Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Aveni, Troy C. Lindner, Scott C. Holt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sole component and a method of manufacturing the sole component are disclosed. In general, the sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing structure extending around the bladder. The reinforcing structure is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure extends along the side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process.
Claims20
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- a bladder formed from a polymer barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder having an upper surface, an opposite lower surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- a plurality of interior bonds spaced inward from the sidewall and joining portions of the barrier material forming the upper surface and the lower surface, at least one of the interior bonds being an inclined bond with a sloped configuration;
- and
- a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the sidewall.
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- a bladder formed from a polymer barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder having an upper surface, an opposite lower surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface;
- a plurality of interior bonds spaced inward from the sidewall and joining portions of the barrier material forming the upper surface and the lower surface, the interior bonds including a pair of inclined bonds having upper areas that form portions of the upper surface of the bladder, each of the upper areas having a sloped configuration extending downward toward a central portion of the bladder;
- and
- a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the sidewall.
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- a bladder formed from a polymer barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder having an upper surface, an opposite lower surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper surface and the lower surface, the sidewall being positioned adjacent to both a lateral side and an opposite medial side of the footwear, and the upper surface and the lower surface extending through a central portion of the footwear;
- a plurality of interior bonds spaced inward from the sidewall and joining portions of the barrier material forming the upper surface and the lower surface, the interior bonds including:
- a first inclined bond having an upper area and an opposite lower area, the upper area of the first inclined bond forming a portion of the upper surface of the bladder, and the lower area of the first inclined bond forming a portion of the lower surface of the bladder, the upper area of the first inclined bond having a sloped configuration with a downward incline extending away from the lateral side and toward the central portion, and
- a second inclined bond having an upper area and an opposite lower area, the upper area of the second inclined bond forming a portion of the upper surface of the bladder, and the lower area of the second inclined bond forming a portion of the lower surface of the bladder, the upper area of the second inclined bond having a sloped configuration with a downward incline extending away from the medial side and toward the central portion;
- and
- a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.