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NikeGranted patentClothing & sportInterest 6/10

Nike patents shoe sole with fluid-filled tubes for heel cushioning

Nike has been granted a patent for a shoe design that uses a heel cushion made of multiple fluid-filled tubes. These tubes run across the width of the shoe and are sealed off from each other, with each holding fluid at the same pressure above normal air pressure.

Why it mattersThis design offers a specific way to manage impact absorption in the heel, which could lead to different feel or durability in future running or lifestyle shoes.

In the filing’s own words

An article of footwear having a heel region with a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region with an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure has; a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element having a first tube and a second tube, wherein each of the first tube and the second tube extend from the lateral side of the article of footwear to the medial side of the article of footwear, wherein the first tube includes a contained fluid volume at a first pressure, and the second tube includes a contained fluid volume at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are equal to one another.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An article of footwear comprising: a heel region including a posterior end of the article of footwear, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end of the article of footwear; a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure, the sole structure coupled to the upper, and wherein the sole structure further comprises; a cushioning element disposed in the heel region, the cushioning element including a plurality of tubes including at least a first tube and a second tube, the cushioning element further including a plurality of webs including at least a first web, the first web extending between the first tube and at least one other tube of the plurality of tubes, wherein each of the first tube and the second tube extends between the lateral side of the article of footwear and the medial side of the article of footwear along a medial-lateral direction, wherein the first tube includes a contained fluid volume at a first pressure, and the second tube includes a contained fluid volume at a second pressure, wherein the first pressure and the second pressure are equal to one another and greater than atmospheric pressure, and wherein the first tube and second tube are fluidly isolated from each other, and wherein the plurality of webs are formed by a first barrier film of the cushioning element and a second barrier film of the cushioning element being bonded to one another, and the plurality of webs cooperating with a peripheral seam to bound and extend around each of the plurality of tubes, wherein the peripheral seam is disposed on a bottom surface of the cushioning element.

Facts

Company
Nike (Nike, Inc.)
Official title
Article of footwear including a sole structure
Patent number
US12740618B2
Application number
18490271
Filed
Oct 19, 2023
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
5
Claims
13

Classified under

A43B 13/206 Human necessitiesA43B 7/144 Human necessitiesA43B 13/186 Human necessitiesA43B 13/187 Human necessitiesA43B 13/20 Human necessitiesB29C 51/08 Operations & transport
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.