Patent ID: 7086180

Claim:
A sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising: a bladder formed of a barrier material that encloses a pressurized fluid, the bladder having a first surface, an apposite second surface, and a sidewall extending between the first surface and the second surface; and a reinforcing structure bonded to the bladder, the reinforcing structure including: a first portion positioned at an interface of the first surface and the sidewall, a second portion spaced from the first portion and positioned at an interface of the second surface and the sidewall, and a plurality of connecting portions extending adjacent to the sidewall and between the first portion and the second portion, the connecting portions being recessed into sidewall, wherein the sidewall has a first area that is covered by the connecting portions and a second area that is exposed to an exterior of the sole component, the first area. being less than the second area.