Sole structure comprising a fluid filled member with slots

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9961965-B2
Application number	US-201414244006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2014
Priority date	Aug 20, 2010
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear is disclosed. The sole structure comprises a fluid filled member and a plurality of slots. The slots are associated with connecting portions that connect portions of the sole structure in the generally longitudinal direction and provide for increased fit, flexibility and stability.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure comprising a sealed fluid filled member, wherein the fluid filled member is comprised of a fluid filled bladder;
the fluid filled member including a portion with a channel extending between a first periphery and a second periphery of the sole structure, the channel receiving a plurality of segmented portions;
wherein the plurality of segmented portions are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction in a manner that forms slots between the plurality of segmented portions;
wherein the channel has a first depth and a second depth, wherein the second depth is disposed further from the first periphery than the first depth;
wherein at least one segmented portion of the plurality of segmented portions has a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion;
the first end portion extending to the first periphery of the sole structure and the second end portion extending to the second periphery of the sole structure, thereby forming a vertical wall of the segmented portion;
the first end portion having a first thickness, the second end portion having a second thickness, and the intermediate portion having a third thickness, wherein the intermediate portion is disposed further from the first periphery than the first end portion;
wherein the third thickness is greater than the first thickness and wherein the third thickness is greater than the second thickness; and
wherein the at least one segmented portion has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid filled member is filled with a gas.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first periphery and the second periphery are located along a medial side of the article of footwear.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of segmented portions comprise a foam material.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the channel is disposed on a side portion of the fluid filled member.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the channel is disposed on a lower portion of the fluid filled member.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure including a fluid filled member, wherein the fluid filled member includes an interior cavity that is sealed;
the interior cavity including a central cavity portion, a lateral upper cavity portion, a lateral lower cavity portion, a medial upper cavity portion and a medial lower cavity portion, the central cavity portion, the lateral upper cavity portion, the lateral lower cavity portion, the medial upper cavity portion and the medial lower cavity portion all being in fluid communication with one another at a similar longitudinal position;
the fluid filled member including a lateral channel extending substantially along the length of the fluid filled member located between the lateral upper cavity portion and the lateral lower cavity portion;
the fluid filled member including a medial channel extending substantially along the length of the fluid filled member located between the medial lower cavity portion and the medial upper cavity portion;
a first segmented portion and a second segmented portion separate from the first segmented portion located in the lateral channel, and a third segmented portion and a fourth segmented portion separate from the third segmented portion located in the medial channel;
the fluid filled member including a lower portion located between the lateral lower cavity portion and the medial lower cavity portion;
a first slot disposed adjacent to and separating the first segmented portion and the second segmented portion, a second slot disposed adjacent to and separating the third segmented portion and the fourth segmented portion, and a third slot disposed adjacent to the lower portion;
wherein the first slot is disposed vertically between the lateral upper cavity portion and the lateral lower cavity portion, the second slot is disposed vertically between the medial lower cavity portion and the medial upper cavity portion; and
wherein the first slot, the second slot and the third slot are aligned in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction extending from a forefoot portion of the sole structure to a heel portion of the sole structure.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein the sole structure has a first portion associated with a first longitudinal position and a second portion associated with a second longitudinal position, wherein the second longitudinal position corresponds to the longitudinal position of the first slot, the second slot and the third slot.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the second portion of the sole structure is approximately X-like.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein the fluid filled member is filled with a gas.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein a longest dimension of the first slot is oriented in a vertical direction.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein the first segmented portion comprises a foam material.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein each of the first segmented portion, the second segmented portion, the third segmented portion, and the fourth segmented portion has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein each of the first segmented portion, the second segmented portion, the third segmented portion, and the fourth segmented portion comprises a foam material and has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

15. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure comprising a sealed fluid filled member, wherein the fluid filled member is comprised of a fluid filled bladder;
the fluid filled member including a portion with a channel extending between a first periphery and a second periphery of the sole structure, the channel receiving a plurality of segmented portions;
wherein the plurality of segmented portions are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction in a manner that form a plurality of slots between the plurality of segmented portions;
wherein at least one slot of the plurality of slots has a first end portion, a second end portion, and an intermediate portion located between the first end portion and the second end portion;
the first end portion disposed adjacent to the first periphery of the sole structure and the second end portion disposed adjacent to the second periphery of the sole structure;
the first end portion having a first depth, the second end portion having a second depth, and the intermediate portion having a third depth;
wherein the third depth is greater than the first depth, and wherein the third depth is greater than the second depth; and
wherein at least one segmented portion of the plurality of segmented portions has a triangular cross-sectional shape.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 15 , wherein the fluid filled member is filled with a gas.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 15 , wherein the first periphery and the second periphery are located along a medial side of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of segmented portions comprise a foam material.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 15 , wherein the channel is disposed on a side portion of the fluid filled member.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Miner Mark C

Classifications

• A43B13/20

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

• A43B13/16

  Pieced soles (with several layers of different material A43B13/12) · CPC title

• A43D8/02

  Cutting-out (cutting in general B26D, B26F; of leather articles in general C14B5/00) · CPC title

• A43B13/184

  the structure protruding from the outsole · CPC title

• A43B13/141 Primary

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