# US 12,178,283 B2 · Method of manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber with a reinforcing element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,283 B2 - Document ID: US12178283B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/704,277 - Filed: 2022-03-25 - Published: 2022-07-07 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2008-01-16 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Christopher O. Parker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178283B2 ## 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 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - 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)} - B29D 35/122: {Soles} - 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 Several sole components and a method of manufacturing those sole components are disclosed. In general, each sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing element extending around a portion of the bladder. The reinforcing element is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some configurations, the reinforcing element is die-cut from a sheet of polymer material, and the reinforcing element may exhibit a layered configuration. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing element may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing element during the molding process. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising: a chamber enclosing a fluid and including an upper surface opposing the upper, a side surface depending from the upper surface, at least one protrusion extending from the side surface and terminating at a distal end, and a recess defined by the at least one protrusion and the side surface and having a squared edge at a junction of the at least one protrusion and the side surface; and a reinforcing element (i) attached to the chamber at the side surface and received within the squared edge of the recess, (ii) extending continuously from a first end terminating at a medial side of sole structure, around a heel region of the sole structure, to a second end terminating at a lateral side of the sole structure, (iii) including at least one aperture formed through a thickness of the reinforcing element and receiving the at least one protrusion therein; and (iv) having an upper portion extending from a lower end disposed at the junction of the at least one protrusion and the side surface to an upper distal end aligned with the upper surface of the chamber, the upper portion having a constant thickness from the lower end to the upper distal end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is formed in a heel region of the reinforcing element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is formed on one of a medial side of the reinforcing element and a lateral side of the reinforcing element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the at least one aperture is one of (i) a polygon, (ii) a circle, or (iii) elongate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element is attached to the side surface of the chamber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion extends from an outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sole structure of claim 6, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the reinforcing element forms an outer surface of the sole structure. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The sole structure of claim 6, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion defines an arcuate outer surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion defines an arcuate outer surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1. ### Claim 11 A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising: a chamber enclosing a fluid and including an upper surface opposing the upper, a side surface depending from the upper surface, at least one protrusion extending from the side surface and terminating at a distal end, and a recess defined by the at least one protrusion and the side surface and having a squared edge at a junction of the at least one protrusion and the side surface; and a reinforcing element (i) attached to the chamber at the side surface and received within the squared edge of the recess, (ii) extending continuously from a first end terminating at a medial side of sole structure, around a heel region of the sole structure, to a second end terminating at a lateral side of the sole structure, (iii) including an outer peripheral surface forming an outer surface of the sole structure, the at least one protrusion extending past the outer surface of the sole structure; and (iv) having an upper portion extending from a lower end disposed at the junction of the at least one protrusion and the side surface to an upper distal end aligned with the upper surface of the chamber, the upper portion having a constant thickness from the lower end to the upper distal end. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, further comprising at least one aperture formed through a thickness of the reinforcing element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sole structure of claim 12, wherein the at least one aperture is formed on one of a medial side of the reinforcing element and a lateral side of the reinforcing element. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The sole structure of claim 12, wherein the at least one aperture is one of (i) a polygon, (ii) a circle, or (iii) elongate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The sole structure of claim 12, wherein the at least one protrusion extends through the at least one aperture. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion defines an arcuate outer surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sole structure of claim 16, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion terminates at the outer peripheral surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the at least one protrusion defines an arcuate outer surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the reinforcing element is attached to the side surface of the chamber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 11.