US 12,376,642 B2
Vacuum locking for article of footwear or apparel
Jennifer L. Bishop, Portland, OR (US); Timothy P. Hopkins, Tustin, CA (US); Nicholas R. Long, Portland, OR (US); Todd W. Miller, Portland, OR (US); Austin J. Orand, Portland, OR (US); Nadia M. Panian, Beaverton, OR (US); and Aaron K. Seid, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Dec. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/068,035.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/292,295, filed on Dec. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0189907 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 7/1464 (2022.01)
CPC A43B 7/1464 (2022.01) 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A locking structure for an article, the locking structure comprising:
a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void; and
a plurality of locking elements disposed within the interior void and each attached to at least one of the first barrier element and the second barrier element, each of the locking elements including an interface surface operable to selectively engage an interface surface of another one of the locking elements.