ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A BLADDER WITH ANGLED TETHERS

Abstract

An article of footwear that includes a sole structure that has a ground contact surface extending in a forefoot region and in a heel region of the sole structure. The sole structure includes a bladder defining a fluid-filled interior cavity with a tensile component disposed in the fluid-filled interior cavity and including tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with the ground contact surface in both the forefoot region and in the heel region of the sole structure on a horizontal ground plane with the bladder disposed above the ground contact surface and with the tethers extending in tension at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure having a ground contact surface extending in both a forefoot region and in a heel region of the sole structure; the sole structure including: a bladder defining a fluid-filled interior cavity; and a tensile component disposed in the fluid-filled interior cavity and including tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers, the tensile layers connected to opposing sides of an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the fluid-filled interior cavity; wherein the sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with a ground contact surface in both the forefoot region and in the heel region of the sole structure on a horizontal ground plane with the bladder disposed above the ground contact surface and the bladder tilted relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane with the tethers extending in tension at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tethers extend at least partially forward in a direction from a lower extent of the tethers to an upper extent of the tethers.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein: the bladder includes a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another at a peripheral seam to define the fluid-filled interior cavity; the peripheral seam extends around a side periphery of the bladder; and an upper extent of the tethers is nearer to an inner surface of the first polymeric sheet and a lower extent of the tethers is nearer to an inner surface of the second polymeric sheet than to the first polymeric sheet.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the peripheral seam is centered along the side periphery of the bladder.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bladder declines continuously in a forward direction of the sole structure from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bladder is disposed in the heel region of the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the sole structure further includes a foam midsole disposed between the ground contact surface and the bladder.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein: a surface of the foam midsole slopes downward in a direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region; and the bladder overlies the surface of the foam midsole.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein: the foam midsole includes a first foam midsole layer and a second foam midsole layer; the surface of the foam midsole is a surface of the first foam midsole layer; the second midsole foam layer has a surface overlying an upper surface of the bladder; and the surface of the second foam midsole layer slopes downward in the direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the foam midsole defines a pocket with the bladder disposed in the pocket.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the bladder is exposed at one or both of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the bladder is exposed at a rear of the sole structure.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the bladder is disposed in the sole structure with a lowest extent of a rear of the bladder further displaced from the horizontal ground plane than a highest extent of a front of the bladder.

16. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein: the tethers are disposed in rows; and the rows extend in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal midline of the sole structure.

17. An article of footwear comprising: a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity; a sole structure secured to the footwear upper and having a ground contact surface configured to rest on a horizontal ground plane such that a foot inserted into the foot-receiving cavity rests on the sole structure over the ground contact surface; and wherein the sole structure includes a bladder tilted downward from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder and defining a fluid-filled interior cavity including tethers spanning in tension in the fluid-filled interior cavity in a direction from a bottom of the bladder to a top of the bladder at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with the ground contact surface of the sole structure in both a forefoot region and a heel region of the sole structure on the horizontal ground plane with the tethers extending at least partially forward in a direction from a lower extent of the tethers to an upper extent of the tethers.

19. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

20. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the sole structure includes a midsole defining a pocket and the bladder is disposed in the pocket.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, are schematic in nature, and are intended to be exemplary rather than to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0005] FIG. 1 is a medial side view of an article of footwear having a sole structure including a fluid-filled bladder.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the article of footwear.

[0007] FIG. 3 is a top view of the fluid-filled bladder of FIG. 1.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a medial perspective view of the fluid-filled bladder of FIG. 3.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fluid-filled bladder of FIG. 3 taken at lines 5-5 in FIG. 3 shown resting on a horizontal ground plane and before installing in a sole structure.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bladder of FIG. 5 in a loaded state showing a compressive force.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 taken at lines 7-7 in FIG. 2.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the article of footwear of FIG. 8 in a loaded state showing a compressive force.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the article of footwear of FIG. 7 showing a direction of energy return upon removal of the compressive force.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a medial side view of an article of footwear having another example of a sole structure.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a midsole included in the article of footwear of FIG. 10.

[0016] FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the midsole included in the article of footwear of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION

[0017] The present disclosure generally relates to an article of footwear that includes a sole structure. The sole structure has a ground contact surface extending in both a forefoot region and in a heel region of the sole structure. The sole structure includes a bladder defining a fluid-filled interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the fluid-filled interior cavity and includes tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The tensile layers are connected to opposing sides of an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the fluid-filled interior cavity. The sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with a ground contact surface in both the forefoot region and in the heel region of the sole structure on a horizontal ground plane with the bladder disposed above the ground contact surface and the bladder tilted relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane with the tethers extending in tension at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0018] In such an example, the bladder may provide directed energy return. More specifically, with the bladder tilted such that the tethers are disposed at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane rather than, for example, disposed orthogonal to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane, upon decompression of the bladder, the tethers will return from a slackened state to the tensioned state and may direct at least some of the return energy in a direction along the longitudinal axes of the tethers. This may include an energy return force having at least a component directed in a forward direction of the sole structure, for example. By configuring the sole structure such that the bladder is positioned to establish the acute angle of the tethers, the energy return may thus supplement the effort of the wearer, such as by providing energy return at least partially in a forward direction.

[0019] In an example, the tethers may extend at least partially forward in a direction from a lower extent of the tethers to an upper extent of the tethers. Stated differently, the tethers may be angled at least partially forward.

[0020] In an implementation, the tethers may be disposed in rows, and the rows may extend in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal midline of the sole structure.

[0021] In an implementation, the bladder may include a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another at a peripheral seam to define the fluid-filled interior cavity. The peripheral seam may extend around a side periphery of the bladder. An upper extent of the tethers may be nearer to an inner surface of the first polymeric sheet than to the second polymeric sheet, and a lower extent of the tethers may be nearer to an inner surface of the second polymeric sheet than to the first polymeric sheet.

[0022] In an implementation, the peripheral seam may be centered along the side periphery of the bladder. In the same implementation or in a different implementation, the bladder may decline continuously in a forward direction of the sole structure from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder when the bladder is assembled in the sole structure and the article of footwear is placed in the upright position on the horizontal ground plane. The peripheral seam may be a guide for proper assembly of the bladder. For example, if the peripheral seam is generally perpendicular to the tethers, then the angle of the peripheral seam relative to the horizontal ground plane may be complementary to the acute angle of the tethers relative to ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane.

[0023] In an example, the bladder may be disposed in the heel region of the sole structure. In other examples, the bladder may be disposed in one or more other regions of the sole structure, such as in the forefoot region and/or in the midfoot region.

[0024] In an implementation, the bladder may be exposed at an exterior of the sole structure. With the bladder exposed, proper positioning of the bladder during manufacturing of the article of footwear may be ensured, as it will be easily visible whether the bladder is tilted and whether the tethers extend at the desired acute angle to the ground contact surface. In an example, the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure. The bladder may be exposed at one or both of a medial side of the sole structure and/or at a rear of the sole structure.

[0025] In an example, the sole structure may further include a foam midsole disposed between the ground contact surface and the bladder. In an implementation, a surface of the foam midsole may slope downward in a direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region. The bladder may overlie the surface of the foam midsole. Stated differently, the surface of the foam midsole helps to ensure installation of the bladder with the tethers at the desired acute angle relative to the ground contact surface. Additionally, because return forces of the decompressing bladder will be directed onto the surface of the foam midsole, the slope of the surface may further help to direct at least a portion of the return force in a forward direction.

[0026] In an example, the foam midsole may include a first foam midsole layer and a second foam midsole layer. The second foam midsole layer may have a surface overlying an upper surface of the bladder. The surface of the second foam midsole layer may slope downward in the direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region. Thus, the surface of the second foam midsole layer helps to ensure installation of the bladder with the tethers at the desired acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and, because return forces of the decompressing bladder will be directed onto the surface of the second midsole layer, the slope of the surface may further help to direct at least a portion of the return force in a forward direction.

[0027] In an implementation, the midsole may define a pocket and the bladder may be disposed in the pocket. For example, the first foam midsole layer and the second foam midsole layer may define a pocket when assembled, or the pocket may be defined by a foam midsole a unitary midsole component. Stated differently, the midsole may be a one-piece midsole, such as a midsole integrally molded as a monolithic structure. In an aspect, the midsole may define a channel at a front end of the pocket configured for receiving a flange of the bladder.

[0028] In an example, the bladder may be disposed in the sole structure with a lowest extent of a rear of the bladder further displaced from the horizontal ground plane than a highest extent of a front of the bladder. For example, the midsole and any other components of the sole structure underlying the bladder, such as an outsole, may be shaped to support the lowest extent of the rear of the bladder higher than a highest extent of the front of the bladder.

[0029] In an example, an article of footwear may include a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity and a sole structure. The sole structure may be secured to the footwear upper and have a ground contact surface configured to rest on a horizontal ground plane such that a foot inserted into the foot-receiving cavity rests on the sole structure with the sole structure over the ground contact surface. The sole structure may include a bladder tilted downward from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder and defining a fluid-filled interior cavity including tethers spanning in tension in the fluid-filled interior cavity in a direction from a bottom of the bladder to a top of the bladder at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0030] A method of manufacturing the article of footwear described herein may include placing the bladder in the sole structure so that the tethers extend in tension at the acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of the threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0031] Additionally, the method may include placing the bladder in a pocket defined by the midsole. Still further, the method may include inserting a flange of the bladder into a channel defined by the midsole at the front of the pocket.

[0032] The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that even though in the following the embodiments may be separately described, single features thereof may be combined in additional embodiments.

[0033] Referring to the drawings, wherein like numbers refer to like components, FIG. 1 shows an article of footwear 10 that includes a sole structure 12 having a bladder 14. A tensile component 16 is situated in a fluid-filled interior cavity 66 of the bladder 14. The tensile component 16 has tethers 72 spanning in tension across the fluid-filled interior cavity 66 in the absence of at least a threshold compressive force on the bladder 14. The bladder 14 is tilted relative to the ground contact surface 34 of the sole structure 12 and relative to the horizontal ground plane P such that the tethers 72 are situated at an acute angle A1 relative to the ground contact surface 34 of the article of footwear 10 and relative to the horizontal ground plane P. This may provide directed energy return (e.g., energy return in a direction at the angle A1) as discussed herein.

[0034] The article of footwear 10 includes a footwear upper 18 secured to the sole structure 12. The sole structure 12 may be secured to a lower extent of the footwear upper 18. The footwear upper 18 forms a foot-receiving cavity 20 configured to receive a foot (not shown). When the foot is positioned within the foot-receiving cavity 20 with the article of footwear 10 in the upright position shown resting on a horizontal ground plane P, the foot is supported on a foot-receiving surface 22 of the sole structure 12 (indicated in FIG. 7).

[0035] The article of footwear 10 illustrated herein is depicted as athletic footwear configured for sports but is not limited to such. The features of the article of footwear 10 may also be used in other types of footwear, such as in an article of footwear that is a leisure shoe, a dress shoe, a work shoe, a sandal, a slipper, a boot, or any other category of footwear.

[0036] The article of footwear 10 may be divided into a forefoot region 24, a midfoot region 26, and a heel region 28 which are also the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, respectively, of the sole structure 12 and the footwear upper 18. The forefoot region 24 generally includes portions of the article of footwear 10 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. The midfoot region 26 generally includes portions of the article of footwear 10 corresponding with the arch area and instep of the foot. The heel region 28 generally corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone. The forefoot region 24, the midfoot region 26, and the heel region 28 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of the article of footwear 10, but are instead intended to represent general areas of the article of footwear 10 to aid in the following discussion.

[0037] In the examples shown, the bladder 14 is disposed in the heel region 28 of the sole structure 12. In other examples, the bladder 14 may be disposed in one or more other regions of the sole structure 12, such as in the forefoot region 24 and/or in the midfoot region 26.

[0038] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the sole structure 12 includes a foam midsole 30 and an outsole 32, and may include other components and layers, such as an insole. For example, an insole, a sockliner, and/or a strobel (not shown) may overlie the foot-receiving surface 22 of the foam midsole 30 and be disposed between the foot of the wearer and the foam midsole 30. The foot-receiving surface 22 is shaped to generally cup the shape of the sole of the foot. For example, the foot-receiving surface 22 may be concave at a transverse cross-section. Additionally, or in the alternative, the material of an insole, such as a foam insole and/or a strobel overlying the foot-receiving surface 22 could be shaped to provide additional geometry between the sole of the wearers foot and the foot-receiving surface 22 to conform to the sole. The sole structure 12 may incorporate additional fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot.

[0039] The foam midsole 30 may be a single, one-piece midsole, such as foam midsole 130 shown in FIGS. 10-12, that is a unitary, one-piece foam midsole that splits into two portions above and below the bladder 14. Alternatively, a foam midsole within the scope of the disclosure could be multiple components, such as multiple foam layers, integrated as a unit. In some embodiments, a foam midsole 30 may be integrated with an outsole as a unisole. In the example shown, the foam midsole 30 includes a first foam midsole layer 30A and a second foam midsole layer 30B each extending in the forefoot region, 24, the midfoot region 26, and the heel region 28. The first foam midsole layer 30A underlies the second foam midsole layer 30B in the forefoot region 24 and the midfoot region 26, and underlies the bladder 14 in the heel region 28, with the second foam midsole layer 30B overlying the bladder 14 in the heel region 28. The first and second foam midsole layers 30A and 30B may have different properties, such as different stiffnesses.

[0040] The foam midsole 30 may be formed from a compressible polymer foam element (e.g., a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate foam) that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. The foam midsole 30 may include a foamed polymeric material and may be at least partially a polyurethane (PU) foam, a polyurethane ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, and may include heat-expanded and molded EVA foam pellets. The foamed polymeric material may include one or more polymers. The one or more polymers may include an elastomer, including a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The one or more polymers may include aliphatic polymers, aromatic polymers, or mixture of both. In one example, the one or more polymers may include homopolymers, copolymers (including terpolymers), or mixtures of both. The copolymers may be random copolymers, block copolymers, alternating copolymers, periodic copolymers, or graft copolymers, for instance. The one or more polymers may include olefinic homopolymers or copolymers or a mixture of olefinic homopolymers and copolymers. Examples of olefinic polymers include polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). For example, the PE may be a PE homopolymer such as a low density PE or a high density PE, a low molecular weight PE or an ultra-high molecular weight PE, a linear PE or a branched chain PE, etc. The PE may be an ethylene copolymer such as, for example, an ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer, an ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) copolymer, an ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, an ethylene-unsaturated mono-fatty acid copolymer, etc. The one or more polymers may include a polyacrylate such as a polyacrylic acid, an ester of a polyacrylic acid, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyacrylic acetate, a polymethyl acrylate, a polyethyl acrylate, a polybutyl acrylate, a polymethyl methacrylate, a polyvinyl acetate, etc., including derivatives thereof, copolymers thereof, and any mixture thereof, in one example. The one or more polymers may include an ionomeric polymer. The ionomeric polymer may be a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative of a polycarboxylic acid, for instance. The ionomeric polymer may be a sodium salt, a magnesium salt, a potassium salt, or a salt of another metallic ion. The ionomeric polymer may be a fatty acid modified ionomeric polymer. Examples of ionomeric polymers include polystyrene sulfonate, and ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers. The one or more polymers may include a polycarbonate. The one or more polymers may include a fluoropolymer. The one or more polymers may include a polysiloxane. The one or more polymers may include a vinyl polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. The one or more polymers may include a polystyrene. The polystyrene may be a styrene copolymer such as, for example, an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), a styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS), a styrene ethylene propylene styrene (SEPS), a styrene butadiene styrene (SBS), etc. The one or more polymers may include a polyamide (PA). The PA may be a PA 6, PA 66, PA 11, or a copolymer thereof. The polyester may be an aliphatic polyester homopolymer or copolymer such as polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, polyhydroxybutyrate, and the like. The polyester may be a semi-aromatic copolymer such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The one or more polymers may include a polyether such as a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol, including copolymers thereof. The one or more polymers may include a polyurethane, including an aromatic polyurethane derived from an aromatic isocyanate such as diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) or toluene diisocyanate (TDI), or an aliphatic polyurethane derived from an aliphatic isocyanate such as hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) or isophone diisocyanate (IPDI), or a mixture of both an aromatic polyurethane and an aliphatic polyurethane.

[0041] The foamed polymeric material may be a chemically foamed polymeric material, which is foamed using a chemical blowing agent that forms a gas when heated. For example, the chemical blowing agent can be an azo compound such as adodicarbonamide, sodium bicarbonate, or an isocyanate. Alternatively or additionally, the foamed polymeric material may be a physically foamed polymeric material, which is foamed using a physical blowing agent which changes phase from a liquid or a supercritical fluid to a gas due to changes in temperature and/or pressure. In addition to the one or more polymers, the polymeric material may further include one or more fillers such as glass fiber, powdered glass, modified or natural silica, calcium carbonate, mica, paper, wood chips, modified or natural clays, modified or unmodified synthetic clays, talc, etc. Similarly, the polymeric material optionally may further include one or more colorants, such as pigments or dyes. Other components of the polymeric material may include processing aids, ultra-violet light absorbers, and the like.

[0042] The foamed polymeric material may be a crosslinked foamed polymeric material, i.e., a foamed material in which covalent crosslinking bonds exist between at least a portion of the one or more polymers. A crosslinked foamed polymeric material can be formed by including a crosslinking agent in the polymeric material used to form the foam. The crosslinking agent can be a peroxide-based crosslinking agent such as dicumyl peroxide. Alternatively, the foamed polymeric material can be an uncrosslinked foamed polymeric material which has thermoplastic properties. The foamed polymeric material may be an elastomeric foamed material.

[0043] The outsole 32 establishes a ground contact surface 34 of the sole structure 12 and of the article of footwear 10 when the article of footwear 10 is in the upright position shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, the ground contact surface 34 extends in both the forefoot region 24 and in the heel region 28 of the sole structure 12. When the article of footwear 10 is in the upright position, the sole structure 12 is disposed between the horizontal ground plane P and the footwear upper 18 with the ground contact surface 34 of the article of footwear 10 resting on the horizontal ground plane P in both the forefoot region 24 and the heel region 28 such that a foot inserted into the foot-receiving cavity 20 rests on the sole structure 12 over the ground contact surface 34 with the sole structure 12 between the foot and the horizontal ground plane P.

[0044] The outsole 32 may be formed from materials that may generally include natural or synthetic rubber or other suitably durable materials. The material or materials for the outsole 32 may be selected to provide a desirable combination of durability and flexibility. Example synthetic rubbers that may be used include polybutadiene rubber, ethylene propylene rubber (EPR), styrene isoprene styrene (SIS) copolymer rubber, and styrene butadiene rubber.

[0045] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate that the bladder 14 is exposed at an exterior 40 of the sole structure 12. The bladder 14 is exposed at the exterior 40 at the medial side 42 of the sole structure 12, at the lateral side 44 of the sole structure 12 and at the rear 46 of the sole structure 12. The medial side 42 (shown in FIG. 1) and the lateral side 44 (indicated in FIG. 2) of the sole structure 12 are also the medial side and the lateral side of the article of footwear 10 and other components thereof, such as the footwear upper 18 and the bladder 14. The medial side 42 and the lateral side 44 extend through each of the forefoot region 24, the midfoot region 26, and the heel region 28, and correspond with opposite sides of the article of footwear 10, each falling on an opposite side of a longitudinal midline LM of the article of footwear 10, indicated in FIG. 2 and along which the cross-section of FIG. 7 is taken. The medial side 42 is thus considered opposite to the lateral side 44. The exposed portion of the bladder 14 at the lateral side 44 may be a mirror image of the exposed portion along the medial side on FIG. 1.

[0046] With the bladder 14 exposed at the exterior 40 as described, proper positioning of the bladder 14 during manufacturing of the article of footwear 10 may be readily ensured, at least in examples in which the polymeric sheets 60, 62 that form the bladder 14 are at least partially transparent or translucent. In such implementations, it may be easily visible whether the bladder 14 is tilted relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P, and whether the tethers 72 described herein extend at the desired acute angle A1 relative to the horizontal ground plane P.

[0047] With reference to FIGS. 3-5, the bladder 14 includes a first polymeric sheet 60 and a second polymeric sheet 62 bonded to one another at a peripheral seam 64 to define and enclose a fluid-filled interior cavity 66. The peripheral seam 64 creates a flange 65 of the bladder 14 and extends around a side periphery 67 of the bladder 14. The side periphery 67 extends around and includes the medial side 42, the lateral side 44, a front 45, and a rear 47 of the bladder 14. When the polymeric sheets 60, 62 are bonded together at the peripheral seam 64 and any inflation port is sealed (see the location of inflation port 69 of FIG. 3 after sealing), the first polymeric sheet 60 and the second polymeric sheet 62 retain a fluid in the fluid-filled interior cavity 66. As used herein, a fluid filling the interior cavity 66 may be a gas, such as air, nitrogen, another gas, or a combination thereof.

[0048] The first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 can be a variety of polymeric materials that can resiliently retain a fluid such as nitrogen, air, or another gas. Examples of polymeric materials for the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 include thermoplastic elastomers, such as elastomers derived from thermoplastic polyurethanes, thermoplastic polyamides, thermoplastic polyolefins, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the elastomeric materials of the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 each comprise one or more thermoplastic polyurethane materials.

[0049] Furthermore, each of the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 may be formed from multi-layer films of one or more thermoplastic elastomer layers interlaced with one or more gas-barrier layers. For instance, each of the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 may include alternating layers of one or more thermoplastic polyurethanes and one or more copolymers of ethylene and vinyl alcohol (EVOH), such as a flexible microlayer membrane as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,082,025 and 6,127,026 to Bonk et al. which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Alternatively, the layers may include one or more ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymers, one or more thermoplastic polyurethanes, and a regrind material of the ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer(s) and thermoplastic polyurethane(s). Additional suitable materials for the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,183,156 and 4,219,945 to Rudy which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. Further suitable materials for the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 include thermoplastic films containing a crystalline material, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,936,029 and 5,042,176 to Rudy, and polyurethane including a polyester polyol, as disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,013,340, 6,203,868, and 6,321,465 to Bonk et al. which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. In selecting materials for the bladder 14, engineering properties such as tensile strength, stretch properties, fatigue characteristics, dynamic modulus, and loss tangent can be considered. For example, the thicknesses of the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 used to form the polymeric bladder 14 can be selected to provide these characteristics.

[0050] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 function as gas barriers for retaining one or more gases within the bladder 14, where the gas transmission rate of the polymeric sheets 60, 62, such as an oxygen gas or nitrogen gas transmission rate, can be measured using ASTM D1434-23. Examples of oxygen gas and/or nitrogen gas transmission rates for the polymeric sheets 60, 62 (and the bladder 14) (as measured using ASTM D1434-23) include rates of less than or equal to about 4 cubic centimeters per square meter of the polymeric sheets 60, 62 per day, and less than or equal to about 3 cubic centimeters per square meter of the polymeric sheets 60, 62 per day.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, the tensile component 16 is disposed in the fluid-filled interior cavity 66 and includes tensile layers 68 and 70, and a plurality of tethers 72 connecting the tensile layers 68 and 70. The tensile layers 68 and 70 are connected to opposing sides of an inner surface of the bladder 14 such that the tethers 72 span in tension across the fluid-filled interior cavity 66. More specifically, the tensile layer 68 is connected to an inner surface 74A of the first polymeric sheet 60 and the tensile layer 70 is connected to an inner surface 74B of the second polymeric sheet 62. The inner surfaces 74A and 74B together establish the inner surface of the bladder 14. An upper extent 72A of the tethers 72 is nearer to the inner surface 74A of the first polymeric sheet 60 than to the second polymeric sheet 62, and a lower extent 72B of the tethers 72 is nearer to the inner surface 74B of the second polymeric sheet 62 than to the first polymeric sheet 60. Only some of the tethers 72 are indicated with reference numbers in FIG. 5. The tethers 72 may also be referred to as fabric tensile members or threads and may be in the form of drop threads that connect the first tensile layer 68 and the second tensile layer 70. The tensile component 16 may be formed as a unitary, one-piece textile element having a spacer-knit textile.

[0052] As shown, the tethers 72 are arranged in rows, each row including a grouping of three tethers in a fore-aft direction, as best shown in FIG. 5, and each row extending in a transverse direction within the fluid-filled interior cavity 66 from the medial side 42 to the lateral side 44 of the tensile layers 68, 70 and perpendicular to the longitudinal midline LM of the sole structure 12, as best shown by the rearmost row indicated in in FIG. 2.

[0053] The peripheral seam 64 and the flange 65 created at the peripheral seam 64 are centered along the side periphery 67 of the bladder 14, as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, for example, where the peripheral seam 64 is centered at the medial side 42 and at the lateral side 44 of the side periphery 67 of the bladder 14. In the same implementation or in a different implementation, because the bladder 14 is tilted downward from a rear 47 of the bladder 14 to a front 45 of the bladder 14, the peripheral seam 64 and flange 65 may decline continuously in a forward direction when the bladder 14 is assembled in the sole structure 12 and the article of footwear 10 is placed in the upright position on the horizontal ground plane P, as best shown in FIG. 1. The peripheral seam 64 and flange 65 may be a guide for proper assembly of the bladder 14. For example, if the peripheral seam 64 and flange 65 are generally perpendicular to the tethers 72, then the angle of the peripheral seam 64 and flange 65 relative to the horizontal ground plane P may be complementary to the angle A1 of the tethers 72 relative to the horizontal ground plane P.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows the bladder 14 at a cross-section taken along the longitudinal midline LM but not in a position tilted relative to the horizontal ground plane such that the tethers do not extend in tension at the acute angle A1 relative to the horizontal ground plane P as they do when the bladder 14 is incorporated into the sole structure 12 of FIG. 1 and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Instead, the tethers 72 are shown at an angle A2 relative to the horizontal ground plane P in FIG. 5. The angle A2 is a right angle rather than an acute angle like angle A1. A lower surface 79 of the second polymeric sheet 62 is shown resting on the horizontal ground plane P. The tethers 72 are shown disposed in rows R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11, R12, R13, and R14, each row including a grouping of three tethers (e.g., three tethers thick in the fore-aft direction in each row). The rows R1 to R14 extend in a transverse direction (e.g., into the page in FIG. 5) that is perpendicular to the longitudinal midline LM of the sole structure 12.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 5, the tethers 72 extending in tension at the right angle A2 angle relative to the horizontal ground plane P in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder 14. However, when subjected to a compressive force F1 on an upper surface 80 of the first polymeric sheet 60 (and reaction force F2 on the lower surface 79 of the second polymeric sheet 62 ) of at least a predetermined threshold magnitude, the tethers 72 slacken, and the bladder 14 is compressed, with the first and second polymeric sheets 60, 62 moving closer to one another (e.g., the upper surface 80 moving closer to the lower surface 79). The upper surface 80 may also be referred to herein as the top of the bladder 14, and the lower surface 79 may be referred to as the bottom of the bladder 14. When the compressive force F1 is subsequently removed, the fluid in the fluid-filled interior cavity 66 forces the polymeric sheets 60, 62 back to the positions shown in FIG. 5, with the tethers 72 once again being placed in tension. In transitioning from the compressed state of FIG. 6 back to the uncompressed or relatively unloaded state of FIG. 5, the tethers 72 will straighten in a vertical direction and the polymeric sheet 60 may move straight upward, such that any release force directed on a foot resting on the upper surface 80 of the first polymeric sheet 60 would be straight upward in FIG. 5.

[0056] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate some of the advantages of the sole structure 12 with the bladder 14 arranged tilted relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P such that the tethers 72 are at the acute angle A1 relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P. More specifically, FIG. 7 shows the sole structure 12 resting in the upright position also shown in FIG. 1, with the ground contact surface 34 on the horizontal ground plane P in both the forefoot region 24 (see FIG. 1) and in the heel region 28 of the sole structure 12 with the bladder 14 disposed above the ground contact surface 34 and with the tethers 72 extending in tension at the acute angle A1 relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P in the absence of at least a threshold compressive force on the bladder 14.

[0057] The foam midsole 30 (and more specifically, the first foam midsole layer 30A) is disposed between the ground contact surface 34 and the bladder 14. A surface 84 of the first foam midsole layer 30A slopes downward in a direction from the heel region 28 toward the forefoot region 24 (e.g., from right to left in FIG. 8). The bladder 14 overlies the surface 84 of the first foam midsole layer 30A with the lower surface 79 of the bladder 14 (e.g., the lower surface 79 of the second polymeric sheet 62) resting on the surface 84. Stated differently, the surface 84 of the first foam midsole layer 30A helps to ensure installation of the bladder 14 tilted relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P with the tethers 72 at the desired acute angle A1 relative to the horizontal ground plane P.

[0058] The second foam midsole layer 30B has a surface 86 overlying the upper surface 80 of the bladder 14 (e.g., upper surface 80 of the first polymeric sheet 60). The surface 86 of the second foam midsole layer 30B slopes downward in the direction from the heel region 28 toward the forefoot region 24 (e.g., from right to left in FIG. 8). Thus, the surface 86 of the second foam midsole layer 30B helps to ensure installation of the bladder 14 tilted relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P with the tethers 72 at the desired acute angle A1 relative to the horizontal ground plane P.

[0059] The foam midsole layers 30A and 30B define a pocket 90 between the surfaces 84 and 86 and the bladder 14 is disposed in the pocket 90. With the bladder 14 arranged as shown in FIG. 5, the tethers 72 extend at least partially forward in a direction from the lower extent 72B of the tethers 72 to an upper extent 72A of the tethers 72. Stated differently, the tethers 72 are angled at least partially forward from the lower extent 72B to the upper extent 72A when disposed at the acute angle A1.

[0060] With the bladder 14 arranged in the sole structure 12 as shown, a lowest extent 92 of the rear 47 of the bladder 14 is further displaced from the horizontal ground plane P than a highest extent 94 of the front 45 of the bladder 14 as shown by the distance D1 from the ground plane P to the lowest extent 92 being greater than the distance D2 from the ground plane P to the highest extent 94. The second foam midsole layer 30B and any other components of the sole structure 12 underlying the bladder 14, such as the outsole 32, may be shaped to support the lowest extent 92 of the rear 47 of the bladder 14 higher than the highest extent 92 of the front 45 of the bladder 14, helping to position the bladder 14 at the tilted position shown in which the tethers 72 are at the acute angle A1 to the horizontal ground plane P.

[0061] FIG. 8 shows a compressive force F1 of at least a predetermined threshold value and a reaction force F2 like that applied to the bladder 14 in FIG. 5 but with the bladder 14 now disposed with the tethers 72 at the acute angle A1. The tethers 72 slacken as shown in FIG. 8 as the bladder 14 compresses.

[0062] When the compressive force F1 is removed, as shown in FIG. 9, the bladder 14 may provide a directed energy return. More specifically, with the bladder 14 tilted as described and the tethers 72 disposed at the acute angle A1 to the horizontal ground plane P rather than, for example, disposed orthogonal to the horizontal ground plane P1, upon decompression of the bladder 14, the tethers 72 will return from the slackened state of FIG. 8 to the tensioned state of FIGS. 7 and 9. In doing so, at least some of the return energy of the decompressing bladder may be in a direction along the longitudinal axes LA of the tethers 72 (e.g., parallel to the length of the tensioned tethers 72). This may include an energy return force F3 against the second foam midsole layer 30B and the ground plane P and an energy return force F4 against the first foam midsole layer 30A (and a foot supported on the foot-receiving surface 22 thereof) having at least a component directed in a forward direction of the sole structure 12, for example, as shown by the forward component FC of the force F4. By selecting the acute angle A1, the energy return may thus supplement the effort of the wearer, such as by providing energy return at least partially in a forward direction.

[0063] Similarly, because some of the return forces F3 of the decompressing bladder 14 shown in FIG. 9 will be directed onto the surface 84 of the first foam midsole layer 30A (and through the first foam midsole layer 30A to the horizontal ground plane P) along the longitudinal axes LA of the tethers 72, the forward slope of the surface 84 may further help to propel the sole structure 12 from the ground plane P in a forward direction. Because some of the return forces F4 of the decompressing bladder 14 will be directed onto the surface 86 of the second midsole layer 30B (and through the second midsole layer 30B to a foot supported thereon), the slope of the surface 86 may further help to direct at least a portion of the return force F4 (e.g., the forward component FC) on the foot in a forward direction as shown.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows another example of an article of footwear 110 that is alike in all aspects to the article of footwear 10 except having a sole structure 112 with a foam midsole 130 that is a single, one-piece midsole rather than a foam midsole having first and second foam midsole layers 30A, 30B like foam midsole 30. The foam midsole 130 has a first foam midsole potion 130A and a second foam midsole portion 130B that form the pocket 90, but the foam midsole portions 130A, 130B are integral portions of the single unitary one-piece foam midsole 130 defining the pocket 90 between the first foam midsole portion 130A and the second foam midsole portion 130B with the bladder 14 disposed in the pocket 90. Stated differently, the foam midsole 130 is a one-piece foam midsole, such as a midsole integrally molded as a monolithic structure of a uniform material, such as foam, of which the first and second foam midsole portions 130A, 130B are integral portions.

[0065] As best shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the foam midsole portion 130A has the surface 84 on which the lower surface 79 of the bladder 14 rests, and the foam midsole portion 130B has the surface 86 that rests on the upper surface 80 of the bladder 14.

[0066] The foam midsole 130 defines a channel 93 at a front end 96 of the pocket 90. The channel 93 extends along the front end 96 from the medial side 42 to the lateral side 44 of the foam midsole 130 and is configured for receiving the flange 65 at the peripheral seam 64 of the bladder 14. Specifically, the flange 65 at the front 45 of the bladder 14 is received in the channel 93 when the bladder 14 is placed in the pocket 90. The channel 93 thus helps to properly position the bladder 14 within the pocket 90. The bladder 14 may be bonded to the foam midsole 130 in the pocket 90, such as at the surfaces 84, 86, with adhesive, thermal bonding, or otherwise. The foam midsole 30 of FIG. 1 may define a like channel for the bladder 14, such as where the first foam midsole layer 30A meets the second foam midsole layer 30B at the front end 96 of the pocket 90 in FIG. 7.

[0067] A method of manufacturing the article of footwear 10 and/or the article of footwear 110 described herein may include placing the bladder 14 in the sole structure 12 or 112 so that the bladder 14 tilted forward from the rear 47 to the front 45 and the tethers 72 extend in tension at the acute angle A1 relative to the ground contact surface 34 and the horizontal ground plane P in the absence of the threshold compressive force on the bladder 14. This may be accomplished, for example, by placing the bladder 14 in the pocket 90 defined by the foam midsole 30 or 130. Still further, the method may include inserting the flange 65 of the bladder 14 into the channel 93 defined by the foam midsole 30 or 130 at the front end 96 of the pocket 90. The method may also include securing the bladder 14 to the foam midsole 30 or 130, such as with adhesive, thermal bonding, or otherwise.

[0068] The following Clauses provide example configurations of an article of footwear, a sole structure, and a method of manufacturing an article of footwear, as disclosed herein.

[0069] Clause 1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure having a ground contact surface extending in both a forefoot region and in a heel region of the sole structure; the sole structure including: a bladder defining a fluid-filled interior cavity; and a tensile component disposed in the fluid-filled interior cavity and including tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers, the tensile layers connected to opposing sides of an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the fluid-filled interior cavity; wherein the sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with a ground contact surface in both the forefoot region and in the heel region of the sole structure on a horizontal ground plane with the bladder disposed above the ground contact surface and the bladder tilted relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane with the tethers extending in tension at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0070] Clause 2. The article of footwear of clause 1, wherein the tethers extend at least partially forward in a direction from a lower extent of the tethers to an upper extent of the tethers.

[0071] Clause 3. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein: the bladder includes a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another at a peripheral seam to define the fluid-filled interior cavity; the peripheral seam extends around a side periphery of the bladder; and an upper extent of the tethers is nearer to an inner surface of the first polymeric sheet and a lower extent of the tethers is nearer to an inner surface of the second polymeric sheet than to the first polymeric sheet.

[0072] Clause 4. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the peripheral seam is centered along the side periphery of the bladder.

[0073] Clause 5. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder declines continuously in a forward direction of the sole structure from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder.

[0074] Clause 6. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is disposed in the heel region of the sole structure.

[0075] Clause 7. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

[0076] Clause 8. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sole structure further includes a foam midsole disposed between the ground contact surface and the bladder.

[0077] Clause 9. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein: a surface of the foam midsole slopes downward in a direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region; and the bladder overlies the surface of the foam midsole.

[0078] Clause 10. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein: the foam midsole includes a first foam midsole layer and a second foam midsole layer; the surface of the foam midsole is a surface of the first foam midsole layer; the second midsole foam layer has a surface overlying an upper surface of the bladder; and the surface of the second foam midsole layer slopes downward in the direction from the heel region toward the forefoot region.

[0079] Clause 11. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the foam midsole defines a pocket with the bladder disposed in the pocket.

[0080] Clause 12. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

[0081] Clause 13. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is exposed at one or both of a medial side of the sole structure and a lateral side of the sole structure.

[0082] Clause 14. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is exposed at a rear of the sole structure.

[0083] Clause 15. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is disposed in the sole structure with a lowest extent of a rear of the bladder further displaced from the horizontal ground plane than a highest extent of a front of the bladder.

[0084] Clause 16. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein: the tethers are disposed in rows; and the rows extend in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal midline of the sole structure.

[0085] Clause 17. An article of footwear of any of the preceding claims, comprising: a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity; a sole structure secured to the footwear upper and having a ground contact surface configured to rest on a horizontal ground plane such that a foot inserted into the foot-receiving cavity rests on the sole structure over the ground contact surface; and wherein the sole structure includes a bladder tilted downward from a rear of the bladder to a front of the bladder and defining a fluid-filled interior cavity including tethers spanning in tension in the fluid-filled interior cavity in a direction from a bottom of the bladder to a top of the bladder at an acute angle relative to the ground contact surface and the horizontal ground plane in the absence of a threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0086] Clause 18. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sole structure is configured to rest in an upright position with the ground contact surface of the sole structure in both a forefoot region and a heel region of the sole structure on the horizontal ground plane with the tethers extending at least partially forward in a direction from a lower extent of the tethers to an upper extent of the tethers.

[0087] Clause 19. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the bladder is exposed at an exterior of the sole structure.

[0088] Clause 20. The article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the sole structure includes a midsole defining a pocket and the bladder is disposed in the pocket.

[0089] Clause 21. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear of any of the preceding clauses, the method of manufacturing including placing the bladder in the sole structure so that the tethers extend in tension at the acute angle relative to the horizontal ground plane in the absence of the threshold compressive force on the bladder.

[0090] Clause 22. The method of clause 21, further comprising: placing the bladder in a pocket defined by the midsole.

[0091] Clause 23. The method of clause 22, further comprising: inserting the flange of the bladder into a channel defined by the midsole at the front of the pocket.

[0092] Clause 24. A sole structure including the bladder of any of the preceding clauses.

[0093] To assist and clarify the description of various embodiments, various terms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims). Additionally, all references referred to are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0094] An article of footwear, a footwear article of manufacture, and footwear may be considered to be both a machine and a manufacture. Assembled, ready to wear footwear articles (e.g., shoes, sandals, boots, etc.), as well as discrete components of footwear articles (such as a midsole, an outsole, an upper component, etc.) prior to final assembly into ready to wear footwear articles, are considered and alternatively referred to herein in either the singular or plural as article(s) of footwear.

[0095] A, an, the, at least one, and one or more are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. A plurality of such items may be present unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, unless otherwise indicated expressly or clearly in view of the context, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term about whether or not about actually appears before the numerical value. About indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by about is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then about as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to be understood as specifically disclosing all values and further divided ranges within the range.

[0096] The terms "comprising", including, and having are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components. Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term "or" includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed items. The term any of is understood to include any possible combination of referenced items, including any one of the referenced items. The term any of is understood to include any possible combination of referenced claims of the appended claims, including any one of the referenced claims.

[0097] For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as above, below, upward, downward, top, bottom, etc., may be used descriptively relative to the figures, without representing limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

[0098] The term longitudinal particularly refers to a direction extending a length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of a shoe extends between a forefoot region and a heel region of the shoe. The term forward or anterior is used to particularly refer to the general direction from a heel region toward a forefoot region, and the term rearward or posterior is used to particularly refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction from the forefoot region toward the heel region. In some cases, a component may be identified with a longitudinal axis as well as a forward and rearward longitudinal direction along that axis. The longitudinal direction or axis may also be referred to as an anterior-posterior direction or axis.

[0099] The term transverse particularly refers to a direction extending a width of a component. For example, a transverse direction of a shoe extends between a lateral side and a medial side of the shoe. The transverse direction or axis may also be referred to as a lateral direction or axis or a mediolateral direction or axis.

[0100] The term vertical particularly refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of a sole. The term upward or upwards particularly refers to the vertical direction pointing towards a top of the component, which may include an instep, a fastening region and/or a throat of an upper. The term downward or downwards particularly refers to the vertical direction pointing opposite the upwards direction, toward the bottom of a component and may generally point towards the bottom of a sole structure of an article of footwear.

[0101] The interior of an article of footwear, such as a shoe, particularly refers to portions at the space that is occupied by a wearers foot when the shoe is worn. The inner side of a component particularly refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented toward the interior of the component or article of footwear in an assembled article of footwear. The outer side or exterior of a component particularly refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented away from the interior of the shoe in an assembled shoe. In some cases, other components may be between the inner side of a component and the interior in the assembled article of footwear. Similarly, other components may be between an outer side of a component and the space external to the assembled article of footwear. Further, the terms inward and inwardly particularly refer to the direction toward the interior of the component or article of footwear, such as a shoe, and the terms outward and outwardly particularly refer to the direction toward the exterior of the component or article of footwear, such as the shoe. In addition, the term proximal particularly refers to a direction that is nearer a center of a footwear component, or is closer toward a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Likewise, the term distal particularly refers to a relative position that is further away from a center of the footwear component or is further from a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Thus, the terms proximal and distal may be understood to provide generally opposing terms to describe relative spatial positions.

[0102] While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.

[0103] While several modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternative embodiments that an ordinarily skilled artisan would recognize as implied by, structurally and/or functionally equivalent to, or otherwise rendered obvious based upon the included content, and not as limited solely to those explicitly depicted and/or described embodiments.