Nike patents shoe parts that use fluid-filled pods to support ankles
Nike has secured a patent for a footwear design featuring a system of fluid-filled chambers, or "bladders," connected by elastic bands. These components are placed around the ankle and heel to hug the foot tightly while allowing natural movement, similar to how a flexible band works. The design also aims to absorb impact forces to protect the wearer's joints during activity.
In the filing’s own words
Bladder systems for footwear uppers, footwear components (e.g., uppers), and articles of footwear including the bladder systems, and/or methods of making and using such bladder systems are described. The bladder systems may include two or more bladder pods engaged together by one or more elastic connectors. The elastic connector(s) may enable the bladder system to fit snugly around the wearer's ankle and/or heel area while still allowing some relative movement between the bladder pods, e.g., as a wearer moves in an article of footwear. In this manner, the bladder systems provide support and a snug fit and return to its/their original size, shape, and/or location once the force from the wearer's movement is removed or sufficiently relaxed. Additionally or alternatively, the bladder systems may provide impact force attenuation properties, e.g., to protect the wearer's ankle and/or heel.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising: an upper base component including one or more upper component parts; and a bladder system engaged with the upper base component, wherein the bladder system is located at an ankle covering portion and/or a heel covering portion of the upper base component and includes: a first bladder pod including a first seam that defines a first interior bladder chamber, a second bladder pod including a second seam that defines a second interior bladder chamber, a first elastic connector engaging the first seam of the first bladder pod and the second seam of the second bladder pod; and a third bladder pod including a third seam that defines a third interior bladder chamber; wherein: (i) the first seam completely surrounds and seals the first interior bladder chamber, (ii) the second seam completely surrounds and seals the second interior bladder chamber, and (iii) the first interior bladder chamber is not in fluid communication with the second interior bladder chamber; wherein the first elastic connector is configured to generally fit over a wearer's medial malleolus; wherein the third bladder pod includes a first pod chamber, a second pod chamber, and a fluid passage connecting the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod to the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod; wherein the third bladder pod is configured to wrap around a rear heel area of the upper base component such that the first pod chamber is located on a medial side of the article of footwear, the second pod chamber is located on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the fluid passage is located on a rear of the article of footwear; wherein each of the first pod chamber of the third bladder pod and the second pod chamber of the third bladder pod are wider in a vertical direction than the fluid passage of the third bladder pod; wherein the third bladder pod has a butterfly shape; and wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend above the fluid passage in a vertical direction, and wherein a portion of the first pod chamber and a portion of the second pod chamber each extend below the fluid passage in a vertical direction.
Facts
- Company
- Nike (NIKE, Inc.)
- Official title
- Bladder systems and footwear incorporating bladder systems for ankle and/or heel support
- Patent number
- US12757979B2
- Application number
- 18213569
- Filed
- Jun 23, 2023
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 5
- Claims
- 7
Classified under
A43B 23/0285 Human necessitiesA43B 23/029 Human necessitiesMore from Nike in Clothing & sport
- Nike patents clothing that stiffens instantly to protect against impacts Sep 15, 2026
- Nike patents underwear with electric straps that adjust tightness Sep 17, 2026
- Nike patents fabric that tightens when it gets wet Oct 15, 2026
- Nike patents shoe that pumps fluid to heel for cushioning Sep 8, 2026
- Nike patents top with built-in pocket for breast pumps Oct 1, 2026
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.