Fluid-filled bladder for footwear and other applications
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsGary Kokstis, Joshua Heard, Tiffany Beers
Life of this patent
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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. The edges may also have a linear configuration, and the bladder may enclose a tensile member.
Claims25
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 form six edges that define a hexagonal shape for the bladder, the bladder including a tensile member located within the bladder and joined to the first surface and second surface.
A plurality of joined bladders that enclose a pressurized fluid, the joined bladders comprising:
- a first bladder incorporating a first tensile member that is located within the first bladder and bonded to opposite surfaces of the first bladder, the first bladder having at least three first edges that define a tessellation shape for the first bladder;
- a second bladder incorporating a second tensile member that is located within the second bladder and bonded to opposite surfaces of the second bladder, the second bladder having at least three second edges that define a tessellation shape for the second bladder;
- and
- a third bladder incorporating a third tensile member that is located within the third bladder and bonded to opposite surfaces of the third bladder, the third bladder having at least three third edges that define a tessellation shape for the third bladder,
- wherein one of the first edges is positioned adjacent and joined to one of the second edges, another of the second edges is positioned adjacent and joined to one of the third edges, and another of the third edges is positioned adjacent and joined to another of the first 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, and the edges of the first bladder have a shape that mates with the edges of the plurality of the second bladders, each of the first bladder and the plurality of second bladders enclosing a tensile member formed from a textile material and including a pair of walls and a plurality of connecting members extending between the walls.
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;
- locating a plurality of tensile members between the first sheet and the second sheet;
- securing the tensile members to each of the first sheet and the second sheet;
- forming bonds between the first sheet and the second sheet and around the tensile members;
- and
- bisecting at least a portion of the bonds.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.