# US 11,026,476 B2 · Airbag for article of footwear > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,476 B2 - Document ID: US11026476B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/037,935 - Filed: 2018-07-17 - Published: 2020-01-23 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-17 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Can Eldem; Wade Flanagan; Craig Fredrick; Ryan Nyberg; Jessica Small - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026476B2 ## CPC - A43B 3/0063: {U-shaped} - A43B 13/206: {provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members} - A43B 7/1415: characterised by the location under the foot - 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 21/26: Resilient heels - B29D 35/142: {Soles} - B29K 2021/003: {Thermoplastic elastomers} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A bladder for an article of footwear includes a chamber having (i) an arcuate segment extending from a first transition to a second transition, (ii) a first plurality of elongate segments extending in a first direction from the first transition to a first terminal end, and (iii) a second plurality of elongate segments spaced apart from the first plurality of elongate segments and extending in the first direction from the second transition to a second terminal end. The bladder also includes a web area connecting the arcuate segment, the first plurality of elongate segments, and the second plurality of elongate segments and extending to a terminal edge spaced apart from each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bladder for an article of footwear, the bladder comprising: a chamber comprising: an arcuate segment extending from a first transition to a second transition; a first plurality of elongate segments extending in a first direction from the first transition to a first terminal end and including (i) a first heel segment extending from the first transition to a third transition, (ii) a first mid-foot segment extending from the third transition to a fourth transition, and (iii) a first forefoot segment extending from the fourth transition to the first terminal end; and a second plurality of elongate segments spaced apart from the first plurality of elongate segments and extending in the first direction from the second transition to a second terminal end and including (i) a second heel segment extending from the second transition to a fifth transition, (ii) a second mid-foot segment extending from the fifth transition to a sixth transition, and (iii) a second forefoot segment extending from the sixth transition to the second terminal end; and a web area having a first portion including a first barrier layer joined to a second barrier layer continuously and uninterrupted (i) from a first side connected to and extending along an entire length of the first heel segment to a second side connected to and extending along an entire length of the second heel segment and (ii) from a first end connected to and extending along an entire length of the arcuate segment to a second end forming a terminal edge that extends continuously from the third transition to the fifth transition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bladder of claim 1, wherein the arcuate segment, the first heel segment, and the first mid-foot segment are aligned along a plane and the first forefoot segment extends away from the plane. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bladder of claim 2, wherein the arcuate segment, the second heel segment, and the second mid-foot segment are aligned along the plane and the second forefoot segment extends away from the plane. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The bladder of claim 3, wherein the first heel segment and the second heel segment converge with each other along the first direction and the first mid-foot segment and the second mid-foot segment diverge from each other along the first direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The bladder of claim 3, wherein the first forefoot segment and the second forefoot segment are not directly connected by the web area. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bladder of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the chamber tapers continuously from the arcuate segment to each of the first terminal end and the second terminal end. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The bladder of claim 1, wherein the web area includes a second portion having an inflation conduit extending in a first direction from the terminal edge to one of the segments of the chamber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bladder of claim 7, wherein the web area includes a tab extending in a second direction from the terminal edge, the tab including an inlet of the inflation conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The bladder of claim 8, wherein the inlet of the inflation conduit includes a crimped region formed on the tab. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The bladder of claim 1, wherein the terminal edge is exposed between the third transition and the fifth transition. ### Claim 11 A bladder for an article of footwear, the bladder comprising: a chamber including: a plurality of sequentially arranged segments fluidly coupled to each other at respective transitions, the plurality of sequentially arranged segments including: an arcuate segment extending along an arcuate path from a first transition on a medial side of the bladder to a second transition on a lateral side of the bladder; a first elongate segment extending in a first direction from the first transition to a third transition; a second elongate segment extending in the first direction from the second transition to a fourth transition and converging with the first elongate segment along the first direction; a third elongate segment extending in the first direction from the third transition to a first terminal end; and a fourth elongate segment extending in the first direction from the fourth transition to a second terminal end, the arcuate segment and at least one of the first elongate segment and the second elongate segment cooperating to define a bottom surface plane of the chamber and the third elongate segment and the fourth elongate segment extending away from the bottom surface plane; and a web area having at least a first portion including a first barrier layer joined to a second barrier layer continuously and uninterrupted (i) from a first side connected to the chamber at the first elongate segment to a second side connected to the chamber at the second elongate segment, and (ii) from a first end connected to the chamber along an entire length of the arcuate segment to a second end forming a terminal edge extending continuously from the first side at the third transition to the second side at the fourth transition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein the chamber is formed of the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, the first barrier layer being spaced apart from the second barrier layer at the chamber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The bladder of claim 12, wherein the first barrier layer comprises a first multilayer film and the second barrier layer comprises a second multilayer film. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The bladder of claim 13, wherein the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film each independently comprises one or more thermoplastic polyurethane copolymers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bladder of claim 14, wherein the first multilayer film and the second multilayer film each further independently comprises one or more ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein the arcuate segment, the first elongate segment, the second elongate segment, the third elongate segment, and the fourth elongate segment cooperate to define a continuous interior void. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein the third elongate segment and the fourth elongate segment curve away from the bottom surface plane. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein a thickness of the chamber tapers continuously at a constant first rate from the arcuate segment to the third transition, and tapers at a variable second rate from the third transition to the first terminal end. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein the chamber has a circular cross-section. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The bladder of claim 11, wherein the terminal edge is exposed between the third transition and the fourth transition.