Fluid Systems and/or Laminated Structures Including Inflated Chambers for Controlling Fluid Flow in Fluid Lines and Products Including Such Fluid Systems and Structures

Abstract

Fluid systems include: (i) a fluid line having a fluid line wall made at least in part from flexible material; and (ii) an inflated fluid chamber having a chamber wall made at least in part from flexible material. Portions of the fluid chamber and fluid line are positioned adjacent one another. The fluid chamber contains fluid at a first pressure. When pressure in the fluid line is below a first threshold value (e.g., less than the first pressure), the chamber wall is positioned to stop fluid flow through the fluid line. But, when pressure in the fluid line is greater than a second threshold value (e.g., greater than the first pressure), the chamber wall is positioned to allow fluid flow through the fluid line. The fluid system may be a laminate, e.g., with plural sheets of thermoplastic elastomer material sealed together to form the fluid line and fluid chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid system, comprising:
 a fluid line having a fluid line wall made at least in part from a first flexible material; and   an inflated fluid chamber having a chamber wall made at least in part from a second flexible material, wherein the second flexible material is the same as or different from the first flexible material, wherein a portion of the inflated fluid chamber is positioned adjacent a portion of the fluid line, wherein the inflated fluid chamber contains fluid at a first pressure, wherein: (i) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is below a first threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to stop fluid flow through the fluid line, and (ii) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is greater than a second threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to allow fluid flow through the fluid line, wherein the first threshold value is less than or equal to the first pressure, and wherein the second threshold value is greater than or equal to the first pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with the fluid line.   
     
     
         3 . The fluid system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fluid line and the first foot support bladder chamber comprise a unitary, one piece construction. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid system according to  claim 2 , wherein the fluid line, the first foot support bladder chamber, and the inflated fluid chamber comprise a multi-layer laminate construction. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid system according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid line, wherein the fluid line extends between the first foot support bladder chamber and the fluid container, and wherein the inflated fluid chamber controls fluid flow through the fluid line between the first foot support bladder chamber and the fluid container.   
     
     
         6 . The fluid system according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid container comprises a second foot support bladder chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid system according to  claim 6 , wherein the first foot support bladder chamber comprises a heel support bladder chamber and the second foot support bladder chamber comprise a forefoot support bladder chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid system according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid line, the first foot support bladder chamber, and the fluid container comprise a unitary, one piece construction. 
     
     
         9 . The fluid system according to  claim 5 , wherein the fluid line, the first foot support bladder chamber, the fluid container, and the inflated fluid chamber comprise a multi-layer laminate construction. 
     
     
         10 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line and the inflated fluid chamber comprise a multi-layer laminate construction. 
     
     
         11 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid line, wherein the inflated fluid chamber controls fluid flow through the fluid line to and/or from the fluid container.   
     
     
         12 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a compressible bulb pump in fluid communication with the fluid line.   
     
     
         13 . The fluid system according to  claim 12 , wherein a first side of the fluid line is in fluid communication with the compressible bulb pump and a second side of the fluid line is in fluid communication with an external environment. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the fluid line wall and a portion of the chamber wall are formed from a single sheet of thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid line and the inflated fluid chamber are located on opposite sides of a single sheet of thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid system according to  claim 1 , wherein when the fluid pressure in the fluid line is below the first threshold value, the inflated fluid chamber pinches the fluid line shut. 
     
     
         17 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole component; and   a fluid system engaged with the sole component, wherein the fluid system includes:
 a fluid line having a fluid line wall made at least in part from a first flexible material; and 
 an inflated fluid chamber having a chamber wall made at least in part from a second flexible material, wherein the second flexible material is the same as or different from the first flexible material, wherein a portion of the inflated fluid chamber is positioned adjacent a portion of the fluid line, wherein the inflated fluid chamber contains fluid at a first pressure, wherein: (i) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is below a first threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to stop fluid flow through the fluid line, and (ii) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is greater than a second threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to allow fluid flow through the fluid line, wherein the first threshold value is less than or equal to the first pressure, and wherein the second threshold value is greater than or equal to the first pressure. 
   
     
     
         18 . The sole structure according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with a first end of the fluid line; and   a second foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with a second end of the fluid line, wherein the portion of the inflated fluid chamber positioned adjacent the portion of the fluid line is located between the first end and the second end, and wherein the first foot support bladder chamber comprises a heel support bladder chamber and the second foot support bladder chamber comprise a forefoot support bladder chamber.   
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a footwear component; and   a fluid system engaged with the footwear component, wherein the fluid system includes:
 a fluid line having a fluid line wall made at least in part from a first flexible material; and 
 an inflated fluid chamber having a chamber wall made at least in part from a second flexible material, wherein the second flexible material is the same as or different from the first flexible material, wherein a portion of the inflated fluid chamber is positioned adjacent a portion of the fluid line, wherein the inflated fluid chamber contains fluid at a first pressure, wherein: (i) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is below a first threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to stop fluid flow through the fluid line, and (ii) when fluid pressure in the fluid line is greater than a second threshold value, the chamber wall is positioned to allow fluid flow through the fluid line, wherein the first threshold value is less than or equal to the first pressure, and wherein the second threshold value is greater than or equal to the first pressure. 
   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a first foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with a first end of the fluid line; and   a second foot support bladder chamber in fluid communication with a second end of the fluid line, wherein the portion of the inflated fluid chamber positioned adjacent the portion of the fluid line is located between the first end and the second end, and wherein the first foot support bladder chamber comprises a heel support bladder chamber and the second foot support bladder chamber comprise a forefoot support bladder chamber.