Sole structure for article of footwear

Abstract

A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and a ground-engaging surface and including a chassis extending from an anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure, and a bladder supported within the chassis and extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end exposed at the posterior end of the sole structure, the bladder including a first curved portion in the forefoot region and a substantially flat portion at the posterior end of the sole structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 an upper cushioning element extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;   a bladder disposed between the upper cushioning element a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, the bladder extending from the forefoot region to the heel region; and   an outsole including a first surface defining the ground-engaging surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the first surface, the second surface including a first portion in contact with the bladder and a second portion spaced apart from the bladder.   
     
     
         2 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein first portion is disposed in the forefoot region and the second portion is disposed in the heel region. 
     
     
         3 . The sole structure of  claim 2 , wherein the bladder includes a convex surface in contact with the second surface of the outsole in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         4 . The sole structure of  claim 3 , wherein the bladder includes a concave surface in contact with the upper cushioning element in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         5 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder includes a substantially planar portion disposed in the heel region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         6 . The sole structure of  claim 5 , wherein the substantially planar portion includes a first surface in contact with the upper cushioning element and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the bladder than the first surface. 
     
     
         7 . The sole structure of  claim 6 , further comprising a lower cushioning element disposed on an opposite side of the bladder than the upper cushioning element, the second surface of the substantially planar portion in contact with the lower cushioning element. 
     
     
         8 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , wherein the bladder is exposed at the ground-engaging surface in the heel region. 
     
     
         9 . The sole structure of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower cushioning element disposed on an opposite side of the bladder than the upper cushioning element. 
     
     
         10 . The sole structure of  claim 9 , wherein the upper cushioning element is spaced apart from and faces the lower cushioning element across a gap at a posterior end of the sole structure. 
     
     
         11 . A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure comprising:
 an upper cushioning element;   a bladder disposed between the upper cushioning element a ground-engaging surface of the sole structure, the bladder extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure;   a lower cushioning element disposed on an opposite side of the bladder than the upper cushioning element; and   an outsole including a first surface defining the ground-engaging surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the first surface, the second surface including a first portion in contact with the bladder and a second portion in contact with the lower cushioning element.   
     
     
         12 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein first portion is disposed in the forefoot region and the second portion is disposed in a midfoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         13 . The sole structure of  claim 12 , wherein the bladder includes a convex surface in contact with the second surface of the outsole in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         14 . The sole structure of  claim 13 , wherein the bladder includes a concave surface in contact with the upper cushioning element in the forefoot region. 
     
     
         15 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the bladder includes a substantially planar portion disposed in the heel region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         16 . The sole structure of  claim 15 , wherein the substantially planar portion includes a first surface in contact with the upper cushioning element and a second surface disposed on an opposite side of the bladder than the first surface. 
     
     
         17 . The sole structure of  claim 16 , wherein the second surface of the substantially planar portion is in contact with the lower cushioning element. 
     
     
         18 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the bladder is exposed at the ground-engaging surface in the heel region. 
     
     
         19 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the bladder includes an arcuate shape from the forefoot region to a midfoot region of the sole structure. 
     
     
         20 . The sole structure of  claim 11 , wherein the upper cushioning element is spaced apart from and faces the lower cushioning element across a gap at a posterior end of the sole structure.