    
     
     
         48 - 49 . (canceled)  
     
     
         50 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a device in communication with the monitoring system for providing the speed or distance information to a user.    
     
     
         51 - 52 . (canceled)  
     
     
         53 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the sensing device includes a magnet and a sensor for detecting changes in a detected magnetic field as a result of the interaction.  
     
     
         54 . A foot-receiving device system according to  claim 28 , wherein the sensing device senses contact pressure or a pressure change induced by the interaction.  
     
     
         55 . A method of providing a footwear system, comprising: 
 engaging a sensing device with an article of footwear, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense at least one characteristic of contact between the article of footwear and a surface when the article of footwear is in use;    providing a footwear control system programmed and adapted to receive an output from the sensing device and to control a characteristic of the article of footwear based on the output from the sensing device; and    providing a distance monitoring system at least partially engaged with the article of footwear, wherein the distance monitoring system is programmed and adapted to detect or store data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the article of footwear.    
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control an amount of impact attenuation provided by the article of footwear.  
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 56 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control a stiffness of a midsole portion of the sole member.  
     
     
         58 - 61 . (canceled)  
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein the footwear control system is programmed and adapted to control at least one aspect of the manner in which the article of footwear fits a user's foot.  
     
     
         63 . (canceled)  
     
     
         64 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein the distance monitoring system is programmed and adapted to receive an output from the sensing device and to utilize the received output for determining the speed or distance information.  
     
     
         65 - 76 . (canceled)  
     
     
         77 . A method according to  claim 55 , further comprising: 
 providing a device in communication with the distance monitoring system, wherein the device is programmed and adapted to provide the speed or distance information to a user.    
     
     
         78 - 79 . (canceled)  
     
     
         80 . A method according to  claim 55 , wherein the sensing device includes a magnet and a sensor for detecting changes in a detected magnetic field as a result of the contact.  
     
     
         81 . A footwear system according to  claim 55 , wherein the sensing device senses contact pressure or a pressure change induced by the contact.  
     
     
         82 . A method of using a footwear system, comprising: 
 sensing contact between an article of footwear and a surface as the article of footwear is used, wherein the contact is sensed using a sensing device at least partially engaged with the article of footwear;    controlling a characteristic of the article of footwear based, at least in part, on output from the sensing device; and    determining user speed or distance information based, at least in part, on output from the sensing device.    
     
     
         83 . A method according to  claim 82 , wherein the controlling includes controlling an amount of impact attenuation provided by the article of footwear.  
     
     
         84 . A method according to  claim 83 , wherein the controlling includes controlling the amount of impact attenuation by altering a stiffness of a midsole portion of the article of footwear.  
     
     
         85 - 88 . (canceled)  
     
     
         89 . A method according to  claim 82 , wherein the controlling includes controlling at least one aspect of the manner in which the article of footwear fits a user's foot.  
     
     
         90 - 94 . (canceled)  
     
     
         95 . A method according to  claim 82 , further comprising: 
 providing speed or distance information to the user.    
     
     
         96 . A method according to  claim 95 , wherein the speed or distance information is provided to the user via a device separate from the article of footwear.  
     
     
         97 - 98 . (canceled)  
     
     
         99 . A method according to  claim 82 , wherein the sensing includes detecting changes in at least one magnetic characteristic induced by the contact.  
     
     
         100 . A method according to  claim 82 , wherein the sensing includes detecting a contact pressure or a pressure change induced by the contact.