Article of footwear having a fluid-filled chamber with flexion zones

• US 7,555,851 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 07/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Swigart, John F., Hatfield, Tobie D., Hazenberg, K. Pieter
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US11/338,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20070169379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,260 Days
• Field of Search: 361/02, 36/29, 361/53, 361/54, 36/43, 36/44
• US Class Current: 36/102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/16 Pieced soles with several layers of different material A43B13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes a fluid-filled chamber with one or more flexion zones. The flexion zones may be areas of the chamber where a tensile element, for example, is absent, or the flexion zones may be areas of the chamber where opposite surfaces of the chamber are bonded together. The footwear may also include a sole structure with a flexion zone, and the flexion zone of the chamber may be aligned with the flexion zone of the sole structure.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole element defining a first midsole portion and a second midsole portion separated by a midsole flexion zone, the midsole flexion zone extending in a longitudinal direction and from a forefoot region of the footwear to a heel region of the footwear, the first midsole portion being rotatable with respect to the second midsole portion at the midsole flexion zone, the midsole flexion zone being an indentation in the midsole that extends through at least one-half of a distance between a lower surface and an upper surface of the midsole element; and

a fluid-filled chamber having a first chamber portion and a second chamber portion isolated from fluid communication with each other by a chamber flexion zone, the chamber flexion zone being a bond between opposite sides of the chamber and extending in the longitudinal direction and from the forefoot region of the footwear to the heel region of the footwear, the first chamber portion being rotatable with respect to the second chamber portion at the chamber flexion zone,

wherein the first chamber portion is coupled to the first midsole portion, the second chamber portion is coupled to the second midsole portion, and the chamber flexion zone is aligned with the midsole flexion zone.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the midsole flexion zone is a sipe that extends upward into the midsole element and extends between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein a tensile member is positioned in each of the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the tensile member is at least partially absent in the chamber flexion zone.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the tensile member is a textile material.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein separate elements of the tensile member are positioned in each of the first chamber portion and the second chamber portion.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of additional midsole flexion zones and chamber flexion zones are oriented to extend in a lateral direction and between a medial side and a lateral side of the footwear.

8. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole element at least partially formed from a polymer foam material and having a lower surface and an opposite upper surface, the midsole element including a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the polymer foam material from the lower surface and form midsole flexion lines in the midsole element, the sipes defining a plurality of discrete sole elements that are separated by the sipes, and the midsole element including an indentation that extends downward into the polymer foam material from the upper surface; and

a chamber located within the indentation, the chamber having an outer barrier with a first surface and an opposite second surface that are bonded together around a periphery of the chamber to define a peripheral bond and seal a fluid within the chamber, the chamber including a plurality of interior bonds wherein the first surface is bonded to the second surface, at least a portion of the interior bonds corresponding in location with at least a portion of the sipes, and at least one of the interior bonds isolating a first sub-chamber from fluid communication with a second sub-chamber.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 8, wherein the sipes include:

a first sipe oriented in a longitudinal direction with respect to the footwear, the first sipe extending through at least a portion of a length of the sole structure; and

a second sipe that extends laterally from a medial side to a lateral side of the sole structure.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein the interior bonds include:

a first bond oriented in the longitudinal direction and positioned above the first sipe, and

a second bond that extends laterally and is positioned above the second sipe.

11. The article of footwear recited in claim 8, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of tensile member elements located above the sole elements.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the tensile member elements are at least partially absent from an area of the chamber including the interior bonds.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the tensile member elements are formed from a textile material.

14. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole element having a plurality of sole elements and a connecting portion, the sole elements extending downward from the connecting portion, and the sole elements being separated by a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure, the plurality of sipes including;

a first sipe oriented in a longitudinal direction with respect to the footwear, the first sipe extending through a majority of a length of the sole structure, and

a plurality of second sipes that extend laterally from a medial side to a lateral side of the sole structure; and

a sealed and fluid-filled chamber having an outer barrier with a first surface and an opposite second surface, the chamber including;

a first bond oriented in the longitudinal direction and positioned above the first sipe, and

a plurality of second bonds that extend laterally and are positioned above the plurality of second sipes,

the first bond and the second bonds defining a plurality of sub-chambers that are isolated from fluid communication with each other.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 14, wherein the chamber is positioned within an indentation in an upper surface of the midsole element.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 14, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of tensile member elements located above the sole elements.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 16, wherein the tensile member elements are formed from a textile material.

18. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole element formed from a polymer foam material, the midsole element defining a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the polymer foam material, the plurality of sipes including;

a first sipe oriented in a longitudinal direction with respect to the footwear, the first sipe extending through at least a portion of a length of the sole structure, and

a plurality of second sipes that extend laterally from a medial side to a lateral side of the sole structure, at least a portion of the second sipes intersecting the first sipe; and

a fluid-filled chamber including;

a first bond that joins opposite sides of the chamber, the first bond being oriented in the longitudinal direction and positioned above the first sipe, and

a plurality of second bonds that join the opposite sides of the chamber, the second bonds being oriented to extend laterally and positioned above the plurality of second sipes, at least a portion of the second bonds intersecting the first bond,

the first bond and the second bonds defining a plurality of sub-chambers that are isolated from fluid communication with each other.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the chamber is positioned within an indentation in an upper surface of the midsole element.

20. The article of footwear recited in claim 18, wherein the chamber includes a plurality of tensile member elements located between the second bonds.

21. The article of footwear recited in claim 20, wherein the tensile member elements are formed from a textile material.