# US 8,464,439 B2 · Contoured fluid-filled chamber with a tensile member > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,439 B2 - Document ID: US8464439B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/778,909 - Filed: 2010-05-12 - Published: 2011-11-17 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-12 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: Benjamin Joseph Monfils; Douglas Alan Beye - Inventors: Benjamin Joseph Monfils; Douglas Alan Beye - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464439B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A fluid-filled chamber may include an upper barrier portion, a lower barrier portion, and a tensile member. An upper tensile layer of the tensile member may be secured to the upper barrier portion, and a lower tensile layer of the tensile member may be secured to the lower barrier portion. The upper barrier portion and the lower barrier portion may have first areas and second areas. The first areas may be indentations extending into the chamber, and the second areas may be protrusions extending outward from the chamber. At least a portion of the first areas may be unbonded with the upper barrier portion and the lower barrier portion. Accordingly, one or more properties of the chamber, such as a flexibility, stiffness, rigidity, tensile response, compressibility, or force attenuation property, may be altered. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fluid-filled chamber comprising: an outer barrier formed of a polymer material that defines an interior void, the barrier having a first portion defining a first surface and an opposite second portion defining a second surface, the first portion having a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber; and a tensile member located within the interior void, the tensile member having a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of connecting members, and the tensile member extending between the first portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier, wherein a first portion of the connecting members is aligned with the indented areas and has a first length, a second portion of the connecting members is not aligned with the indented areas and has a second length, and the first length is less than the second length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of each indented area of the first portion of the barrier is secured to the first layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 2, wherein the portions of the indented areas secured to the first layer are secured to the first layer in a plurality of regions, an aggregate area of the plurality of regions exceeding half of an entire area of the first layer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of each protruding area of the first portion of the barrier is unsecured to the first layer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of each indented area of the second portion of the barrier is secured to the second layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of each protruding area of the second portion of the barrier is unsecured to the second layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 8, wherein the indented areas of the first portion of the barrier are positioned opposite the protruding areas of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein: the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber; and at least a portion of each indented area of the first portion of the barrier is secured to the first layer, and at least a portion of each protruding area of the first portion of the barrier is unsecured to the first layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein: the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber; and at least a portion of each indented area of the first portion of the barrier is secured to the first layer, and at least a portion of each indented area of the second portion of the barrier is secured to the second layer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein: the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber, the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber, and the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber; and at least a portion of each indented area of the first portion of the barrier is secured to the first layer, at least a portion of each protruding area of the second portion of the barrier is unsecured to the second layer, and the indented areas of the first portion of the barrier are positioned opposite the protruding areas of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein a portion of the chamber has an undulating cross-sectional configuration. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein the indented areas of the first portion of the barrier have a configuration of a regularly repeating pattern. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 15, wherein the regularly repeating pattern is based on a square grid. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1, wherein the tensile member is a textile tensile member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An article of footwear having a sole structure, wherein the fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 is incorporated into the sole structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein the chamber extends from a heel region of the footwear to a forefoot region of the footwear. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the indented areas of the first portion of the barrier extend through a forefoot region of the footwear. ### Claim 21 A fluid-filled chamber comprising: an outer barrier formed of a polymer material that defines an interior void, the barrier having a first portion defining a first surface and an opposite second portion defining a second surface; and a tensile member located within the interior void, the tensile member having a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of connecting members, and the tensile member extending between the first portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier, wherein the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of bonded areas that are secured to the first layer and a plurality of unbonded areas that are unsecured to the first layer, and wherein the first layer includes portions adjacent to the unbonded areas that do not extend to the unbonded areas. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein an aggregate area of the plurality of bonded areas of the first portion of the barrier exceeds half of an entire area of the first layer. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein the second portion of the chamber has a plurality of bonded areas that are secured to the second layer. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein the second portion of the chamber has a plurality of unbonded areas that are unsecured to the second layer. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 24, wherein the bonded areas of the first portion of the barrier are positioned opposite the unbonded areas of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein: the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of unbonded areas that are unsecured to the first layer, the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of bonded areas that are secured to the second layer, and the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of unbonded areas that are unsecured to the second layer; and the bonded areas of the first portion of the barrier are positioned opposite the unbonded areas of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein a portion of the chamber has an undulating cross-sectional configuration. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein the bonded areas of the first portion of the barrier have a configuration of a regularly repeating pattern. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 28, wherein the regularly repeating pattern is based on a square grid. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 21, wherein the tensile member is a spacer textile. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) An article of footwear having a sole structure, wherein the fluid-filled chamber of claim 21 is incorporated into the sole structure. ### Claim 32 A fluid-filled chamber comprising: an outer barrier formed of a polymer material that defines an interior void, the barrier having a first portion defining a first surface and an opposite second portion defining a second surface, the first portion of the barrier having a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber and a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber, the second portion of the barrier having a plurality of indented areas that form a plurality of indentations extending into the chamber and a plurality of protruding areas that form a plurality of protrusions extending outward from the chamber; and a tensile member located within the interior void, the tensile member having a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of connecting members, and the tensile member extending between the first portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier, wherein the indentations and the protrusions of the first portion of the barrier have a configuration of a first regularly repeating pattern, and the indentations and protrusions of the second portion of the barrier have a configuration of a second regularly repeating pattern, and wherein the indentations of the first portion of the barrier are aligned opposite the protrusions of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein the first regularly repeating pattern is aligned to a first square grid and the second regularly repeating pattern is aligned to a second square grid. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of each indented area of the first portion of the barrier is secured to the first layer. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 34, wherein the portions of the indented areas secured to the first layer are secured to the first layer in a plurality of regions, an aggregate area of the plurality of regions exceeding half of an entire area of the first layer. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of each protruding area of the first portion of the barrier is unsecured to the first layer. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of each indented area of the second portion of the barrier is secured to the second layer. ### Claim 38 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein at least a portion of each protruding area of the second portion of the barrier is unsecured to the second layer. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 32, wherein the tensile member is a spacer textile. ### Claim 40 (depends on 32) An article of footwear having a sole structure, wherein the fluid-filled chamber of claim 32 is incorporated into the sole structure. ### Claim 41 A fluid-filled chamber comprising: an outer barrier formed of a polymer material that defines an interior void, the barrier having a first portion defining a first surface and an opposite second portion defining a second surface; and a tensile member located within the interior void, the tensile member having a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of connecting members, the tensile member extending between the first portion of the barrier and the second portion of the barrier, wherein the first portion of the barrier has a plurality of contacting areas being in contact with the first layer and a plurality of spaced areas being spaced from the first layer, and the first layer has a plurality of areas aligned with the spaced areas and spaced from the first portion of the barrier. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 41, wherein an aggregate area of the contacting areas of the first portion of the barrier exceeds half of an entire area of the first layer. ### Claim 43 (depends on 41) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 41, wherein the second portion of the barrier has a plurality of contacting areas in contact with the second layer, and a plurality of spaced areas spaced from the second layer. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 43, wherein the contacting areas of the first portion of the barrier are positioned opposite the spaced areas of the second portion of the barrier. ### Claim 45 (depends on 41) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 41, wherein a portion of the chamber has an undulating cross-sectional configuration. ### Claim 46 (depends on 41) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 41, wherein the contacting areas of the first portion of the barrier have a configuration of a regularly repeating pattern. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 46, wherein the regularly repeating pattern is based on a square grid. ### Claim 48 (depends on 41) The fluid-filled chamber of claim 41, wherein the tensile member is a spacer textile. ### Claim 49 (depends on 41) An article of footwear having a sole structure, wherein the fluid-filled chamber of claim 41 is incorporated into the sole structure.