Multi-component sole structure having an auxetic configuration

• US 9,554,622 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2015
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Cross, Tory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao-Thieu L
• Application Number:
  US14/643,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20150237957A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/02 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/125 characterised by the midsole or middle layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/188 Differential cushioning regions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/38 Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0073 Y-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure with a midsole component and an inner sole component. The midsole component includes holes arranged in an auxetic configuration. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different density. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different compressibility.

Claims

1. A sole structure, comprising:

a midsole component and an inner sole component;

the midsole component having a longitudinal direction extending along a length of the sole structure, a lateral direction extending along a width of the sole structure, 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;

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 one through hole that extends through a thickness of the midsole component in the vertical direction between an inner surface and an outer surface of the midsole component;

the midsole component being shaped to receive the inner sole component, wherein the inner sole component is disposed against the inner surface of the midsole component; and

wherein a first density of the midsole component is different than a second density of the inner sole component.

2. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the midsole component includes a recess on the inner surface that receives the inner sole component.

3. The sole structure according to claim 2,

wherein the recess further includes an inner recess sidewall extending around the recess;

and

wherein a peripheral sidewall surface of the inner sole component is disposed against the inner recess sidewall of the midsole component.

4. The sole structure according to claim 3, wherein a portion of the inner sole component is exposed through the at least one hole.

5. The sole structure according to claim 4, wherein the midsole component is a different color than the inner sole component.

6. The sole structure according to claim 3, wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes is a blind hole.

7. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the midsole component has a higher density than the inner sole component.

8. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the midsole component is made of a material including foam.

9. The sole structure according to claim 8, wherein the inner sole component is made of a material including foam.

10. The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the inner sole component is more compressible than the midsole component.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure including a midsole component and an inner sole component;

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 an outer surface and an inner surface;

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

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 one through hole that extends through a thickness of the midsole component in the vertical direction between the inner surface and the outer surface of the midsole component;

the inner surface of the midsole component including a central recess that receives the inner sole component; and

at least one outer sole member attached to the outer surface of the midsole component.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the central recess has a first geometry, wherein the inner sole component has a second geometry and wherein the first geometry matches the second geometry.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein an inner surface of the inner sole component is flush with a portion of the inner surface of the midsole component.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the central recess extends from a front end of the midsole component to a rear end of the midsole component.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the inner sole component is more compressible than the midsole component.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the inner sole component is exposed on the outer surface of the sole structure through at least one hole in the midsole component.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the at least one outer sole member has a different density than the inner sole component.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the at least one outer sole member has a different density than the midsole component.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the at least one outer sole member is disposed in a recess on the outer surface of the midsole component.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the midsole component is thicker than the inner sole component proximate the central recess.