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US 12,075,883 B2Granted
Adjustable mutli-bladder system for an article of footwear
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsElizabeth Langvin, James Molyneux, Lee D. Peyton, Ty A. Ransom, Nicola J. Reynolds, Aaron B. Weast
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adjustable multiple bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member is disposed within the outer bladder and divides the outer bladder into two distinct inflation chambers. The inflation chambers may be inflated separately.
Claims20
A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a first bladder;
- a second bladder;
- a valve body defining:
- (a) a bore, (b) a first fluid passage extending to the bore, (c) a second fluid passage extending between the bore and the first bladder, and (d) a third fluid passage extending between the bore and the second bladder;
- and
- a first valve provided in the bore, wherein the first valve includes (a) a first orifice, (b) a second orifice, and (c) a passage connecting the first orifice and the second orifice,
- wherein the first valve is movably mounted with respect to the bore and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
- in the first position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the first bladder to inflate the first bladder to a first pressure, and
- in the second position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the third fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the second bladder to inflate the second bladder to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure.
6 more elements
A bladder system for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a first bladder;
- a second bladder;
- a valve body defining:
- (a) a bore, (b) a first fluid passage extending to the bore, (c) a second fluid passage extending between the bore and the first bladder, and (d) a third fluid passage extending between the bore and the second bladder;
- and
- a first valve provided in the bore, wherein the first valve includes (a) a first orifice, (b) a second orifice, and (c) a passage connecting the first orifice and the second orifice,
- wherein the first valve is movably mounted with respect to the bore and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
- in the first position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the first bladder to inflate the first bladder to a first pressure, and
- in the second position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the third fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the second bladder to inflate the second bladder to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure is different from the first pressure.
6 more elements
A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a bladder system that includes:
- (i) a first inflation chamber including a first tensile member disposed therein;
- (ii) a second inflation chamber including a second tensile member disposed therein;
- (iii) a valve body defining:
- (a) a bore, (b) a first fluid passage extending to the bore, (c) a second fluid passage extending between the bore and the first inflation chamber, and (d) a third fluid passage extending between the bore and the second inflation chamber;
- and
- (iv) a first valve provided in the bore, wherein the first valve includes (a) a first orifice, (b) a second orifice, and (c) a passage connecting the first orifice and the second orifice,
- wherein the first valve is movably mounted with respect to the bore and is movable between a first position and a second position, wherein:
- in the first position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the second fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the first inflation chamber and to inflate the first inflation chamber to a first pressure, and
- in the second position, the first orifice is in fluid communication with the third fluid passage and the second orifice is in fluid communication with the first fluid passage to allow fluid flow between the first fluid passage and the second inflation chamber and to inflate the second inflation chamber to a second pressure.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.