Multicolor Sole System

Abstract

A multicolor sole system includes a midsole member, a bladder member and an outsole member. The midsole member, the bladder member and the outsole member have a first color in the forefoot portion of the sole system and a second color in the heel portion of the sole system. The midsole member includes two outer coatings corresponding to the two colors, the bladder member includes two dyes corresponding to the two colors and the outsole member is made of two different colored materials corresponding to the two colors.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a bladder member including an outer barrier layer and an interior cavity, the interior cavity being filled with fluid;   an outsole member including an outer surface for contacting a ground surface and an inner surface in contact with the bladder member;   the bladder member including a first bladder portion of the outer barrier layer and a second bladder portion of the outer barrier layer;   the outsole member including a first outsole portion and a second outsole portion;   wherein the first bladder portion includes a first dye corresponding to a first color and wherein the second bladder portion includes a second dye corresponding to a second color that is substantially different from the first color; and   wherein the first outsole portion is made of a rubber material having the first color and wherein the second outsole portion is made of a rubber material having the second color.   
     
     
         2 . The sole system according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer barrier layer of the bladder member comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The sole system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first bladder portion and the first outsole portion are disposed in a forefoot portion of the sole system. 
     
     
         4 . The sole system according to  claim 3 , wherein the second bladder portion and the second outsole portion are disposed in a heel portion of the sole system. 
     
     
         5 . The sole system according to  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate bladder portion of the outer barrier layer of the bladder member is disposed between the first bladder portion and the second bladder portion and wherein the intermediate bladder portion includes a third color that is substantially different from the first color and the second color. 
     
     
         6 . The sole system according to  claim 5 , wherein an intermediate outsole portion of the outsole member is disposed between the first outsole portion and the second outsole portion and wherein the intermediate outsole portion is made of a material having the third color. 
     
     
         7 . A sole system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a bladder member including an outer barrier layer and an interior cavity, the interior cavity being filled with fluid;   a midsole member adapted to confront the bladder member, wherein the midsole member is disposed further from a ground contacting surface of the sole system than the bladder member;   the bladder member including a first bladder portion of the outer barrier layer and a second bladder portion of the outer barrier layer;   the midsole member including a first midsole portion and a second midsole portion;   wherein the first bladder portion includes a first dye corresponding to a first color and wherein the second bladder portion includes a second dye corresponding to a second color that is different from the first color; and   wherein the first midsole portion includes an outer coating layer having the first color and wherein the second midsole portion includes an outer coating layer having the second color.   
     
     
         8 . The sole system according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer coating layer is a coating of paint. 
     
     
         9 . The sole system according to  claim 7 , wherein the bladder member includes an insert member that can be assembled with the bladder member. 
     
     
         10 . The sole system according to  claim 9 , wherein the insert member has a color corresponding to a portion of the bladder member. 
     
     
         11 . The sole system according to  claim 7 , wherein the sole system includes an outsole member and wherein the outsole member includes a first outsole portion having the first color and a second outsole portion having the second color. 
     
     
         12 . The sole system according to  claim 11 , wherein the first midsole portion is disposed vertically over the first bladder portion. 
     
     
         13 . The sole system according to  claim 12 , wherein the first bladder portion is disposed vertically over the first outsole portion. 
     
     
         14 . A sole system for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a bladder member including an outer barrier layer and an interior cavity, the interior cavity being filled with fluid;   a midsole member including an inner surface in contact with a first surface of the bladder member;   an outsole member including an outer surface for contacting a ground surface and an inner surface in contact with a second surface of the bladder member;   wherein the bladder member includes at least one dye that provides color for the bladder member;   wherein the midsole member includes at least one coating layer that provides color for the midsole member; and   wherein at least a portion of the bladder member, at least a portion of the midsole member and at least a portion of the outsole member have matching colors.   
     
     
         15 . The sole system according to  claim 14 , wherein the dye is bonded to the outer barrier layer of the bladder member. 
     
     
         16 . The sole system according to  claim 14 , wherein the midsole member comprises a core portion covered by an outer coating layer and wherein the core portion and the outer coating layer have substantially different colors. 
     
     
         17 . The sole system according to  claim 14 , wherein at least two different colors are visible along the sole system. 
     
     
         18 . The sole system according to  claim 17 , wherein at least three different colors are visible along the sole system. 
     
     
         19 . The sole system according to  claim 14 , wherein the color of the sole system varies from a forefoot portion of the sole system to a heel portion of the sole system. 
     
     
         20 . The sole system according to  claim 19 , wherein the color of the sole system changes gradually from the forefoot portion to the heel portion.