# US 9,750,307 B2 · Article of footwear having a sole structure including a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole, the sole structure, and methods for manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,750,307 B2 - Document ID: US9750307B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/641,789 - Filed: 2015-03-09 - Published: 2015-10-01 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2013-02-21 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II; Benjamin J. Monfils; Lee D. Peyton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9750307B2 ## CPC - A43B 13/20: Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} - A43B 13/16: Pieced soles (with several layers of different material A43B13/12) - A43B 13/189: {filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water} - A43B 13/206: {provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members} - A43B 13/22: Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer - A43B 13/223: {Profiled soles} - A43B 13/26: projecting beyond the sole surface - B29D 35/122: {Soles} - B29D 35/128: {Moulds or apparatus therefor} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) ## Abstract The disclosure id directed to an article of footwear including an upper and the sole structure, to the sole structure, and to a method for manufacturing the sole structure and a method for manufacturing the article of footwear. The sole structure includes a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole that at least partially surrounds the chamber. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure, the sole structure comprising: a component including a plurality of fluid-filled segments, each fluid-filled segment having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface; and an outsole having a plurality of individual compartments that each correspond to a fluid-filled segment, the plurality of individual compartments each having a segment-engaging surface and a ground-engaging surface and each at least partially co-extensive with the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment and with at least a part of the edge of the corresponding fluid-filled segment, the segment-engaging surface of at least one of the plurality of individual compartments including lands that are bonded to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment and grooves that are recessed from the lands and are spaced apart from the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment, wherein at least one of the individual compartments includes a first portion extending along one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure, a second portion extending from the first portion toward the other of the medial side and the lateral side and having a distal end that terminates between the lateral side and the medial side, and a third portion extending from the first portion toward the other one of the medial side and the lateral side. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the lands and the grooves provide the segment-engaging surface of the at least one of the plurality of individual compartments with a regularly repeating pattern. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the grooves are non-parallel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the grooves provide the segment-engaging surface of the at least one of the plurality of individual compartments with lands having a square shape or a diamond shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of individual compartments are C-shaped. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sole structure of claim 5, wherein one of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments is disposed at the medial side of the sole structure and the other of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments is disposed at the lateral side of the sole structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sole structure of claim 6, wherein distal ends of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments oppose one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the ground-engaging surface includes a plurality of ground-engaging lugs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the lands are attached to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment by an adhesive. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the lands are fused to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment by fusing a material of the corresponding fluid-filled segment with a material of the outsole. ### Claim 11 A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure, the sole structure comprising: a component including a plurality of fluid-filled segments, each fluid-filled segment having an upper surface, a lower surface, and an edge extending between the upper surface and the lower surface; and an outsole having a plurality of individual compartments that each correspond to a fluid-filled segment, the plurality of individual compartments each having a segment-engaging surface and a ground-engaging surface and each at least partially co-extensive with the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment and with at least a part of the edge of the corresponding fluid-filled segment, the segment-engaging surface of at least one of the plurality of individual compartments including a textured surface having a regularly repeating pattern including raised portions that are bonded to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment and recessed portions that are spaced apart from the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment, wherein at least one of the individual compartments includes a first portion extending along one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure, a second portion extending from the first portion toward the other of the medial side and the lateral side and having a distal end that terminates between the lateral side and the medial side, and a third portion extending from the first portion toward the other one of the medial side and the lateral side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the recessed portions are grooves that are recessed from the raised portions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sole structure of claim 12, wherein the grooves are non-parallel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The sole structure of claim 12, wherein the grooves provide the segment-engaging surface of the at least one of the plurality of individual compartments with raised portions having a square shape or a diamond shape. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein at least two of the plurality of individual compartments are C-shaped. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sole structure of claim 15, wherein one of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments is disposed at the medial side of the sole structure and the other of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments is disposed at the lateral side of the sole structure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The sole structure of claim 16, wherein distal ends of the at least two of the plurality of individual compartments oppose one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the ground-engaging surface includes a plurality of ground-engaging lugs. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the raised portions are attached to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment by an adhesive. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The sole structure of claim 11, wherein the raised portions are fused to the lower surface of the corresponding fluid-filled segment by fusing a material of the corresponding fluid-filled segment with a material of the outsole.