Tethered fluid-filled chambers

摘要

An article of footwear may incorporate a chamber with an outer barrier and a tether element. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity, and tether element may be located within the interior cavity and joined to opposite sides of the barrier. Upon pressurization of the chamber, the tether element may extend across the interior cavity and be placed in tension by the outward force of a pressurized fluid within the interior cavity. The tether element may have a variety of configurations. For example, the tether element may have a diagonal orientation, or different tether elements may have different lengths. A tether element may also have plates or tie pieces secured to opposite sides of the chamber, with one or more tethers extending between. Also, the tether element may include one of more sheets that extend across the interior cavity.

主权项

1. 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; and a tether element located within the interior cavity and including a first sheet and a second sheet, the first sheet being secured to the first portion of the barrier and including a first tab portion having an integral, one-piece construction with the first sheet, the second sheet being secured to the second portion of the barrier and including a second tab portion having an integral, one-piece construction with the second sheet, the first tab portion extending away from the first sheet toward the second sheet and the second tab portion extending away from the second sheet toward the first sheet, the first tab portion and the second tab portion being joined together between the first sheet and the second sheet and placed under tension to restrict a shape of the chamber.