Footwear having sensor system

1. An insert configured for use in an article of footwear, comprising:

an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with a sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material;

a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert member, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the insert member;

a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors; and

a port comprising:

a housing connected to the insert member, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to removably receive an electronic module therein, wherein the chamber is defined by a circular side wall to form the chamber in a cylindrical shape, wherein the housing has an elongated groove in the side wall that is configured to receive a projection of the electronic module, such that rotation of the electronic module moves the projection within the groove to lock or unlock the electronic module within the housing; and

an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed within the chamber, wherein the interface is configured to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electrical contacts are configured to engage complementary electrical contacts on the electronic module, wherein the sensor leads extend from the force sensors to the interface and are electrically connected to the electrical contacts, such that the engagement of the electrical contacts and the complementary electrical contacts is configured to place the electronic module in communication with the sensor leads and the force sensors when the electronic module is received within the chamber, to thereby permit the electronic module to receive force data from the force sensors, and wherein the port is configured such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing is configured to bring the electrical contacts of the interface into contact with the complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module by engagement of the projection with the groove.

2. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the groove extends downward from a top of the housing, and the groove is configured to receive the projection of the electronic module by insertion downward from the top of the housing.

3. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the groove is a ramped groove that extends downward from a top of the housing and around the circular sidewall.

4. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the groove is configured to permit the electronic module to rotate a quarter rotation within the housing.

5. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts of the interface are annular contact pads.

6. The insert of claim 1 , comprising the electronic module, wherein the electronic module has the projection extending outward from the electronic module, and the projection is configured to be received in the groove when the electronic module is received in the housing, and wherein the electronic module is configured to be rotatable between a locked position, where the projection engages the groove to retain the electronic module in the housing, and an unlocked position, where the electronic module is removable from the housing, and the projection is configured to move within the groove between the locked position and the unlocked position.

7. The insert of claim 6 , wherein the housing has a second elongated groove in the side wall, and the electronic module has a second projection extending outward from the electronic module, wherein the second projection is configured to be received in the second groove when the electronic module is received in the housing, wherein the second projection is configured to engage the second groove to retain the electronic module in the housing in the locked position, and the second projection is configured to move within the second groove between the locked position and the unlocked position.

8. The insert of claim 6 , wherein the electronic module further comprises an elastomeric structure that is configured to compress against the housing when the electronic module is received in the housing.

9. The insert of claim 1 , wherein the sensor leads are individually connected to the electrical contacts of the interface such that each electrical contact is electrically connected to one of the plurality of force sensors via the respective individually connected sensor lead.

10. An article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper portion connected to the sole structure;

a sensor system comprising a flexible insert connected to the sole structure, a plurality of force sensors connected to the insert and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by the foot; and

a port comprising:

a housing connected to the article of footwear, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to removably receive an electronic module therein, wherein the chamber is defined by a circular side wall to form the chamber in a cylindrical shape, wherein the housing has an elongated groove in the side wall that is configured to receive a projection of the electronic module, such that rotation of the electronic module moves the projection within the groove to lock or unlock the electronic module within the housing; and

an interface having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed within the chamber, wherein the interface is configured to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electrical contacts are configured to engage complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module, wherein the sensor leads extend from the force sensors to the interface and are electrically connected to the electrical contacts, such that the engagement of the electrical contacts and the complementary electrical contacts is configured to place the electronic module in communication with the sensor system when the electronic module is received within the chamber, to thereby permit the electronic module to receive force data from the force sensors, and wherein the port is configured such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing is configured to bring the electrical contacts of the interface into contact with the complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module by engagement of the projection with the groove.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the housing of the port is received within the sole structure of the article of footwear.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the sensor leads are individually connected to the electrical contacts of the interface, such that each electrical contact is electrically connected to one of the plurality of force sensors via the respective individually connected sensor lead.

13. A system for use with an article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, the article of footwear having a sole structure and an upper portion connected to the sole structure, the system comprising:

a sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors configured to be connected to the sole structure and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by the foot;

an electronic module configured for data storage; and

a port comprising:

a housing adapted to be connected to the article of footwear, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to removably receive the electronic module therein, wherein the chamber is defined by a circular side wall to form the chamber in a cylindrical shape; and

an interface configured to be in communication with the sensor system and having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed within the chamber, wherein the interface is configured to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electrical contacts engage complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module, wherein the sensor leads extend from the force sensors to the interface and are electrically connected to the electrical contacts, such that the engagement of the electrical contacts and the complementary electrical contacts is configured to place the electronic module in communication with the sensor system when the electronic module is received within the chamber,

wherein the electronic module is configured to receive force data from the force sensors, through the sensor leads, via the electrical connection with the interface,

wherein the electronic module and the housing have complementary engaging structures configured to retain the electronic module in the housing by rotation of the electronic module within the housing between a locked position, where the complementary engaging structures are configured to retain the electronic module in the housing, and an unlocked position, where the electronic module can be removed from the housing, and

wherein the port is configured such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing brings the electrical contacts of the interface into contact with the complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module by engagement of the complementary engaging structures.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the engaging structure of the electronic module includes a projection that engages the housing to lock the electronic module in the housing when the electronic module is in the locked position.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the engaging structure of the housing includes an elongated groove, and wherein the projection is received in the groove such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing moves the projection within the groove.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the engaging structure of the electronic module further includes a second projection that engages the housing to lock the electronic module in the housing when the electronic module is in the locked position, and wherein the housing has a pair of elongated grooves configured to receive the projection and the second projection, such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing moves the projection and the second projection within the grooves.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the complementary engaging structures are configured to permit the electronic module to be locked or unlocked with a quarter rotation.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electrical contacts of the interface and the complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module are annular contact pads.

19. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electronic module further comprises an elastomeric structure that is configured to compress against the housing when the electronic module is received in the housing.

20. The system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor system comprises:

an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the port is connected to the insert member,

wherein the plurality of force sensors are connected to the insert member.

21. The system of claim 13 , wherein the sensor leads are individually connected to the electrical contacts of the interface, such that each electrical contact is electrically connected to one of the plurality of force sensors via the respective individually connected sensor lead.

22. An article of footwear adapted to engage a foot, comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper portion connected to the sole structure;

a sensor system connected to the sole structure, the sensor system comprising a plurality of force sensors connected to the sole structure and a plurality of sensor leads extending away from the force sensors, the force sensors being adapted to sense a force exerted on the sole structure by the foot;

an electronic module configured for data storage; and

a port comprising:

a housing adapted to be connected to the sole structure, the housing comprising a chamber adapted to removably receive the electronic module therein, wherein the chamber is defined by a circular side wall to form the chamber in a cylindrical shape; and

an interface in communication with the sensor system and having a plurality of electrical contacts exposed within the chamber, wherein the interface is configured to form an electrical connection with the electronic module such that the electrical contacts engage complementary electrical contacts on the electronic module, wherein the sensor leads extend from the force sensors to the interface and are electrically-connected to the electrical contacts, such that the engagement of the electrical contacts and the complementary electrical contacts is configured to place the electronic module in communication with the sensor system when the electronic module is received within the chamber,

wherein the electronic module is configured to receive force data from the force sensors, through the sensor leads, via the electrical connection with the interface,

wherein the electronic module and the housing have complementary engaging structures configured to retain the electronic module in the housing by rotation of the electronic module within the housing between a locked position, where the complementary engaging structures are configured to retain the electronic module in the housing, and an unlocked position, where the electronic module can be removed from the housing, and

wherein the port is configured such that rotation of the electronic module within the housing is configured to bring the electrical contacts of the interface into contact with the complementary electrical contacts of the electronic module by engagement of the complementary engaging structures.

23. The article of footwear of claim 22 , wherein the sensor system comprises:

an insert member adapted to be placed in contact with the sole structure of the article of footwear, the insert member being formed of a flexible polymer material, wherein the port is connected to the insert member,

wherein the plurality of force sensors are connected to the insert member.

24. The article of footwear of claim 22 , wherein the sensor leads are individually connected to the electrical contacts of the interface, such that each electrical contact is electrically connected to one of the plurality of force sensors via the respective individually connected sensor lead.