Patent ID: 8479412

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least one of the upper and the sole structure incorporating a chamber comprising: an outer barrier formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, the barrier having (a) a first portion that forms a first surface of the chamber and (b) a second portion that forms an opposite second surface of the chamber; a first tether element located within the interior cavity and attached to and extending from the first portion to the second portion, thereby defining a first tether element length; the first tether element including a single tether extending between a first tie piece and a second tie piece, the single tether of the first tether element being a first tether, the first tie piece being secured to the first portion of the chamber, and the second tie piece being secured to the second portion of the chamber; and a second tether element located within the interior cavity and attached to and extending from the first portion to the second portion, thereby defining a second tether element length, the first tether element length being greater than the second tether element length; the second tether element including a simile tether extending between a third tie piece and a fourth tie piece, the simile tether of the second tether element being a second tether, the third tie piece being secured to the first portion of the chamber and the fourth tie piece being secured to the second portion of the chamber; wherein the first tie piece of the first tether element is attached to the first portion of the outer barrier of the chamber independently of the third tie piece of the second tether element; wherein the second tie piece of the first tether element is attached to the second portion of the outer barrier of the chamber independently of the fourth tie piece of the second tether element.