Sole structure for article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a bladder including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first chamber bounding a periphery of the heel region, and a second chamber extending from the mid-foot region through the forefoot region and including a plurality of segments extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. Each of the segments of the second chamber includes a medial reservoir adjacent to the medial side and a lateral reservoir adjacent to the lateral side, the medial reservoir fluidly coupled to the lateral reservoir via a first conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a first segment including a first lateral reservoir, a first medial reservoir, and a first central reservoir extending between and fluidly coupling the first lateral reservoir and the first medial reservoir, the first lateral reservoir, the first medial reservoir, and the first central reservoir cooperating to define a first U-shape; and   a second segment including a second lateral reservoir, a second medial reservoir, and a second central reservoir extending between and fluidly coupling the second lateral reservoir and the second medial reservoir, the second lateral reservoir, the second medial reservoir, and the second central reservoir cooperating to define a second U-shape that is aligned with the first U-shape of the first segment.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein a central, longitudinal axis of the sole structure extends through the first central reservoir and the second central reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first U-shape and the second U-shape are oriented such that their open ends face the same direction. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first medial reservoir, the second medial reservoir, the first lateral reservoir, the second lateral reservoir, the first central reservoir, and the second central reservoir is elongate. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first medial reservoir, the second medial reservoir, the first lateral reservoir, the second lateral reservoir, the first central reservoir, and the second central reservoir defines a prolate hemispheroid shape. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first medial reservoir is aligned with the second medial reservoir along a medial axis at a medial side of the sole structure and the first lateral reservoir is aligned with the second lateral reservoir along a lateral axis at a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment and the second segment are disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein each U-shaped segment is separated from an adjacent U-shaped segment by a web area. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a third segment including a third lateral reservoir, a third medial reservoir, and a third central reservoir extending between and fluidly coupling the third lateral reservoir and the third medial reservoir, the third lateral reservoir, the third medial reservoir, and the third central reservoir cooperating to define a third U-shape that is aligned with the first U-shape and the second U-shape. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a plurality of U-shaped segments disposed in a forefoot region of the sole structure, each U-shaped segment comprising:
 a lateral reservoir positioned adjacent a lateral side of the sole structure, a medial reservoir positioned adjacent a medial side of the sole structure, and a central reservoir extending between and fluidly coupling the lateral reservoir and the medial reservoir, the U-shaped segments being arranged in series along a longitudinal axis of the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the sole structure is a central longitudinal axis that extends through the central reservoir of each U-shaped segment. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein U-shaped segments of the plurality of U-shaped segments are oriented such that their open ends face the same direction. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the medial reservoir, the lateral reservoir, and the central reservoir of at least one U-shaped segment of the plurality of U-shaped segments is elongate. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the medial reservoir, the lateral reservoir, and the central reservoir of at least one U-shaped segment of the plurality of U-shaped segments defines a prolate hemispheroid shape. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the medial reservoir of a first U-shaped segment of the plurality of U-shaped segments is aligned with the medial reservoir of a second U-shaped segment of the plurality of U-shaped segments along a medial axis at a medial side of the sole structure and the lateral reservoir of the first U-shaped segment is aligned with the lateral reservoir of the second U-shaped segment along a lateral axis at a lateral side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , further comprising a chamber disposed in a heel region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein each U-shaped segment of the plurality of U-shaped segments is separated from an adjacent U-shaped segment by a web area. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein U-shaped segments of the plurality of U-shaped segments are in fluid communication with one another. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear incorporating the sole structure of  claim 11 .