IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,058,174
Granted Patent B2
US 11,058,174 · App. 16/230,071 · Granted Jul 13, 2021

Footwear sole structure

Inventor: Geoff S. Hale (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/20A43B7/1405A43B13/04A43B13/125A43B13/127A43B13/16A43B13/189A43B1/0072
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,058,174
App. No.
16/230,071
Granted
Jul 13, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper, a fluid-filled chamber including a first portion in contact with the upper in a first region, and a midsole including a first portion disposed between the fluid-filled chamber and the upper in a second region.

Claims (25)

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper which defines a void to receive a foot of a wearer;

a fluid-filled chamber having a constant thickness extending continuously from a first end to a second end and including a first portion at the first end in contact with the upper in a first region; and

a cushioning pad including a first portion at the second end disposed between the fluid-filled chamber and the upper in a second region.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first region is a heel region of the article of footwear and the second region is a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the fluid-filled chamber is in contact with a strobel of the upper in the first region.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is spaced apart from the strobel in the second region by the cushioning pad.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes an arcuate shape in a direction extending from a heel region of the article of footwear toward a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is disposed closer to the upper within a heel region of the article of footwear than in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a tensile element disposed within the fluid-filled chamber.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a ground-contacting surface, at least a portion of the fluid-filled chamber being visible at an opening of the ground-contacting surface.

9. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper including a strobel which defines a void to receive a foot of a wearer; and

a fluid-filled chamber having a constant thickness extending continuously from a first end to a second end and including a first portion at the first end in contact with the strobel and a second portion at the second end spaced apart from the strobel.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9 , further comprising a cushioning pad including a first portion disposed between the second portion of the fluid-filled chamber and the strobel.

11. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the first portion is disposed in a heel region of the article of footwear and the second portion is disposed in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

12. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber includes an arcuate shape in a direction extending from a heel region of the article of footwear toward a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

13. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber is disposed closer to the upper within a heel region of the article of footwear than in a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

14. The article of footwear of claim 9 , further comprising a tensile element disposed within the fluid-filled chamber.

15. The article of footwear of claim 9 , further comprising a ground-contacting surface, at least a portion of the fluid-filled chamber being visible at an opening of the ground-contacting surface.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9 , wherein the fluid-filled chamber extends continuously from the first portion to the second portion.

17. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a plate disposed adjacent to the fluid-filled chamber on an opposite side from the cushioning pad.

18. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a midsole including an upper surface portion defining a recess, the cushioning pad being received within the recess and including an upper surface flush with the upper surface portion of the midsole.

19. The article of footwear of claim 10 , further comprising a midsole including an upper surface portion defining a recess, the cushioning pad received within the recess and including an upper surface flush with the upper surface portion of the midsole.

20. The article of footwear of claim 19 , further comprising a plate disposed between the fluid-filled chamber and the midsole at the first portion and the second portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2019
From: HALE, GEOFF S.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 048189/0912 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62611584 · Dec 29, 2017
Related Publication 20190200700A1 · Jul 4, 2019
Cited By (10)
US 12,185,790 US 12,279,671 US 12,349,762 US 12,369,683 US 12,440,002 US 12,490,806 US 12,653,271 US 12,660,883 US 12,702,195 US 12,721,403