Shoe having an inflatable bladder
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
- a first sheet of elastomeric film and a second sheet of elastomeric film, wherein said first sheet is welded to said second sheet to form an inflation mechanism and an inflatable bladder, wherein said inflation mechanism is monolithic with said inflatable bladder; and
a one-way valve, wherein said inflation mechanism is fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder through said one-way valve;
wherein said inflation mechanism is positioned so as to be operated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot.
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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.
305 Citations
22 Claims
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:
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a first sheet of elastomeric film and a second sheet of elastomeric film, wherein said first sheet is welded to said second sheet to form an inflation mechanism and an inflatable bladder, wherein said inflation mechanism is monolithic with said inflatable bladder; and a one-way valve, wherein said inflation mechanism is fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder through said one-way valve; wherein said inflation mechanism is positioned so as to be operated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An article of footwear, comprising:
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a first sheet of thermoplastic elastomeric film and a second sheet of thermoplastic elastomeric film, wherein said first sheet is welded to said second sheet to form an inflation mechanism and an inflatable bladder, wherein both said inflation mechanism and said inflatable bladder are formed by both said first sheet and said second sheet; an air inlet fluidly connected to said inflation mechanism for introducing ambient air outside of said inflatable bladder to said inflation mechanism; and a valve, wherein said inflation mechanism is fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder through said valve, wherein said valve permits air flow from said inflation mechanism to said inflatable bladder, and wherein said valve limits air flow from said inflatable bladder to said inflation mechanism; wherein said inflation mechanism is positioned so as to be operated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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20. An article of footwear, comprising:
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a first sheet of elastomeric film and a second sheet of elastomeric film, wherein said first sheet is sealed to said second sheet to form an inflation mechanism and an inflatable bladder, wherein said inflation mechanism is monolithic with said inflatable bladder; and a one-way valve, wherein said inflation mechanism is fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder through said one-way valve, wherein said inflation mechanism is positioned so as to be operated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification