Footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10709199-B2
Application number	US-201815915816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Jul 14, 2020
Grant date	Jul 14, 2020

Abstract

A footwear sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber including a tensile member is provided. The fluid-filled chamber includes a first barrier sheet, a second barrier sheet and the tensile member. The first barrier sheet is formed from a first thermoplastic material. The second barrier sheet is attached to the first barrier sheet and is formed from a second thermoplastic material. The first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet cooperate to define an internal cavity. The tensile member is disposed within the internal cavity and is formed from a third thermoplastic material. A first weld attaches the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid-filled chamber comprising:
a first barrier sheet formed from a first thermoplastic material;
a second barrier sheet attached to the first barrier sheet and formed from a second thermoplastic material, the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet cooperating to define an internal cavity;
a tensile member disposed within the internal cavity and formed from a third thermoplastic material; and
a first weld that attaches the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.

2. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the internal cavity receives a pressurized fluid.

3. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein a melting temperature of the first thermoplastic material, a melting temperature of the second thermoplastic material, and a melting temperature of the third thermoplastic material are approximately the same.

4. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein at least two of the first thermoplastic material, the second thermoplastic material, and the third thermoplastic material are formed from the same material.

5. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , further comprising a second weld that extends continuously around a perimeter of the fluid-filled chamber to define an outer edge of the fluid-filled chamber.

6. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 5 , wherein the second weld joins the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet.

7. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 6 , wherein the second weld is spaced apart from the first weld.

8. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 6 , wherein the first weld contacts and extends from the second weld.

9. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the tensile member includes a plurality of tensile elements extending between the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet.

10. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of tensile elements extend between and connect a first tensile layer that opposes the first barrier sheet and a second tensile layer that opposes the second barrier sheet.

11. The fluid-filled chamber of claim 10 , wherein the first tensile layer is attached to the first barrier sheet and the second tensile layer is attached to the second barrier sheet.

12. An article of footwear or equipment incorporating the fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 .

13. A method of making a fluid-filled chamber, the method comprising:
receiving a first barrier sheet formed from a first thermoplastic material;
receiving a second barrier sheet formed from a second thermoplastic material;
receiving a tensile member formed from a third thermoplastic material;
positioning the tensile member between the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet; and
welding the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together at a first weld by melding the first thermoplastic material of the first barrier sheet, the second thermoplastic material of second barrier sheet, and the third thermoplastic material of the tensile member.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing an internal cavity of the fluid-filled chamber with a pressurized fluid.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the first barrier sheet from a first thermoplastic material, forming the second barrier sheet from a second thermoplastic material, and forming the tensile member from a third thermoplastic material includes forming the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member from materials having melting temperatures that are approximately the same.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein forming the first barrier sheet from a first thermoplastic material, forming the second barrier sheet from a second thermoplastic material, and forming the tensile member from a third thermoplastic material includes forming at least two of the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member from the same material.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising forming a second weld that extends continuously around a perimeter of the fluid-filled chamber to define an outer edge of the fluid-filled chamber.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein forming a second weld that extends continuously around a perimeter of the fluid-filled chamber includes joining the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein welding the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together at the first weld includes spacing the first weld apart from the second weld.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein welding the first barrier sheet, the second barrier sheet, and the tensile member together at the first weld includes contacting the first weld with the second weld such that the first weld extends from the second weld.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Conway Sean
• Hensley Shaun J
• Liebeno Bret P
• Mei Deni
• Ponitz Greg
• Stam Sean
• Weston Geoff

Classifications

• B32B2437/02

  Gloves, shoes · CPC title

• B32B2307/732

  Dimensional properties · CPC title

• B32B2307/546

  Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness · CPC title

• B32B2307/54

  Yield strength; Tensile strength · CPC title

• B32B2270/00

  Resin or rubber layer containing a blend of at least two different polymers · CPC title