Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising:
- a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface, the sidewall including a plurality of depressions extending from the first surface to the second surface; and
a reinforcing structure secured to the bladder and extending at least partially around the bladder, a portion of the reinforcing structure being positioned within the depressions and bonded to the depressions, the portion of the reinforcing structure positioned within the depressions extending from the first surface to the second surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sole component and a method of manufacturing the sole component are disclosed. In general, the sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing structure extending around the bladder. The reinforcing structure is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure extends along the side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising:
-
a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a pressurized fluid, the bladder including a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface, the sidewall including a plurality of depressions extending from the first surface to the second surface; and a reinforcing structure secured to the bladder and extending at least partially around the bladder, a portion of the reinforcing structure being positioned within the depressions and bonded to the depressions, the portion of the reinforcing structure positioned within the depressions extending from the first surface to the second surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising:
-
a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder having a first surface and an opposite second surface, a spacing between the first surface and the second surface being greater in a heel region of the bladder than in a forefoot region of the bladder, and the bladder having a first width in the heel region and a second width in the forefoot region, the first width being less than the second width; and a reinforcing structure secured to the bladder and extending at least partially around the bladder, the reinforcing structure extending from the first surface to the second surface in the heel region and only partially from the first surface tote second surface in the forefoot region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising:
-
a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder having a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the barrier material having a first degree of stiffness; and a reinforcing structure secured to the bladder and extending at least partially around the bladder, the reinforcing structure extending from the first surface to the second surface in the heel region and only partially from the first surface to the second surface in the forefoot region, the reinforcing structure having a second degree of stiffness, the first degree of stiffness being less than the second degree of stiffness. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
Specification