Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9420849B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-02-18 00:28:13
Document Index: 647843874

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 201280017035', 'Application No. 201280015447', 'Application No. 201280015874', 'Application No. 12719521', 'Application No. 12721619', 'Application No. 12718765']

US9420849B2 - Adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear - Google Patents
US9420849B2
US9420849B2 US14/318,747 US201414318747A US9420849B2 US 9420849 B2 US9420849 B2 US 9420849B2 US 201414318747 A US201414318747 A US 201414318747A US 9420849 B2 US9420849 B2 US 9420849B2
US14/318,747
US20150026997A1 (en
2014-06-30 Application filed by Nike Inc filed Critical Nike Inc
2014-12-17 Assigned to NIKE, INC. reassignment NIKE, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SWIGART, JOHN F., GISHIFU, AMY E., LANGVIN, ELIZABETH, MOLYNEUX, JAMES, RANSOM, TY A., REYNOLDS, NICOLA J., PEYTON, LEE D.
2015-01-29 Publication of US20150026997A1 publication Critical patent/US20150026997A1/en
2016-08-23 Publication of US9420849B2 publication Critical patent/US9420849B2/en
wherein the outer bladder has a forward end and a rearward end;
at least one support structure disposed inside the interior cavity;
a valve member disposed inside the interior cavity, the valve member providing fluid communication between the interior cavity and an exterior of the outer bladder;
wherein the valve member includes:
a first surface that is forwardly oriented toward the forward end of the outer bladder and that is at a decline toward the forward end of the outer bladder,
a second surface that is rearwardly oriented toward the rearward end of the outer bladder and that faces a sidewall of the at least one support structure,
a fifth surface that is a lower surface that faces in a ground surface direction; and
wherein an internal pressure of the outer bladder can be adjusted.
3. The bladder system according to claim 2, wherein the forward end is part of a forward portion of the outer bladder;
wherein the rearward end is part of a rearward portion of the outer bladder; and
wherein the first surface of the valve member contacts an upper layer of the outer bladder and wherein the fifth surface of the valve member contacts a lower layer of the outer bladder, such that the valve member provides structural support to the forward portion of the outer bladder.
6. The bladder system according to claim 1, wherein the forward end is part of a forward portion of the outer bladder;
wherein the rearward end is part of a rearward portion of the outer bladder;
wherein the outer bladder includes a middle portion in between the forward portion and the rearward portion;
wherein the forward portion, the middle portion, and the rearward portion of the outer bladder are in fluid communication; and
wherein the valve member extends partially across a width of the middle portion of the outer bladder, leaving a remaining width of the middle portion of the outer bladder.
13. A bladder system for an article of footwear, the article of footwear having a forward forefoot portion, a rearward heel portion, and a midfoot portion in between the forward forefoot portion and the rearward heel portion, the bladder system comprising:
wherein the outer bladder has a forward end and a rearward end, wherein the forward end is part of a forward portion of the outer bladder, and wherein the rearward end is part of a rearward portion of the outer bladder;
wherein the outer bladder is substantially deformable;
wherein the outer bladder has an upper layer and a lower layer;
a valve member disposed inside the interior cavity, the valve member including a valve and a fluid passage that provides fluid communication between the valve and the interior cavity;
a contoured surface facing the forward end of the outer bladder, and
a lower surface facing the lower layer of the outer bladder;
wherein the contoured surface has a height that tapers from an upper rearward edge down to a lower forward edge;
wherein, at the forward portion of the outer bladder, the contoured surface is disposed against the upper layer of the outer bladder and the lower surface is disposed against the lower layer of the outer bladder, such that the upper layer tapers down in a direction toward the forward end to join the lower layer; and
wherein the contoured surface of the valve member provides a contoured shape for the forward portion of the outer bladder.
20. The bladder system according to claim 13, further comprising first and second inner bladders disposed inside the interior cavity in the rearward portion of the outer bladder; and
wherein the first inner bladder and the second inner bladder are stacked within the outer bladder.
21. A bladder system for an article of footwear, comprising:
wherein the outer bladder includes a first portion and a second portion;
at least one inner bladder disposed inside the interior cavity;
wherein the valve member provides a substantially constant shape for the first portion of the outer bladder; and
wherein the at least one inner bladder provides a substantially constant shape for the second portion of the outer bladder.
US14/318,747 2011-04-06 2014-06-30 Adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear Active US9420849B2 (en)
US13/081,069 Continuation US8813389B2 (en) 2011-04-06 2011-04-06 Adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear
US15/215,048 Continuation US9737113B2 (en) 2011-04-06 2016-07-20 Adjustable bladder system for an article of footwear
US20150026997A1 US20150026997A1 (en) 2015-01-29
US9420849B2 true US9420849B2 (en) 2016-08-23
EP (2) EP2693906B1 (en)
2012-03-27 EP EP17158514.4A patent/EP3195751A1/en active Pending
Amendment for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,058, filed Jun. 4, 2014.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030718, mailed Oct. 17, 2013.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030721, mailed Oct. 17, 2013.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030724, mailed Oct. 17, 2013.
International Preliminary Report on Patentability and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030726, mailed Oct. 17, 2013.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030718, mailed Oct. 26, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030721, mailed Oct. 19, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030724, mailed Oct. 22, 2012.
International Search Report and Written Opinion for Application No. PCT/US2012/030726, mailed Oct. 25, 2012.
Notice of Allowance mailed Aug. 29, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,091.
Notice of Allowance mailed Jun. 10, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,058.
Notice of Allowance mailed May 28, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,079.
Observations and Voluntary Amendments filed Mar. 31, 2014 in Chinese Application No. 201280017035.5, with English translation of the amended claims.
Observations and Voluntary Amendments filed May 16, 2014 in Chinese Application No. 201280015447.5, and English translation thereof.
Observations and Voluntary Amendments filed May 6, 2014 in Chinese Application No. 201280015874.3, and English translation thereof.
Office Action mailed Feb. 18, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,079.
Office Action mailed Mar. 20, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,058.
Office Action mailed May 23, 2014 for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,091.
Response to Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,069, filed Mar. 18, 2014.
Response to Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,079, filed May 12, 2014.
Response to Office Action for U.S. Appl. No. 13/081,091, filed Aug. 19, 2014.
Response to Written Opinion filed Apr. 28, 2014 for European Application No. 12719521.2.
Response to Written Opinion filed Apr. 28, 2014 for European Application No. 12721619.0.
Response to Written Opinion filed Apr. 8, 2014 for European Application No. 12718765.6.
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:GISHIFU, AMY E.;LANGVIN, ELIZABETH;MOLYNEUX, JAMES;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20110712 TO 20110726;REEL/FRAME:034531/0230