US 12,232,566 B2
Bladders, footwear uppers including bladders, and articles of footwear including bladders in the upper
Patrick R. Case, Portland, OR (US); Yoon Jeong Choi, Portland, OR (US); James Molyneux, Portland, OR (US); Colin Runkle, Portland, OR (US); and Bryan K. Youngs, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/076,127.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/286,763, filed on Dec. 7, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/286,793, filed on Dec. 7, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0172316 A1, Jun. 8, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 23/00 (2006.01); A43B 7/20 (2006.01); A43B 23/02 (2006.01); A43B 23/26 (2006.01); A43C 1/04 (2006.01); A43C 11/20 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 23/029 (2013.01) [A43B 7/20 (2013.01); A43B 23/26 (2013.01); A43C 1/04 (2013.01); A43C 11/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A footwear upper, comprising:
a first lateral lace-engaging component;
a first medial lace-engaging component;
a bladder including: (i) a tongue and/or instep chamber having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) a first heel and/or ankle support chamber, and (iii) a first fluid line placing the first heel and/or ankle support chamber in fluid communication with the tongue and/or instep chamber;
a lace guide extending along the first surface of the bladder and in a direction from a front edge of the bladder toward a rear edge of the bladder, wherein the lace guide extends between the first lateral lace-engaging component and the first medial lace-engaging component and defines at least a portion of a first channel; and
a lace engaging the first lateral lace-engaging component and the first medial lace-engaging component, wherein a first portion of the lace extends through the first channel and across the first surface.