Fluid-filled chambers with tether elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9609914-B2
Application number	US-201514723814-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2015
Priority date	May 10, 2010
Publication date	Apr 4, 2017
Grant date	Apr 4, 2017

Abstract

A chamber may have an outer barrier and a tensile member. The barrier is formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity. The tensile member is located within the interior cavity and includes (a) a first layer element secured to the barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to an opposite portion of the barrier, and (c) a plurality of I-shaped tether elements that extend through the first layer element and the second layer element. In some configurations, the tether elements may include (a) a first end member located between the barrier and the first layer element, (b) a second end member located between the barrier and the second layer element, and (c) a central member extending through the first layer element and the second layer element and secured to the first end member and the second end member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a chamber comprising:
an outer barrier formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, the outer barrier including (a) a first barrier portion that forms a first outer surface of the chamber and (b) a second barrier portion that forms an opposite second outer surface of the chamber; and
a tensile member located within the interior cavity of the outer barrier, the tensile member including (a) a first layer element secured to the first barrier portion of the outer barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to the second barrier portion of the outer barrier, and (c) a plurality of tether elements that extend between the first layer element and the second layer element;
wherein the plurality of tether elements includes a first tether element and a second tether element, the first tether element having a greater length than the second tether element;
wherein the chamber has (a) a first thickness defined as a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the chamber in an area of the first tether element and (b) a second thickness defined as a distance between the first outer surface and the second outer surface of the chamber in an area of the second tether element, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness; and
wherein at least one of the plurality of tether elements is arranged to exhibit a diagonal configuration between the first layer element and the second layer element of the tensile member.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1 , wherein a fluid is located within the interior cavity, the fluid being pressurized to place an outward force upon the barrier and induce tension in the tether elements.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the tether elements are substantially I-shaped such that they include (a) a first end member, (b) a second end member, and (c) a central member that extends between the first end member and the second end member, the first end member being located between the first barrier portion and the first layer element, and the second end member being located between the second barrier portion and the second layer element.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 3 , wherein the first end member has a cylindrical configuration and the second end member has a planar configuration.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 1 , wherein at least two of the plurality of tether elements are arranged to exhibit an X-shaped configuration.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 1 , wherein the chamber exhibits a tapered configuration extending between the first thickness and the second thickness of the chamber.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 1 , wherein the first layer element and the second layer element are at least one of a textile and a polymer sheet.

8. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a chamber comprising:
an outer barrier formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, the barrier including (a) a first barrier portion that forms a first outer surface of the chamber, and (b) a second barrier portion that forms an opposite second outer surface of the chamber; and
a tensile member located within the interior cavity of the outer barrier, the tensile member including (a) a first layer element secured to the first barrier portion of the outer barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to the second barrier portion of the outer barrier, and (c) a plurality of tether elements that extend between the first layer element and the second layer element;
wherein at least two of the plurality of tether elements are arranged to exhibit an X-shaped configuration; and
wherein the thickness of the chamber between the first outer surface and the second outer surface varies in a tapered configuration.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 8 , wherein a fluid is located within the interior cavity, the fluid being pressurized to place an outward force upon the barrier and induce tension in the tether elements.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 8 , wherein the tether elements include a first tether element and a second tether element, the first tether element having a greater length than the second tether element.

11. The article of footwear recited in claim 10 , wherein the chamber has (a) a first thickness in an area of the first tether element and (b) a second thickness in an area of the second tether element, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 10 , wherein the first layer element and the second layer element are at least one of a textile and a polymer sheet.

13. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a chamber comprising:
an outer barrier formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, the barrier including (a) a first barrier portion that forms a first outer surface of the chamber, and (b) a second barrier portion that forms an opposite second outer surface of the chamber; and
a tensile member located within the interior cavity of the outer barrier, the tensile member including (a) a first layer element secured to the first barrier portion of the outer barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to the second barrier portion of the outer barrier, and (c) a plurality of tether elements extending between the first layer element and the second layer element;
wherein at least one of the tether elements is arranged to exhibit a diagonal configuration between the first layer element and the second layer element of the tensile member; and
wherein the thickness of the chamber between the first outer surface and the second outer surface varies.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tether elements includes a first tether element and a second tether element, the first tether element having a greater length than the second tether element; and
wherein the chamber has (a) a first thickness in an area of the first tether element and (b) a second thickness in an area of the second tether element, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 13 , wherein a fluid is located within the interior cavity, the fluid being pressurized to place an outward force upon the barrier and induce tension in the first tether element and the second tether element.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 13 , wherein the plurality of tether elements includes a first tether element and a second tether element; and
wherein the first tether element includes (a) a first end member located between the first barrier portion and the first layer element, (b) a second end member located between the second barrier portion and the second layer element, and (c) a central member that is joined to the first end member and the second end member and extends through the first layer element and the second layer element.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 13 , wherein the first layer element and the second layer element are at least one of a textile and a polymer sheet.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 16 , wherein the first tether element and the second tether el

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Peyton Lee D

Classifications

• A43B13/141

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

• A43B13/20 Primary

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

• A43B13/189

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

• A43B13/02

  characterised by the material · CPC title

• Y10T428/231

  Filled with gas other than air; or under vacuum · CPC title