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EP-4734786-A1 - ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCLUDING A SOLE STRUCTURE

EP4734786A1EP 4734786 A1EP4734786 A1EP 4734786A1EP-4734786-A1

Abstract

A sole structure having a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side. The sole structure has an outsole layer, a first support element including first recesses, a second support element coupled to the outsole layer and including second recesses, and a cushioning element disposed between the first support element and the second support element. The cushioning element has a plurality of pockets and a central pod. A first subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the lateral side, a second subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the medial side, and a rear pocket of the plurality of pockets extends from the lateral side and the medial side. The first subset, the second subset, and the rear pocket are separated from the central pod by a web area. The plurality of pockets are at least partially enclosed by the first and second recesses.

Inventors

  • ANCERESI, GIORGIO
  • CAMPOS II, Fidencio
  • MURPHY, Roger P.

Assignees

  • NIKE Innovate C.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240626

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A sole structure having a lateral side and a medial side opposite the lateral side, the sole structure comprising: an outsole layer; a first support element including first recesses; a second support element coupled to the outsole layer and including second recesses; and a cushioning element disposed between the first support element and the second support element, the cushioning element including a plurality of pockets and a central pod, wherein a first subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the lateral side, a second subset of the plurality of pockets are disposed on the medial side, and a rear pocket of the plurality of pockets extends from the lateral side and the medial side, each of the first subset, the second subset, and the rear pocket being separated from the central pod by a web area, wherein the plurality of pockets are at least partially enclosed by the first recesses and the second recesses.
  2. 2. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the cushioning element is a fluid-filled bladder.
  3. 3. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a fluid of an interior of the cushioning element is at ambient pressure.
  4. 4. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of pockets are fluidly separated from another of the plurality of pockets.
  5. 5. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the central pod is fluidly separated from each of the plurality of pockets.
  6. 6. The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the first subset includes a front lateral pocket and a central lateral pocket.
  7. 7. The sole structure of claim 6, wherein the second subset includes a front medial pocket and a central medial pocket.
  8. 8. The sole structure of claim 7, wherein the rear pocket is disposed at a posterior most portion of the cushioning element.
  9. 9. The sole structure of claim 8, wherein the central lateral pocket is disposed between the rear pocket and the front lateral pocket.
  10. 10. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the central medial pocket is disposed between the rear pocket and the front medial pocket.
  11. 11.The sole structure of claim 10, wherein the central pod is disposed between the rear pocket, the central medial pocket, the central lateral pocket, the front medial pocket, and the front lateral pocket.
  12. 12. The sole structure of claim 8, wherein the central medial pocket includes a dimension that is larger than the front medial pocket.
  13. 13. The sole structure of claim 8, wherein the central lateral pocket includes a dimension that is larger than the front lateral pocket.
  14. 14. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the cushioning element includes a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface, the bottom surface including a plurality of channels.
  15. 15. The sole structure of claim 14, wherein the first support element is coupled to the top surface of the cushioning element and the second support element is coupled to the bottom surface of the cushioning element.

Description

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCLUDING A SOLE STRUCTURE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to Provisional U.S. Patent Application Number 63/511,406, filed June 30, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. FIELD [0002] The present disclosure relates generally to articles of footwear including sole structures and more particularly to sole structures incorporating a fluid-filled bladder. BACKGROUND [0003] This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. [0004] Articles of footwear conventionally include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may be formed from any suitable material(s) to receive, secure, and support a foot on the sole structure. The upper may cooperate with laces, straps, or other fasteners to adjust the fit of the upper around the foot. A bottom portion of the upper, proximate to a bottom surface of the foot, attaches to the sole structure. [0005] Sole structures generally include a layered arrangement extending between a ground surface and the upper. One layer of the sole structure includes an outsole that provides abrasion-resistance and traction with the ground surface. The outsole may be formed from rubber or other materials that impart durability and wear-resistance, as well as enhance traction with the ground surface. Another layer of the sole structure includes a midsole disposed between the outsole and the upper. The midsole provides cushioning for the foot and may be partially formed from a polymeric foam material that compresses resiliently under an applied load to cushion the foot by attenuating ground-reaction forces. The midsole may additionally be coupled to or alternatively incorporate a fluid-filled bladder to increase the durability of the sole structure, as well as to provide cushioning to the foot by compressing resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground-reaction forces. Sole structures may also include a comfort-enhancing insole or a sockliner located within a void proximate to the bottom portion of the upper and a strobel attached to the upper and disposed between the midsole and the insole or sockliner. [0006] Midsoles coupled to fluid-filled bladders typically include a bladder formed from two barrier layers of polymer material that are sealed or bonded together. The fluid-filled bladders are pressurized with a fluid such as air, and may incorporate tensile members within the bladder to retain the shape of the bladder when compressed resiliently under applied loads, such as during athletic movements. Generally, bladders are designed with an emphasis on balancing support for the foot and cushioning characteristics that relate to responsiveness as the bladder resiliently compresses under an applied load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected configurations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [0008] FIG. 1 is a side view of an article of footwear; [0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a sole structure of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 ; [0010] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a cushioning element of the sole structure of FIG. 2; [0011] FIG. 3B is a top view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A; [0012] FIG. 3C is a bottom view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A; [0013] FIG. 3D is a side view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A; [0014] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A, taken along line 4A-4A; [0015] FIG. 4B is another cross-sectional view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A, taken along line 4B-4B; [0016] FIG. 4C is another cross-sectional view of the cushioning element of FIG. 3A, taken along line 4C-4C; [0017] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a portion of an outsole of the sole structure of FIG. 2; [0018] FIG. 6A is a bottom perspective view of a midsole and a cushioning element of the sole structure of FIG. 2; [0019] FIG. 6B is a top perspective view of an outsole and a cushioning element of the sole structure of FIG. 2; [0020] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 ; [0021] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the sole structure of article of footwear of FIG. 1 ; [0022] FIG. 9 is a side view of the sole structure of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 ; [0023] FIG. 10 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an article of footwear; [0024] FIG. 11 a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of another article of footwear; [0025] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of an alternative embodiment of another article of footwear; [0026] FIG. 13 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of another article of footwear; and [0027] FIG. 14 is a side view of the alternative embodiment of another article of footwear of FIG. 13. [0028] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.