Sole structure for an article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning member including a first side defining a footbed and a second side disposed on an opposite side from the first side and defining (i) an inferior support surface extending from a first end of the cushioning member to a second end of the cushioning member, (ii) a pocket, and (iii) a groove extending from a lateral side of the cushioning member to a medial side of the cushioning member and disposed between the pocket and the first end of the cushioning member. The sole structure also including a bladder disposed in the pocket of the cushioning member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a cushioning member including a first side defining a footbed and a second side disposed on an opposite side from the first side and defining (i) an inferior support surface extending from a first end of the cushioning member to a second end of the cushioning member, (ii) a pocket, and (iii) a groove extending from a lateral side of the cushioning member to a medial side of the cushioning member and disposed between the pocket and the first end of the cushioning member; and   a bladder disposed in the pocket of the cushioning member.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket extends across a width of the cushioning member from a first opening on the lateral side of the cushioning member to a second opening on the medial side of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder includes a first notch extending into the bladder from a peripheral edge of the bladder to separate a lateral side of the bladder into a first bladder segment and a second bladder segment. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first bladder segment, the second bladder segment, and the first notch are exposed through the first opening of the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the first bladder segment and the second bladder segment extend from a common bladder segment disposed on a medial side of the sole structure. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 5 , wherein the common bladder segment is exposed through the second opening of the pocket. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , further comprising an outsole attached to the inferior support surface of the cushioning member and to the bladder. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the outsole includes a rib received within the groove of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 8 , wherein the rib and the groove cooperate to define a flex zone in a forefoot region of the sole structure between the bladder and the first end of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 7 , wherein the outsole includes a second notch aligned with the first notch of the bladder. 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a cushioning member including a first side defining a footbed and a second side disposed on an opposite side from the first side and defining (i) an inferior support surface, (ii) a pocket extending continuously from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure, and (iii) a flex groove formed between the pocket and a first end of the cushioning member; and   a bladder disposed within the pocket.   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the cushioning member includes an anterior pocket wall and a posterior pocket wall disposed on an opposite side of the pocket from the anterior pocket wall and converging with the anterior pocket wall along a direction from the lateral side to the medial side. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein each of the anterior pocket wall and the posterior pocket wall extends across a width of the cushioning member to define a first opening on the lateral side of the cushioning member and a second opening on the medial side of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 13 , wherein the bladder includes a first notch extending into the bladder from a peripheral edge of the bladder to separate a lateral side of the bladder into a first bladder segment and a second bladder segment. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 14 , wherein the first bladder segment, the second bladder segment, and the first notch are exposed through the first opening of the pocket. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 14 , further comprising an outsole attached to the inferior support surface of the cushioning member and to the bladder. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 16 , wherein the outsole includes a flex rib received within the flex groove of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 17 , wherein the flex rib and the flex groove cooperate to define a flex zone in a forefoot region of the sole structure between the bladder and the first end of the cushioning member. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 16 , wherein the outsole includes a second notch aligned with the first notch of the bladder. 
     
     
         20 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 a cushioning member including a first side defining a footbed and a second side disposed on an opposite side from the first side and defining a pocket extending continuously from a first opening on a lateral side of the sole structure to a second opening on a medial side of the sole structure; and   a bladder disposed within the pocket and including a notch extending into the bladder from a peripheral edge of the bladder to separate a lateral side of the bladder into a first bladder segment and a second bladder segment, each of the notch, the first bladder segment, and the second bladder segment exposed through the first opening of the pocket.