Fluid-filled bladder for footwear and other applications
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsVincent White, Jennie Caudle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid-filled structure, such as a bladder, is disclosed. The bladder has a first surface and an opposite second surface that are peripherally joined to define various edges. The bladder encloses a fluid between the first surface and the second surface. A portion of the edges may have a concave configuration, or the edges may have both concave and convex configurations. A shape of the bladder may be a tessellation pattern so that a plurality of the bladder may be efficiently.
Claims54
An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a bladder that includes a first surface and an opposite second surface that are peripherally joined to define three first edges and three second edges, and the bladder enclosing a fluid between the first surface and the second surface, the first edges alternating with the second edges, and the second edges having a concave configuration.
An article of footwear containing an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a bladder that includes a first surface and an opposite second surface that are peripherally joined to define three first edges and three second edges, the first surface and the second surface being devoid of internal connections in a central portion of the bladder, and the bladder enclosing a fluid between the first surface and the second surface, the first edges having a convex configuration, and the second edges having a concave configuration.
A plurality of joined bladders that enclose a pressurized fluid, the joined bladders comprising:
- a first bladder having a hexagonal configuration that includes three first convex edges alternating with three first concave edges;
- a second bladder having a hexagonal configuration that includes three second convex edges alternating with three second concave edges;
- and
- a third bladder having a hexagonal configuration that includes three third convex edges alternating with three third concave edges,
- wherein one of the first convex edges is positioned adjacent and joined to one of the second concave edges, one of the second convex edges is positioned adjacent and joined to one of the third concave edges, and one of the third convex edges is positioned adjacent and joined to one of the first concave edges.
An article comprising a plurality of bladders that enclose a pressurized fluid, each of the bladders having a tessellation configuration wherein edges of a first bladder are positioned adjacent to edges of a plurality of second bladders, the edges of the first bladder including a cove edge, and the edges of the plurality of the second bladders including a concave edge, the convex edge being positioned adjacent and joined to the convex edge.
(canceled)
A bladder comprising:
- a first surface and an opposite second surface that are peripherally-joined to define an edge of the bladder, the first surface and the second surface enclosing a pressurized fluid within the bladder;
- a bond spaced inward from the edge of the bladder to define a channel between the bond and the edge;
- and
- an inflation area in fluid communication with the channel, the inflation area providing a zone for inserting the fluid into the bladder, and the inflation area being sealed to seal the fluid within the bladder.
A method of manufacturing a plurality of bladders, the method comprising steps of:
- providing a first sheet and a second sheet of a thermoplastic polymer material;
- forming bonds between the first sheet and the second shed in a tessellation pattern to define the bladders;
- shaping at least a portion of the bonds to have a hexagonal configuration with three first edges and three second edges, the first edges having a convex configuration, and the second edges having a concave configuration;
- and
- bisecting at least a portion of the bonds.
48-49. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.