Article Of Footwear With A Sole Structure Having Fluid-Filled Support Elements

• US 20090199955A1
• Filed: 04/17/2009
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, David A., Crowley, Gerald Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 8,302,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/145
• 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. A method of manufacturing fluid-filled element, the method comprising steps of:

forming a chamber from a polymer material;

securing an insert to a surface of the chamber; and

pressurizing the chamber to deform the insert.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes decreasing a curvature of the insert.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes deforming the insert from a curved configuration to a planar configuration.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of forming the chamber includes defining a first surface, an opposite second surface, and a sidewall of the chamber, the sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface.

5. The method recited in claim 4, wherein the step of securing the insert includes bonding the insert to the first surface.

6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein the step of securing the insert further includes bonding another insert to the second surface.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of forming the chamber includes shaping the chamber to have a cylindrical configuration.

8. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of securing the insert includes recessing the insert into the polymer material of the chamber.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes sealing the chamber.

10. The method recited in claim 1, further including a step of incorporating the fluid-filled element into an article of footwear.

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.

12. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of forming the chamber includes shaping the chamber to have a cylindrical configuration.

13. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes deforming the insert.

14. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes deforming the insert to decrease a curvature of the insert.

15. The method recited in claim 11, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes deforming the insert from a curved configuration to a planar configuration.

16. The method recited in claim 11, further including a step of securing another insert to the chamber in a location that is opposite the insert.

17. The method recited in claim 11, further including a step of incorporating the fluid-filled element into an article of footwear.

18. 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.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the step of forming the polymer material includes shaping the chamber to have a cylindrical configuration.

20. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the step of securing includes recessing the first insert and the second insert into the polymer material of the chamber.

21. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the step of pressurizing the chamber includes sealing the chamber.

22. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the step of locating the chamber includes positioning the chamber in a heel region of the article of footwear.

23. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the step of locating the chamber includes locating three additional chambers in a heel region of the article of footwear.