Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones

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

• a midsole element having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, the upper surface being positioned adjacent the upper;
• a fluid-filled chamber secured to the lower surface of the midsole element, the chamber having a plurality of flexion bonds that extend between sub-chambers of the chamber and isolate the sub-chambers from fluid communication with each other;
• and
• an outsole secured to the chamber, the outsole including a plurality of outsole sections that are located between the flexion bonds,
• wherein both the chamber and the outsole form a ground-contacting surface of the footwear.

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

• a midsole element having an upper surface an opposite lower surface, the upper surface being positioned adjacent the upper, and the lower surface defining a depression extending upward and into the midsole element;
• a fluid-filled chamber secured within the depression and extending outward from the depression, the chamber enclosing a plurality of textile tensile members that are secured to opposite sides of the chamber, and the chamber including a plurality of flexion bonds where the opposite sides of the chamber are bonded to each other, the flexion bonds being located between the tensile members, and the flexion bonds including:
• a plurality of lateral flexion bonds extending across a width of the chamber, and
• at least one longitudinal flexion bond extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the chamber;
• and
• an outsole secured to a lower surface of the chamber, the outsole including a plurality of discrete outsole sections located between the flexion bonds.

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

• a midsole element having an upper surface an opposite lower surface, the upper surface being positioned adjacent the upper;
• a chamber that encloses a fluid and is secured to the lower surface of the midsole element, the chamber defining:
• a plurality of lateral bond lines extending across a width of the chamber and preventing the fluid from passing in a longitudinal direction through the chamber, and
• at least one longitudinal flexion line extending along at least a portion of a longitudinal length of the chamber and preventing the fluid from passing in a lateral direction through the chamber;
• and
• an outsole secured to the chamber to form a ground-contacting surface of the footwear, the outsole including a plurality of discrete outsole sections located between the bond lines.