The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable bladders for use in articles of manufacture. The method includes the steps of providing a first polymer film, applying a curable release coating to the polymer film in a pattern that corresponds to the configuration of the inflatable bladder, curing the release coating to the first polymer film, providing a second polymer film with the first polymer film to form a layered element such that the release coating is disposed between the polymer films, positioning the layered element between two plies of material, applying heat and pressure to adhere the polymer films together except in the area where the release coating has been applied to form an inflatable compartment surrounded by a sealed perimeter, and removing the plies of material from the adhered first and second polymer films.

An adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. In addition, one or more tensile members may be disposed internally to the outer bladder to provide enhanced support. A valve member may also be disposed internally to the outer bladder. The valve member can include a contoured edge to provide a contoured shape for the outer bladder.

An adjustable multiple bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member is disposed within the outer bladder and divides the outer bladder into two distinct inflation chambers. The inflation chambers may be inflated separately.

An impact absorbing footwear device employs opposed planar sole portions engaged by a selective resistance coupling that biases the opposed planar sole portions in a non-linear manner in response to forces exerted by the wearer against the sole portion in frictional contact with a floor surface. The planar sole portions are disposed in a footwear appliance that takes the form of an athletic shoe sole. The selective resistance coupling includes a plurality of resilient deformation members that engage the planar sole portions in an opposed circumferentially aligned manner, selectively deform in response to pressure exerted by the wearer for preventing ACL and other impact related injuries, and recover to an undeformed rest position without breakaway to allow the wearer uninterrupted usage while dampening forces that surpass an injury threshold from the resilient deformation that allows the planar sole portions to temporarily misalign.

A portable inflatable foldable shoe, including an inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag and solid bearing blocks, where the inflatable shoe-shaped soft bag is of a hollow cavity structure and includes a sole and a vamp; more than two solid bearing blocks are arranged, the sole is divided into a middle supporting cavity and a supporting folding cavity by the solid bearing blocks, the region connected with the two regions of a front sole region and a heel region is the middle supporting cavity, the region connected with the adjacent bearing blocks is the supporting folding cavity, each solid bearing block has upper, lower, left and right surfaces, and is tightly adhered to the corresponding inner wall of the shoe-shaped cavity of the sole, and each solid bearing block is provided with more than one air passage that run through the entire block.

Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.

A walking-assisted air-jet insole includes an insole base. A plurality of pressed-air outlet units that can generate airflow based on stepping pressure are provided on the insole base; the pressed-air outlet unit includes a cavity for retaining air. An upper part of the insole base is provided with an upper air hole that communicates with the cavity, and a lower part of the insole base is provided with an air sac part that is elastically deformed and restored based on the stepping pressure. A volume of the cavity can be changed based on the elastic deformation and restoration of the air sac part. A lower end of the air sac part is provided with a convex column that moves up and down based on the stepping pressure. The cavity includes an upper cavity portion and a lower cavity portion from top to bottom.

A massaging shoe and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The massaging shoe comprises a shoe body formed by a shoe sole (10) and a shoe vamp (20) connected together, and further comprises a sock sleeve (50) detachably arranged in the shoe body, the sock sleeve (50) is provided with at least one massaging air bag (30), the shoe sole includes a shoe sole body (11) having a containing cavity and a shoe board (12) covering on the containing cavity, and the containing cavity is provided therein with an air pump (41) communicating with the massaging air bag (30) and electronic components (40) controlling the air pump (41). In the present invention, the massaging air bag (30) is arranged in the sock sleeve (50), the sock sleeve (50) is arranged in the shoe body, and the massaging air bag (30) is communicated with the air pump (41) to form a massaging shoe. Since the sock sleeve (50) is detachable, it is convenient to detach and clean the sock sleeve (50) after use; if the massaging air bag (30) is damaged, the massaging air bag (30) and the sock sleeve (50) can be replaced directly, and the shoe body does not need to be disassembled, such that it is convenient to repair; moreover, this massaging shoe is simple in manufacture, has a high machining efficiency, and has low cost.

Foot support systems for articles of footwear or other foot-receiving devices include a compressor or other gas source used to control gas pressure provided in one or more pressure adjustable fluid-filled bladders used to support a wearer's foot. Additional features relate to fluid flow control systems and methods that include a plurality of valves to control an inflation configuration for supplying gas to the one or more adjustable fluid filled bladders or a deflation configuration for releasing gas from the one or more adjustable fluid filled bladders.

A sensor system is adapted for use with an article of footwear and includes an insert member including a first layer and a second layer, a port connected to the insert and configured for communication with an electronic module, a plurality of force and/or pressure sensors on the insert member, and a plurality of leads connecting the sensors to the port.