Footwear midsole with warped lattice structure and method of making the same
First Claim
1. A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising:
- a three dimensional mesh comprising a plurality of interconnected unit cells, each interconnected unit cell comprising a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape; and
a plurality of nodes at which one or more struts are connected,wherein each node comprises a valence number defined by the number of struts that are connected at that node,wherein the valence number for nodes of the plurality of nodes varies in a longitudinal direction along a length of the midsole between a forefoot end of the midsole and a heel end of the midsole,wherein the valence number for nodes of the plurality of nodes varies in a vertical direction between a top side of the midsole and a bottom side of the midsole, andwherein the variation in the valence number for the nodes in the longitudinal direction is configured to vary a characteristic of the midsole in the longitudinal direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A midsole for an article of footwear including a three dimensional mesh including interconnected unit cells and methods of making the same. The interconnected unit cells each include a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape. The interconnected unit cells are connected at nodes having a valence number defined by the number of struts connected at that node. The valence number of the nodes may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The plurality of interconnected unit cells may be organized in a warped cubic lattice structure. The warped cubic lattice structure and the size/shape of interconnected unit cells may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The three dimensional mesh may be customized based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. The midsole may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising:
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a three dimensional mesh comprising a plurality of interconnected unit cells, each interconnected unit cell comprising a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape; and a plurality of nodes at which one or more struts are connected, wherein each node comprises a valence number defined by the number of struts that are connected at that node, wherein the valence number for nodes of the plurality of nodes varies in a longitudinal direction along a length of the midsole between a forefoot end of the midsole and a heel end of the midsole, wherein the valence number for nodes of the plurality of nodes varies in a vertical direction between a top side of the midsole and a bottom side of the midsole, and wherein the variation in the valence number for the nodes in the longitudinal direction is configured to vary a characteristic of the midsole in the longitudinal direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A midsole for an article of footwear, the midsole comprising:
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a three dimensional mesh comprising a plurality of interconnected unit cells organized in a warped cubic lattice structure that defines a volume of the midsole, each interconnected unit cell comprising a plurality of struts defining a three dimensional shape; wherein the warped cubic lattice structure defines a plurality of nodes at which one or more struts are connected, each node comprising a valence number defined by the number of struts that are connected at that node, and wherein the valence number for nodes of the plurality of nodes varies in a vertical direction between a top side of the midsole and a bottom side of the midsole, wherein the warped cubic lattice structure comprises a perimeter column of warped cubic lattice cells and a central column of unwarped cubic lattice cells disposed interior of the perimeter column of warped cubic lattice cells, wherein the perimeter column of warped cubic lattice cells and the central column of unwarped cubic lattice cells comprise a plurality of vertically arranged cubic lattice cells, wherein the perimeter column of warped cubic lattice cells defines a portion of a perimeter of the volume of the midsole, and wherein the warped cubic lattice cells of the perimeter column have cubic geometries that are warped in a longitudinal direction along a length of the midsole, in a transverse direction along a width of the midsole, and in said vertical direction along a height of the midsole. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification