Foot support systems, sole structures, and articles of footwear including interconnected bladder chambers for inducing tilt
Sole structures, foot support systems, articles of footwear, and/or other devices include movable fluid that induces foot tilt, e.g., forefoot tilt. These components may include first and second side foot support bladder chambers; a fluid flow control system that moves fluid through each of first and second fluid flow paths; a first fluid line connecting the fluid flow control system with the first side foot support bladder chamber; and a second fluid line connecting the fluid flow control system with the second side foot support bladder chamber. In the first fluid flow path, fluid moves from the first side foot support bladder chamber to the second side foot support bladder chamber through the fluid flow control system. In the second fluid flow path, fluid moves from the second side foot support bladder chamber to the first side foot support bladder chamber through the fluid flow control system.
1. A foot support system, comprising:
a medial side forefoot support bladder chamber filled with a gas;
a lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber filled with the gas;
a fluid flow control system including a first port and a second port, wherein the fluid flow control system moves the gas through each of a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path;
a first fluid line connecting the first port with the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber; and
a second fluid line connecting the second port with the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber,
wherein, in the first fluid flow path, the gas moves: (a) from the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber, (b) through the first fluid line, (c) through the first port, (d) through the fluid flow control system to the second port, (e) through the second port, (f) through the second fluid line, and (g) into the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber to place a forefoot portion of a plantar support surface of the foot support system in a first tilt configuration,
wherein, in the second fluid flow path, the gas moves: (a) from the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber, (b) through the second fluid line, (c) through the second port, (d) through the fluid flow control system to the first port, (e) through the first port, (f) through the first fluid line, and (g) into the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber to place the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface in a second tilt configuration, wherein the first tilt configuration is tilted inward and downward as compared to the second tilt configuration.
2. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow control system includes one or more fluid control devices including at least one of: (a) one or more valves and (b) one or more switches, wherein the one or more fluid control devices are configured to selectively and individually place the fluid flow control system in two or more of: (i) a first configuration in which the first fluid flow path is open while the second fluid flow path is closed, (ii) a second configuration in which the second fluid flow path is open while the first fluid flow path is closed, (iii) a third configuration in which both the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path are simultaneously open, and (iv) a fourth configuration in which both the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path are closed.
3. The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow control system includes:
a fluid distributor having a first inlet/outlet, a second inlet/outlet, and a third inlet/outlet,
a first fluid distributor path joining the first port with the first inlet/outlet,
a second fluid distributor path joining the first port with the third inlet/outlet, and
a third fluid distributor path joining the second inlet/outlet with the third inlet/outlet,
wherein the fluid distributor includes an outer wall through which each of the first inlet/outlet, the second inlet/outlet, and the third inlet/outlet extend.
4. The foot support system according to claim 3 , wherein the fluid distributor has a toroidal shape, a toroidal polyhedron shape, or a torus shape.
5. A foot support system, comprising:
a medial side forefoot support bladder chamber filled with a gas;
a lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber separated from the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and filled with the gas;
a fluid distributor having a first inlet/outlet, a second inlet/outlet, and a third inlet/outlet;
a first fluid line connecting the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the first inlet/outlet;
a second fluid line connecting the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber and the second inlet/outlet;
a third fluid line connecting the third inlet/outlet to at least one of the first fluid line or the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber; and
a switch configured for selectively changing fluid flow directions through the foot support system into each of at least a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path, wherein:
(A) the first fluid flow path includes a first path extending: (a) from the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber, (b) through the first fluid line, (c) through the first inlet/outlet, (d) through the fluid distributor to the second inlet/outlet, (e) through the second inlet/outlet, (f) through the second fluid line, and (g) into the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber,
(B) the second fluid flow path includes a second path extending: (a) from the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber, (b) through the second fluid line, (c) through the second inlet/outlet, (d) through the fluid distributor to the third inlet/outlet, (e) through the third inlet/outlet, and (f) into the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber through the first fluid line or another fluid path,
wherein the gas moving through the first fluid flow path places a forefoot portion of a plantar support surface of the foot support system in a first tilt configuration, wherein the gas moving through the second fluid flow path places the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface in a second tilt configuration, and wherein the first tilt configuration is tilted inward and downward as compared to the second tilt configuration.
6. The foot support system according to claim 5 , wherein the switch further is movable to a position to simultaneously open both the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path.
7. The foot support system according to claim 5 , wherein the switch further is movable to simultaneously close both the first fluid flow path and the second fluid flow path.
8. The foot support system according to claim 5 , wherein the first fluid flow path further includes a first valve configured to permit the gas to flow along the first path in a direction from the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber toward the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber but to prevent the gas from flowing along the first path in a direction from the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber toward the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber.
9. The foot support system according to claim 8 , wherein the second fluid flow path further includes a second valve configured to permit the gas to flow along the second path in a direction from the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber toward the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber but to prevent the gas from flowing along the second path in a direction from the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber toward the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber.
10. The foot support system according to claim 9 , wherein the fluid distributor includes an outer wall through which each of the first inlet/outlet, the second inlet/outlet, and the third inlet/outlet extends.
11. The foot support system according to claim 5 , wherein the third fluid line connects the third inlet/outlet to the first fluid line.
12. A foot support system, comprising:
a medial side forefoot support bladder chamber filled with a gas and including a first inner side, a first outer side, a first top interior surface, and a first bottom interior surface;
a lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber filled with the gas and including a second inner side, a second outer side, a second top interior surface, and a second bottom interior surface, wherein the second inner side faces the first inner side;
a plantar support surface supported by top surfaces of the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber; and
one or more fluid channels placing the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber to support movement of the gas between the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber,
wherein the foot support system is configured to be changed between a first configuration and a second configuration by moving the gas between the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber through the one or more fluid channels, wherein:
(a) in the first configuration: (i) at a first location closer to the first outer side than to the first inner side, the first top interior surface and the first bottom interior surface are spaced from one another by a first height and (ii) at a second location closer to the second outer side than to the second inner side, the second top interior surface and the second bottom interior surface are spaced from one another by a second height,
(b) in the second configuration: (i) at the first location, the first top interior surface and the first bottom interior surface are spaced from one another by a third height and (ii) at the second location, the second top interior surface and the second bottom interior surface are spaced from one another by a fourth height,
(c) the first height is greater than the third height, and the fourth height is greater than the second height, wherein, in the second configuration, the plantar support surface of the foot support system is tilted inward and downward as compared to the first configuration.
13. The foot support system according to claim 12 ,
wherein, with the foot support system supported on a horizontal base surface: (a) in the first configuration, the plantar support surface extends at a first angle with respect to the horizontal base surface, (b) in the second configuration, the plantar support surface extends at a second angle with respect to the horizontal base surface, and (c) the second angle is at least 2 degrees greater than the first angle.
14. The foot support system according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a midsole component, wherein the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber are engaged with the midsole component,
wherein the midsole component includes a polymeric foam material, and wherein the midsole component includes a cavity in which the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber are located.
15. The foot support system according to claim 14 , wherein the midsole component forms at least a portion of an exterior sidewall surface of the foot support system, wherein the exterior sidewall surface includes at least one of: (a) a first expandable structure configured to change height when the foot support system changes between the first height and the third height at the first location, and/or (b) a second expandable structure configured to change height when the foot support system changes between the second height and the fourth height at the second location.
16. The foot support system according to claim 15 , wherein the first expandable structure includes a first opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, wherein the first outer side is exposed through the first opening, and/or wherein the second expandable structure includes a second opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, and wherein the second outer side is exposed through the second opening.
17. The foot support system according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a fluid flow control system engaged with the one or more fluid channels placing the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber, wherein the fluid flow control system selectively moves the gas between the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber through the one or more fluid channels to selectively place the foot support system independently in at least the first configuration and the second configuration, wherein the fluid flow control system selectively opens a first fluid path and a second fluid path through the one or more fluid channels, and wherein: (a) opening the first fluid path and closing the second fluid path configures the one or more fluid channels to move the gas to change the foot support system from the first configuration to the second configuration, and (b) opening the second fluid path and closing the first fluid path configures the one or more fluid channels to move the gas to change the foot support system from the second configuration to the first configuration.
18. The foot support system according to claim 17 , wherein the fluid flow control system selectively configures the foot support system into a third configuration, wherein in the third configuration, both the first fluid path and the second fluid path are open.
19. The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a midsole component that includes a polymeric foam material, the midsole component including a cavity, wherein the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber are located in the cavity, and wherein the midsole component forms at least a portion of an exterior sidewall surface of the foot support system,
wherein the exterior sidewall surface includes at least one of: (a) a first expandable structure configured to change height when the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface changes between the first tilt configuration and the second tilt configuration, wherein the first expandable structure includes a first opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, wherein an outer side of the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber is exposed through the first opening, and/or (b) a second expandable structure configured to change height when the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface changes between the first tilt configuration and the second tilt configuration, wherein the second expandable structure includes a second opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, and wherein an outer side of the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber is exposed through the second opening.
20. The foot support system according to claim 5 , further comprising:
a midsole component that includes a polymeric foam material, the midsole component including a cavity, wherein the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber and the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber are located in the cavity, and wherein the midsole component forms at least a portion of an exterior sidewall surface of the foot support system,
wherein the exterior sidewall surface includes at least one of: (a) a first expandable structure configured to change height when the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface changes between the first tilt configuration and the second tilt configuration, wherein the first expandable structure includes a first opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, wherein an outer side of the medial side forefoot support bladder chamber is exposed through the first opening, and/or (b) a second expandable structure configured to change height when the forefoot portion of the plantar support surface changes between the first tilt configuration and the second tilt configuration, wherein the second expandable structure includes a second opening defined through the exterior sidewall surface formed by the midsole component, and wherein an outer side of the lateral side forefoot support bladder chamber is exposed through the second opening.