US 12,439,998 B2
Footwear with externally-reinforced fluid-filled bladder
Zachary M. Elder, Portland, OR (US); Laura E. Flores Sandoval, Hillsboro, OR (US); Todd W. Miller, Portland, OR (US); and Lee D. Peyton, Tigard, OR (US)
Assigned to NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed by NIKE, Inc., Beaverton, OR (US)
Filed on May 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/315,371.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/488,755, filed on Mar. 6, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/340,744, filed on May 11, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0363495 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. A43B 13/20 (2006.01); A43B 13/02 (2022.01); A43D 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 13/20 (2013.01) [A43B 13/02 (2013.01); A43D 11/00 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cushioning structure comprising:
an externally-reinforced bladder comprising:
a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet, each polymeric sheet including an internal surface and an opposite external surface,
a first reinforcing layer in contact with the external surface of the first polymeric sheet, the first reinforcing layer having a greater modulus of elasticity than the first polymeric sheet; and
a second reinforcing layer in contact with the external surface of the second polymeric sheet, the second reinforcing layer having a greater modulus of elasticity than the second polymeric sheet; and
wherein the bladder includes:
one or more internal volumes in which the internal surface of the first polymeric sheet is spaced from the internal surface of the second polymeric sheet to define the internal volume between the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet;
one or more peripheral flanges in which the internal surface of the first polymeric sheet is in contact with and bonded to the internal surface of the second polymeric sheet and wherein each of the one or more peripheral flanges surround a respective one of the one or more internal volumes;
wherein each of the first polymeric sheet and second polymeric sheet includes a respective central region surrounded by the peripheral flange
wherein the first reinforcing layer comprises a first plurality of filaments or yarn strands that are in contact with the central region of the first polymeric sheet though are not directly bonded to the central region of the first polymeric sheet;
wherein the second reinforcing layer comprises a second plurality of filaments or yarn strands that are in contact with the central region of the second polymeric sheet though are not directly bonded to the central region of the second polymeric sheet;
wherein the first reinforcing layer is bonded to the first polymeric sheet only at the peripheral flange; and
wherein the second reinforcing layer is bonded to the second polymeric sheet only at the peripheral flange.