Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

• a bladder extending from a lateral side to a medial side of the sole structure and through a substantial portion of a longitudinal length of the sole structure, the bladder being formed of a barrier material and having a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface, and the bladder enclosing a fluid that exerts an outward force upon the barrier material;
• and
• a reinforcing structure having a first portion, a second portion, and a plurality of connecting portions, the first portion being secured to the bladder at an interface between the first surface and the sidewall, the second portion being secured to the bladder at an interface between the second surface and the sidewall, and the connecting portions extending between the first portion and the second portion, the connecting portions being at least partially recessed into the sidewall and bonded to the sidewall, at least one of the connecting portions being placed in tension by the outward force upon the barrier material,
• wherein each of the sidewall and connecting portions form a portion of an exterior surface of the footwear, and the sidewall and the connecting portions are substantially co-planar at an interface between the sidewall and the connecting portions on the exterior surface.

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

• a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a pressurized fluid, the bladder having a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface;
• and
• a reinforcing structure bonded to the bladder, the reinforcing structure including:
• a first portion positioned at an interface of the first surface and the sidewall, the first portion extending along a lateral side of the bladder, around a heel region of the bladder, and along a medial side of the bladder,
• a second portion spaced from the first portion and positioned at an interface of the second surface and the sidewall, the second portion extending along the lateral side, around the heel region, and along a medial side of the bladder, and
• a plurality of connecting portions extending along the sidewall and between the first portion and the second portion, the connecting portions being recessed into sidewall,
• the reinforcing structure being formed of a material with a greater modulus of elasticity than the barrier material, and at least one of the connecting portions being in tension when the sole component is in an uncompressed state to restrict distension of the sidewall due to an outward force induced by the pressurized fluid.