Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has at least one inflatable bladder wherein said at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A ground engaging surface of the sole has a first profile in the deflated state and a second profile in the inflated state. The first profile is different from the second profile. Varying the profile of the ground engaging surface varies the amount of cushioning in the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has an upper sole member, a lower sole member, and at least one inflatable bladder disposed between the upper sole member and the lower sole member. The at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A distance between the upper sole member and the lower sole member is greater in the inflated state than the deflated state. Varying the inflation of the inflatable bladder varies the amount of cushioning in the sole and the thickness of the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning, such as a training shoe and a racing flat.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has an upper sole member, a lower sole member, and at least one inflatable bladder disposed between the upper sole member and the lower sole member. The at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A distance between the upper sole member and the lower sole member is greater in the inflated state than the deflated state. Varying the inflation of the inflatable bladder varies the amount of cushioning in the sole and the thickness of the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning.

Abstract: A configurable fluid transfer system for inflatable footwear includes a manifold. The manifold is part of an inflation system having an underfoot pump connected to one of the plurality of openings in the heel side of the manifold, an inflatable forefoot bladder connected to two of the plurality of openings in the bottom surface of the manifold and an inflatable heel bladder connected to one of the plurality of openings in the bottom surface of the manifold. Fluid flows from the underfoot pump to the inflatable forefoot bladder through a one-way valve and into a first channel in the manifold connected to a forefoot bladder. The fluid inflates the forefoot bladder and exits into a second channel in the manifold. Fluid flows from the inflatable forefoot bladder to the inflatable heel bladder through the second channel and inflates the heel bladder. A pressure regulator including a porous material may be in fluid communication with the fluid transfer system to control the rate of fluid exiting the system.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole, an upper attached to the sole, where the upper includes an fluid system structure including an inflatable bladder and a ventilation system, and an inflation mechanism fluidly connected to at least one of the inflatable bladder and the ventilation system.

Abstract: A hollow sole is formed within the sole of a shoe wherein a top component having a flat portion and an outer wall is adhered to a bottom component wherein the depth of the outer wall defines an enclosed space between the top and bottom components. The outer wall of the top component and the walls of the bottom component that rise to and fall from the weld lines are made with flexible ridges which provides a bellowing effect when the pressure of the foot is pushed down on the sole. In one embodiment, a fluidly connected inside compartment and outside compartment are created by welded lines adhering the bottom component to the top component. In an alternate embodiment, the hollow sole may contain foam for extra support. Fluid pockets and other flow structures are bored into the foam to allow for the dynamic fluid flow.

Abstract: Shoe uppers having smooth seams and methods for producing them are disclosed. In one embodiment the upper uses thermoplastic seam tape which forms bonds between contiguous upper sections after being subjected to heat and/or pressure. In another embodiment, different parts of the shoe can be joined using hidden seams. Close seams can also be covered with a transfer material adapted to give the interior and/or exterior of the upper a smooth surface. In yet another embodiment, a method is disclosed which allows three-dimensional upper sections to be bonded on a last using thermoplastic seam tape.

Abstract: An inflatable bladder for use in an article of footwear including a first sheet of a flexible fluid-impervious material and a second sheet of flexible fluid-impervious material. The first sheet and the second sheet are sealed along air-tight weld lines forming at least one narrow channel. The inflatable bladder includes an air passage device for maintaining air flow within the narrow channel. In one embodiment, the first sheet has an embossed interior surface to limit the contact between the first sheet and second sheet. Another embodiment includes the use of a mechanical device to separate the first sheet and the second sheet within a narrow channel. A method of manufacturing an inflatable bladder, a method of increasing localized air flow though a narrow channel of an inflatable bladder for use in an article of footwear and an article of footwear incorporating the inflatable bladder are also described.

Abstract: A hollow sole is formed within the sole of a shoe wherein a top component having a flat portion and an outer wall is adhered to a bottom component wherein the depth of the outer wall defines an enclosed space between the top and bottom components. The outer wall of the top component and the walls of the bottom component that rise to and fall from the weld lines are made with flexible ridges which provides a bellowing effect when the pressure of the foot is pushed down on the sole. In one embodiment, a fluidly connected inside compartment and outside compartment are created by welded lines adhering the bottom component to the top component. In an alternate embodiment, the hollow sole may contain foam for extra support. Fluid pockets and other flow structures are bored into the foam to allow for the dynamic fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for manufacturing inflatable articles, or bladders for inflatable articles, that is time-efficient, simple, inexpensive and permits the uninterrupted manufacture of numerous and even customized article or bladder configurations and sizes, without expensive configuration-specific, metal tooling. The method includes the steps of applying a barrier material to a side of a first film, providing a second film with the first film so that the barrier material is disposed between the first and second films, adhering the first film to the second film so that the films are sealed together in areas except where the barrier material has been applied to form at least one inflatable compartment and sealed peripheral edge, and cutting along the sealed peripheral edge to form an inflatable article or bladder for use in an article of manufacture. The barrier material may be a paint, ink, paper or surface treatment that effectively prevents the first film from adhering to the second.

Abstract: A hollow sole is formed within the sole of a shoe wherein a top component having a flat portion and an outer wall is adhered to a bottom component wherein the depth of the outer wall defines an enclosed space between the top and bottom components. The outer wall of the top component and the walls of the bottom component that rise to and fall from the weld lines are made with flexible ridges which provides a bellowing effect when the pressure of the foot is pushed down on the sole. In one embodiment, a fluidly connected inside compartment and outside compartment are created by welded lines adhering the bottom component to the top component. In an alternate embodiment, the hollow sole may contain foam for extra support. Fluid pockets and other flow structures are bored into the foam to allow for the dynamic fluid flow.

Abstract: An inflatable bladder for use in an article of footwear including a first sheet of a flexible fluid-impervious material and a second sheet of flexible fluid-impervious material. The first sheet and the second sheet are sealed along air-tight weld lines forming at least one narrow channel. The inflatable bladder includes an air passage device for maintaining air flow within the narrow channel. In one embodiment, the first sheet has an embossed interior surface to limit the contact between the first sheet and second sheet. Another embodiment includes the use of a mechanical device to separate the first sheet and the second sheet within a narrow channel. A method of manufacturing an inflatable bladder, a method of increasing localized air flow through an narrow channel of an inflatable bladder for use in an article of footwear and an article of footwear incorporating the inflatable bladder are also described.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism may be monolithic with the bladder or may be a satellite inflation mechanism coupled to the bladder. The article of footwear may also include a deflation mechanism. The deflation mechanism may include a release valve capable of remaining in a open position and/or an adjustable check valve. The deflation mechanism may also be a combination check valve and release valve accessing a single opening in the bladder.

Abstract: A method and system for stress testing database storage. Stress testing software generates read and/or write commands to a database engine. Preferably, the read and write commands adhere to a desired ratio of reads to writes. The commands are interpreted by the database engine. The database engine issues read and/or write instructions to a database storage system. Multiple instances of the stress testing software may be spawned against a plurality of databases in order to achieve a desired aggregate rate of operations to the database storage system. Performance measurements of the database storage system are obtained and may be used for evaluation of the database storage system. Advantageously, the performance of a database storage system may be tested and measured without the encumbrances of transaction processing overhead due to actual database processing.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole and an upper with an exterior and interior surface, and one or more bladders which comprises at least one of the exterior or interior surfaces of the upper. The article of footwear also includes a inflation mechanism located under the foot of the wearer to be activated by the normal action of the wearer to inflate the one or more bladders. The inflation mechanism may be monolithic with the bladder or may be a satellite inflation mechanism coupled to the bladder. The article of footwear may also include a deflation mechanism. The deflation mechanism may include a release valve capable of remaining in a open position and/or an adjustable check valve. The deflation mechanism may also be a combination check valve and release valve accessing a single opening in the bladder.

Abstract: A hollow sole is formed within the sole of a shoe wherein a top component having a flat portion and an outer wall is adhered to a bottom component wherein the depth of the outer wall defines an enclosed space between the top and bottom components. The outer wall of the top component and the walls of the bottom component that rise to and fall from the weld lines are made with flexible ridges which provides a bellowing effect when the pressure of the foot is pushed down on the sole. In one embodiment, a fluidly connected inside compartment and outside compartment are created by welded lines adhering the bottom component to the top component. In an alternate embodiment, the hollow sole may contain foam for extra support. Fluid pockets and other flow structures are bored into the foam to allow for the dynamic fluid flow.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe sole having a resilient insert which provides fluidic cushioning and support to the foot of the wearer. The resilient insert has a heel chamber, a forefoot chamber and a passageway, which fluidly connects the heel chamber to the forefoot chamber. As the wearer walks or run and applies impact forces to the shoe sole, fluid within the resilient insert flows back and forth between the heel chamber and the forefoot chamber to provide continuous cushioning and support to the heel and fore portion of the wearer's foot. The resilient insert and components of the sole are specifically constructed and assembled to avoid friction and turbulence therein, which can result in the production of audible and undesirable noises within the interior of the shoe sole.