# US 11,992,091 B2 · Upper structure for article of footwear and 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 11,992,091 B2 - Document ID: US11992091B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/185,877 - Filed: 2023-03-17 - Published: 2023-07-13 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-31 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher J. Lyke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992091B2 ## CPC - A43B 23/0285: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel or water} - A43B 7/20: Ankle-joint supports or holders - A43B 11/00: Footwear with arrangements to facilitate putting-on or removing, e.g. with straps - A43B 23/0235: {Different layers of different material} - A43B 23/0275: {with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion} - A43B 23/029: {Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled} - B29D 35/126: {Uppers} - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - 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) ## Abstract An upper for an article of footwear includes a first material defining a void operable to selectively receive a foot. The first material includes an outer surface. The upper also includes a first edge at least partially circumscribing the void at an uppermost extremity of the upper and a second edge disposed at a lowermost extremity of the upper. The upper further includes a first biasing member (i) disposed at the outer surface of the upper, (ii) attached to the first material, and (iii) spaced apart from the first edge and the second edge. The first biasing member is operable to exert a biasing force on the first material to bias the first edge away from the second edge. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising: a first material defining a void operable to selectively receive a foot, the first material including an outer surface; a first edge at least partially circumscribing the void at an uppermost extremity of the upper; a second edge disposed at a lowermost extremity of the upper; and a first fluid-filled chamber (i) disposed at the outer surface of the upper, (ii) attached to the first material, (iii) spaced apart from the first edge and the second edge, (iv) spaced apart from a posterior end of the upper and an anterior end of the upper, and (v) including a first elongate chamber portion having an outer edge defined by a first arcuate surface, a second elongate chamber portion having an outer edge defined by a second arcuate surface, and a third elongate chamber portion smaller than the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion and connecting the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion, the first elongate chamber portion being disposed closer to the anterior end of the upper than the second elongate chamber portion and being offset from the second elongate chamber portion in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the upper. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The upper of claim 1, wherein the first fluid-filled chamber is disposed at one of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The upper of claim 2, wherein the first elongate chamber portion is fluidly coupled to the second elongate chamber portion via the third elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The upper of claim 2, wherein the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion form an outer surface of the upper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The upper of claim 3, wherein the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion are pressurized. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The upper of claim 3, further comprising a second fluid-filled chamber disposed at the other of the medial side and the lateral side, the second fluid-filled chamber including a fourth elongate chamber portion and fifth elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The upper of claim 6, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion and the fifth elongate chamber portion form an outer surface of the upper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The upper of claim 7, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion is disposed closer to the anterior end of the upper than the fifth elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The upper of claim 6, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion and the fifth elongate chamber portion are pressurized. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An article of footwear incorporating the upper of claim 1. ### Claim 11 An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising: a first material defining a void operable to selectively receive a foot, the first material including an outer surface; a first edge at least partially circumscribing the void at an uppermost extremity of the upper; a second edge disposed at a lowermost extremity of the upper; and a first fluid-filled chamber (i) disposed at the outer surface of the upper, (ii) attached to the first material, (iii) spaced apart from the first edge and the second edge, (iv) spaced apart from a posterior end of the upper and an anterior end of the upper, and (v) including a first elongate chamber portion having an outer edge defined by a first arcuate surface, a second elongate chamber portion having an outer edge defined by a second arcuate surface, and a third elongate chamber portion smaller than the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion and connecting the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion, the first elongate chamber portion being offset from the second elongate chamber portion in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the upper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The upper of claim 11, wherein the first fluid-filled chamber is disposed at one of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The upper of claim 12, wherein the first elongate chamber portion is fluidly coupled to the second elongate chamber portion via the third elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The upper of claim 12, wherein the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion form an outer surface of the upper. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The upper of claim 13, wherein the first elongate chamber portion and the second elongate chamber portion are pressurized. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The upper of claim 13, further comprising a second fluid-filled chamber disposed at the other of the medial side and the lateral side, the second fluid-filled chamber including a fourth elongate chamber portion and fifth elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The upper of claim 16, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion and the fifth elongate chamber portion form an outer surface of the upper. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The upper of claim 17, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion is disposed closer to the anterior end of the upper than the fifth elongate chamber portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The upper of claim 16, wherein the fourth elongate chamber portion and the fifth elongate chamber portion are pressurized. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An article of footwear incorporating the upper of claim 11.