Shoe having an inflatable bladder

• US 7,047,670 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2003
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• 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: Marvin, William, Swales, Geoff, Davis, Paul M, Litchfield, Paul E
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, M. D.
• Application Number:
  US10/610,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 36/45, 36/29, 36/88, 36/28, 36/501, 36/43, 36/71, 36/505, 36/3.R, 36/3.B, 36/44, 361/14, 36/93
• US Class Current: 36/29
• 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 one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The bladder comprising sheets of polyurethane or polyester film attached together to form an airtight seal. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism for selectively introducing air in the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism is located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The article of footwear may also include an assembly for connecting several tubes to one under foot inflation mechanism. The article of footwear may also include inflatable laces that are inflated by an underfoot inflation mechanism.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole;

an upper attached to said sole, wherein at least a portion of said upper is formed by at least one inflatable bladder;

a first inflation mechanism disposed in a heel compartment of said bladder and a second inflation mechanism disposed in a forefoot compartment of said bladder, wherein said first and second inflation mechanisms are disposed in a location which allows operation of said inflation mechanisms by downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second inflation mechanisms is monolithic with said bladder.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said first inflation mechanism and said second inflation mechanism are monolithic with said bladder.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first inflation mechanism inflates a first portion of said bladder and said second inflation mechanism inflates a second portion of said bladder, wherein said first portion is isolated from said second portion.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising an opening in said upper for inserting a wearer'"'"'s foot, wherein said upper constricts around the wearer'"'"'s foot when said bladder is inflated to operate as a closure system for said article of footwear and wherein said upper does not have an additional closure system for closing said upper around the wearer'"'"'s foot.

6. An article of footwear, comprising:

an inflatable bladder;

a first inflation mechanism fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder and positioned to be actuated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot; and

a second inflation mechanism fluidly connected to said inflatable bladder and positioned to be actuated by the downward pressure of a wearer'"'"'s foot,

wherein said first and second inflation mechanisms are positioned above an upper surface of said sole.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said first inflation mechanism is in a heel portion of said article of footwear.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein said second inflation mechanism is in a forefoot portion of said article of footwear.

9. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said first inflation mechanism is disposed in a forefoot portion of said article of footwear.

10. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and said second inflation mechanisms is monolithic with said bladder.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein said first inflation mechanism and said second inflation mechanism are monolithic with said bladder.

12. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said first inflation mechanism inflates a first portion of said bladder and said second inflation mechanism inflates a second portion of said bladder, wherein said first portion is isolated from said second portion.

13. The article of footwear of claim 6, further comprising a sole, wherein at least a portion of said bladder is disposed in said sole.

14. The article of footwear of claim 6, further comprising an upper, wherein at least a portion of said bladder is disposed in said upper.

15. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said article of footwear further comprises a sockliner positioned between at least one of said first and second inflation mechanisms and said wearer'"'"'s foot.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein said sockliner is removable.

17. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second inflation mechanisms is disposed in a cavity formed in said upper surface of said sole.

18. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said sole further comprises a midsole and at least one of said first and second inflation mechanisms is disposed within a cavity formed in an upper surface of said midsole.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein said midsole is a foam midsole.

20. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said sole further comprises an outsole and at least one of said first and second inflation mechanisms is disposed within a cavity formed in an upper surface of said outsole.

21. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said first and second inflation mechanisms are positioned on an upper surface of said sole.