Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions around a periphery of the chamber. The sole structure also includes a central structure located in a central portion of the chamber between opposing side portions of the chamber, such that the chamber is devoid of additional structures in a surrounding region around the central structure and extending from the central structure to the side portions of the chamber. On all sides of the central structure, a dimension of the surrounding region between the central structure and the nearest side portion is one third or more of a span across the chamber between opposing side portions.

Abstract: A kit includes a first article of footwear and a second article of footwear. The first article of footwear includes a first upper, a first sole structure having a first outsole defining a first ground-contacting surface, and a first side support extending between and connecting the first upper and the first outsole at a medial side of the first article of footwear. The second article of footwear including a second upper, a second sole structure having a second outsole defining a second ground-contacting surface, and a second side support extending between and connecting the second upper and the second outsole at a lateral side of the second article of footwear. In one aspect, the first sole structure includes a first fluid-filled chamber and the second sole structure includes a second fluid-filled chamber, wherein the first fluid-filled chamber is identical to the second fluid-filled chamber.

Abstract: The disclosure id directed to an article of footwear including an upper and the sole structure, to the sole structure, and to a method for manufacturing the sole structure and a method for manufacturing the article of footwear. The sole structure includes a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole that at least partially surrounds the chamber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a bladder element comprises forming at least one of a first, a second, and a third polymeric sheet to have a contoured surface profile. The first, the second, and the third polymeric sheets are stacked so that the second polymeric sheet is between the first polymeric sheet and the third polymeric sheet. The method comprises applying fluid pressure between the first polymeric sheet and second polymeric sheet, between the second polymeric sheet and the third polymeric sheet, or between both, forcing a first surface of the second polymeric sheet into contact with an inner surface of the first polymeric sheet, or a second surface of the second polymeric sheet into contact with an inner surface of the third polymeric sheet, or both. A bladder element is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole assembly with a cushioning component and a shell that has a textile layer. The cushioning component is positioned in a cavity of the shell so that the cushioning component is supported on a lower surface by the shell and the upper surface of the cushioning component is uncovered by the shell at an opening of the shell. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming an at least partially textile shell so that the shell has a cavity with an opening. A cushioning component is positioned in the cavity of the shell so that a lower surface of the cushioning component is supported on an inner surface of the shell and is uncovered by the shell at the opening. The lower surface of the cushioning component is secured to the inner surface of the shell by radio frequency welding or adhesive.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

Abstract: An article includes a cushioning assembly which has a first bladder element forming a first fluid chamber, and a second bladder element within the first bladder element and forming a second fluid chamber sealed from and within the first fluid chamber. The first bladder element includes an inner surface having a first feature. The second bladder element includes an outer surface having a second feature. The first feature interfits with the second feature such that a first area of the inner surface of the first bladder element is aligned with a first area of the outer surface of the second bladder element at a bonded interface. The second bladder element is exposed to the first fluid chamber away from the bonded interface. A method of manufacturing the article includes interfitting the first feature with the second feature and bonding at the bonded interface.

Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an upper barrier portion, a lower barrier portion, and a tensile member. An upper tensile layer of the tensile member may be secured to the upper barrier portion, and a lower tensile layer of the tensile member may be secured to the lower barrier portion. The upper barrier portion and the lower barrier portion may have first areas and second areas. The first areas may be indentations extending into the chamber, and the second areas may be protrusions extending outward from the chamber. At least a portion of the first areas may be unbonded with the upper barrier portion and the lower barrier portion. Accordingly, one or more properties of the chamber, such as a flexibility, stiffness, rigidity, tensile response, compressibility, or force attenuation property, may be altered.

Abstract: An article comprises a cushioning assembly that comprises a first bladder element forming a first fluid chamber. The cushioning assembly further comprises a second bladder element within the first bladder element. The second bladder element forms a second fluid chamber sealed from and within the first fluid chamber. At least one reinforcement element is operatively connected to and in contact with at least one of the first bladder element and the second bladder element. The at least one reinforcement element is configured to reinforce the cushioning assembly under a load applied to the first bladder element. A method of manufacturing an article with the cushioning assembly is provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions around a periphery of the chamber. The sole structure also includes a central structure located in a central portion of the chamber between opposing side portions of the chamber, such that the chamber is devoid of additional structures in a surrounding region around the central structure and extending from the central structure to the side portions of the chamber. On all sides of the central structure, a dimension of the surrounding region between the central structure and the nearest side portion is one third or more of a span across the chamber between opposing side portions.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a top portion, a bottom portion, and side portions around a periphery of the chamber. The sole structure also includes a central structure located in a central portion of the chamber between opposing side portions of the chamber, such that the chamber is devoid of additional structures in a surrounding region around the central structure and extending from the central structure to the side portions of the chamber. On all sides of the central structure, a dimension of the surrounding region between the central structure and the nearest side portion is one third or more of a span across the chamber between opposing side portions.

Abstract: An article comprises a cushioning assembly that comprises a first bladder element forming a first fluid chamber. The cushioning assembly further comprises a second bladder element within the first bladder element. The second bladder element forms a second fluid chamber sealed from and within the first fluid chamber. At least one reinforcement element is operatively connected to and in contact with at least one of the first bladder element and the second bladder element. The at least one reinforcement element is configured to reinforce the cushioning assembly under a load applied to the first bladder element. A method of manufacturing an article with the cushioning assembly is provided.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a structural harness and impact-attenuating structure arrangement that includes a fluid-filled chamber. The article includes an upper, a sole secured to the upper having an impact-attenuating structure including a fluid-filled chamber and a structural harness. The structural harness may extend between the upper and fluid-filled chamber in a tensile arrangement that biases the fluid-filled chamber toward the upper and compresses the chamber. The structural harness may include a first layer, a thread layer bonded to the first layer and a second layer bonded to the thread layer on an opposite side of the thread layer. The thread layer may include threads configured to transmit tensile forces and restrict stretch in a longitudinal direction of the threads.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes disposing a first polymer sheet and a second polymer sheet in a mold assembly, and disposing a preformed unitary outsole in the mold assembly adjacent the second polymer sheet. The method includes closing the mold assembly to compress the first and second polymer sheets and the outsole, and thermally bonding the first and second polymer sheets to one another in the mold assembly to form a cushioning component with a chamber, a top wall, a bottom wall, a medial side wall, and a lateral side wall. A bottom portion of the outsole is thermally bonded to the bottom wall, a medial side portion of the outsole is thermally bonded to the medial side wall, and a lateral side portion of the outsole is thermally bonded to the lateral side wall.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole assembly with a cushioning component and a shell that has a textile layer. The cushioning component is positioned in a cavity of the shell so that the cushioning component is supported on a lower surface by the shell and the upper surface of the cushioning component is uncovered by the shell at an opening of the shell. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming an at least partially textile shell so that the shell has a cavity with an opening. A cushioning component is positioned in the cavity of the shell so that a lower surface of the cushioning component is supported on an inner surface of the shell and is uncovered by the shell at the opening. The lower surface of the cushioning component is secured to the inner surface of the shell by radio frequency welding or adhesive.

Abstract: The disclosure id directed to an article of footwear including an upper and the sole structure, to the sole structure, and to a method for manufacturing the sole structure and a method for manufacturing the article of footwear. The sole structure includes a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole that at least partially surrounds the chamber.

Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole assembly with a cushioning component and a shell that has a textile layer. The cushioning component is positioned in a cavity of the shell so that the cushioning component is supported on a lower surface by the shell and the upper surface of the cushioning component is uncovered by the shell at an opening of the shell. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming an at least partially textile shell so that the shell has a cavity with an opening. A cushioning component is positioned in the cavity of the shell so that a lower surface of the cushioning component is supported on an inner surface of the shell and is uncovered by the shell at the opening. The lower surface of the cushioning component is secured to the inner surface of the shell by radio frequency welding or adhesive.