IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,622,487
Granted Patent B2
US 12,622,487 · App. 18/798,733 · Granted May 12, 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.
A43B13/40A43B7/1425A43B7/144
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,622,487
App. No.
18/798,733
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear defines a footbed and includes a chassis having a lower cushioning element including an upper side and a bottom side disposed on an opposite side from the upper side, the lower cushioning element including one or more apertures extending from the upper side to the bottom side. A bladder is disposed adjacent to the upper side of the lower cushioning element and an outsole is disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the lower cushioning element and includes one or more protrusions each extending through a respective one of the one or more apertures and engaging the bladder.

Claims (26)

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

a chassis including a lower cushioning element having an upper side and a bottom side disposed on an opposite side from the upper side to define a thickness of the lower cushioning element, the lower cushioning element including one or more apertures extending from the upper side to the bottom side;

a bladder disposed adjacent to the upper side of the lower cushioning element; and

an outsole disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the lower cushioning element and including one or more protrusions each extending through a respective one of the one or more apertures and directly engaging the bladder, each of the one or more protrusions having a height equal to the thickness of the lower cushioning element such that the one or more protrusions are flush with portions of the upper side of the lower cushioning element adjacent to the apertures.

2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the one or more protrusions includes a first protrusion disposed on a medial side of the sole structure and a second protrusion disposed on a lateral side of the sole structure.

3 . The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are aligned along a metatarsophalangeal axis of the sole structure.

4 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more protrusions extends from a top side of the outsole to a distal end surface in contact with the bladder.

5 . The sole structure of claim 4 , wherein the distal end surface is planar.

6 . The sole structure of claim 5 , wherein the bladder includes a first curved portion in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a substantially flat portion in a heel region of the sole structure.

7 . The sole structure of claim 6 , wherein the distal end surface of each of the one or more protrusions contacts the bladder at the first curved portion.

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

9 . The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein the bladder is exposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element along at least one of a medial side of the sole structure or a lateral side of the sole structure.

10 . The sole structure of claim 8 , wherein the bladder is exposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element at a posterior end of the sole structure.

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

a chassis including a lower cushioning element having an upper side and a bottom side disposed on an opposite side from the upper side to define a thickness of the lower cushioning element, the lower cushioning element including a plurality of apertures extending from the upper side to the bottom side;

a bladder disposed adjacent to the upper side of the lower cushioning element; and

an outsole disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the lower cushioning element and including a plurality of protrusions each extending through a respective one of the plurality of apertures, directly supporting the bladder, and being offset from one another in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the sole structure, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions having a height equal to the thickness of the lower cushioning element such that the protrusions are flush with portions of the upper side of the lower cushioning element adjacent to the apertures.

12 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of protrusions includes a first protrusion disposed on a medial side of the sole structure and a second protrusion disposed on a lateral side of the sole structure.

13 . The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are aligned along a metatarsophalangeal axis of the sole structure.

14 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of protrusions extends from a top side of the outsole to a distal end surface in contact with the bladder.

15 . The sole structure of claim 14 , wherein the distal end surface is planar.

16 . The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the bladder includes a first curved portion in a forefoot region of the sole structure and a substantially flat portion in a heel region of the sole structure.

17 . The sole structure of claim 16 , wherein the distal end surface of each of the plurality of protrusions contacts the bladder at the first curved portion.

18 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the chassis includes an upper cushioning element disposed on an opposite side of the bladder from the lower cushioning element.

19 . The sole structure of claim 18 , wherein the bladder is exposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element along at least one of a medial side of the sole structure or a lateral side of the sole structure.

20 . The sole structure of claim 18 , wherein the bladder is exposed between the upper cushioning element and the lower cushioning element at a posterior end of the sole structure.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: BAILLY, DEVIN; BEGYN, PAUL; CHAMBERS, CLAYTON; EUGENE, GUERCY; JAMES, DERVIN A.; MEEKER, JASON R.; MONFILS, BENJAMIN J.; SZE, KEVIN C.
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 068234/0036 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63518765 · Aug 10, 2023
Related Publication 20250049175A1 · Feb 13, 2025
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