IP Library › Granted Patent US 12672690
Granted Patent B2
US 12672690 · App. 19/005,086 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Article of footwear with dynamic support

Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook (Portland, OR); Tiffany A. Beers (Portland, OR); Nathan T Gilbreath (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B3/34A43B3/44A43B3/48A43B5/025A43B7/141A43B7/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12672690
App. No.
19/005,086
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

Claims (53)

1 . A wearable article, comprising:

a power source;

a microprocessor operatively coupled to the power source;

an accelerometer;

a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor; and

a dynamic support system, comprising:

a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;

a cable; and

a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to:

receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer, and

respond to input received from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system; and

wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the wearable article while providing a second force on a second location on the wearable article, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.

2 . The wearable article of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables, including the cable, traversing the array of tiles diagonally, and wherein the array of tiles is configured to provide, at least in part, the first force and the second force simultaneously.

3 . The wearable article of claim 2 , wherein the array of tiles is located in a forefoot region of an upper of the wearable article and the pressure sensor is located in a big toe region of the wearable article.

4 . The wearable article of claim 3 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.

5 . The wearable article of claim 1 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables including the cable, wherein the plurality of cables is laced through alternate columns and alternate rows of the array of tiles.

6 . The wearable article of claim 5 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.

7 . A system, comprising:

a power source;

a microprocessor operatively coupled to the power source;

a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor;

an accelerometer; and

a dynamic support system, comprising:

a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;

a cable; and

a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to:

receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer; and

respond to input received from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system; and

wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the system while providing a second force on a second location on the system, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables, including the cable, traversing the array of tiles diagonally, and wherein the array of tiles is configured to provide, at least in part, the first force and the second force simultaneously.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the array of tiles is located in a forefoot region of an upper of the system and the pressure sensor is located in a big toe region of the system.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables including the cable, wherein the plurality of cables is laced through alternate columns and alternate rows of the array of tiles.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.

13 . A method of making a wearable article, comprising:

operatively coupling a power source to a microprocessor;

operatively coupling a pressure sensor in communication with the microprocessor;

operatively coupling an accelerometer in communication with the microprocessor;

operatively coupling a dynamic support system with the microprocessor, the dynamic support system comprising:

a motor, operatively coupled to the power source, in communication with the microprocessor;

a cable; and

a reel attached to the motor and taking up the cable;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to:

receive input from the pressure sensor and the accelerometer; and

respond to input received from the pressure sensor an the accelerometer by activating the motor to operate the dynamic support system; and

wherein the dynamic support system is configured to simultaneously apply a first force on a first location on the wearable article while providing a second force on a second location on the wearable article, the first force different from the second force and the first location different from the second location.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables, including the cable, traversing the array of tiles diagonally, and wherein the array of tiles is configured to provide, at least in part, the first force and the second force simultaneously.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the array of tiles is located in a forefoot region of an upper of the wearable article and the pressure sensor is located in a big toe region of the wearable article.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dynamic support system further comprises an array of tiles that is mechanically connected to the reel by a plurality of cables including the cable, wherein the plurality of cables is laced through alternate columns and alternate rows of the array of tiles.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the array of tiles comprises a first set of tiles having a first size and a second set of tiles having a second size different than the first size, and wherein the first force is based, at least in part on the first set of tiles and the second force is based, at least in part on the second set of tiles.