Article of footwear having a bladder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10051919-B2
Application number	US-201615184718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2016
Priority date	Jun 16, 2016
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

An upper comprising a flexible layer configured to receive a foot, a bladder coupled to an outer surface of the flexible layer, and an inflation mechanism operatively coupled to the bladder for inflating the bladder such that the flexible layer is drawn toward the foot. The bladder extends from a lateral side in a heel region across a throat region to a medial side in the heel region. The bladder comprises a plurality of fluidly connected segments, each segment forming an angle with an adjacent segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An upper comprising:
a flexible layer configured to receive a foot;
a bladder coupled to an outer surface of the flexible layer, the bladder extending from a lateral side in a heel region across a throat region to a medial side in the heel region, the bladder comprising a plurality of fluidly connected segments, each segment forming an angle with an adjacent segment; and
an inflation mechanism operatively coupled to the bladder for inflating the bladder such that the flexible layer is drawn toward the foot,
wherein the plurality of fluidly connected segments comprises a first segment that extends downwardly and forwardly along the upper and a second segment adjacent the first segment, the second segment extending upwardly and rearwardly along the upper.

2. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of fluidly connected segments extends away from a collar of the upper.

3. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than ninety degrees.

4. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the angle is less than forty-five degrees.

5. The upper of claim 1 , further comprising a joint fluidly connecting each segment, wherein an inner side of the joint is a partial circle.

6. The upper of claim 1 , further comprising a joint fluidly connecting each segment, wherein an inner side of the joint approximates a partial square.

7. The upper of claim 1 , wherein two adjacent segments form a V shape.

8. The upper of claim 1 , further comprising a polyurethane coating overlaying the bladder and forming a portion of an exterior of the upper.

9. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the bladder is coupled to the outer surface of the flexible layer by sewing.

10. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the bladder is coupled to the outer surface of the flexible layer by hot melting.

11. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the flexible layer comprises multiple layers.

12. The upper of claim 1 , further comprising a release mechanism.

13. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole;
an upper attached to the sole and configured to receive a wearer's foot;
a bladder disposed on an outermost surface of the upper; and
an inflation mechanism operatively coupled to the bladder,
wherein the bladder forms a zig-zag pattern extending from a heel region on a lateral side across a throat region to the heel region on a medial side,
wherein the zig-zag pattern of the bladder comprises at least three fluidly connected segments extending from a collar of the upper to the sole on the lateral side, and
wherein in an inflated state, air disposed in a portion of the bladder closer to the sole causes a portion of the bladder closer to the collar of the upper to tighten around the wearer's foot.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein in an inflated state, air disposed in the portion of the bladder closer to the collar of the upper causes the portion of the bladder closer to the sole to tighten around the wearer's foot.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the inflation mechanism is disposed at a top of the throat region.

16. The article of footwear of claim 13 , further comprising a release mechanism.

17. The article of footwear of claim 13 , further comprising a mesh layer partially surrounding the bladder.

18. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the bladder forms a conduit.

19. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the zig-zag pattern comprises a vertical zig-zag.

20. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein an inner side of a curved portion of the zig-zag pattern is a partial circle.

21. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the portion of the bladder closer to the sole is disposed adjacent to the sole and extends horizontally along the sole.

Assignees

• Reebok Int Ltd

Inventors

• Leary Kevin
• Costa Matthew J
• Hobson Dan
• Birkinhead Toby
• Greenhalgh John
• Piacentini Thomas

Classifications

• A43B23/0235

  Different layers of different material · CPC title

• A43B23/024

  Different layers of the same material · CPC title

• A43B23/029 Primary

  Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled · CPC title

• A43B5/06

  Running shoes; Track shoes · CPC title

• A43B23/026

  Laminated layers · CPC title