US-20260123715-A1 - SOLE STRUCTURE FOR ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second segment extending from the medial side in the forefoot region to a lateral side in the heel region and along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first segment and the second segment. The first barrier layer being attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.

Inventors

• Fidencio Campos, II
• Wesley K. Chan
• Zachary M. Elder
• Elizabeth Langvin
• Lee D. Peyton

Assignees

• NIKE, INC.

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20260105

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising: a heel region; a forefoot region; a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region; and a chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define (i) a first segment extending along an arcuate path within the forefoot region from a first end disposed at one of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure to a second end disposed at the other of the medial side of the sole structure and the lateral side of the sole structure and (ii) a second segment extending from one of the first end and the second end in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the sole structure.
2. 2 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second segment terminates at a location between the medial side and the lateral side.
3. 3 . The sole structure of claim 2 , wherein a distal end of the second segment tapers in a direction toward the upper.
4. 4 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second segment tapers in a direction toward the upper.
5. 5 . The sole structure of claim 1 , further comprising a third segment extending between and separated from the first segment and the second segment.
6. 6 . The sole structure of claim 5 , wherein the second segment extends from the one of the first end and the second end at the lateral side of the sole structure and the third segment extends from the medial side of the sole structure in a direction toward the lateral side of the sole structure.
7. 7 . The sole structure of claim 5 , wherein the second segment and the third segment are divergent.
8. 8 . The sole structure of claim 5 , wherein a distal end of the second segment and the other of the first end and the second end of the first segment oppose the third segment.
9. 9 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the second segment extends from the one of the first end and the second end at the lateral side of the sole structure in a direction toward the medial side of the sole structure.
10. 10 . The sole structure of claim 1 , wherein the one of the first end and the second end is disposed closer to the heel region of the sole structure than the other of the first end and the second end.
11. 11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising: a heel region; a forefoot region; a midfoot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region; and a chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define (i) a first segment extending along an anterior end of the sole structure from a first end disposed at a lateral side of the sole structure to a second end disposed at a medial side of the sole structure and (ii) a second segment extending from the first end in a direction toward the medial side of the sole structure.
12. 12 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the second segment terminates at a location between the medial side and the lateral side.
13. 13 . The sole structure of claim 12 , wherein a distal end of the second segment tapers in a direction toward the upper.
14. 14 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein a distal end of the second segment tapers in a direction toward the upper.
15. 15 . The sole structure of claim 11 , further comprising a third segment extending between and separated from the first segment and the second segment.
16. 16 . The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the third segment extends from the medial side of the sole structure in a direction toward the lateral side of the sole structure.
17. 17 . The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein the second segment and the third segment are divergent.
18. 18 . The sole structure of claim 15 , wherein a distal end of the second segment and the second end of the first segment oppose the third segment.
19. 19 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first segment extends along an arcuate path from the first end to the second end.
20. 20 . The sole structure of claim 11 , wherein the first end of the first segment is disposed closer to the heel region of the sole structure than the second end of the first segment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/643,282, filed Apr. 23, 2024, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/061,536, filed Dec. 5, 2022, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 16/771,861, filed Jun. 11, 2020, which is the national phase of PCT International Application No. PCT/US2018/065075, filed Dec. 12, 2018, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 62/598,811, filed Dec. 14, 2017, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to sole structures for articles of footwear and more particularly to sole structures incorporating a fluid-filled bladder having a plurality of segments. BACKGROUND This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. 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. 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 polymer foam material that compresses resiliently under an applied load to cushion the foot by attenuating ground-reaction forces. The midsole may additionally or alternatively incorporate a fluid-filled bladder to increase 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. Midsoles employing 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 DRAWINGS The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected configurations and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of an article of footwear in accordance with principles of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 showing an article of footwear having an upper, a midsole, and an outsole arranged in a layered configuration; FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 showing a geometry and configuration of a plurality of segments associated with a bladder of a sole structure; FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 showing segments disposed within a forefoot region of the sole structure and separated from one another by a web area; FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 showing segments disposed within a forefoot region of the sole structure and separated from one another by a web area; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3 showing segments disposed within a forefoot region of the sole structure and separated from one another by a web area; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3 showing an overmolded outsole attached to segments along a length of the sole structure; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a first chamber of a bladder having an outsole attached thereto; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second chamber of a bladder having an outsole attached thereto; and FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1, showing cushioning support vectors defined by a bladder of the sole structure. Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Example configurations will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Ex