Contoured fluid-filled chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9730487-B2
Application number	US-201313940738-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2013
Priority date	Jul 12, 2013
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having 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. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having 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 bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer; and
a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer and extending continuously from a first peripheral edge of the chamber proximate to a medial side of the chamber to a second peripheral edge of the chamber proximate to a lateral side of the chamber, the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the medial side opposing the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the lateral side across the chamber in a first direction extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the chamber, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed;
wherein the chamber includes an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area; and
wherein the chamber includes a planar surface extending in the first direction between the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the medial side and the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the lateral side.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes an anatomical contour formed, at least in part, by the bulge, the anatomical contour being configured to receive a portion of a foot of a wearer.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the anatomical contour includes at least one of: (1) a depression in a heel region of the chamber, (2) an arch support in a midfoot region of the chamber, (3) a depression in a forefoot region of the chamber, and (4) a toe contour configured to accommodate one or more toes of the wearer of the article of footwear.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface of the chamber extends continuously between the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the medial side and the bond inhibiting material located proximate to the lateral side.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the chamber includes a first bulged portion corresponding with a first portion of the bond inhibiting material, the first portion of bond inhibiting material having a first width, and a second bulged portion corresponding with a second portion of the bond inhibiting material, the second portion of the bond inhibiting material having a second width, the first width being greater than the second width;
wherein the first bulged portion extends outward a first distance from adjacent areas of the chamber, and the second bulged portion extends outward a second distance from adjacent areas of the chamber; and
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the bulge forms a convexity that, when combined with the planar surface of the chamber, forms a concavity.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the bond inhibiting material extends continuously from the medial side of the chamber to the lateral side of the chamber along at least one of a third peripheral edge disposed at a heel portion of the chamber and a fourth peripheral edge disposed at a forefoot portion of the chamber.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the bulge is a first bulge corresponding with a first portion of the bond inhibiting material and extending outward a first distance from adjacent portions of the chamber, the chamber further including a second bulge corresponding with a second portion of the bond inhibiting material and extending a second distance from adjacent portions of the chamber proximate to the first bulge, the second distance being shorter than the first distance, thereby defining the chamber to have a tapered thickness.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the planar surface of the chamber is located in a bonded area of the chamber in which the first chamber barrier layer is bonded to the tensile member; and
wherein the unbonded area of the first chamber barrier layer bulges outward beyond a plane in which the bonded area of the first chamber barrier layer lies.

10. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer bonded to a second 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 and 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 at least one tether extending between the first tensile member layer and the second tensile member layer, the first tensile member layer being separated from the first chamber barrier layer at one or more discrete locations to create at least one void between the first tensile member layer and the first chamber barrier layer, the at least one void disposed proximate to a peripheral edge of the chamber and extending continuously along the peripheral edge of the chamber from a first location disposed at a medial side of the chamber to a second location disposed at a lateral side of the chamber, the first location opposing and being spaced apart from the second location by a planar surface of the chamber; and
a first bond inhibiting material located between the first tensile member layer and the first chamber barrier layer at the at least one void.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first bond inhibiting material is attached to the first tensile member layer.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first chamber barrier layer includes an outwardly extending bulge at the at least one void.

13. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the second tensile member layer is separated from the second chamber barrier layer at one or more discrete locations to create at least one void between the second tensile member layer and the second chamber barrier layer.

14. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first tensile member layer extends across the at least one void.

15. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the planar surface is bounded by the at least one void.

16. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the at least one void follows a shape of an outer perimeter of the chamber from the first location to the second location.

17. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the planar surface is located in a region where the first tensile member layer is bonded to the first chamber barrier layer.

18. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first bond inhibiting material extends continuously from the first location to the second location at a heel portion of the chamber.

19. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first bond inhibiting material extends continuo

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Davison Darren C

Classifications

• A43B13/12

  Soles with several layers of different materials · CPC title

• A43B13/42

  Filling materials located between the insole and outer sole; Stiffening materials · CPC title

• A43B13/185

  Elasticated plates sandwiched between two interlocking components, e.g. thrustors · CPC title

• B29D35/142

  Soles · CPC title

• A43B13/18

  Resilient soles {(skating boots provided with resilient means A43B5/1658)} · CPC title