Resilient bladder for use in footwear

• US 6,119,371 A
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, David A., Kokstis, Gary Allen, Thomas, Edward Nathaniel, Hogan, Richard M., Buchanan, Steven D. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US09/348,201
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/28, 428/68, 428/71, 428/76, 428/69
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/32 Resilient supports for the heel of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/006 Using vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/007 Using fluid under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0009 Cutting out
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 51/10 Forming by pressure difference, e.g. vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/00 Joining or sealing of preformed parts , e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor general aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts B29C66/00; using porous material formed by internal pressure generated therein for joining preformed parts B29C44/1228, B29C44/326
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/04 Dielectric heating, e.g. high-frequency welding , i.e. radio frequency welding of plastic materials having dielectric properties, e.g. PVC
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7441 for making welds and cuts of other than simple rectilinear form
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7867 using carriers, provided with holding means, said carriers moving in a closed path
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/004 Preventing sticking together, e.g. of some areas of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/133 Fin-type joints, the parts to be joined being flexible the parts to be joined being rigid B29C66/1312
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/242 said joint lines being closed, i.e. forming closed contours
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/3282 for reinforcing the joint
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81415 : being bevelled
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81427 : comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81431 : comprising a single cavity, e.g. a groove
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81821 : of the welding jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8322 : Joining or pressing tools reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/843 : Machines for making separate joints at the same time in different planes; Machines for making separate joints at the same time mounted in parallel or in series
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91411 : of the parts to be joined, e.g. the joining process taking the temperature of the parts to be joined into account
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91421 : of the joining tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91431 : the temperature being kept constant over time
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91645 : by steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/919 : characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91921 : in explicit relation to another temperature, e.g. to the softening temperature or softening point, to the thermal degradation temperature or to the ambient temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91935 : lower than said fusion temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91941 : in explicit relation to Tg, i.e. the glass transition temperature, of the material of one of the parts to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/92445 : by steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/929 : characterized by specific pressure, force, mechanical power or displacement values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/949 : characterised by specific time values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/142 : Soles
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/148 : Moulds or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/00 : Use of polyesters or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2022/02 : Inflatable articles balls B29L2031/54 ; inner tyres B29L2023/245
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/502 : Heels
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/504 : Soles
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/721 : Vibration dampening equipment, e.g. shock absorbers bumpers B29L2031/3044, springs B29L2031/774
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/16 : incorporating synthetic threads
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0122 : Smooth surfaces, e.g. laminated or coated
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/021 : Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1002 : with permanent bending or reshaping or surface deformation of self sustaining lamina
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/231 : Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/233 : Foamed or expanded material encased

Abstract

A bladder for use as a cushioning element and footwear incorporating the bladder. The enclosed core is formed of spaced apart first and second fabric layers connected together by a plurality of connecting yarns. The shell is formed of see-through plastic material whereby the connecting yarns are visible through the sidewall. The plurality of connecting yarns preferably are arranged in bands with gaps devoid of connecting yarns between adjacent bands, and the ends of the bands and the gaps are visible through the sidewall.

Claims

1. A bladder for use as a cushioning element in footwear comprising:

a sealed chamber formed of a plastic material, said chamber having spaced apart first and second major surfaces and a configuration shaped to fit within a sole of footwear;

a double walled fabric material received inside of said sealed chamber, said fabric material having spaced apart first and second fabric layers and a plurality of connecting yarns connected between said fabric layers, said connecting yarns being formed in discrete bands, with each band containing a plurality of said connecting yarns and gaps defining void areas devoid of connecting yarns being located between adjacent bands to enhance the compressibility of said fabric material, said first and second fabric layers respectively being attached to said first and second major surfaces of said sealed chamber; and

said sealed chamber containing a fluid to place said plurality of connecting yarns under tension.

2. The bladder of claim 1 wherein said fabric is a double needle bar Raschel knit fabric with said gaps formed by omitting predetermined needles in the knitting process.

3. The bladder of claim 1 wherein said plastic material of said chamber is formed of a pair of first and second plastic sheets sealed together around the perimeter of said sealed chamber.

4. The bladder of claim 3 wherein said first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of a shell with a floor and a sidewall extending away from said shell to a perimeter edge, and said second plastic sheet is formed substantially flat and is sealed to perimeter edge of said first plastic sheet.

5. The bladder of claim 3 wherein the bladder is shaped to form a portion of a sole of footwear and at least a portion of said sidewall is formed of see-through material and is configured to be located along a visible edge of the sole.

6. The bladder of claim 1 wherein said fluid is a gas.

7. The bladder of claim 6 wherein said gas is contained in said sealed chamber at a pressure above atmosphere.

8. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper for receiving the foot of a wearer; and

a sole attached to said upper, at least a portion of said sole including a cushioning bladder comprising;

a sealed chamber formed of a plastic material, said chamber having spaced apart first and second major surfaces;

a double walled fabric material received inside of said sealed chamber, said fabric material having spaced apart first and second fabric layers and a plurality of connecting yarns connected between said fabric layers, said connecting yarns being formed in discrete bands, with each band containing a plurality of said connecting yarns and gaps defining void areas devoid of connecting yarns being located between adjacent bands to enhance the compressibility of said fabric material, said first and second fabric layers respectively being attached to said first and second major surfaces of said sealed chamber; and

said sealed chamber containing a fluid to place said plurality of connecting yarns under tension.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 wherein said fabric is a double needle bar Raschel knit fabric with said gaps formed by omitting predetermined needles in the knitting process.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 wherein said plastic material of said chamber is formed of a pair of first and second plastic sheets sealed together around the perimeter of said sealed chamber.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 wherein said first plastic sheet is formed into the shape of a shell with a floor and a sidewall extending away from said shell to a perimeter edge, and said second plastic sheet is formed substantially flat and is sealed to perimeter edge of said first plastic sheet.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of said sidewall is formed of see-through material and is configured to be located along a visible area of the sole.

13. The article of footwear of claim 8 wherein said fluid is a gas.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 wherein said gas is contained in said sealed chamber at a pressure above atmosphere.