Footwear with a bladder type stabilizer

• US 7,472,496 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Potter, Daniel R., Vogel, Lorrie G.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US11/055,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20050132615A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,426 Days
• Field of Search: 36/88, 36/93, 36/501, 36/29, 36/10, 36/55
• US Class Current: 36/88
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/143 provided with wedged, concave or convex end portions, e.g. for improving roll-off of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/148 Wedged end portions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/189 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407

Abstract

A stability device that increases foot security on the footbed of a shoe, provides lateral or medial stability, shock dampening, and optimizes flexibility. The stability device includes a resilient bladder insert having a horizontal sole portion underneath a wearer'"'"'s foot, and a foot portion positioned along a lateral or medial side edge of a wearer'"'"'s foot. The sole portion and the foot portion are in fluid communication. The stability device can be generally L-shaped to cradle a portion of the foot. The stability device can also include a plurality of finger-shaped elements that encircle the top of the foot and expand down onto the foot due to an increase in fluid pressure therein.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper that defines a void for receiving a foot; and

a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a fluid-filled bladder with a sole portion and a foot portion in fluid communication with each other, the sole portion being positioned below the void, and the foot portion projecting outward from the sole portion to extend along a side of the upper and over the void,

wherein the sole structure includes a lateral side and a medial side, the sole portion being located in the lateral side, and the sole portion being absent from the medial side.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the foot portion has a tubular configuration and wherein the foot portion has a circular cross-section.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the bladder includes two additional foot portions that project outward from the sole portion and extend upwards along the side of the upper and over the void.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the foot portion and the additional foot portions are parallel to each other.

5. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper that defines a void for receiving a foot, the upper having (i) a medial portion that extends along a medial side of the void, (ii) a lateral portion that extends along a lateral side of the void, and (iii) an instep portion that extends over the void and between the medial portion and the lateral portion;

a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole and a fluid-filled bladder, the bladder having (i) a sole portion at least partially located within the midsole, and (ii) a plurality of foot portions in fluid communication with the sole portion, the sole portion being in fluid communication with the foot portions, and each of the foot portions having an elongate configuration that projects outward from the sole portion to extend upwards along the lateral portion of the upper and along the instep portion of the upper to extend over the void.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the upper includes at least two layers of material, and the foot portions are at least partially located between the two layers.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the sole portion is positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein the sole structure includes a lateral side and a medial side, the sole portion being located in the lateral side, and the sole portion being absent from the medial side.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the foot portions have a circular cross-section.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the foot portions are parallel to each other.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper that defines a void for receiving a foot, the upper having (i) a medial portion that extends along a medial side of the void, (ii) a lateral portion that extends along a lateral side of the void, and (iii) an instep portion that extends over the void and between the medial portion and the lateral portion, and each of the media portion, the lateral portion, and the instep portion being formed of two coextensive layers of material; and

a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole and a fluid-filled bladder, the bladder having (i) a sole portion at least partially encapsulate within a forefoot region of the midsole, and (ii) a plurality of foot portions in fluid communication with the sole portion, the sole portion being in fluid communication with the foot portions, and the foot portions having an elongate configuration that projects outward from the sole portion to extend between the two coextensive layers of material, the foot portions being positioned in the lateral portion of the upper and the instep portion of the upper to extend over the void;

wherein the sole structure includes a lateral side and a medial side, the sole portion being located in the lateral side, and the sole portion being absent from the medial side.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the foot portions have a circular cross-section.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the foot portions are parallel to each other.

14. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper having at least partially formed of two coextensive layers of material that define a void for receiving a foot; and

a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole formed of a polymer foam material, and the sole structure including a fluid-filled bladder having a first chamber and a plurality of parallel and elongate second chambers extending from the first chamber and in fluid communication with the first chamber, the first chamber being at least partially encapsulated within the midsole, and the second chambers extending between the layers of material to extend over the void.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 14, wherein the first chamber is positioned in a forefoot region of the midsole.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 15, wherein the first chamber is located in a lateral side of the midsole, and the first chamber is absent from a medial side of the midsole.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 14, wherein the second chambers have a tubular configuration.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 14, wherein the second chambers have circular cross-sections.