Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure
DCFirst Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
- a bladder that defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall, the bladder enclosing a fluid that exerts an outward force upon the first surface, the second surface, and the sidewall; and
a reinforcing structure extending around at least a portion of the bladder, the reinforcing structure having a first portion that is at least partially recessed into the sidewall and bonded to the sidewall, the first portion being at least partially recessed into the first surface and bonded to a periphery of the first surface to expose a central area of the first surface,wherein the first surface and the first portion of the reinforcing structure define a lasting surface, and the upper is secured to the lasting surface.
0 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
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
20 Claims
-
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
-
a bladder that defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall, the bladder enclosing a fluid that exerts an outward force upon the first surface, the second surface, and the sidewall; and a reinforcing structure extending around at least a portion of the bladder, the reinforcing structure having a first portion that is at least partially recessed into the sidewall and bonded to the sidewall, the first portion being at least partially recessed into the first surface and bonded to a periphery of the first surface to expose a central area of the first surface, wherein the first surface and the first portion of the reinforcing structure define a lasting surface, and the upper is secured to the lasting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An article of footwear comprising:
-
a sole structure incorporating a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing structure secured to the bladder, the sole structure having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, the upper surface forming a ridge that defines a first portion of a lasting surface, at least a portion of the ridge being an inclined surface formed by the reinforcing structure and located over the bladder, the bladder defining a second portion of the lasting surface; and an upper secured directly to the first portion of the lasting surface and the second portion of the lasting surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification