Article of footwear having a fluid-filled bladder with a reinforcing structure
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, a midsole of the sole structure comprising:
- a bladder formed from a barrier that encloses a fluid, the bladder having at least an upper surface and an opposite lower surface; and
a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the barrier,the bladder and reinforcing structure being located in a heel region of the footwear, the bladder forming a tapered area in a midfoot region of the footwear, the upper surface approaching the lower surface to decrease a thickness of the bladder in the tapered area, and the bladder tapering downward to a lower surface of the midsole in the tapered area.
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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.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, a midsole of the sole structure comprising:
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a bladder formed from a barrier that encloses a fluid, the bladder having at least an upper surface and an opposite lower surface; and a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the barrier, the bladder and reinforcing structure being located in a heel region of the footwear, the bladder forming a tapered area in a midfoot region of the footwear, the upper surface approaching the lower surface to decrease a thickness of the bladder in the tapered area, and the bladder tapering downward to a lower surface of the midsole in the tapered area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
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a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a fluid, the bladder including an upper bladder surface, an opposite lower bladder surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper bladder surface and the lower bladder surface, the bladder being located in a heel region and a portion of a midfoot region of the footwear, and the bladder having a tapered area in the midfoot region, the upper bladder surface tapering downward to the lower bladder surface in the tapered area; a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the sidewall; an outsole located below the bladder and forming a ground-contacting element of the sole structure; and a polymer foam element including an upper foam surface, an opposite lower foam surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper foam surface and the lower foam surface, the foam element being located in a forefoot region and a portion of the midfoot region, a first portion of the lower foam surface being adjacent to and extending above the upper bladder surface in the tapered area, and a second portion of the lower foam surface being adjacent to and extending above the outsole in a forefoot region of the footwear. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
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a bladder formed from a barrier that encloses a fluid, the bladder having an upper bladder surface, an opposite lower bladder surface, and a sidewall extending between the upper bladder surface and the lower bladder surface, the bladder having a tapered area where the upper bladder surface tapers downward to the lower bladder surface, the bladder being exposed to an exterior of the footwear on both a medial side and an opposite lateral side of the sole structure; and a polymer foam element including an upper foam surface and an opposite lower foam surface, a portion of the lower foam surface contacting and extending above the upper bladder surface in the tapered area, and the foam element tapering upward to an upper surface of the sole structure in the tapered area. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification