Contoured fluid-filled chamber
US7950169B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2007 |
| Grant date | May 31, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F30/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fluid-filled chamber may be incorporated into footwear and other products. The chamber is formed from a polymer material that defines a first surface, a second surface located opposite the first surface, and a sidewall surface extending around a periphery of the chamber and between the first surface and the second surface. A plurality of bonds are spaced inward from the sidewall surface and join the first surface and the second surface, and the bonds are distributed to form a regularly-spaced array, such as a hexagonal array. In some configurations, the first surface and the second surface may define elliptically-shaped structures between the bonds. In addition, the bonds may be formed to have a slope that is an average of slopes of the first surface and the second surface in areas proximal the bonds.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.