Article of footwear including a sole structure
An article of footwear having a heel region with a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region with an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure has; a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element having a first tube and a second tube, wherein each of the first tube and the second tube extend from the lateral side of the article of footwear to the medial side of the article of footwear, wherein the first tube includes a contained fluid volume at a first pressure, and the second tube includes a contained fluid volume at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are equal to one another.
1 . An article of footwear comprising:
a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear;
a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side;
an upper; and
a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure further comprises;
a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element including a plurality of tubes including at least a first tube and a second tube, the cushioning element further including a plurality of webs including at least a first web, the first web extending between the first tube and at least one other tube of the plurality of tubes,
wherein each of the first tube and the second tube extends between the lateral side of the article of footwear and the medial side of the article of footwear along a medial-lateral direction,
wherein the first tube includes a contained fluid volume at a first pressure, and the second tube includes a contained fluid volume at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are equal to one another and greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the first tube and second tube are fluidly isolated from each other, and
wherein the plurality of webs are formed by a first barrier film of the cushioning element and a second barrier film of the cushioning element being bonded to one another, and the plurality of webs cooperating with a peripheral seam to bound and extend around each of the plurality of tubes, wherein the peripheral seam is disposed on a bottom surface of the cushioning element.
2 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are less than 40 PSI.
3 . The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are 15 PSI.
4 . The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tubes further comprises a third tube and a fourth tube, the third tube including a contained fluid volume at a third pressure and the fourth tube including a contained fluid volume at a fourth pressure, and wherein the first tube is disposed nearest to the anterior end, the fourth tube is disposed nearest the posterior end, the second tube is disposed adjacent to the first tube, the third tube is disposed adjacent to the second tube, and wherein the second tube is disposed nearer the first tube than is the third tube.
5 . The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the first pressure, the second pressure, the third pressure, and the fourth pressure are all equal.
6 . The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the first tube and the second tube are forward most tubes of the cushioning element, and wherein the third tube, and the fourth tube are rear most tubes of the cushioning element.
7 . The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein the first pressure and the second pressure of the forward most tubes are the same, and the third pressure and the fourth pressure of the rear most tubes are the same.
8 . The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the pressures of the forward most tubes are greater than the pressures of the rear most tubes.
9 . The article of footwear of claim 7 , wherein the pressures of the forward most tubes are less than the pressures of the rear most tubes.
10 . An article of footwear comprising:
a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear;
a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side;
a longitudinal axis extending from the posterior end to the anterior end;
an upper; and
a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure further comprises;
a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element including a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube, wherein each of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube extend from the lateral side of the article of footwear to the medial side of the article of footwear, and the cushioning element including a peripheral seam disposed on a bottom surface of the cushioning element,
wherein each of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube comprises a generally cylindrical shape providing a closed volume separate from the other tubes, and each of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube has a convex medial face and a convex lateral face,
wherein at least two of the first, second, third, or fourth tubes are connected to each other by a web extending from the peripheral seam and between the at least two tubes,
wherein an end of the web is positioned closer to a center of at least one of the tubes than an end of the tube.
11 . The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein none of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, nor the fourth tube are directly in contact with one another.
12 . The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the sole structure further comprises:
a first foam element extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, the first foam element including a first set of recesses;
a second foam element extending from the heel region to the mid-foot region, the second foam element including a second set of recesses, and wherein the second foam element includes an opening extending therethrough; and
a coupling portion extending from the heel region to the mid-foot region, the coupling portion including a third set of recesses, and wherein the coupling portion is disposed within the opening of the second foam element,
wherein the first set of recesses, the second set of recesses, and the third set of recesses form a continuous receiving area, wherein each of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube are disposed within the continuous receiving area, and
wherein each of the first tube, the second tube, the third tube, and the fourth tube are directly connected to only the first foam element, the second foam element, and the coupling portion.
13 . The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the respective first tube, second tube, third tube, and fourth tube of the cushioning element rest flush within the continuous receiving area.