# US 10,477,919 B2 · Tethered fluid-filled chamber with multiple tether configurations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,477,919 B2 - Document ID: US10477919B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/864,356 - Filed: 2018-01-08 - Published: 2018-05-10 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2009-12-03 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Danielle L. Taylor; Dolores S. Thompson; Frederick J. Dojan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10477919B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/186: {Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32)} - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/125: {characterised by the midsole or middle layer} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - A43B 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B 13/203: {provided with a pump or valve} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a barrier that has a first portion that includes a first outer surface, and a second portion that includes a second outer surface. The barrier includes a first and a second interior cavity between the first portion and the second portion. The barrier includes a bond that secures an inner surface of the first portion to the second portion and separates the first and the second interior cavity. An outsole is secured to the second outer surface, and includes a first outsole portion extending under the first interior cavity, and a second outsole portion extending under the second interior cavity and separated from the first outsole portion by a gap, with the bond aligned with and overlying the gap such that the second outer surface is exposed between the first outsole portion and the second outsole portion at the bond. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising: a barrier having a heel region, a midfoot region forward of the heel region, and a forefoot region forward of the midfoot region, the barrier including: a first portion that includes a first outer surface of the barrier; a second portion that includes a second outer surface of the barrier; a first interior cavity and a second interior cavity between the first portion and the second portion; wherein the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity retain fluid; wherein the barrier includes a bond that secures an inner surface of the first portion of the barrier to the second portion of the barrier and separates the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity; an outsole secured to the second outer surface of the barrier; wherein the outsole includes: a first outsole portion extending under the first interior cavity; and a second outsole portion extending under the second interior cavity and separated from the first outsole portion by a gap, with the bond aligned with and overlying the gap such that the second outer surface is exposed between the first outsole portion and the second outsole portion at the bond. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of first tethers in the first interior cavity and operatively connecting the first portion to the second portion; and a plurality of second tethers in the first interior cavity forward of the plurality of first tethers and operatively connecting the first portion to the second portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sole structure of claim 2, wherein the first tethers have a first configuration, and the second tethers have a second configuration different than the first configuration. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The sole structure of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of additional tethers in the second interior cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first interior cavity extends in the heel region, the midfoot region, and the forefoot region, and the second interior cavity extends only in the forefoot region forward of the first interior cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein: the first interior cavity extends from a medial side of the barrier to a lateral side of the barrier; and the second interior cavity extends from the medial side of the barrier to the lateral side of the barrier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sole structure of claim 6, wherein the bond extends from the medial side of the barrier to the lateral side of the barrier between the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity, and the second portion of the barrier forms a groove underlying and aligned with the bond. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the groove has a medial end at the medial side of the barrier, a lateral end at the lateral side of the barrier, and a midportion that arcs forward between the medial end and the lateral end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the barrier includes a channel that traverses the groove and fluidly connects the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the channel is disposed between a longitudinal midline of the barrier and the lateral side of the barrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The sole structure of claim 9, wherein: the outsole includes a third outsole portion that traverses the gap and connects the first outsole portion and the second outsole portion such that the outsole is a unitary, one-piece outsole; and the third outsole portion is secured to the channel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the first outsole portion is secured to and extends along a first wall of the second portion of the barrier in the groove; the second outsole portion is secured to and extends along a second wall of the second barrier portion in the groove; the first wall and the second wall extend from the medial side of the barrier to the lateral side of the barrier; and the second outer surface is exposed between the first wall and the second wall in the gap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first portion is a first sheet and the second portion is a second sheet. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein: the barrier has at least one notch in a periphery of the heel portion; and the barrier includes an additional bond that secures the first portion to the second portion and overlies the at least one notch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The sole structure of claim 14, wherein the at least one notch includes a first notch in the periphery of the heel portion at a medial side of the barrier, and a second notch in the periphery of the heel portion at a lateral side of the barrier. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the barrier has a third notch forward of the first notch at the periphery of the heel portion at the medial side of the barrier, and a fourth notch forward of the second notch at the periphery of the heel portion at the lateral side of the barrier. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The sole structure of claim 14, wherein: the first outsole portion includes: a medial sidewall secured to and confronting the medial side of the barrier at the heel portion; a lateral sidewall secured to and confronting the lateral side of the barrier at the heel portion; and one of the medial sidewall and the lateral sidewall extends along and confronts the heel portion of the barrier in the at least one notch under the additional bond. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The sole structure of claim 14, wherein: the first outsole portion includes: a medial sidewall secured to and confronting the medial side of the barrier at the heel portion; a lateral sidewall secured to and confronting the lateral side of the barrier at the heel portion; and the medial sidewall of the first outsole portion is taller than the lateral sidewall of the first outsole portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, further comprising: a midsole secured to the first outer surface of the barrier; wherein the midsole has an aperture extending completely through the midsole and overlying the heel portion of the barrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The sole structure of claim 19, wherein: the second portion of the barrier includes a groove extending from a medial side of the barrier to a lateral side of the barrier between the first interior cavity and the second interior cavity and under the bond; and the midsole has an aperture extending completely through the midsole and overlaying the forefoot portion of the barrier at the bond.