Nike patents shoe sensor that moves air to measure pressure
Nike describes a force-sensitive sensor for footwear that uses a small air channel to detect pressure. When you step on it, the sensor compresses and pushes air through a tube to a flexible membrane, which changes shape to register the force.
In the filing’s own words
An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A system, comprising: a force sensitive resistor, comprising: a top substrate layer; a bottom substrate layer; and an elastic membrane; wherein the top substrate layer and the bottom substrate layer form an active portion, a tail portion, and a passageway operatively coupled between the active portion and the tail portion; wherein the active portion is configured to compress in response to a force placed on the active portion; wherein the tail portion forms an opening and the elastic membrane is secured over the opening; and wherein the passageway and the opening are configured to move air from the active portion when the active portion is compressed and thereby transition from a neutral state to an actuated state and return air to the active portion when the active portion is no longer compressed and thereby return to the neutral state.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- SENSOR FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
- Publication number
- US20260305756A1
- Application number
- 19709321
- Filed
- Jun 16, 2026
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
A43B 3/44 Human necessitiesA43B 3/34 Human necessitiesA43C 11/008 Human necessitiesA43C 11/165 Human necessitiesG01L 1/20 Physics & computingG01L 5/00 Physics & computingMore from Nike in Wearables
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.