Nike, Inc.

Jason R Meeker

Jeremy L Connell

Derek Houng

Arick Auyang

Page J Bailey

Jeffrey S To

Geoffrey A Weston

Eric A Schmalzer

Fiona L Lesecq

Dylan S Van Atta

Carrie Lynn Davis

Gjermund Haugbro

Windra Fahmi

Darlan Zacharia

Ryan P Callahan

Benjamin Stewart

Jason G Petrie

Dervin A James

Benjamin J Monfils

Clayton Chambers

Jacob Raymond Van Daam

Paul Begyn

A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and a ground-engaging surface and including a chassis extending from an anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure, and a bladder supported within the chassis and extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end exposed at the posterior end of the sole structure, the bladder including a first curved portion in the forefoot region and a substantially flat portion at the posterior end of the sole structure.

Sole structure for article of footwear

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 has a sole structure that includes a foam midsole layer. A first forefoot cushioning component is secured to the foot-facing surface of the foam midsole layer in the forefoot region, a second forefoot cushioning component overlies the first forefoot cushioning component, and a strobel extends at least in the forefoot region and the midfoot region and over the second forefoot cushioning component. One or more of the forefoot cushioning component, the second forefoot cushioning component, and the strobel may include a bladder and a tensile component. The bladder encloses and retains a gas in an interior cavity. The tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity.

Article of footwear with stacked forefoot bladders

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

A cushioning article comprises a first and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another and enclosing an interior cavity. The polymeric sheets retain a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component disposed in the interior cavity includes a first tensile layer, a second tensile layer, and a plurality of tethers spanning the interior cavity and connecting the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer. An inwardly-protruding bond joins the first polymeric sheet to the first tensile layer, protrudes inward from the first polymeric sheet toward the second polymeric sheet, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers. The first polymeric sheet is displaced from the first tensile layer adjacent to the inwardly-protruding bond by the gas. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.

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

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 strobel, a footwear upper, and a sole plate. The strobel includes 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 a perimeter of the interior cavity from a medial side to a lateral side of the polymeric bladder at a front of the polymeric bladder. The footwear upper is secured to the peripheral flange. The sole plate has a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and a rear extent of the strobel is secured to the sole plate or to the footwear upper forward of a rear extent of the sole plate. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes securing the peripheral flange to the upper.

Article of footwear having articulating strobel with bladder and tensile component

A strobel for an article of footwear includes 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 first bond secures opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder to one another and extends transversely inward from a medial side of the peripheral flange only partway transversely across the interior cavity. A second bond is rearward of the first bond. The second bond extends transversely inward from a lateral side of the peripheral flange only partway transversely across the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. An outer edge of the tensile component extends transversely inward at and borders a perimeter of the first bond and a perimeter of the second bond.

Growing community of inventors

Hillsboro, OR, United States of America

Jason R Meeker