Nike, Inc.

Nike International Ltd.

Nike, Inc. and Nike International Ltd.

Ross A McLaughlin

Robert Michael Lyden

Daniel R Potter

Calvin M Buck, Iv

Henry T Chriss

Steven M Vincent

Allen W Van Noy

John R Robinson

Kaia Michele Histand

Jeffrey L Johnson

Toren P Orzeck

Lawrence J Gutkowski

David L Vattes

Larry J Gutkowski

Donald M Remlinger

Dong Fong Chang

A cushioned shoe sole includes an outer sole layer for contacting the ground surface, a midsole layer disposed above the outer sole layer and being formed of a resilient elastomeric material, and a bladder composite which includes a first bladder inflated with a first fluid medium and having a perimeter area and a second bladder element formed around the first bladder element perimeter area and encasing the first bladder element. The first and second bladder elements are positioned within the midsole layer. In a method for forming a cushioning device in accordance with the present invention a first bladder is formed from an elastomeric material to include an interior cavity defined within a perimeter of the bladder. The first bladder is inflated under pressure, sealed, and a second bladder is then formed from an elastomeric material around the first inflated bladder.

Cushioning device for a footwear sole and method for making the same

An article of footwear comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa, articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by inelastic or elastic materials. The invention also is directed to chemically bonding relatively elastic to relatively inelastic materials for contemplated use in protective athletic equipment such as helmets and protective padding, and for use in prosthetic devices.

Chemical bonding of rubber to plastic in articles of footwear

An adjustment system for a shoe which permits independent adjustment of the width, footform and cushioning either between the lateral and medial sides of the shoe, or at different points along the longitudinal direction of the shoe. The present invention provides for the adjustment of the dimensions of a shoe in a plurality of discrete locations as between a nominal central point in the forefoot area of the sole and the medial and/or lateral aspects thereof. Adjustment would entail adjusting the width or girth in an associated area and the overall shape of the outline of the sole of a shoe. This is accomplished by providing a material variance in the midsole and various hardware configurations for adjusting the width of the midsole.

Article of footwear having adjustable width, footform and cushioning

A method of making an article of footwear includes the steps of constructing an upper having an inner surface material and an outer surface material which define an upper formation cavity, disposing the upper on a mold core, positioning the mold core and the upper in a base portion of a mold such that the upper formation cavity is accessible from above when the mold cavity is open, pouring a plastic foam material into the upper formation cavity of the upper, closing a top portion of the mold onto the base portion of the mold to thereby sealingly close the mold and the upper formation cavity, curing the plastic foam material within the upper formation cavity of the upper to form a molded article of footwear upper, and opening the top portion of the mold and removing the article of footwear upper. The preferred method of the present invention further includes, prior to the steps of pouring the foam and closing the top portion of the mold, positioning a preformed sole unit on the top portion of the mold, integrally joining the preformed sole unit with the molded article of footwear upper during the curing process of the foam material, and then removing the molded article of footwear from the mold.

Method of making footwear with a pourable foam

Growing community of inventors

Lake Oswego, OR, United States of America

Ross A McLaughlin