US 12,262,784 B2
Footwear strobel with bladder and tensile component and method of manufacturing
Arick Auyang, Portland, OR (US); Derek Houng, Portland, OR (US); Jason R. Meeker, Portland, OR (US); Eric A Schmalzer, Portland, OR (US); Jeffrey S. To, Portland, OR (US); and Geoffrey A Weston, Beaverton, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Dec. 11, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/535,074.
Application 17/541,382 is a division of application No. 16/428,010, filed on May 31, 2019, granted, now 11,219,271, issued on Jan. 11, 2022.
Application 18/535,074 is a continuation of application No. 17/541,382, filed on Dec. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,877,621.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/678,450, filed on May 31, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2024/0122298 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A43B 9/02 (2006.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01); A43B 13/20 (2006.01); A43B 13/28 (2006.01); A43B 13/39 (2006.01); A43B 13/40 (2006.01); A43D 3/02 (2006.01); B29D 35/14 (2010.01)
CPC A43B 13/20 (2013.01) [A43B 9/02 (2013.01); A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 13/28 (2013.01); A43B 13/39 (2013.01); A43B 13/40 (2013.01); A43D 3/022 (2013.01); B29D 35/142 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An article of footwear comprising:
a strobel including:
a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity, the polymeric bladder having a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity; and
a tensile component disposed in the interior cavity and secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder;
wherein:
the peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange;
the polymeric bladder includes a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet;
the first polymeric sheet is bonded to the second polymeric sheet at the peripheral flange;
the tensile component includes a first tensile layer, a second tensile layer, and a plurality of tethers spanning the interior cavity from the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer and connecting the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer;
the first polymeric sheet is joined to the first tensile layer at a plurality of inwardly-protruding bonds that protrude inward from the first polymeric sheet only partially across the plurality of tethers toward the second polymeric sheet, and the polymeric bladder is narrowed at the inwardly-protruding bonds;
the inwardly-protruding bonds include two inwardly-protruding bonds extending transversely along an outer surface of the first polymeric sheet in a forefoot region of the strobel from a medial side of the strobel to a lateral side of the strobel;
the peripheral flange has a first weld and a second weld spaced apart from the first weld;
the first weld and the second weld extend lengthwise along the peripheral flange, and the groove extends lengthwise along the peripheral flange between the first weld and the second weld;
the first weld is inward of the groove; and
the second weld is outward of the groove.