Nike, Inc.

Yoon Jeong Choi

Patrick Case

James Molyneux

Tory Michael Cross

Christian Alexander Steinbeck

Bryan K Youngs

Colin M Runkle

James Zormeir

Thomas G Bell

Robert M Bruce

Dervin A James

James Y Yoo

Yuchung K Chen

John S MacGilbert

Megan Foley

Adam R Farmer

Oliver Mclachian

Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Bladders, footwear uppers including bladders, and articles of footwear including bladders in the upper

Footwear upper components include a fabric element and a bladder component that defines a sealed interior chamber. The bladder component includes: (a) a first major surface engaged with the fabric element, wherein this first major surface defines at least part of a first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a first surface of the sealed interior chamber, (b) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein this second major surface defines at least part of a second perimeter seam surface opposite the first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a second surface of the sealed interior chamber opposite the sealed interior chamber's first surface, and (c) and a fluid chamber between the first and second major surfaces. The first major surface (and optionally the second major surface) may include texturing, e.g., texturing corresponding to texture present on a surface of the fabric element.

Footwear uppers including bladders, articles of footwear including bladders in the upper, and methods of forming such uppers and/or articles of footwear

Shoe

A sole structure for an article of footwear is described. In one example, the sole structure includes first and second foam components and one or more mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component. The first foam component includes first and second opposing sides, and the second foam component includes first and second opposing sides. The first and second foam components form a stack in the sole structure. The mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component, are positioned in the stack between and bonded to the second side of the first foam component and the first side of the second foam component. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Midsole structure of an article of footwear including mesh

A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes a first midsole portion, a second midsole portion, and a sheet. The first midsole portion includes a first sidewall. The second midsole portion includes a second sidewall. The sheet is disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and extends from the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The sheet extends at least partially over the second sidewall.

Sole structure of an article of footwear and related methods

A sole structure of an article of footwear is provided and includes a first midsole portion including a first sidewall and a second midsole portion including a second sidewall. The sole structure also includes a first sheet disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and including a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first sheet than the first surface. The first sheet includes one or more apertures extending through the first sheet from the first surface to the second surface. The first midsole portion and the second midsole portion are operably connected through the one or more apertures of the first sheet.

Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components and articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. The bladders may include first and second thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together by an outer perimeter bond. An interior chamber is defined between the thermoplastic elastomer sheets and inside the outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and at least one of items (ii) and (iii) below, in which: item (ii) comprises a first side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first securing strap or a first footwear upper component), and item (iii) comprises a second side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first strap-engaging member or a second footwear upper component).

Bladders and footwear incorporating bladders in the foot supports and uppers

Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base having an instep region; one or more lace-engaging components located at a first side of the instep region; and one or more lace-engaging components located at a second side of the instep region. A bladder at the instep region includes: (i) a tongue and/or instep chamber, (ii) a first sealed seam region extending along a first side edge of the bladder, and (iii) a second sealed seam region extending along a second side edge of the bladder. The tongue and/or instep chamber extends between the sealed seam regions. A lace may apply a force to the tongue and/or instep chamber of the bladder. This force may move fluid from the tongue and/or instep chamber to a heel and/or ankle support chamber of the bladder. The lace may extend through a lace-engaging opening provided in a seam of the bladder.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Yoon Jeong Choi