IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,471,670
Granted Patent B2
US 12,471,670 · App. 17/834,734 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Sole structure having a fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear

Inventors: Jason G. Petrie (Portland, OR); Gregory Scott (Portland, OR)
Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
A43B13/206A43B13/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,471,670
App. No.
17/834,734
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fluid-filled chamber includes a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer. The first barrier layer and the second barrier layer cooperating with each other to define an interior void that is asymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber. The interior void includes a first thickness measured in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer at a perimeter region of the interior void and a second thickness measured in the first direction that is less than the first thickness at a central region of the interior void. The fluid-filled chamber further includes a tensile member disposed within the interior void and received within the central region.

Claims (31)

1 . A fluid-filled chamber comprising:

a first barrier layer;

a second barrier layer cooperating with the first barrier layer to define an interior void that is asymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber, the interior void including a first thickness measured in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer at a perimeter region of the interior void and a second thickness measured in the first direction that is less than the first thickness at a central region of the interior void;

a tensile member disposed within the interior void and received within the central region; and

at least two arcs disposed in an anterior region of the fluid-filled chamber and extending continuously from and between a medial side of the fluid-filled chamber and a lateral side of the fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the perimeter region of the interior void and the central region of the interior void, the at least two arcs being nested relative to one another.

2 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the at least two arcs are in fluid communication with the perimeter region and the central region.

3 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the at least two arcs are concentric with one another.

4 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter region surrounds the central region and the at least two arcs.

5 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter region surrounds the central region.

6 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter region is in fluid communication with the central region.

7 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the interior void is pressurized.

8 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 , wherein the perimeter region includes a pair of medial lobes and a pair of lateral lobes.

9 . The fluid-filled chamber of claim 8 , wherein one of the pair of medial lobes has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the other of the pair of medial lobes and wherein one of the pair of lateral lobes has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the other of the pair of lateral lobes.

10 . An article of footwear incorporating the fluid-filled chamber of claim 1 .

11 . A bladder assembly comprising:

a first fluid-filled chamber and a second fluid-filled chamber, wherein

the first fluid-filled chamber includes:

a first barrier layer;

a second barrier layer cooperating with the first barrier layer to define an interior void that is asymmetric about a longitudinal axis of the first fluid-filled chamber, the interior void including a first thickness measured in a first direction between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer at a perimeter region of the interior void and a second thickness measured in the first direction that is less than the first thickness at a central region of the interior void;

a tensile member disposed within the interior void and received within the central region; and

at least two arcs disposed in an anterior region of the first fluid-filled chamber and extending continuously from and between a medial side of the first fluid-filled chamber and a lateral side of the first fluid-filled chamber and disposed between the perimeter region and the central region of the first fluid-filled chamber, the at least two arcs being nested relative to one another; and

wherein the second fluid-filled chamber includes:

a first barrier layer; and

a second barrier layer cooperating with the first barrier layer to define an interior void, the interior void including a perimeter region bounding a web area, the web area bounding a central region.

12 . The bladder assembly of claim 11 , wherein the at least two arcs are in fluid communication with the perimeter region and the central region of the first fluid-filled chamber.

13 . The bladder assembly of claim 12 , wherein the at least two arcs are concentric with one another.

14 . The bladder assembly of claim 11 , wherein the perimeter region of the first fluid-filled chamber surrounds the central region of the first fluid-filled chamber and the at least two arcs.

15 . The bladder assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second fluid-filled chamber further includes a pair of medial lobes, a pair of lateral lobes and a posterior lobe fluidly connecting the pair of medial lobes to the pair of lateral lobes.

16 . The bladder assembly of claim 15 , wherein the one of the pair of medial lobes of the second fluid-filled chamber is longer than the other of the pair of medial lobes of the second fluid-filled chamber, and wherein one of the pair of lateral lobes of the second fluid-filled chamber is longer than the other of the pair of lateral lobes of the second fluid-filled chamber.

17 . The bladder assembly of claim 15 , wherein the pair of lateral lobes of the second fluid-filled chamber extend towards the first fluid-filled chamber to a greater extent than the pair of medial lobes.

18 . An article of footwear incorporating the bladder assembly of claim 11 .

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 6, 2022
From: PETRIE, JASON G.; SCOTT, GREGORY
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 061667/0784 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2022
From: PETRIE, JASON G.; SCOTT, GREGORY
To: NIKE, INC.
Reel/Frame 061663/0650 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63209822 · Jun 11, 2021
Related Publication 20220395058A1 · Dec 15, 2022
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