Back to results
US 2020/0046070 A1Published application
Adjustable Foot Support Systems Including Fluid-Filled Bladder Chambers
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsOlivier Henrichot, Timothy P. Hopkins, Elizabeth Langvin, Austin Orand, Levi J. Patton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.
Claims24
A foot support system, comprising:
- a first fluid-filled bladder chamber including a first major surface, a second major surface opposite the first major surface, and a first interior chamber;
- a second fluid-filled bladder chamber including a third major surface, a fourth major surface opposite the third major surface, and a second interior chamber, wherein the third major surface faces the second major surface;
- a first fluid flow line placing the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber in fluid communication with one another;
- and
- a fluid flow control system to selectively change the first fluid flow line between an open configuration in which fluid flow between the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber occurs and a closed configuration in which fluid flow between the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber is stopped.
2 more elements
A foot support system, comprising:
- a first sheet of thermoplastic material;
- and
- a second sheet of thermoplastic material sealed to the first sheet of thermoplastic material, wherein seal lines joining the first sheet of thermoplastic material to the second sheet of thermoplastic material are shaped to form:
- a first fluid-filled bladder chamber defining a first interior chamber between the first sheet of thermoplastic material and the second sheet of thermoplastic material;
- a second fluid-filled bladder chamber defining a second interior chamber between the first sheet of thermoplastic material and the second sheet of thermoplastic material;
- and
- a first fluid flow line placing the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber in fluid communication with one another,
- wherein the first fluid-filled bladder chamber is movable with respect to the second fluid-filled bladder chamber in a manner so that in the foot support system:
- (a) a portion of an exterior surface of the second sheet of thermoplastic material defining the first fluid-filled bladder chamber directly faces a portion of the exterior surface of the second sheet of thermoplastic material defining the second fluid-filled bladder chamber and (b) a portion of an exterior surface of the first sheet of thermoplastic material defining the first fluid-filled bladder chamber faces away from a portion of the exterior surface of the first sheet of thermoplastic material defining the second fluid-filled bladder chamber.
6 more elements
A foot support system, comprising:
- a first sheet of thermoplastic material;
- and
- a second sheet of thermoplastic material sealed to the first sheet of thermoplastic material, wherein seal lines joining the first sheet of thermoplastic material to the second sheet of thermoplastic material are shaped to form:
- a first fluid-filled bladder chamber defining a first interior chamber between the first sheet of thermoplastic material and the second sheet of thermoplastic material;
- a second fluid-filled bladder chamber defining a second interior chamber between the first sheet of thermoplastic material and the second sheet of thermoplastic material;
- and
- a first fluid flow line placing the first interior chamber and the second interior chamber in fluid communication with one another, wherein the first fluid flow line includes a first segment in fluid communication with the first interior chamber, a second segment in fluid communication with the second interior chamber, and a non-linear connecting portion placing the first segment and the second segment in fluid communication with one another,
- wherein when the first fluid-filled bladder chamber is oriented to support a plantar surface of a user's foot, the second fluid-bladder chamber is oriented:
- (a) at least partially vertically stacked with respect to the first fluid-filled bladder chamber or (b) around a portion of a perimeter edge of the first fluid-filled bladder chamber.
6 more elements
(canceled)
(canceled)
16-18. (canceled)
26-33. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.