Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising fluid-filled elements, the method comprising steps of:
- forming a plurality of fluid-filled elements, the forming comprising, as to each fluid-filled element of the plurality,forming a chamber from a polymer material, wherein the forming includes shaping the chamber to have an outer cylindrical configuration,securing an insert to a surface of the chamber, andpressurizing the chamber to deform the insert; and
incorporating the plurality of fluid-filled elements into a heel region of the article of footwear.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure incorporates a support element that includes a fluid-filled chamber, a first insert, and a second insert. The chamber defines a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface. The first insert is secured to the first surface and at least partially recessed into the polymer material of the chamber, and the second insert is secured to the second surface. In addition, the chamber may be pressurized to deform the first insert or the second insert.
286 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprising fluid-filled elements, the method comprising steps of:
-
forming a plurality of fluid-filled elements, the forming comprising, as to each fluid-filled element of the plurality, forming a chamber from a polymer material, wherein the forming includes shaping the chamber to have an outer cylindrical configuration, securing an insert to a surface of the chamber, and pressurizing the chamber to deform the insert; and incorporating the plurality of fluid-filled elements into a heel region of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled element, the method comprising steps of:
-
forming a chamber from a polymer material; recessing an insert into the polymer material of the chamber to secure the insert to the chamber; and pressurizing the chamber including deforming the insert from a curved configuration to a planar configuration. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising steps of:
-
forming a polymer material to define a chamber having a first surface, a second surface that is opposite the first surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface; recessing a first insert into the first surface of the chamber, and recessing a second insert into the second surface of the chamber; pressurizing the chamber to decrease a curvature of the first insert; defining a void in the sole structure of the article of footwear; locating the chamber within the sole structure such that the first insert and the second insert are adjacent to opposite sides of the void, wherein locating the chamber includes locating three additional chambers in a heel region of the article of footwear. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification