| US 7,562,469 B2 | ||
| Footwear with fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing structure | ||
| Frederick J. Dojan, Vancouver, Wash. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Nike, Inc., Beaverton, Oreg. (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 14, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/251,622. | ||
| Application 11/251622 is a continuation in part of application No. 10/767211, filed on Jan. 28, 2004, granted, now 7,086,179. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0137221 A1, Jun. 29, 2006 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. A43B 13/20 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 36—29 [36/35 B; 36/153] | 9 Claims |
| 1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising:
a bladder formed from at least a first sheet and a second sheet of a barrier material that enclose a pressurized fluid, the
bladder having at least a first surface and an opposite second surface;
a reinforcing structure secured to an exterior of the bladder and at least partially recessed into the barrier material;
a supplemental layer bonded to the second surface, the supplemental layer being formed from a third sheet of the barrier material;
and
an outsole secured to at least one of the second surface and the supplemental layer, wherein the second surface defines various indentations extending into an interior area of the bladder, and the supplemental
layer extends across the indentations and is absent from the interior area.
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