Sole structure for an article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning component that has an outer surface and at least partially defines a chamber that is at least partially surrounded by the outer surface. At least a portion of the outer surface has a protruding shape in the absence of a compressive load of at least a predetermined magnitude on the cushioning component. The sole structure includes a sole component that includes a projection that either extends through the outer surface of the cushioning component and within the chamber, or interfaces with a recess in the outer surface of the cushioning component, or protrudes from an inner surface of the cushioning component into the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising:
 a cushioning component including a body, the body having an outer surface and at least partially defining a chamber at least partially surrounded by the outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface having a protruding shape in the absence of a compressive load of at least a predetermined magnitude on the cushioning component;   wherein the body has a sidewall section that has an equilibrium state at a first position in an expanded configuration of the cushioning component;   wherein the sidewall section is configured to elastically deform by snap-through buckling to a collapsed configuration when under the compressive load; and   wherein the body has a first length along a longitudinal axis of the body in the expanded configuration and a second length along the longitudinal axis of the body in the collapsed configuration, the second length less than the first length.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to provide a haptic indicator of the snap-through buckling. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bladder disposed external to the chamber; wherein the body resiliently deforms against the bladder when the sidewall section is in the collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the cushioning component overlies the bladder and is between a wearer's foot and the bladder when the article of footwear is worn on a foot. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a resilient member disposed within the chamber; wherein the resilient member resiliently deforms against the bladder.   
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall section is an annular sidewall section and is folded in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resilient member disposed within the chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member is secured to an inner surface of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member is contained within the body. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises foam. 
     
     
         11 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the resilient member comprises a bladder defining a fluid-filled chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the cushioning component is one of a plurality of cushioning components included in the sole structure, each of the cushioning components including a body with a protruding shape configured for snap-through buckling, each body having an outer surface and at least partially defining a chamber at least partially surrounded by the outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface having a protruding shape in the absence of a compressive load of at least a predetermined magnitude on the cushioning component. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning components are each integral portions of a single sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein the cushioning components are distributed in a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of resilient members, each of the resilient members disposed in the chambers defined by a different respective one of the cushioning components.   
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the resilient members have different shapes. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein at least some of the resilient members each define at least one void. 
     
     
         18 . A sole structure for an article of footwear comprising:
 a plurality of cushioning components;   wherein each of the cushioning components is an integral portion of a single sheet, and each of the cushioning components includes a body, the body having an outer surface and at least partially defining a chamber at least partially surrounded by the outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface having a protruding shape in the absence of a compressive load of at least a predetermined magnitude on the cushioning component;   wherein the body has a sidewall section that has an equilibrium state at a first position in an expanded configuration of the cushioning component;   wherein the sidewall section is configured to elastically deform by snap-through buckling to a collapsed configuration when under the compressive load; and   wherein the body has a first length along a longitudinal axis of the body in the expanded configuration and a second length along the longitudinal axis of the body in the collapsed configuration, the second length less than the first length.   
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a sole layer configured as a midsole underlying the cushioning components such that the cushioning components are disposed between the midsole and a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn on a foot.   
     
     
         20 . The sole structure of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a plurality of resilient members, each of the resilient members disposed in the chamber defined by a different respective one of the cushioning components.