US 12,439,997 B2
Sole structure for article of footwear
Wesley K. Chan, Portland, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/500,330.
Application 18/500,330 is a continuation of application No. 17/316,604, filed on May 10, 2021, granted, now 11,839,260.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/022,948, filed on May 11, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0057717 A1, Feb. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. A43B 13/18 (2006.01); A43B 13/20 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/189 (2013.01) [A43B 13/206 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper, the sole structure comprising:
a midsole including an upper element having a first surface opposing the upper and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the upper element than the first surface and opposing a ground-engaging surface, the upper element including a plurality of apertures formed through a thickness of the upper element of the midsole between the first surface and the second surface;
a bladder including a plurality of chambers extending from a toe end of the bladder to a heel end of the bladder, wherein the heel end of the bladder at least partially defines a portion of a rearmost surface of the sole structure, each chamber of the plurality of chambers extending from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole and being received within respective apertures of the plurality of apertures and being visible at the first surface; and
a conduit disposed within an interior region of the bladder and extending between each chamber of the plurality of chambers, the interior region circumscribed by a peripheral region defined between the interior region and an outer perimeter of each chamber of the plurality of chambers, each chamber of the plurality of chambers in fluid communication with an adjacent chamber of the plurality of chambers via a respective portion of the conduit.