Shoe having an inflatable bladder

• US 6,785,985 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Reebok International Limited (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Paul M., Swales, Geoff, Marvin, William, Litchfield, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US10/186,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 36/29, 36/28, 36/88, 36/501, 36/43, 36/71, 36/505, 36/3.R, 36/3.B, 36/44, 361/14, 36/93
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• 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 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/029 Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/06 ventilated
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/084 characterised by the location of the holes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/085 in the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/00 Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes dress fastenings in general A44B
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/202 and with flexible valve member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/789 Central mount
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87394 Carried valve is direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and a bladder which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane attached together via welding. The bladder includes a medial compartment and a lateral compartment attached to each other under the foot of the wearer. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air to the chambers. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer.

Claims

1. Footwear, comprising:

a sole;

an upper attached to said sole wherein a portion of an interior and a portion of an exterior of said upper is formed by an inflatable bladder;

an inflation mechanism substantially permanently attached to said sole and wherein said upper and said inflation mechanism are monolithic.

2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said bladder is formed from a first film and a second film.

3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said first film and said second film comprise urethane.

4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said bladder is formed from at least one laminate material.

5. The footwear of claim 4, wherein said laminate material comprises a cloth laminae.

6. The footwear of claim 4, wherein said laminate material comprises a polyurethane laminae.

7. The footwear of claim 4, wherein said laminate material comprises a polyurethane layer and a cloth layer.

8. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole comprises a foam midsole.

9. The footwear of claim 8, wherein said midsole includes a top surface and wherein a cavity is formed in said top surface.

10. The footwear of claim 9, wherein a portion of said inflation mechanism is disposed within said cavity.

11. The footwear of claim 2, wherein at least one of said first or said second films is perforated to allow air to diffuse out of said bladder when air within said bladder exceeds preselected pressure.

12. The footwear of claim 1, wherein said inflation mechanism is positioned in a location which allows said inflation mechanism to automatically introduce air into said bladder as a wearer engages in an activity.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder comprises one or more pockets made form interior weld lines, said pockets being removed to leaving openings in the bladder.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1, further including a one way valve between said inflation mechanism and the exterior of said inflatable bladder.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein said one way valve is fluidly connected to a tube directed to ambient air outside of said article of footwear.

16. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole;

an upper, said upper having an outer surface and wherein at least a portion of said outer surface of said upper is formed from an inflatable bladder; and

an inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air to said bladder, wherein said inflation mechanism is disposed in a location which allows operation by pressure of a user'"'"'s foot exerting force on said inflation mechanism and wherein said upper and said inflation mechanism are monolithic.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, further comprising a release valve, wherein said release vale provides communication between said bladder and the ambient atmosphere, whereby a user can reduce the amount of air in said bladder.

19. The article of footwear of claim 16, further comprising a combination check valve and release valve.

20. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein said bladder comprises two sheets of urethane film which are welded together.

21. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein said inflation mechanism is located substantially under the heel of the foot.

22. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein said inflation mechanism further comprises a foam insert.

23. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein said bladder is formed from a laminate.

24. The article of footwear of claim 23, wherein said laminate comprises a polyurethane film laminae.

25. The article of footwear of claim 23, wherein said laminate comprise a cloth laminae.

26. The article of footwear of claim 23, wherein said laminate comprises a cloth laminae and a polyurethane film laminae.

27. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein said inflatable bladder comprises one or more pockets made from interior weld lines, said pockets being removed to leave openings in the bladder.

28. The article of footwear of claim 16, further including a one way valve between said inflation mechanism and the exterior of said inflatable bladder.

29. The article of footwear of claim 28, wherein said one way valve is fluidly connected to a tube directed to ambient air outside of said article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of 16, claim further comprising a check valve, wherein said check valve provides communication between said bladder and the ambient atmosphere, whereby the pressure in said bladder is automatically released.

30. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole;

an upper, wherein at least a portion of said upper is formed from an inflatable bladder; and

an inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air to said bladder, wherein said inflation mechanism is disposed under the heel of a wearer'"'"'s foot and is operated by a downward force of a wearer'"'"'s heel on said inflation mechanism;

wherein said upper and said inflation mechanism are monolithic.

31. The article of footwear of claim 30, wherein said inflation mechanism further comprises a foam insert.

32. The article of footwear of claim 31, wherein said bladder is formed from a laminate.