Patent ID: 9526299
Filing Date: 2016-12-27
CPC Classification: A43B

Claim Text:
1. A bladder system for an article of footwear, comprising: a lower layer having an outer first surface and an inner second surface opposite to the outer first surface; an upper layer having an outer third surface and inner fourth surface opposite to the outer third surface; a valve member including a housing, a valve, an outlet port, and a fluid passage; wherein the fluid passage provides fluid communication between the valve and the outlet port; wherein the housing has an upper edge, a lower edge, and an inclined surface extending from the lower edge to the upper edge; wherein the outlet port of the housing is disposed at the inclined surface; wherein an inclined portion of the lower layer is bonded, at the outer first surface of the lower layer, to the inclined surface of the housing of the valve member; wherein the inclined portion of the lower layer defines an opening aligned with the outlet port disposed at the inclined surface of the housing; wherein the inner fourth surface of the upper layer is attached to the inner second surface of the lower layer so as to define a bladder having an interior cavity; wherein the valve is configured to receive fluid from external to the valve member; and wherein the valve is in fluid communication with the interior cavity through the fluid passage, the outlet port, and the opening in the lower layer.