US 12,414,605 B2 · Flexible fluid-filled chamber with tensile member

Abstract

An article of footwear having a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid is described, along with a method of making the article. The chamber may include a tensile member extending between a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer. The tensile member may include a first tensile member layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer, a second tensile member layer bonded to the second chamber barrier layer, and a plurality of tethers connecting the first tensile member layer to the second tensile member layer. The second tensile member layer may include a first section and a second section separate from the first section. In addition, a portion of the second chamber barrier layer may extend toward the first tensile member layer between the first section and the second section, the portion being joined to the first tensile member layer.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:

a chamber including a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer, the first barrier layer being generally planar and attached directly to the second barrier layer to define an interior void;
a first sheet disposed entirely within the interior void, attached to the first barrier layer, and formed from a material different than the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer, the second barrier layer extending in a direction toward the first barrier layer and including (i) a first surface attached to the first sheet to form an indentation in the chamber and (ii) a second surface formed on an opposite side of the second barrier layer than the first surface;
and
a plurality of tethers extending from the first sheet in a direction toward the second barrier layer, tethers of the plurality of tethers increasing in height in a direction extending away from the indentation.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Flexible fluid-filled chamber with tensile member

Life of this patent

Flexible fluid-filled chamber with tensile member

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20