IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,402,685
Granted Patent B2
US 12,402,685 · App. 18/543,215 · Granted Sep 2, 2025

Article of footwear and a charging system for an article of footwear

Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers (Portland, OR); Andrew A. Owings (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B3/34A43B11/00A43B23/07A43C11/004A43C11/165B65D85/187H02J50/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,402,685
App. No.
18/543,215
Granted
Sep 2, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.

Claims (42)

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure;

a rechargeable power source;

a tensioning system, operatively coupled to the rechargeable power source, configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace; and

a secondary wireless recharge antenna operatively coupled to and co-located with the rechargeable power source;

wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is configured to have a current induced therein by a primary wireless recharge antenna of a charging component of a recharge system when the charging component is energized and placed in proximity of the sole structure, the recharge system configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source;

wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is an inductive loop.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the recharge system is configured to be placed in proximity of the sole structure.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the sole structure is configured to mechanically engage with the recharge system.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the recharge system is configured to mechanically engage with sole structures of articles of footwear having different sizes.

6. A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:

securing a sole structure to an upper;

positioning a rechargeable power source;

operatively coupling a tensioning system to the rechargeable power source, the tensioning system configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace; and

positioning a secondary wireless recharge antenna to co-locate the secondary wireless recharge antenna with the rechargeable power source; and

operatively coupling the secondary wireless recharge antenna to the rechargeable power source;

wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is configured to have a current induced therein by a primary wireless recharge antenna of a charging component of a recharge system when the charging component is energized and placed in proximity of the sole structure, the recharge system configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source;

wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the secondary wireless recharge antenna is an inductive loop.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the recharge system is configured to be placed in proximity of the sole structure.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sole structure is configured to mechanically engage with the recharge system.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the recharge system is configured to mechanically engage with sole structures of articles of footwear having different sizes.

11. A system, comprising:

an article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure;

a rechargeable power source;

a secondary wireless recharge antenna operatively coupled to and co-located with the rechargeable power source; and

a tensioning system, operatively coupled to the rechargeable power source, configured to increase and decrease tension on a lace engaged with the upper; and

a recharge system, configured to be operatively coupled to an external power source, comprising a charging component, the charging component configured to be in proximity of the article of footwear and comprising a primary wireless recharge antenna, the primary wireless recharge antenna configured to induce a current in the secondary wireless recharge antenna when energized by the external power source;

wherein the rechargeable power source is configured to be recharged based on the current induced in the secondary wireless recharge antenna.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the primary and secondary wireless recharge antennas are inductive loops.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the recharge system is configured to be placed in proximity of the article of footwear.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the recharge system is configured to mechanically engage with the article of footwear.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recharge system is configured to mechanically engage with articles of footwear having different sizes.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the recharge system comprises a first primary wireless recharge antenna and a second primary wireless recharge antenna, wherein the first primary wireless recharge antenna is configured to induce the current in the secondary wireless recharge antenna and wherein the second primary wireless recharge antenna is configured to induce a current in a different secondary wireless recharge antenna of a different article of footwear.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first and second primary wireless recharge antennas are configured to be energized concurrently.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the rechargeable power source is a rechargeable battery.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the external power source is an AC power source.

20. The system of claim 18 , wherein the external power source is a DC power source.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2024
From: BEERS, TIFFANY A.; OWINGS, ANDREW A.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 066630/0240 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17221606 · Apr 2, 2021
Continuation 16836675 · Mar 31, 2020
Continuation 16287004 · Feb 27, 2019
Continuation 14723880 · May 28, 2015
Related Publication 20240156208A1 · May 16, 2024
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