PUMP 2.0
ADJUSTABLE VALVE
Pump 2.0, Reebok/Adidas
Pump 2.0 was a redesign of Reebok’s "The Pump" inflatable fit-system.
The goal was to eliminate the need for manual inflation; the user was intended to have a fully-automatic experience with the Pump, as soon as the shoe was slipped on.
Tools/Skills- Solidworks, Footwear pattern development, Footwear manufacture, Testing/Design of experiments, Data acquisition & analysis, Asia vendor management
The Pump Bladder is stitch-able pattern component that is incorporated into the shoe assembly.
The inflation of the bladder was executed via an integrated Foam Heel pump/check-Valve
Bladder as a stitch-able pattern component for shoe assembly
Since the bladder was intended to be inflated from walking/running, the concept required a Pressure Regulator to prevent the bladder from over-inflating..
After fit-testing it was clear that one, pre-set value for bladder-pressure was not going to meet an infinitely wide range of comfort and performance preferences.
An Adjustable Pressure Regulator was going to be necesary to make this concept a success
The design of the Adjustable Valve centered on a silicon Umbrella-style check valve.
Umbrella valves regulate internal air pressure by sealing in the air via the lip of the Umbrella.
When the internal air pressure exceeds a certain value, the “lip” of the umbrella instantaneously “burps” to regulate the internal air pressure.
I found that by pressing on the top of Umbrella valve, I could increase the “burp” pressure.
Handle Deployed
With this finding I designed a Cap for the valve that indexed vertically, applying/relaxing pressure on the Umbrella valve.
The design provided 9 settings @ 1.5 psi per position (0 - 12 psi range).
From an aesthetic standpoint, the Valve needed to be as small as possible.
From field-testing we found that the Valve needed to be fully protected around the sides.
Unfortunately, between the small size of the Valve, and protection built up around the Valve, it was virtually impossible to grasp the Cap to adjust the valve.
To facilitate mechanical advantage for small and large fingers, alike, I designed and built a small nesting Handle.
Note, molded-in teeth for indexing.