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US 10,517,352 B2Granted
Method of manufacturing a bladder element with an etched feature and article having a bladder element with an etched feature
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsTaryn Hensley, Dervin A. James
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of manufacturing an article comprises etching an etched feature on a surface of a first polymeric sheet, and forming a fluid-filled bladder element from the first polymeric sheet, with the fluid-filled bladder element having a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. The method includes assembling the bladder element in the article so that a first portion of the bladder element having the etched feature is exposed to view, and a second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the bladder element with the etched feature.
Claims20
An article of footwear comprising:
- a sole assembly including at least one of a midsole or an outsole;
- an upper secured to the sole assembly;
- an opening in one of the sole assembly and the upper;
- a fluid-filled bladder element secured to the sole assembly and including a first polymeric sheet that has a surface with an etched feature;
- wherein the fluid-filled bladder element has a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid;
- wherein a first portion of the fluid-filled bladder element with the etched feature is exposed to view through the opening;
- and
- wherein a second portion of the fluid-filled bladder element is blocked from view by said one of the sole assembly and the upper.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.