# US 12,178,285 B2 · Sole structure 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 12,178,285 B2 - Document ID: US12178285B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/335,085 - Filed: 2023-06-14 - Published: 2023-10-12 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-15 - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Patrick Case; Zachary M. Elder; Nathan A. Jacobsen; Roger Paul Murphy; Lee D. Peyton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178285B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/12: Soles with several layers of different materials - A43B 13/127: {the midsole being multilayer} - A43B 13/141: {with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion} - 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 13/188: {Differential cushioning regions} - A43B 13/206: {provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a fluid-filled segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second fluid-filled segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment. The first barrier layer is attached to the second barrier layer within the web area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a heel region; a forefoot region; a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region; and a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define (i) a first fluid-filled segment extending continuously from a medial edge of the sole structure to a lateral edge of the sole structure, (ii) a second fluid-filled segment extending from the first fluid-filled segment along one of the medial edge and the lateral edge, (iii) a third fluid-filled segment extending from the second fluid-filled segment from the one of the medial edge and the lateral edge to the other of the medial edge and the lateral-side edge, (iv) a fourth fluid-filled segment extending between the first fluid-filled segment and the third fluid-filled segment and terminating at a distal end between the medial edge and the lateral edge, the distal end opposing the second fluid-filled segment, and (v) a fifth fluid-filled segment extending along the other of the medial edge and the lateral edge, the fourth fluid-filled segment directly fluidly connected to and extending from the fifth fluid-filled segment, each of the first fluid-filled segment, the second fluid-filled segment, the third fluid-filled segment, the fourth fluid-filled segment, and the fifth fluid-filled segment defining a substantially tubular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the fourth fluid-filled segment is substantially parallel to the first fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sole structure of claim 2, wherein the fourth fluid-filled segment is substantially parallel to the third fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the fourth fluid-filled segment is substantially parallel to the third fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the distal end tapers in a direction away from a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the distal end is spaced apart and separated from the second fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the fifth fluid-filled segment extends between and fluidly couples the third fluid-filled segment and the fourth fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the fifth fluid-filled segment is arcuate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1. ### Claim 10 A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising: a heel region; a forefoot region; a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region; and a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define (i) a first fluid-filled segment extending along one of a medial edge of the sole structure and a lateral edge of the sole structure, (ii) a second fluid-filled segment extending continuously from the first fluid-filled segment from the one of the medial edge and the lateral edge to the other of the medial edge and the lateral-side edge, (iii) a third fluid-filled segment extending adjacent to the second fluid-filled segment, (iv) a fourth fluid-filled segment extending along the other of the medial edge and the lateral edge, and between and fluidly coupling the second fluid-filled segment and the third fluid-filled segment, the fourth fluid-filled segment having an arcuate shape, the third fluid-filled segment directly fluidly connected to and extending from the fourth fluid-filled segment, each of the first fluid-filled segment, the second fluid-filled segment, the third fluid-filled segment, and the fourth fluid-filled segment defining a substantially tubular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The sole structure of claim 10, wherein the second fluid-filled segment is substantially parallel to the third fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The sole structure of claim 10, wherein the distal end opposes the first fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The sole structure of claim 10, wherein the distal end is spaced apart and separated from the first fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The sole structure of claim 10, wherein the distal end tapers in a direction away from a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The sole structure of claim 10, further comprising a fifth fluid-filled segment extending from the one of the medial edge and the lateral edge in a direction toward the other of the medial edge and the lateral edge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the fifth fluid-filled segment extends from and is fluidly coupled to the first fluid-filled segment at an opposite end of the first fluid-filled segment than the second fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein the fifth fluid-filled segment is substantially parallel to the third fluid-filled segment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 10.