US 12,167,770 B2
Vacuum pump assembly for article of footwear
Brian Christensen, Centerville, MA (US); Erasmo Rodriguez, Boston, MA (US); Henry L. Hardigan, Siler City, NC (US); Ricardo Vestuti, Providence, RI (US); and Brian John Hamilton, North Billerica, MA (US)
Assigned to Reebok International Limited, Altrincham (GB)
Filed by Reebok International Limited, Altrincham (GB)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/065,189.
Prior Publication US 2022/0104582 A1, Apr. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. A43B 13/20 (2006.01); A43B 7/083 (2022.01); A43B 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/203 (2013.01) [A43B 7/083 (2022.01); A43B 23/029 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper coupled to the sole;
a flexible bladder coupled to the upper; and
a pump disposed in the sole and in fluid communication with the bladder, the pump configured to remove air from the bladder to generate a vacuum within the bladder,
wherein the pump comprises:
a base having a cylindrical-shaped sidewall and a flange projecting from an upper end of the sidewall,
a plunger received on the sidewall of the base, wherein the plunger is configured to slide along the sidewall of the base to activate the pump to remove air from the bladder in response to an application of force against the sole, and
a spring received between the flange of the base and the plunger, wherein the spring is configured to bias the plunger away from the flange of the base,
wherein as the pump removes air from the bladder to generate the vacuum, the bladder is configured to constrict and conform the upper against a wearer's foot.