Support members with variable viscosity fluid for footwear

摘要

An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

主权项

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper and a sole structure; wherein at least a portion of the sole structure includes an adaptive support system disposed between an upper plate and a lower plate; wherein the adaptive support system comprises:
a first support member having a first outer portion filled with a compressible material and a first inner portion, wherein the first inner portion is filled with rheological fluid separated from the compressible material by a wall;a second support member having a second outer portion filled with a compressible material and a second inner portion, wherein the second inner portion is filled with rheological fluid separated from the compressible material by a wall;a first reservoir in fluid communication with the first inner portion and a second reservoir in fluid communication with the second inner portion, wherein the first reservoir is spaced apart from the first support member and the second reservoir is spaced apart from the second support member;a first electromagnetic device associated with the first support member, wherein the first electromagnetic device can be activated by an electronic control unit to vary the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the first inner portion;a second electromagnetic device associated with the second support member, wherein the second electromagnetic device can be activated by the electronic control unit to vary the viscosity of the rheological fluid in the second inner portion; andwherein the first support member and the second support member are spaced apart from one another.