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Sole structure with holes arranged in auxetic configuration

  • US 9,538,811 B2
  • Filed: 03/10/2015
  • Issued: 01/10/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear, comprising:

  • a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface;

    the midsole component having a longitudinal direction extending along a length of the article of footwear, a lateral direction extending along a width of the article of footwear, and a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction;

    the midsole component including a plurality of holes arranged in an auxetic configuration in the outer surface;

    wherein the auxetic configuration is configured such that when the midsole component is under longitudinal tension it expands in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and when the midsole component is under lateral tension it expands in both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction;

    wherein the plurality of holes includes at least a first hole and a second hole;

    wherein the first hole is a through hole, the first hole extending in the vertical direction from the outer surface to the inner surface;

    wherein the second hole is a blind hole, the blind hole extending in the vertical direction from the outer surface; and

    wherein when the midsole component is under longitudinal tension and/or lateral tension, the through hole expands more than the blind hole.

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