Fluid-Filled Chamber With A Tensile Member
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsKlaas P. Hazenberg, Kirvan L. Chao, Frederick J. Dojan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid-filled chamber, which may be incorporated into articles of footwear and other products, may include an outer barrier and a tensile member. The outer barrier may have an upper portion, an opposite lower portion, and a peripheral edge. The upper portion and lower portion may be bonded together in a bonded region spaced inward from the peripheral edge. The bonded region may have a convex shape. The tensile member may be located within the outer barrier, and may be formed to have at least one gap. The bonded region may extend at least partially into the gap.
Claims34
A fluid-filled chamber comprising:
- an outer barrier having an upper portion, an opposite lower portion, and a peripheral edge, the upper portion and lower portion being bonded together in a bonded region spaced inward from the peripheral edge, the bonded region having a convex shape;
- and
- a tensile member located within the outer barrier, the tensile member having at least one gap, the bonded region extending at least partially into the gap.
An article of footwear incorporating a sole structure, the sole structure comprising:
- a midsole formed from a polymer foam material;
- a fluid-filled chamber incorporated with the midsole, the fluid-filled chamber including:
- an outer barrier having an upper portion, an opposite lower portion, and a peripheral edge, at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion forming an indented area spaced inward from the peripheral edge and extending into the chamber, and
- a tensile member located within the outer barrier, the tensile member having an aperture;
- and
- an outsole secured to at least one of the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber, the outsole forming at least part of a ground-contacting surface of the footwear;
- wherein the indented area extends at least partially into the aperture, and the polymer foam material extends into the indented area.
An article of footwear incorporating a sole structure, the sole structure comprising:
- a midsole formed from a polymer foam material;
- a fluid-filled chamber incorporated with the midsole, the fluid-filled chamber including:
- an outer barrier having an upper portion, an opposite lower portion, and a peripheral edge, at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion forming a pair of indented areas spaced inward from the peripheral edge and extending into the chamber, and the upper portion and lower portion being bonded together in a laterally-positioned bonded region and a medially-positioned bonded region, each of the bonded regions being located within one of the pair of indented areas, and
- a tensile member located within the outer barrier;
- and
- an outsole secured to at least one of the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber, the outsole forming at least part of a ground-contacting surface of the footwear;
- wherein each of the pair of bonded regions is at least partially spaced from the tensile member.
An article of footwear incorporating a sole structure, the sole structure comprising:
- a midsole formed from a polymer foam material;
- a fluid-filled chamber incorporated with the midsole, the fluid-filled chamber including:
- an outer barrier having an upper portion, an opposite lower portion, and a peripheral edge, at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion forming a laterally-positioned indented area and a medially-positioned indented area, the indented areas being spaced inward from the peripheral edge and extending into the chamber, and the upper portion and lower portion being bonded together in a laterally-positioned bonded region and a medially-positioned bonded region, the laterally-positioned bonded region being located within the laterally-positioned indented area, and the medially-positioned bonded region being located within the medially-positioned indented area, and
- a tensile member located within the outer barrier, the tensile member having a pair of apertures, one of the pair of apertures being a laterally-positioned aperture, and one of the pair of apertures being a medially-positioned aperture;
- and
- an outsole secured to at least one of the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber, the outsole forming at least part of a ground-contacting surface of the footwear;
- wherein the laterally-positioned indented area extends at least partially into the laterally-positioned aperture, and the medially-positioned indented area extends at least partially into the medially-positioned aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.