# US 12,757,979 B2 · Bladder systems and footwear incorporating bladder systems for ankle and/or heel support

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- Number: US 12,757,979 B2
- Document ID: US12757979B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/213,569
- Filed: 2023-06-23
- Published: 2023-12-28
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2022-06-27
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi; Scott C. Holt; James Molyneux; Colin Runkle; Bryan K. Youngs
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12757979B2

## CPC

- A43B 23/0285: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel or water}
- A43B 23/029: {Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled}
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

Bladder systems for footwear uppers, footwear components (e.g., uppers), and articles of footwear including the bladder systems, and/or methods of making and using such bladder systems are described. The bladder systems may include two or more bladder pods engaged together by one or more elastic connectors. The elastic connector(s) may enable the bladder system to fit snugly around the wearer's ankle and/or heel area while still allowing some relative movement between the bladder pods, e.g., as a wearer moves in an article of footwear. In this manner, the bladder systems provide support and a snug fit and return to its/their original size, shape, and/or location once the force from the wearer's movement is removed or sufficiently relaxed. Additionally or alternatively, the bladder systems may provide impact force attenuation properties, e.g., to protect the wearer's ankle and/or heel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
an upper base component including one or more upper component parts; and
a bladder system engaged with the upper base component, wherein the bladder system is located at an ankle covering portion and/or a heel covering portion of the upper base component and includes:
a first bladder pod including a first seam that defines a first interior bladder chamber,
a second bladder pod including a second seam that defines a second interior bladder chamber,
a first elastic connector engaging the first seam of the first bladder pod and the second seam of the second bladder pod; and
a third bladder pod including a third seam that defines a third interior bladder chamber;
wherein: (i) the first seam completely surrounds and seals the first interior bladder chamber, (ii) the second seam completely surrounds and seals the second interior bladder chamber, and (iii) the first interior bladder chamber is not in fluid communication with the second interior bladder chamber;
wherein the first elastic connector is configured to generally fit over a wearer's medial malleolus;
wherein the third bladder pod includes a first pod chamber, a second pod chamber, and a fluid passage connecting the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod to the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod is configured to wrap around a rear heel area of the upper base component such that the first pod chamber is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, the second pod chamber is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the fluid passage is located on a rear of the article of footwear;
wherein each of the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod and the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod are wider in a vertical direction than the fluid passage of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod has a butterfly shape; and
wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend above the fluid passage in a vertical direction, and wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend below the fluid passage in a vertical direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The upper according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second elastic connector engaging the second seam and the third seam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The upper according to claim 2, wherein the third seam completely surrounds and seals the third interior bladder chamber, and (iv) the first interior bladder chamber, the second interior bladder chamber, and the third interior bladder chamber are not in fluid communication with one another.

### Claim 4

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
an upper base component including one or more upper component parts; and
a bladder system engaged with the upper base component, wherein the bladder system is located at an ankle covering portion and/or a heel covering portion of the upper base component and includes:
a first bladder pod including a first seam that defines a first interior bladder chamber,
a second bladder pod including a second seam that defines a second interior bladder chamber,
a third bladder pod including a third seam that defines a third interior bladder chamber,
a first elastic connector engaging the first seam of the first bladder pod, the second seam of the second bladder pod, and the third seam of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod is configured to support a heel region of a wearer's foot;
wherein the third bladder pod includes a first pod chamber, a second pod chamber, and a fluid passage connecting the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod to the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod is configured to wrap around a rear heel area of the upper base component such that the first pod chamber is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, the second pod chamber is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the fluid passage is located on a rear of the article of footwear;
wherein each of the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod and the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod are wider in a vertical direction than the fluid passage of the third bladder pod;
wherein the first elastic connector is configured to generally fit over the wearer's medial malleolus;
wherein the third bladder pod has a butterfly shape; and
wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend above the fluid passage in a vertical direction, and wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend below the fluid passage in a vertical direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The upper according to claim 4, wherein: (i) the first seam completely surrounds and seals the first interior bladder chamber, (ii) the second seam completely surrounds and seals the second interior bladder chamber, and (iii) the third seam completely surround and seals the third interior bladder chamber.

### Claim 6

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
an upper base component including one or more upper component parts; and
a bladder system engaged with the upper base component, wherein the bladder system is located at an ankle covering portion and/or a heel covering portion of the upper base component and includes:
a first bladder pod including a first seam that defines a first interior bladder chamber,
a second bladder pod including a second seam that defines a second interior bladder chamber,
a third bladder pod including a third seam that defines a third interior bladder chamber,
a first elastic connector engaging the first seam of the first bladder pod, the second seam of the second bladder pod, and the third seam of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod is configured to support a heel region of a wearer's foot;
wherein the third bladder pod includes a first pod chamber, a second pod chamber, and a fluid passage connecting the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod to the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod;
wherein the third bladder pod is configured to wrap around a rear heel area of the upper base component such that the first pod chamber is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, the second pod chamber is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the fluid passage is located on a rear of the article of footwear;
wherein each of the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod and the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod are wider in a vertical direction than the fluid passage of the third bladder pod;
wherein the first elastic connector is configured to generally fit over the wearer's lateral malleolus;
wherein the third bladder pod has a butterfly shape; and
wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend above the fluid passage in a vertical direction, and wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend below the fluid passage in a vertical direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The upper according to claim 6, wherein: (i) the first seam completely surrounds and seals the first interior bladder chamber, (ii) the second seam completely surrounds and seals the second interior bladder chamber, and (iii) the third seam completely surround and seals the third interior bladder chamber.