Nike, Inc.

Derek Houng

Arick Auyang

Jason R Meeker

Jeffrey S To

Eric A Schmalzer

Geoffrey A Weston

Benjamin Nethongkome

Page J Bailey

Jeremy L Connell

Matthew Temple

Leo S Chang

Adam Wassinger

Jason G Petrie

Miaochang Zadnik

Kreig Hozalski

A cushioning article includes a bladder enclosing an interior cavity and retaining a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and includes tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The tensile layers are connected to an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the interior cavity. The bladder has an inwardly-protruding bond that joins an inner surface of the bladder to the tensile component, protrudes inward into the interior cavity, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers such that the bladder is narrowed at the inwardly protruding bond and the gas in the interior cavity fluidly communicates across the inwardly-protruding bond. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.

Articulated cushioning article with tensile component and method of manufacturing a cushioning article

An article of footwear may include a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region, the midfoot region disposed adjacent to the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear also including a medial side and a lateral side; an upper extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, wherein the upper includes a plurality of openings through which a fastener is configured to extend; a tongue extending from the forefoot region to the midfoot region; and a flap, the flap extending from the lateral side over a portion of the tongue, toward the medial side, wherein the flap includes a loop through which the fastener is configured to extend.

Article of footwear including a support flap

A strobel for an article of footwear comprises a polymeric bladder that defines an interior cavity. The polymeric bladder is configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The polymeric bladder may include a first polymeric sheet bonded to a second polymeric sheet at the peripheral flange and joined to the second polymeric sheet at a plurality of interior welds. Methods of manufacturing a strobel and manufacturing footwear are included.

Footwear strobel with bladder having grooved flange and method of manufacturing

This disclosure is directed to lace-receiving structures that may be included in articles of footwear. More specifically, in some embodiments, the articles of footwear disclosed herein include a sole structure, an upper coupled to the sole structure and forming a foot-receiving cavity therebetween, and a lace-receiving structure that extends through the upper into the foot-receiving cavity and is configured to receive an adjustment member. In some embodiments, the upper includes an aperture that is configured to permit the lace-receiving structure to extend through the upper. In some embodiments, the lace-receiving structure may include an anchor portion that extends underneath an interior surface of the upper within the foot-receiving cavity. The anchor portion may be configured to couple the lace-receiving structure to the upper.

Lace guide for articles of footwear

An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.

Footwear strobel with bladder and tensile component and method of manufacturing

An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The strobel also includes a lasting component configured to extend along the peripheral flange around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the interior cavity. The lasting component is secured to the peripheral flange. A method of manufacturing footwear that includes the strobel is disclosed.

Footwear strobel with bladder and lasting component and method of manufacturing

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.

Article of footwear with flap strap

An article of footwear includes a medial side portion, a lateral side portion, and an outsole extending from the medial side portion to the lateral side portion and configured to contact a ground surface. The outsole may include a first portion having a first traction surface configured for engaging the ground surface, the first traction surface disposed on the medial side portion and including one or more first traction elements. The outsole may further include a second portion having a second traction surface configured for engaging the ground surface, the second portion disposed on the medial side portion and extending in a superior direction from the first portion, the second traction surface including one or more second traction elements.

Outsole for an article of footwear

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a base layer and a plurality of support members. The base layer has a peripheral portion. The support members have end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the end portions. The end portions of the support members are coupled to the peripheral portion of the base layer. Each of the intermediate portions of the support members intersect with one or more other ones of the support members and is independently movable between a relaxed state and an engaged state relative to the one or more other ones of the support members.

Support members for articles of footwear

An article of footwear includes an upper having a body with a first side and a second side, and a closure system for the upper. The closure system includes a first anchoring cable loop fixed at the first side, a flap, a flap cable loop, and a lace. The flap is fixed to the second side and extends across the body to a free end at the first side. The flap has an aperture extending through the flap. A flap cable loop extends from the free end. The flap cable loop is configured to extend from the free end through the first anchoring cable loop, and from the first anchoring cable loop back to the flap and through the aperture in the flap from an inner side to an outer side of the flap. A lace extends through the looped end of the flap cable at the outer side.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Derek Houng