Interlocking fluid-filled chambers for an article of footwear

• US 7,810,255 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Schindler, Eric S., Swigart, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US11/671,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20080184595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/35.B, 361/53, 36/93, 36/88, 36/28
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0027 made at least partially from a material having special colours
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/28 Pneumatic heels filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0036 characterised by a special shape or design

Abstract

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a first chamber and a second chamber that each enclose a fluid. The first chamber and the second chamber both define a plurality of projections and depressions. At least a portion of the projections of the first chamber are located within the depressions of the second chamber, and at least a portion of the projections of the second chamber are located within the depressions of the first chamber. In some configurations, each of the first chamber and the second chamber may form portions of upper and lower surfaces of a pneumatic component. In addition, colors of the first chamber and the second chamber may be selected such that the colors combine at an interface of the first chamber and the second chamber.

Claims

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

a first chamber that encloses a fluid and defines a plurality of first projections, the first chamber being exposed to form at least a portion of a lateral side and an opposite medial side of the sole structure; and

a second chamber that encloses a fluid and is positioned adjacent the first chamber, the second chamber defining a plurality of second depressions, and the second chamber being exposed to form at least a portion of the lateral side and the medial side of the sole structure,

the first chamber interlocking with the second chamber such that at least a portion of the first projections extend into the second depressions.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the first projections are located at a periphery of the first chamber, and the second depressions are located at a periphery of the second chamber.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the first chamber defines a plurality of first depressions and the second chamber defines a plurality of second projections, at least a portion of the second projections extending into the first depressions.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the first projections and the first depressions are located at a periphery of the first chamber, and the second projections and the second depressions are located at a periphery of the second chamber.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the first depressions are located between the first projections, and the second depressions are located between the second projections.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the first chamber is in contact with the second chamber.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the first chamber is positioned adjacent the upper and has a concave configuration.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are located in at least a heel region of the footwear.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the fluid of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a pressure within a range of zero and thirty-five kilopascals.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the first chamber is secured to the upper, and a lower surface of the second chamber is secured to an outsole.

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

a first chamber that encloses a fluid and is positioned adjacent the upper, the first chamber including a periphery that defines a plurality of first projections and a plurality of first depressions located between the first projections, the first projections extending toward a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure; and

a second chamber that encloses a fluid and is positioned adjacent the first chamber, the second chamber including a periphery that defines a plurality of second projections and a plurality of second depressions located between the second projections, the second projections extending toward the upper,

at least a portion of the first projections being located within the second depressions, and at least a portion of the second projections being located within the first depressions.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the first projections form at least a portion of a sidewall of the first chamber, and the second projections form at least a portion of a sidewall of the second chamber.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 12, wherein the sidewall of the first chamber and the sidewall of the second chamber are exposed to form a portion of an exterior surface of the sole structure.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein each of the first chamber and the second chamber are formed from a single layer of polymer material, and two layers of the polymer material extend between the fluid of the first chamber and the fluid of the second chamber.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the first chamber is in contact with the second chamber.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein an upper surface of the first chamber has a concave configuration.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are located in at least a heel region of the footwear.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the fluid of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a pressure within a range of zero and thirty-five kilopascals.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein a pressure of the fluid within the first chamber is substantially equal to a pressure of the fluid within the second chamber.

20. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein an upper surface of the first chamber is secured to the upper, and a lower surface of the second chamber is secured to an outsole.

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

a first chamber that encloses a fluid, the first chamber having a first surface with a first contoured configuration that defines a plurality of downwardly-extending first projections; and

a second chamber that encloses a fluid, the second chamber having a second surface with a second contoured configuration that defines a plurality of upwardly-extending second projections,

the first surface being in contact with the second surface, and the first contoured configuration being shaped to mate with the second contoured configuration such that the first projections are positioned between the second projections.

22. The article of footwear recited in claim 21, wherein the first projections form at least a portion of a sidewall of the first chamber, and the second projections form at least a portion of a sidewall of the second chamber, the sidewall of the first chamber and the sidewall of the second chamber being exposed to form a portion of an exterior surface of the sole structure.

23. The article of footwear recited in claim 21, wherein the fluid of at least one of the first chamber and the second chamber has a pressure within a range of zero and thirty-five kilopascals.

24. The article of footwear recited in claim 21, wherein a pressure of the fluid within the first chamber is substantially equal to a pressure of the fluid within the second chamber.