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US 8,943,709 B2Granted
Article of footwear with support columns having fluid-filled bladders
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Aveni, Thomas McGuirk, Danielle L. Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly has a top plate and a bottom plate positioned below the top plate. A plurality of support columns extends between the top plate and the bottom plate, with each support column formed of a plurality of fluid-filled bladders. Each bladder has a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces.
Claims18
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
- a top plate extending from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper;
- a bottom plate positioned below the top plate and extending from the medial side of the upper to the lateral side of the upper;
- and
- a plurality of support columns extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, each support column formed of a plurality of fluid-filled bladders, each bladder having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces;
- wherein each bladder includes a sidewall joining the first surface to the second surface, the sidewall of at least one bladder being formed of a plurality of first panels having a first thickness and a plurality of second panels having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness, the thickness of each panel varying from a maximum thickness at its central portion to reduced thickness portions where the sidewall joins the first and second surfaces, the first and second panels abutting one another and alternating about a periphery of the bladder such that the sidewall has a thickness about the periphery that alternates sequentially between thicker portions and thinner portions abutting the thicker portions.
5 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- and
- a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
- a midsole;
- an upper plate positioned below the midsole and extending from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper;
- a lower plate positioned beneath the upper plate and extending from the medial side of the upper to the lateral side of the upper;
- and
- a plurality of support columns extending between the upper plate and the lower plate, each support column formed of a plurality of fluid-filled bladders, each bladder having a first surface, an opposed second surface, a sidewall joining the first surface to the second surface, the sidewall formed of a plurality of first panels having a first thickness and a plurality of second panels having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces, the tensile member comprising:
- a first wall bonded to the first surface;
- a second wall bonded to the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of connecting members extending between the first wall and the second wall;
- wherein the thickness of each panel varies from a maximum thickness at its central portion to reduced thickness portions where the sidewall joins the first and second surfaces, the first and second panels abutting one another and alternating about a periphery of the bladder such that the sidewall has a thickness about the periphery that alternates sequentially between thicker portions and thinner portions abutting the thicker portions.
10 more elements
An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
- an upper;
- a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
- a midsole;
- an upper plate positioned below the midsole and extending from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper;
- a lower plate positioned beneath the upper plate and extending from the medial side of the upper to the lateral side of the upper;
- and
- a plurality of support columns extending between the upper plate and the midsole, each support column comprising;
- a plurality of bladders filled with pressurized fluid, each bladder having a first surface, an opposed second surface;
- a sidewall joining the first surface to the second surface, the sidewall formed of a plurality of first panels having a first thickness and a plurality of second panels having a second thickness that is different from the first thickness, the thickness of each panel varying from a maximum thickness at its central portion to reduced thickness portions where the sidewall joins the first and second surfaces, the first and second panels abutting one another and alternating about a periphery of the bladder such that the sidewall has a thickness about the periphery that alternates sequentially between thicker portions and thinner portions abutting the thicker portions;
- and
- a tensile member formed of a textile material and joined to the first and second surfaces, the tensile member comprising:
- a first wall bonded to the first surface;
- a second wall bonded to the second surface;
- and
- a plurality of connecting members extending between the first wall and the second wall;
- and
- an outsole secured to at least one of the bottom plate and the midsole.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.