US 11,812,818 B2
Footwear airbag with flexible electronic interconnect
Summer L. Schneider, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on May 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/333,228.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/032,096, filed on May 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0368925 A1, Dec. 2, 2021
Int. Cl. A43B 13/20 (2006.01); A43B 13/02 (2022.01); A43B 3/34 (2022.01)
CPC A43B 13/20 (2013.01) [A43B 3/34 (2022.01); A43B 13/023 (2013.01)] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper portion;
a lower portion, secured to the upper portion, including an out-sole and an airbag assembly, wherein the airbag assembly comprises:
a first sheet and a second sheet forming a seal therebetween around a perimeter of the first and second sheets;
an electronic assembly, comprising a circuit board and electrical conductors disposed on the circuit board, wherein an internal portion of the electronic assembly is disposed between the first and second sheets and within the seal formed therebetween and an external portion of the electronic assembly is disposed outside of the seal;
wherein the airbag assembly further comprises electrical conductors disposed on at least one of the first sheet or the second sheet, the electrical conductors disposed on the circuit board electrically coupled to an associated one of the electrical conductors disposed on the first or second sheet;
wherein the electrical conductors disposed on the at least one of the first sheet or the second sheet are disposed on an exterior surface of an associated one of the first and second sheets;
wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board and wherein the flexible circuit board forms through holes, and wherein the first and second sheets are bonded to one another through the through holes; and
wherein the first and second sheets each form a fold proximate the through holes at an edge of the first and second sheets, and wherein the electrical conductors disposed on the first and second sheets wrap around the fold to come into electrical contact with the electrical conductors on the electronic assembly.