Sole structure for article of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426683-B2
Application number	US-202318305895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2023
Priority date	Nov 19, 2019
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A bladder for an article of footwear includes a first chamber having a first segment extending along a first side of the bladder and a second segment formed on an opposite side of the bladder from the first segment. The bladder further includes a second chamber at least partially surrounded by the first chamber and disposed between the first segment and the second segment. A manifold is in direct fluid communication with each of the first segment of the first chamber, the second segment of the first chamber, and the second chamber. A web area connects each of the first chamber, the second chamber, and the manifold. The bladder may include a first series of ports formed in the first segment of the first chamber and a second series of ports formed in the second segment of the first chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole;
a fluid-filled chamber in contact with the midsole;
an outsole defining a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure; and
a heel counter including a peripheral wall and at least one finger extending from an anterior end of the peripheral wall, the peripheral wall extending around a posterior end of the sole structure and having a bottom edge in contact with a first side of the fluid-filled chamber adjacent to the midsole, the at least one finger extending to a distal end beneath and in contact with the outsole.

2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the peripheral wall includes a first segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure, a second segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure, and a third segment extending along a heel region of the sole structure and connecting the first segment and the second segment.

3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger extends along an outer surface of the sole structure.

4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one finger forms an external surface of the sole structure.

5. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the at least one finger extends from the first segment of the peripheral wall or the second segment of the peripheral wall in a direction toward the ground-engaging surface.

6. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are in contact with the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber.

7. The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment cooperate to define a pocket that receives the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber.

8. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the outsole is disposed between the at least one finger and the midsole.

9. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1 .

10. A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole;
a fluid-filled chamber in contact with the midsole;
an outsole defining a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure; and
a heel counter extending around a posterior end of the sole structure and including a peripheral wall extending between the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber and having a bottom edge in contact with the fluid-filled chamber and at least one finger extending from an anterior end of the peripheral wall to a distal end at the ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, the distal end disposed beneath the outsole.

11. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the peripheral wall includes a first segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure, a second segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure, and a third segment extending along a heel region of the sole structure and connecting the first segment and the second segment.

12. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the at least one finger includes a first finger extending from the peripheral wall at the medial side and a second finger extending from the peripheral wall at the lateral side.

13. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the at least one finger extends along an outer surface of the sole structure.

14. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the at least one finger forms an external surface of the sole structure.

15. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the distal end of the at least one finger extends along a surface of the outsole and forms a portion of the ground-engaging surface.

16. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are in contact with the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber.

17. The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment cooperate to define a pocket that receives the midsole and the fluid-filled chamber.

18. The sole structure of claim 10 , wherein the outsole is disposed between the distal end of the at least one finger and the midsole.

19. An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 10 .

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Campos Ii Fidencio
• Gerig Kristina

Classifications

• A43B1/0072

  made at least partially of transparent or translucent 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

• A43B23/029

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

• A43B23/0285

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

• A43B13/20 Primary

  Pneumatic soles {filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas (inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407)} · CPC title