Article of footwear with a sole structure having fluid-filled support elements

• US 8,312,643 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, David A., Crowley, Gerald Edwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, Marie
• Application Number:
  US12/892,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20110010962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/29, 36/35.B, 36/37, 36/35.R, 36/27
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0052 X-shaped or cross-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/148 Moulds or apparatus therefor

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.

Claims

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

a semi-rigid plate that extends along at least a portion of a lower surface of the upper;

an attachment member positioned adjacent the upper and extending downward from the plate, wherein the attachment member and the plate are formed of different materials; and

a fluid-filled chamber secured to the attachment member and extending downward from the attachment member,

each of the attachment member and the chamber being formed from clear materials.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment member and the chamber are located in a heel region of the footwear, and the sole structure includes three additional attachment members and three additional chambers.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 2 wherein, as to each chamber and corresponding attachment member secured thereto,

the chamber defines a centrally-located indentation in an upper surface of the chamber,

the attachment member contours to the upper surface of the chamber and extends at least partially into the centrally-located indentation.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the chamber and additional chambers are connected to each other by a base.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein a number of attachment members is equal to a number of chambers.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the attachment member and the chamber are located in a forefoot region of the footwear.

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

a semi-rigid plate that extends along at least a portion of a lower surface of the upper;

four attachment members extending downward from the plate, the attachment members defining four lower surfaces, wherein the attachment members and the plate are formed of different materials; and

four fluid-filled chambers secured to the lower surfaces of the attachment members and extending downward from the attachment members,

each of the attachment members and the chambers being formed from clear materials.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 7 wherein, as to each chamber and corresponding attachment member secured thereto,

the chamber defines a centrally-located indentation in an upper surface of the chamber,

the attachment member contours to the upper surface of the chamber and extends at least partially into the centrally-located indentation.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 7, wherein the attachment members and the chambers are located in a heel region of the footwear.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 9, wherein the chambers are connected to each other by a base.

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

a semi-rigid plate positioned adjacent at least a portion of a lower surface of the upper, the plate having an attachment area extending downward from the plate, the plate being formed from a first material, the attachment area being formed from a second material different from the first material; and

a fluid-filled chamber secured to the attachment area, the chamber being formed from a third material,

each of the second material and the third material being clear.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the plate includes three additional attachment areas and the sole structure includes three additional chambers, each of the three additional chambers being secured to one of the three additional attachment areas.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the chamber is secured to a lower surface of the attachment area.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the attachment area and the chamber are located in a heel region of the footwear.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 12 wherein, as to each chamber and corresponding attachment area secured thereto,

the chamber defines a centrally-located indentation in an upper surface of the chamber,

the attachment area contours to the upper surface of the chamber and extends at least partially into the centrally-located indentation.