IP Library Granted Patent US 12702195
Granted Patent B2
US 12702195 · App. 18/977,069 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Sole structure for article of footwear

Inventors: Devin Bailly (Portland, OR); Paul Begyn (Beaverton, OR); Clayton Chambers (Portland, OR); Guercy Eugene (Portland, OR); Dervin A. James (Hillsboro, OR); Jason R. Meeker (Portland, OR); Benjamin J. Monfils (Portland, OR); Kevin C. Sze (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/20A43B13/186
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12702195
App. No.
18/977,069
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear defines a footbed and includes a bladder extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a heel region of the sole structure and a chassis including a lower chassis having a first outsole segment attached to the bladder in the forefoot region and a lower cushioning element attached to the bladder in the heel region.

Claims (25)

1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and comprising: a bladder extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure along an entire length of the bladder from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a heel region of the sole structure; and a chassis including a lower chassis having (i) a first outsole segment directly attached to the bladder in the forefoot region and (ii) a lower cushioning element attached to the first outsole segment and attached to the bladder in the heel region.

2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the lower chassis defines an upper chassis surface extending continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region and supporting the bladder.

3 . The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the upper chassis surface is defined by the first outsole segment and a second portion of the upper chassis surface is defined by the lower cushioning element.

4 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the lower cushioning element includes a lateral joint connecting the lower cushioning element to the first outsole segment.

5 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the lateral joint is disposed between the forefoot region and a mid-foot region of the sole structure.

6 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the lower cushioning element overlaps the first outsole segment along the lateral joint.

7 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the bladder includes a first curved portion in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a substantially flat portion in the heel region of the sole structure.

8 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the chassis includes an upper chassis disposed on an opposite side of the bladder from the lower chassis.

9 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and comprising:

a lower chassis having a first outsole segment defining a first portion of an upper chassis surface in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a lower cushioning element attached to the first outsole segment and defining a second portion of the upper chassis surface in at least one of a mid-foot region and a heel region of the sole structure; and

a bladder supported on the upper chassis surface and directly attached to the first outsole segment in the forefoot region, the bladder extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure along an entire length of the bladder from a first end in the forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in the heel region of the sole structure.

10 . The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the upper chassis surface extends continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region and supports the bladder.

11 . The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the lower cushioning element includes a lateral joint connecting the lower cushioning element to the first outsole segment.

12 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the lateral joint is disposed between the forefoot region and the mid-foot region of the sole structure.

13 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the lower cushioning element overlaps the first outsole segment along the lateral joint.

14 . The sole structure of claim 9 , wherein the bladder includes a first curved portion in the forefoot region of the sole structure and a substantially flat portion in the heel region of the sole structure.

15 . The sole structure of claim 9 , further comprising an upper chassis disposed on an opposite side of the bladder from the lower chassis.

16 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and comprising:

a first outsole segment having a first side defining a first portion of an upper chassis surface in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a second side formed on an opposite side from the first side and defining a first portion of a ground-contacting surface of the sole structure;

a lower cushioning element attached to the first outsole segment and having (i) a third side defining a second portion of the upper chassis surface in at least one of a mid-foot region and a heel region and (ii) a fourth side formed on an opposite side of the lower cushioning element from the third side; and

a bladder supported on the upper chassis surface and directly attached to the first outsole segment in the forefoot region, the bladder extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure along an entire length of the bladder from a first end in the forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in one of the mid-foot region or the heel region of the sole structure.

17 . The sole structure of claim 16 , wherein the upper chassis surface extends continuously from the forefoot region to the heel region and supports the bladder.

18 . The sole structure of claim 16 , wherein the lower cushioning element includes a lateral joint connecting the lower cushioning element to the first outsole segment.

19 . The sole structure of claim 16 , further comprising an upper cushioning element disposed on an opposite side of the bladder from the lower cushioning element and the first outsole segment.

20 . The sole structure of claim 19 , further comprising a second outsole segment attached to the fourth side of the lower cushioning element and defining a second portion of the ground-contacting surface of the sole structure in the heel region.