Article of footwear with support assemblies
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a top plate, a bottom plate positioned below the top plate, and a plurality of support assemblies extending between the upper plate and the midsole. Each support assembly includes a fluid-filled bladder and a retaining member surrounding the fluid-filled bladder.
1. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper; and
a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
a top plate;
a bottom plate positioned below the top plate;
a plurality of support assemblies extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, each support assembly comprising a fluid-filled bladder and a retaining member extending across a top surface, a bottom surface, and sides of the fluid-filled bladder.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein each retaining member includes a plurality of panels spaced from one another defining gaps therebetween and connected at first ends thereof to a first plate on a first side of the retaining member and at second ends thereof to one of a plurality of second plates on a second side of the retaining member.
3. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein each of the top plate and the bottom plate includes a plurality of sets of projections, and each of the first plate and the second plate includes a central aperture, each central aperture receiving one of the projections of one of the top plate and the bottom plate, and each of the gaps receiving a projection of the top plate and a projection of the bottom plate.
4. The article of footwear of claim 3 , wherein each set of projections includes a central projection and a plurality of arc-shaped ribs surrounding the central projection, each rib being received in one of the gaps.
5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein the sets of projections of one of the top plate and the bottom plate include a plurality of radially extending ribs, each radially extending rib connected at a first end thereof to one of the central projections and at a second end thereof to one of the arc-shaped ribs.
6. The article of footwear of claim 5 , wherein one of the first plate and the second plate includes a plurality of radially extending channels, each channel receiving one of the radially extending ribs.
7. The article of footwear of claim 2 , wherein each second plate is connected to a pair of panels.
8. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate extend rearwardly from a midfoot portion of the sole assembly to a heel portion of the sole assembly.
9. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising an outsole secured to a lower surface of the bottom plate.
10. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly includes four support assemblies.
11. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the sole assembly includes:
a first support assembly positioned in a lateral rear portion of a heel portion of the sole assembly
a second support assembly positioned in a medial rear portion of the heel portion of the sole assembly;
a third support assembly positioned in a medial forward portion of the heel portion of the sole assembly; and
a fourth support assembly positioned in a lateral forward portion of the heel portion of the sole assembly.
12. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein each bladder has a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces.
13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the tensile member is formed from a textile material.
14. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the tensile member is formed from a textile material that includes a first wall bonded to the first surface, a second wall bonded to the second surface, and a plurality of connecting members extending between the first wall and the second wall.
15. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-filled bladder encloses a pressurized fluid.
16. The article of footwear of claim 1 , further comprising a midsole positioned between the upper and the top plate.
17. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper; and
a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
a top plate having a plurality of projections on a lower surface thereof;
a bottom plate positioned below the top plate and having a plurality of projections on an upper surface thereof;
a plurality of support assemblies extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, each support assembly comprising:
a fluid-filled bladder having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces; and
a retaining member comprising a plurality of panels spaced from one another and defining gaps therebetween, each panel being connected at a first end thereof to a first plate and at second ends thereof to one of a plurality of second plates, the retaining member surrounding the fluid-filled bladder, the first plate having a central aperture therein, each of the second plates having a recess, the recesses defining a central aperture.
18. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein each of the top plate and the bottom plate includes a central projection and plurality of arc-shaped projections disposed about the central projection, each central projection being received in one of the central apertures of the first plate and the second plate, and each arc-shaped projection being received in one of the gaps.
19. The article of footwear of claim 17 , wherein the tensile member is formed from a textile material that includes a first wall bonded to the first surface, a second wall bonded to the second surface, and a plurality of connecting members extending between the first wall and the second wall.
20. The article of footwear of claim 17 , further comprising an outsole secured to a lower surface of the bottom plate.
21. The article of footwear of claim 17 , further comprising a midsole positioned between the upper and the top plate.
22. An article of footwear comprising, in combination:
an upper;
a sole assembly secured to the upper and comprising:
a top plate having a plurality of projections on a lower surface thereof;
a bottom plate positioned below the top plate and having a plurality of projections on an upper surface thereof;
a plurality of support assemblies extending between the top plate and the bottom plate, each support assembly comprising:
a fluid-filled bladder having a first surface, an opposed second surface, and a tensile member joined to the first and second surfaces, the tensile member being formed from a textile material that includes a first wall bonded to the first surface, a second wall bonded to the second surface, and a plurality of connecting members extending between the first wall and the second wall;
a retaining member comprising a plurality of panels spaced from one another and defining gaps therebetween, each panel being connected at a first end thereof to a first plate and at second ends thereof to one of a plurality of second plates, the retaining member surrounding the fluid-filled bladder, the first plate having a central aperture therein, each of the second plates having a recess, the recesses defining a central aperture; and
an outsole secured to a lower surface of the bottom plate.
23. The article of footwear of claim 22 , further comprising a midsole positioned between the upper and the top plate.