Abstract:
An article of footwear (100) has an upper (110) and a sole structure (120) secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a chamber (200) that encloses a pressurized fluid. The chamber includes subchambers (220) laterally extending in a medial to lateral direction of the bladder. A bottom surface of the chamber may include at least one bond (230) that laterally extends across the bottom surface of the chamber from one side edge to another side edge of the chamber in the medial to lateral direction. The bond may cooperate with an indentation (240) in the bottom surface that separates one subchamber from another. A diameter of the subchambers may decrease in a direction from a heel region to a forefoot region of the chamber. The indentation extends past the ends areas of the bond such that the indentation extends entirely across the chamber.
Abstract:
A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure extends longitudinally from a back edge to a front edge of the article of footwear and transversely from a medial side to a lateral side of the article of footwear. The sole structure includes an outsole having a ground-contacting layer. A first rib projects upward from the ground-contacting layer. The rib has side walls and an end wall. A channel is defined by the side walls and end wall. The channel opens downward through the ground-contacting layer and has a depth extending above the ground-contacting layer. The rib may have a multi-stage vertical stiffness profile. The sole structure may include a midsole attached to the outsole. An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.
Abstract:
An article of footwear (10) including an upper (12) and a sole assembly (14) secured to the upper and including a support assembly (30) having an upper member (32) and a lower member (34) spaced from the upper member. A first layer (36) is positioned beneath and in contact with the upper member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of first wave crests and first wave troughs. A second layer (42) is positioned above the lower member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of second wave crests and second wave troughs.
Abstract:
A fluid-filled bladder (30) with a reinforcing structure (40) and a method of manufacturing the bladder and reinforcing structure are disclosed. In general, the reinforcing structure extends around the bladder, and the reinforcing structure is bonded to an exterior of the bladder. In some embodiments, the reinforcing structure is recessed into the bladder and extends along side surfaces of the bladder and between upper and lower surfaces of bladder. In manufacturing, the reinforcing structure may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing structure during the molding process.
Abstract:
A cushioning component (40) for an article of footwear (10) is disclosed that includes a fluid-filled chamber (50) and a covering element (60) extending over a portion of the chamber. The chamber is devoid of internal connections, and the fluid within the chamber may be at a pressure that is substantially equal to an ambient pressure. The chamber defines a plurality of lobes (56a-56f), and the cushioning element includes a plurality of inserts (63) that extend between the lobes. The inserts are elongate structures that decrease the compressibility of peripheral portions of the cushioning component.
Abstract:
A flyback power supply for controlling an electric fish screen is disclosed. The supply is a current mode device with constant power input while charging a network. Power factor correction does not add more relaying elements. A pulse forming network yields more energy at higher voltages, both in the drive to the discharge device and in the output.
Abstract:
An article of footwear (100) includes an upper (110) and a sole structure (120) secured to the upper. The sole structure (120) includes a midsole (130), an outsole(140), and at least one groove. The groove includes a macro groove (151) and at least one micro groove (152) located within the macro groove. The macro groove may be formed by an indentation or area of reduced thickness in the sole structure (120). The micro groove (152) may be formed by an indentation or area of reduced thickness in a surface of the macro groove (151).
Abstract:
A sole structure (10) for an article of footwear (100) is provided. The sole structure extends longitudinally from a back edge (15) to a front edge (14) of the article of footwear and transversely from a medial side to a lateral side the article of footwear. The sole structure includes an outsole (30) having a ground- contacting layer (32). A first rib (50) projects upward from the ground- contacting layer. The rib has side walls and an end wall. A channel (60) is defined by the side walls and end wall. The channel opens downward through the ground- contacting layer and has a depth extending above the ground- contacting layer. The rib may have a multi-stage vertical stiffness profile. The sole structure may include a midsole (40) attached to the outsole. An article of footwear having the sole structure attached to an upper is also provided.
Abstract:
An article of footwear may have an upper (20) and a sole structure (30) secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements (33), and each of the support elements include a shell (40) and a core (50). The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.
Abstract:
An article of footwear (10) having an "upper (20) and a sole structure (30) secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a first chamber (40) and a second chamber (50) that each enclose a fluid. The first chamber and the second chamber both define a plurality of projections and depressions. At least a portion of the projections of the first chamber are located within the depressions of the second chamber, and at least a portion of the projections of the second chamber are located within the depressions of the first chamber. In some configurations, each of the first chamber and the second chamber may form portions of upper and lower surfaces of a pneumatic component. In addition, colors of the first chamber and the second chamber may be selected such that the colors combine at an interface of the first chamber and the second chamber.