Sole structure having auxetic structures and sipes

• US 9,635,903 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Lawless, Deborah L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US14/826,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20170042284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0009 made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• 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 13/223 Profiled soles
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0073 Y-shaped

Abstract

A sole structure that includes recessed portions. The recessed portions are arranged such that the sole structure has auxetic properties. In some embodiments, sipes extend to the recessed portions. Additionally, the sole structure may include a central portion having auxetic properties and a peripheral portion.

Claims

1. A sole structure, comprising:

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

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

the plurality of recessed portions including a first recessed portion;

the first recessed portion being bordered by at least a first sole portion and a second sole portion;

the first sole portion and the second sole portion being connected by a junction;

the first sole portion having a first elevated portion;

the second sole portion having a second elevated portion;

the first elevated portion having a first elevated surface;

the first elevated surface being located a first distance away from the inner recessed surface;

the second elevated portion having a second elevated surface;

the second elevated surface being located a second distance away from the inner recessed surface;

the junction having a junction surface;

the junction surface being located a third distance away from the inner recessed surface;

wherein the first distance and the second distance are both larger than the third distance.

2. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first sole portion has a first sidewall surface, the first sidewall surface bordering a portion of the first recessed portion.

3. The sole structure of claim 2, wherein the first elevated portion has a first elevated sidewall surface, at least a portion of the first elevated sidewall surface partially defining the first recessed portion.

4. The sole structure of claim 3, wherein the first elevated sidewall surface is coincident with the first sidewall surface.

5. The sole structure of claim 3, wherein the sole structure further comprises a second recessed portion and a third recessed portion, wherein the first elevated sidewall surface borders at least a portion of both the second recessed portion and the third recessed portion.

6. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first sole portion is of unitary construction with the midsole component.

7. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first elevated portion has a triangular shape.

8. The sole structure of claim 1, wherein the first recessed portion has a first leg, a second leg, and a third leg.

9. A sole structure, comprising:

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

the midsole component including a plurality of recessed portions arranged in an auxetic configuration;

the plurality of recessed portions including a first recessed portion;

the first recessed portion extending from the outer surface to the inner recessed surface;

the first recessed portion being bounded by a first side surface of the midsole component, the first side surface being continuous around the first recessed portion;

the first side surface having an outer edge and an inner edge;

a total depth of the first recessed portion being defined by a distance from the outer edge to the inner edge of the first side surface;

the first side surface including a first color segment and a second color segment;

the first color segment extending a first distance from the inner edge;

the second color segment being located adjacent to the first color segment;

wherein the first color segment is a different color than the second color segment.

10. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the second color segment extends from the outer edge toward the inner edge.

11. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the inner edge abuts the inner recessed surface, the inner recessed surface being the same color as the first color segment.

12. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the second color segment extends a second distance from the outer edge, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

13. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the second color segment extends a second distance from the outer edge, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

14. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the second color segment extends a second distance from the outer edge, wherein the first distance is substantially the same as the second distance.

15. The sole structure of claim 9, wherein the plurality of recessed portions further includes a second recessed portion;

the second recessed portion being located adjacent to the first recessed portion;

the second recessed portion being bounded by a second side surface;

the second side surface including a third color segment;

wherein the third color segment is a different color than the first color segment and the second color segment.

16. A sole structure, comprising:

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

the midsole component having a peripheral edge;

the midsole component including a plurality of recessed portions arranged in an auxetic configuration;

the plurality of recessed portions arranged in a central portion of the midsole component, the central portion being spaced from the peripheral edge;

a plurality of sipes extending from the peripheral edge toward the plurality of recessed portions;

wherein at least one sipe intersects with at least one recessed portion.

17. The sole structure of claim 16, wherein the plurality of sipes extend through a plurality of peripheral edge pieces, the plurality of peripheral edge pieces extending along the periphery of the midsole component.

18. The sole structure of claim 17, wherein a first recessed portion is located adjacent to a first peripheral edge piece, the first recessed portion including a first leg, a second leg, and a central area that connects the first leg and the second leg, wherein a first sipe extends from the peripheral edge and intersects with the central area of the first recessed portion.

19. The sole structure of claim 17, wherein:

a first recessed portion of the plurality of recessed portions is located in a heel region of the midsole component;

wherein a first peripheral edge piece of the midsole component is located adjacent to the first recessed portion;

wherein the first recessed portion includes a first elevated portion;

wherein a first elevated outer surface of the first elevated portion is located at a first distance away from the inner surface of the midsole component;

a first peripheral outer surface of the first peripheral edge piece being located a second distance away from the inner surface of the midsole component;

wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

20. The sole structure of claim 17, wherein a first recessed portion of the plurality of recessed portions is located in a forefoot region of the midsole component, the first recessed portion including a first elevated portion, a first elevated outer surface of the first elevated portion being located at a first distance away from the inner surface of the midsole component;

wherein a first peripheral edge piece of the midsole component is located adjacent to the first recessed portion, a first peripheral outer surface of the first peripheral edge piece being located a second distance away from the inner surface of the midsole component;

wherein the second distance is substantially the same as the first distance.

21. The sole structure of claim 16, wherein the plurality of recessed portions includes a first recessed portion;

the first recessed portion of the midsole component including a first sidewall surface;

the first sidewall surface extending a first distance from an inner edge of the midsole component to an outer edge of the midsole component;

a first sipe of the plurality of sipes intersecting the first recessed portion;

the first sipe having a depth;

wherein the depth of the first sipe is substantially equal to the first distance.