Method of making and article of footwear formed with gas-filled pockets or chambers
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsJohn Baratta, Troy C. Lindner
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a sole structure comprising a midsole and an outsole. The midsole has a plurality of midsole recesses formed in a bottom portion, and the outsole optionally defines a plurality of outsole recesses or other structures formed in a top portion thereof. The midsole recesses are formed to align with the outsole recesses to form a plurality of separately distinct fluid-filled chambers. Methods of designing such sole structures based on foot pressure data also are described.
Claims29
A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a midsole having a plurality of midsole recesses formed in a bottom portion thereof;
- and
- an outsole defining a plurality of outsole recesses formed in a top portion thereof,
- wherein the midsole recesses align with the outsole recesses to form a plurality of separately distinct fluid-filled chambers.
The sole structure of claim 4, wherein the seam includes a groove formed in one of the midsole and the outsole and a tongue formed in one of the midsole and the outsole, wherein the tongue is engaged with the groove to form the seam.
A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a first midsole component including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the first midsole component includes:
- (a) a first recess including one or more interior walls extending in a direction toward the top surface of the first midsole component, wherein a first engagement surface extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first recess, and
- (b) a second recess including one or more interior walls extending in a direction toward the top surface of the first midsole component, wherein a second engagement surface extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second recess;
- and
- a first outsole component including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the top surface of the first outsole component includes:
- (a) a third engagement surface and one or more interior walls extending from the third engagement surface and in a direction toward the bottom surface of the first outsole component, and
- (b) a fourth engagement surface and one or more interior walls extending from the fourth engagement surface and in a direction toward the bottom surface of the first outsole component,
- wherein the first midsole component and first outsole component are engaged together such that:
- (a) the first engagement surface engages the third engagement surface so that the first recess and the top surface of the first outsole component form a first enclosed fluid-filled chamber,
- (b) the second engagement surface engages the fourth engagement surface so that the second recess and the top surface of the first outsole component form a second enclosed fluid-filled chamber, and
- wherein the first enclosed fluid-filled chamber and the second enclosed fluid-filled chamber are not in fluid communication with one another.
A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
- forming a first midsole component to include a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the bottom surface of the first midsole component is further formed to include:
- (a) a first recess including one or more interior walls extending in a direction toward the top surface of the first midsole component, wherein a first engagement surface extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the first recess, and
- (b) a second recess including one or more interior walls extending in a direction toward the top surface of the first midsole component, wherein a second engagement surface extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the second recess;
- and
- forming a first outsole component including a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, wherein the top surface of the first outsole component is further formed to include:
- (a) a third engagement surface and one or more interior walls extending from the third engagement surface and in a direction toward the bottom surface of the first outsole component, and
- (b) a fourth engagement surface and one or more interior walls extending from the fourth engagement surface and in a direction toward the bottom surface of the first outsole component,
- engaging the first midsole component with the first outsole component such that:
- (a) the first engagement surface engages the third engagement surface so that the first recess and the top surface of the first outsole component form a first enclosed fluid-filled chamber,
- (b) the second engagement surface engages the fourth engagement surface so that the second recess and the top surface of the first outsole component form a second enclosed fluid-filled chamber, and
- (c) the first fluid-filled chamber and the second fluid-filled chamber are not in fluid communication with one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.