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 foot-activated pump including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to the fluid reservoir;   a first fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the inlet of the foot-activated pump;   a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and   a fluid line support member located at a first side of the fluid system, the fluid line support member engaging a first surface of the first fluid line and a first surface of the second fluid line.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line support member includes a first exterior concave surface that engages the first surface of the first fluid line and a second exterior concave surface that engages the first surface of the second fluid line. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid system according to  claim 2 , wherein the first exterior concave surface is located adjacent the second exterior concave surface. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second exterior concave surface is located forward of the first exterior concave surface in a longitudinal direction of the fluid system. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to change the second fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid system according to  claim 5 , wherein the switch is engaged with the fluid line support member. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid system according to  claim 5 , wherein the switch includes a protrusion that is movable to pinch the second fluid line when the switch is placed at the closed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid line and the second fluid line comprises portions of a single fluid line component. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fluid line and the second fluid line engage with or extend from the foot support bladder at locations adjacent one another on a first side of the foot support bladder. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid system according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line defines a concave chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the foot-activated pump and the fluid reservoir comprise portions of a single footwear component, and wherein the first fluid line and the second fluid line engage with or extend from the single footwear component at locations adjacent one another on a first side of the single footwear component. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid system according to  claim 11 , wherein the single footwear component comprises a fluid-filled bladder component. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid system according to  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first fluid line and the second fluid line defines a concave chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to change the second fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein the switch includes a protrusion that is movable to pinch the second fluid line when the switch is placed at the closed configuration.   
     
     
         15 . A foot support system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a foot support bladder;   a fluid reservoir;   a foot-activated pump including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to the fluid reservoir;   a first fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the inlet of the foot-activated pump;   a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir; and   a fluid line support member located at a first side of the foot support system, the fluid line support member engaging a first surface of the first fluid line and a first surface of the second fluid line.   
     
     
         16 . The foot support system according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluid line support member includes a first exterior concave surface that engages the first surface of the first fluid line and a second exterior concave surface that engages the first surface of the second fluid line. 
     
     
         17 . The foot support system according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to change the second fluid line between an open configuration and a closed configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The foot support system according to  claim 17 , wherein the switch is engaged with the fluid line support member. 
     
     
         19 . The foot support system according to  claim 17 , wherein the switch includes a protrusion that is movable to pinch the second fluid line when the switch is placed at the closed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole structure engaged with the upper, the sole structure including a foot support system that comprises: (a) a foot support bladder, (b) a fluid reservoir, (c) a foot-activated pump including an inlet and an outlet, the outlet supplying fluid to the fluid reservoir, (d) a first fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the inlet of the foot-activated pump, (e) a second fluid line placing the foot support bladder in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir, and (f) a fluid line support member located at a first side of the foot support system, the fluid line support member engaging a first surface of the first fluid line and a first surface of the second fluid line.