Bladder with multi-stage regionalized cushioning

• US 20010042321A1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc., General Scientific Corporation (VISTA Information Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Scientific Corporation (VISTA Information Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Colby, Edward G., Naiman, Alaric J., Herridge, David B., Aveni, Michael A., Potter, Daniel R., Tawney, John C., Passke, Joel L., Scarfe, Julian A., Ager, Colin D., MacGregor, Alastair R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,571,490 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407

Abstract

A bladder which is particularly useful for a sole assembly of a shoe is formed of multiple layers of barrier film to provide multiple pressurized layers of cushioning fluid or gas when the bladder is filled. A multiple gas layer bladder enhances cushioning response by relying more on the response characteristics of the gas and reducing the amount of foam and the dependence on foam as a cushioning material. The internal film layers provide a truss-like geometry in cross section and act as tensile members to impart a generally smooth surface contour to the bladder. The bladder is constructed to provide complex regionalized cushioning profiles which are coupled to the anatomy of the foot and expected loads at known points.

Claims

1. A fluid filled bladder for a shoe sole comprising:

an envelope formed of barrier film material comprising a first outer film layer and a second outer film layer sealed along their peripheries;

an inner film layer disposed within said envelope and attached to said first outer film layer at a plurality of first connection sites and attached to said second outer film layer at a plurality of second connection sites to divide said envelope into a first fluid filled chamber and a second fluid filled chamber, said fluid filled chambers disposed vertically with respect to one another, said inner film layer extending between said first outer film layer and said second outer film layer in a tensile state to impart a shape to said envelope when said envelope is filled with a fluid.

2. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 1

, wherein said inner film layer is attached to said envelope along said peripheries to isolate said chambers out of fluid communication with one another.

3. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 2

, wherein said chambers of said bladder are pressurized to different pressures to provide regionalized cushioning response through the thickness of the bladder.

4. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 1

, wherein at least a portion of said inner film layer is spaced from said peripheries to allow fluid communication between said chambers.

5. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 1

, further wherein said inner film layer is a first inner film layer, said bladder further comprising a second inner film layer disposed in said envelope and attached to said first film layer and one of said outer film layers such that said first and second inner film layers are in a tensile state between said outer film layers to impart a shape to said envelope when said envelope is filled with a fluid.

6. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 5

, wherein said first and second inner film layers define therebetween a third fluid filled chamber.

7. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 6

, wherein said third fluid filled chamber is sealed and isolated out of fluid communication with said first and second fluid filled chambers.

8. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 7

, wherein said chambers of said bladder are pressurized to different pressures to provide regionalized cushioning response through the thickness of the bladder.

9. The fluid filed bladder of

claim 7

, wherein said third fluid filled chamber is subdivided into a plurality of sub-chambers isolated from fluid communication with one another.

10. A fluid filled bladder for a shoe sole comprising

a sealed envelope of barrier film material;

a plurality of chambers enclosed within said envelope, said chambers each containing a fluid, said chambers distributed through the thickness of said bladder such that said bladder is comprised of at least two vertically stacked chamber layers.

11. The bladder of

claim 10

, wherein said two chamber layers contain fluids with differing cushioning characteristics to vary cushioning characteristics of the bladder in a vertical direction.

12. The bladder of

claim 10

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said two chamber layers are pressurized to different pressures.

13. The bladder of

claim 10

, further comprising at least a third stacked chamber layer, said chamber layers containing fluids to provide a soft-firm-soft cushioning profile through the depth of said bladder.

14. The bladder of

claim 10

, wherein said fluid is a gas and at least one of said chamber layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers isolated from fluid communication with one another.

15. The bladder of

claim 10

, wherein at least one of said chamber layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

16. The bladder of

claim 15

, wherein said sub-chambers contain fluid to provide different cushioning properties.

17. The bladder of

claim 16

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said sub-chambers are pressurized to different pressures.

18. A fluid filled bladder for a shoe sole comprising:

a sealed outer envelope of barrier material containing a fluid;

a plurality of inner layers of barrier material disposed within said envelope to form a plurality of stacked chambers, an inner layer adjacent said outer envelope attached to said outer envelope at a connection site such that said inner layer serves as a tensile structure to said bladder.

19. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein said chambers contain fluids with differing cushioning characteristics to vary cushioning characteristics of the bladder in a vertical direction.

20. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein at least two of said stacked chambers are pressurized with a gas to different pressures.

21. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein said stacked chambers are pressurized to provide a pressure profile of alternating high and low pressures through the depth of the bladder.

22. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein at least two of said inner barrier layers are attached to one another to provide an internal tensile structure between said inner barrier layers.

23. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein said fluid is a gas and at least one of said layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

24. The bladder of

claim 18

, wherein at least one of said layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

25. The bladder of

claim 24

, wherein said sub-chambers contain fluid to provide different cushioning properties.

26. A fluid filled bladder for a shoe sole comprising:

an envelope of barrier film material comprising a first outer film layer and a second outer film layer sealed along their peripheries;

a fluid filled chamber attached to said first outer film layer at a first connection site and attached to said second outer film layer at a second connection site, said fluid filled chamber disposed within said periphery of said envelope.

27. The fluid filled bladder of

claim 26

, wherein said fluid filled chamber and said envelope are at different pressures.

28. A cushioning bladder for a shoe sole comprising:

a sealed outer envelope of barrier film material;

an inner structure disposed within said envelope and connected to said envelope at a plurality of discrete connection sites to provide an internal tensile structure dividing said envelope into two fluid filled layers isolated out of fluid communication with one another.

29. The cushioning bladder of

claim 28

, wherein said two fluid filled layers contain fluid with differing cushioning characteristics to vary cushioning characteristics of the bladder in a vertical direction.

30. The cushioning bladder of

claim 28

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said two chamber layers are pressurized to different pressures.

31. The cushioning bladder of

claim 28

, further comprising at least a third stacked chamber layer, said chamber layers containing fluids to provide a soft-firm-soft cushioning profile through the depth of said bladder.

32. The bladder of

claim 28

, wherein said fluid is a gas and at least one of said chamber layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

33. The bladder of

claim 28

, wherein at least one of said chamber layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

34. The bladder of

claim 33

, wherein said sub-chambers contain fluid to provide different cushioning properties.

35. The bladder of

claim 33

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said sub-chambers are pressurized to different pressures.

36. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper for enclosing at least a portion of a wearer'"'"'s foot; and

a sole attached to said upper, said sole including a cushioning bladder comprising multiple vertical layers of chambers with different cushioning properties.

37. The footwear of

claim 36

, wherein said vertical layers of chambers contain fluids with differing cushioning characteristics to vary cushioning characteristics of the bladder in a vertical direction.

38. The footwear of

claim 36

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said layers of chambers are pressurized to different pressures.

39. The footwear of

claim 36

, wherein said layers of chambers containing fluids are adapted to provide a soft-firm-soft cushioning profile through the depth of said bladder.

40. The footwear of

claim 36

, wherein said fluid is a gas and at least one of said layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

41. The footwear of

claim 36

, wherein at least one of said layers is further sealed to provide at least two discrete sub-chambers.

42. The footwear of

claim 41

, wherein said sub-chambers contain fluid to provide different cushioning properties.

43. The footwear of

claim 41

, wherein said fluid is a gas and said sub-chambers are pressurized to different pressures.

44. A method of making a fluid filled bladder for a shoe sole comprising the steps of:

providing a first outer barrier film and a second outer barrier film;

interposing an inner barrier film between said first and second outer films;

applying a pattern of adhesion inhibitor material to either the opposing sides of the inner film or the inner sides of the outer films;

adhering the first and second outer films and the inner film together along their peripheries to form an envelope with an interposed inner film;

adhering the outer films to the inner film in areas which are not weld inhibited; and

supplying fluid to the envelope so the outer films will pull away from one another and the inner film will act as a tensile member attached to the outer films to provide two fluid filled layers.

45. The method of

claim 44

, wherein said step of supplying fluid to the envelope comprises supplying different fluids to the two fluid filled layers to vary the cushioning characteristics of the bladder in a vertical direction.

46. The method of

claim 44

, wherein said step of applying weld inhibitor material includes applying a pattern of weld inhibition to form two discrete sub-chambers in a fluid filled layer.

47. The method of

claim 46

, wherein said step of supplying fluid comprises supplying a gas to the envelope and pressurizing the sub-chambers to different pressures.

48. The method of

claim 44

, further comprising the steps of

interposing a second inner barrier film between the outer films;

and

applying a pattern of weld inhibitor material to opposing sides of the second inner barrier film so when fluid is supplied, the inner films pull away from one another to provide a complex tensile member attached to the outer films to provide three fluid filled layers and a generally smooth surface contour to the outer films.

49. The method of

claim 44

, wherein said step of supplying fluid comprises supplying a gas to pressurize the fluid filled layers.

50. The method of

claim 49

wherein said step of supplying fluid comprises supplying a gas to pressurize the fluid filled layers.