US Patent 7386946 Flexible fluid-filled bladder for an article of footwear

A fluid-filled bladder for an article of footwear is disclosed that includes a sealed outer barrier and a tensile member. The barrier is substantially impermeable to a fluid contained by the bladder, and the tensile member is located within the barrier and bonded to opposite sides of the barrier. The tensile member defines a flexion area that promotes flexing of a first portion of the bladder with respect to a second portion of the bladder. The flexion area is an area where the tensile member is absent, and the flexion area may have the configuration of a space, aperture, or indentation, for example.