Sole structure for an article of footwear

Inventors: Jeremy L. Connell (Portland, OR); Craig Fredrick (Portland, OR); Jason R. Meeker (Portland, OR); Kort W. Neumann, IV (Portland, OR); Chris Wilburn (Portland, OR)

Assignee: NIKE, Inc.

A43B13/20 A43B13/28

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12702196
App. No.: 18/999,413
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear including an upper. The sole structure includes a midsole having a first surface opposing the upper, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, and an aperture formed through a thickness of the midsole and including a first opening at the first surface and a second opening at the second surface, a first fluid-filled chamber abutting the second surface of the midsole and extending over the aperture at the second opening, and a strobel attached to the upper and extending into the aperture at the first opening, the strobel opposing the first fluid-filled chamber at the aperture.

Claims (27)

1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear including an upper, the sole structure comprising:

a midsole including a first surface configured to oppose the upper, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, and an aperture formed through a thickness of the midsole and including a first opening at the first surface and a second opening at the second surface;

a first fluid-filled chamber abutting the second surface of the midsole and extending over the aperture at the second opening; and

a strobel being a single, unitary body configured to be attached to the upper and extending into the aperture at the first opening, the strobel opposing the first fluid-filled chamber at the aperture.

2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure.

3 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the strobel includes a second fluid-filled chamber.

4 . The sole structure of claim 3 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber extends into the aperture at the first opening.

5 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber abuts the first fluid-filled chamber proximate to the second opening.

6 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber is attached to the first fluid-filled chamber proximate to the second opening.

7 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein a thickness of the second fluid-filled chamber is approximately equal to a thickness of the midsole at the aperture.

8 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid-filled chamber extends over the entire second opening.

9 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is asymmetric.

10 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of claim 1 .

11 . An article of footwear comprising:

an upper;

a strobel being a single, unitary body attached to the upper;

a midsole including a first surface opposing the upper, a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the first surface, and an aperture formed through a thickness of the midsole and including a first opening at the first surface and a second opening at the second surface; and

a first fluid-filled chamber abutting the second surface of the midsole and extending over the aperture at the second opening, the first fluid-filled chamber in contact with the strobel at the second opening.

12 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the aperture is disposed in a forefoot region of the midsole.

13 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the strobel includes a second fluid-filled chamber.

14 . The article of footwear of claim 13 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber extends into the aperture at the first opening.

15 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber abuts the first fluid-filled chamber proximate to the second opening.

16 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber is attached to the first fluid-filled chamber proximate to the second opening.

17 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein a thickness of the second fluid-filled chamber is approximately equal to a thickness of the midsole at the aperture.

18 . The article of footwear of claim 14 , wherein the strobel includes a web area surrounding the second fluid-filled chamber.

19 . The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein the web area is attached to the upper.

20 . The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first fluid-filled chamber extends over the entire second opening.