The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1997
Ross A McLaughlin, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Nike, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US);
Abstract
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.