Abstract: Footwear uppers and articles of footwear including such uppers include: (a) a first lateral lace-engaging component; (b) a first medial lace-engaging component; and (c) a bladder. The bladder includes: (i) a tongue and/or instep chamber having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, (ii) a first heel and/or ankle support chamber, and (iii) a first fluid line placing the first heel and/or ankle support chamber in fluid communication with the tongue and/or instep chamber. A lace engages the first lateral lace-engaging component and the first medial lace-engaging component such that a first portion of the lace extends across the first surface. The lace may apply a force to the tongue and/or instep chamber, and this force may move fluid from the tongue and/or instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber to provide additional support for the heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure having a cushioning component. The cushioning component includes a bladder defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet, and the barrier sheets sealed to one another along a peripheral bond. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and spaced entirely inward of the peripheral bond. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of wavy bonds to tether the barrier sheets to one another. The wavy bonds are arranged with waves having peaks and valleys extending in a fore-aft direction such that the at least one polymeric sheet does not create any sealed chambers within the bladder that are not in fluid communication with the interior cavity.

Abstract: A cushioning component for a wearable article includes a bladder with barrier sheets defining an interior cavity. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and is spaced entirely inward of a peripheral bond between the barrier sheets. The core traverses the interior cavity between and is bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of bonds. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet defining a plurality of spaced slots extending therethrough, each slot having a first end and a second end with both the first end and the second end inward of an outer perimeter of the core such that the core includes a plurality of strips bordering the slots and decoupled from one another at the slots, each strip bonded to at least one of the first barrier sheet or the second barrier sheet by at least one of the bonds.

Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear uppers including the bladders, articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. At least one bladder chamber is provided in the instep and/or tongue area of the upper/article of footwear. In some examples, force applied to the instep based bladder chamber(s) moves fluid to one or more additional bladder chambers located in the arch and/or midfoot areas of the upper/article of footwear, and/or other areas of the wearer's foot. This movement of fluid increases fluid pressure and/or volume in the arch, midfoot, and/or other areas of the wearer's foot to provide additional support.

Abstract: Foot support systems include sole structures, portions of sole structures, drop-in midsole components, insertable sole components (e.g., midsoles or insoles), or the like. The foot support systems may include a foam base member (e.g., made from a relatively thick foam material) and at least one fluid-filled bladder. The fluid-filled bladder(s) may include one or more interior fluid chambers. When multiple interior fluid chambers are present, they may be at substantially the same or different pressures. Additional aspects of this technology relate to articles of footwear that include such foot support systems, such as slides, sandals, and/or other types of footwear.

Abstract: Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: Foot support systems include sole structures, portions of sole structures, drop-in midsole components, insertable sole components (e.g., midsoles or insoles), or the like. The foot support systems may include a foam base member (e.g., made from a relatively thick foam material) and at least one fluid-filled bladder. The fluid-filled bladder(s) may include one or more interior fluid chambers. When multiple interior fluid chambers are present, they may be at substantially the same or different pressures. Additional aspects of this technology relate to articles of footwear that include such foot support systems, such as slides, sandals, and/or other types of footwear. Foot support systems and/or footwear in accordance with some examples of this technology may include systems for applying heating, cooling, and/or vibrational forces to a foot. Additional aspects of this technology relate to methods of applying heating, cooling, and/or vibrational forces to a foot (e.g., for recovery, injury treatment, etc.).

Abstract: Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: Footwear upper components include a fabric element and a bladder component that defines a sealed interior chamber. The bladder component includes: (a) a first major surface engaged with the fabric element, wherein this first major surface defines at least part of a first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a first surface of the sealed interior chamber, (b) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein this second major surface defines at least part of a second perimeter seam surface opposite the first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a second surface of the sealed interior chamber opposite the sealed interior chamber's first surface, and (c) and a fluid chamber between the first and second major surfaces. The first major surface (and optionally the second major surface) may include texturing, e.g., texturing corresponding to texture present on a surface of the fabric element.

Abstract: A locking structure for an article includes a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void. A locking system includes locking elements that each attach to at least one elastic element. The locking elements each include at least one interface surface. The interior void of the bladder operable between a first pressure to move the locking system to a locked state and a second pressure to move the locking system to an unlocked state.

Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components including the bladders, articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. Such bladder systems may include two thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together at an outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber of the bladder forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot and (ii) one or more side chamber portions forming at least part of one or more securing straps and/or at least part of one or more footwear upper components. The one or more side chamber portions extend outward from the foot support chamber portion and are in fluid communication with the foot support chamber portion.

Abstract: Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: Footwear upper components include a fabric element and a bladder component that defines a sealed interior chamber. The bladder component includes: (a) a first major surface engaged with the fabric element, wherein this first major surface defines at least part of a first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a first surface of the sealed interior chamber, (b) a second major surface opposite the first major surface, wherein this second major surface defines at least part of a second perimeter seam surface opposite the first perimeter seam surface and at least part of a second surface of the sealed interior chamber opposite the sealed interior chamber's first surface, and (c) and a fluid chamber between the first and second major surfaces. The first major surface (and optionally the second major surface) may include texturing, e.g., texturing corresponding to texture present on a surface of the fabric element.

Abstract: Footwear uppers include a footwear upper base formed from one or more component parts and including: (i) an instep region including at least one of a tongue base region or instep base region and (ii) a heel-containing region. A bladder is engaged with the footwear upper. The bladder includes: (i) at least a first instep chamber engaged with the instep region, (ii) at least a first heel and/or ankle support chamber engaged with the heel-containing region, and (iii) a first fluid line connecting the first instep chamber and the first heel and/or ankle support chamber and placing the first instep chamber in fluid communication with the first heel and/or ankle support chamber. Fluid moving from the first instep chamber to the first heel and/or ankle support chamber (e.g., under force applied by a footwear securing strap) provides further support for the wearer's heel and/or ankle.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure having a cushioning component. The cushioning component includes a bladder defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet. The barrier sheets are sealed to one another along a peripheral bond. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and spaced entirely inward of the peripheral bond. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of bonds to tether the barrier sheets to one another. The bonds include at least one bond extending continuously from a medial end adjacent a medial edge of the core to a lateral end adjacent a lateral edge of the core and wider at the medial and lateral ends than at a narrowed portion therebetween.

Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components and articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. The bladders may include first and second thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together by an outer perimeter bond. An interior chamber is defined between the thermoplastic elastomer sheets and inside the outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and at least one of items (ii) and (iii) below, in which: item (ii) comprises a first side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first securing strap or a first footwear upper component), and item (iii) comprises a second side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first strap-engaging member or a second footwear upper component).

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure having a cushioning component. The cushioning component includes a bladder defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet, and the barrier sheets sealed to one another along a peripheral bond. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and spaced entirely inward of the peripheral bond. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of wavy bonds to tether the barrier sheets to one another. The wavy bonds are arranged with waves having peaks and valleys extending in a fore-aft direction such that the at least one polymeric sheet does not create any sealed chambers within the bladder that are not in fluid communication with the interior cavity.

Abstract: A cushioning component includes a bladder and a core. The bladder includes first and second barrier sheets defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces at a plurality of bonds. The cushioning component includes a sidewall disposed around an outer perimeter of the core and directly bonded to the first and second barrier sheets at peripheral bonds to enclose the interior cavity. The core is disposed in the interior cavity and is decoupled from the sidewall. A method of manufacturing includes disposing blocker ink on opposing sides of at least one polymeric sheet, placing the at least one polymeric sheet between the barrier sheets, and thermally bonding the core to the opposing inner surfaces, and the sidewall to the barrier sheets at the peripheral bonds.

Abstract: A cushioning component for a wearable article includes a bladder with barrier sheets defining an interior cavity. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and is spaced entirely inward of a peripheral bond between the barrier sheets. The core traverses the interior cavity between and is bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of bonds. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet defining a plurality of spaced slots extending therethrough, each slot having a first end and a second end with both the first end and the second end inward of an outer perimeter of the core such that the core includes a plurality of strips bordering the slots and decoupled from one another at the slots, each strip bonded to at least one of the first barrier sheet or the second barrier sheet by at least one of the bonds.