Fluid-filled chamber with stitched tensile member

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9427043-B2
Application number	US-201314068391-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2013
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

A chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid may include a tensile member extending between a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer and including a plurality of tethers extending between the first tensile member layer and the second tensile member layer. The chamber may include stitching through the tensile member in a stitched region. When the chamber is pressurized with the pressurized fluid, a substantial majority of the first tensile member layer is separated from the second tensile member layer by a distance that corresponds to a length of the plurality of tethers. In addition, the first tensile member layer is held in contact with the second tensile member layer by the stitching in the stitched region, thereby forming an area of the chamber having a reduced thickness relative to adjacent portions of the chamber.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, comprising:
a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer;
a tensile member extending between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer, the tensile member including a first tensile member layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer, a second tensile member layer bonded to the second chamber barrier layer, and a plurality of tethers extending between the first tensile member layer and the second tensile member layer; and
stitching attached to the first tensile member layer and to the second tensile member layer to form a stitched region disposed between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer, the first tensile member layer being in contact with the second tensile member layer in the stitched region to provide an area of the chamber with a reduced thickness relative to adjacent portions of the chamber;
wherein, when the chamber is pressurized with the pressurized fluid, a substantial majority of the first tensile member layer is separated from the second tensile member layer by a distance substantially equal to a length of the plurality of tethers.

2. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the stitched region has an elongate arrangement, and
wherein the stitched region is discontinuous, including at least two separate portions.

3. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the stitched region includes a first line of stitching, a second line of stitching substantially parallel to the first line of stitching, and a third line of stitching substantially parallel to the first line of stitching and the second line of stitching;
wherein the second line of stitching is spaced from the first line of stitching by a first distance;
wherein the third line of stitching is spaced from the second line of stitching by a second distance; and wherein the first distance is different than the second distance.

4. The chamber of claim 3 , wherein a first region of the chamber including the first line of stitching and the second line of stitching has a first degree of flexibility and a second region of the chamber including the second line of stitching and the third line of stitching has a second degree of flexibility that is different than the first degree of flexibility.

5. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the stitched region includes a plurality of elongate portions radiating in different directions from a central point.

6. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the stitched region includes a plurality of curved portions intersecting at a common intersection point; and wherein the plurality of curved portions are all curved about center points disposed on a common line, the plurality of curved portions each having a different radius of curvature.

7. The chamber of claim 1 , wherein the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer are each formed of multiple layers of material including a first center layer, a second layer, and a third layer, wherein the first layer is disposed between the second layer and the third layer, and wherein the first layer is joined to both the second layer and the third layer;
wherein the first layer is formed of a first material, the second layer is formed of a second material, and the third layer is also formed of the second material, wherein the second material is different from the first material; and wherein the first material includes an ethylene-vinyl copolymer, and
wherein the second material includes a thermoplastic polymer.

8. The chamber of claim 7 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer is thermoplastic polyurethane.

9. The chamber of claim 7 , wherein the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer are each further formed of a fourth layer and a fifth layer;
wherein the second layer is disposed between the fourth layer and the first layer and wherein the second layer is joined to the fourth layer;
wherein the third layer is disposed between the fifth layer and the first layer and wherein the third layer is joined to the fifth layer; and
wherein the fourth layer is formed of a third material and the fifth layer is also formed of the third material, wherein the third material is different than the second material, and the third material is also different than the first material.

10. The chamber of claim 9 , wherein the fourth layer is formed of a material that includes a regrind of thermoplastic polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl copolymer, and wherein the fifth layer is also formed of a material that includes a regrind of thermoplastic polyurethane and ethylene-vinyl copolymer.

11. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including the chamber recited in claim 1 .

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the sole structure includes an outer member having at least one flex groove; wherein the stitched region of the chamber is aligned with the flex groove of the outer member.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the at least one flex groove and the stitched region extend in a substantially lateral direction.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the flex groove and the stitched region are disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear, in a location that corresponds with a ball of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the outer member of the sole structure includes a plurality of flex grooves and the chamber includes a plurality of stitched regions aligned with the flex grooves;
wherein the flex grooves are arranged in a first grid; wherein the stitched regions are arranged in a second grid; and
wherein the first grid is aligned with the second grid.

16. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the stitched region includes a plurality of concentric stitched portions that are concentrically arranged about a center point, the stitched region further including a plurality of radial stitched portions extending radially from the center point, the concentric stitched portions intersecting with the radial stitched portions in a non-overlapping arrangement.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the center point is disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the stitched region is elongate and extends around a periphery of the chamber, the stitched region being substantially evenly spaced from an edge of the chamber in a heel region of the chamber.

19. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein stitched region includes a first curved portion disposed proximate a medial edge of the chamber, and further including a second curved portion disposed proximate a lateral edge of the chamber.

20. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the stitched region includes a plurality of substantially parallel stitched portions extending in substantially lateral directions across the chamber.

21. The article of footwear of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of substantially parallel stitched portions are substantially evenly spaced from one another.

22. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first chamber barrier layer is f

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Kodad Jay A

Classifications

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43B13/40

  with cushions · CPC title

• A41D19/015

  Protective gloves {(A41D19/0055 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A43B13/20 Primary

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

• A45C13/30

  Straps; Bands · CPC title