Stacked cushioning arrangement for sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11019880-B2
Application number	US-202016879139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 20, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2017
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-engaging surface and an upper surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface. A first cushion is disposed proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and includes a first fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a second fluid-filled chamber attached to the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the first fluid-filled chamber and the upper. A second cushion is disposed proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure and includes a third fluid-filled chamber attached to the upper surface of the outsole and a fourth fluid-filled chamber attached to the third fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the third fluid-filled chamber and the upper. The second cushion is fluidly isolated from the first cushion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole upper portion comprising a polymer foam;
a plate including a first plate surface attached to the midsole upper portion and a second plate surface disposed on an opposite side of the plate than the first plate surface;
a midsole lower portion attached to the second plate surface and defining a gap extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure;
a cushioning arrangement disposed within the gap and including a pair of fluid-filled chambers each including a first chamber surface attached to the second plate surface and a second chamber surface disposed on an opposite side of the fluid-filled chamber than the first chamber surface, the pair of fluid-filled chambers including a first fluid-filled chamber exposed through the gap along a lateral side of the sole structure and a second fluid-filled chamber exposed through the gap along a medial side of the sole structure; and
an outsole including a first outsole portion attached to the midsole lower portion and a second outsole portion attached to the second chamber surface of at least one of the fluid-filled chambers, the first outsole portion being independent from the second outsole portion.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers comprises a barrier element, and wherein the barrier element comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers is pressurized within a range of 15-30 pounds per square inch.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers includes a sidewall extending between the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface, the sidewall providing the fluid-filled chamber with an arcuate outer surface.

5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers comprises a tensile member disposed therein.

6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers is disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure.

7. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the midsole lower portion is attached to the second plate surface at a location along the plate between the fluid-filled chamber and an anterior end of the sole structure.

8. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the midsole upper portion extends from the anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure.

9. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the midsole lower portion is a first midsole lower portion, and wherein the sole structure further comprises a second midsole lower portion attached to the second plate surface at a location along the plate between the fluid-filled chamber and a posterior end of the sole structure.

10. The sole structure of claim 7 , wherein the midsole lower portion tapers in a direction toward a junction of the second plate surface and the fluid-filled chamber.

11. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is a first fluid-filled chamber and is disposed proximate a medial side of the sole structure.

12. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber is disposed proximate a lateral side of the sole structure at a location adjacent to the first fluid-filled chamber.

13. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber is disposed proximate a lateral side of the sole structure.

14. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the plate comprises a composite material containing carbon fibers.

15. An article of footwear including a sole structure, the article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
a midsole upper portion including a first surface attached to the upper and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole upper portion than the first surface;
a plate including a first plate surface attached to the second surface of the midsole upper portion, and a second plate surface disposed on an opposite side of the plate than the first plate surface;
a midsole lower portion attached to the second plate surface and defining a gap extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the article of footwear to a second end in a mid-foot region of the article of footwear;
a cushioning arrangement disposed within the gap and including a pair of fluid-filled chambers each including a first chamber surface attached to the second plate surface and a second chamber surface disposed on an opposite side of the fluid-filled chamber than the first chamber surface, the pair of fluid-filled chambers including a first fluid-filled chamber exposed through the gap along a lateral side of the sole structure and a second fluid-filled chamber exposed through the gap along a medial side of the sole structure; and
an outsole including a first outsole portion attached to the midsole lower portion in the forefoot region, a second outsole portion attached to the cushioning arrangement in the gap, and a third outsole portion attached to the midsole lower portion in a heel region of the article of footwear, the third outsole portion being independent from the first outsole portion and the second outsole portion.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers comprises a barrier element, and wherein the barrier element comprises thermoplastic polyurethane.

17. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers is pressurized within a range of 15-30 pounds per square inch.

18. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers includes a sidewall extending between the first chamber surface and the second chamber surface, the sidewall providing the fluid-filled chamber with an arcuate outer surface.

19. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers comprises a tensile member disposed therein.

20. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein each of the fluid-filled chambers is disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

21. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the midsole lower portion is attached to the second plate surface at a location along the plate between the fluid-filled chamber and an anterior end of the article of footwear.

22. The article of footwear of claim 21 , wherein the midsole upper portion extends from the anterior end of the article of footwear to a posterior end of the article of footwear.

23. The article of footwear of claim 21 , wherein the midsole lower portion is a first midsole lower portion, and wherein the article of footwear further comprises a second midsole lower portion attached to the second plate surface at a location along the plate between the fluid-filled chamber and a posterior end of the article of footwear.

24. The article of footwear of claim 21 , wherein the midsole lower portion tapers in a direction toward a junction of the second plate surface and the fluid-filled chamber.

25. The article of footwear of claim 15 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is a first fluid-filled chamber and is disposed proximate a medial side of the article of footwear.

26. The article of footwear of claim 25 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber is disposed proximate a lateral side of the article of footwear at a location adjacent to the first fluid-filled chamb

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Connell Jeremy L
• Dimoff Karen S
• Farina Emily
• Greenspan Joël Ryp
• Guest Stefan E
• Haight Derek
• Henrichot Olivier
• Hutchinson Helene
• Luo Geng
• Yetman Krissy

Classifications

• A43B13/32

  by adhesives · CPC title

• A43B13/189

  filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water · CPC title

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B13/187

  Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials · CPC title

• A43B13/186 Primary

  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 title