Patent ID: 8572867

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising: a chamber enclosing a fluid, at least a portion of the chamber being formed from a first polymer material; and a reinforcing element having: a first layer having a first thickness, the first layer being at least partially formed from the first polymer material and bonded to the chamber, a second layer having a second thickness, the second layer being at least partially formed from a second polymer material different than the first polymer material and having a greater stiffness than the first polymer material, and a plurality of apertures, each aperture extending through the first layer and the second layer to extend through the reinforcing element, wherein a portion of the chamber extends into the apertures, each of the second layer of the reinforcing element and the portion of the chamber forming a portion of an exterior surface of the sole structure, and wherein a ratio of the first thickness to the second thickness at any two positions along the reinforcing element is substantially the same.