×

Auxetic structures and footwear with soles having auxetic structures

  • US 9,820,532 B2
  • Filed: 11/20/2014
  • Issued: 11/21/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure, wherein the sole structure comprises:

  • an outsole and a midsole, the sole structure 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 normal to a plane defined by the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction;

    a plurality of apertures extending in the vertical direction through at least the outsole and the midsole of the sole structure, the plurality of apertures including a first aperture, the first aperture having a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, a fifth side and a sixth side;

    the first side and the second side being joined at a first vertex, the first side and the second side forming a first angle at a first angle at the first vertex that is less than ninety degrees;

    the second side and the third side being joined at a second vertex, the second side and the third side forming a second angle at the second vertex that is greater than ninety degrees;

    the third side and the fourth side being joined at a third vertex, the third side and the fourth side forming a third angle at the third vertex that is less than ninety degrees;

    the fourth side and the fifth side being joined at a fourth vertex, the fourth side and the fifth side forming a fourth angle at the fourth vertex that is greater than ninety degrees;

    the fifth side and the sixth side being joined at a fifth vertex, the fifth side and the sixth side forming a fifth angle at the fifth vertex that is less than ninety degrees;

    the first side and the sixth side being joined at a sixth vertex, the first side and the sixth side forming a sixth angle at the sixth vertex that is greater than ninety degrees;

    wherein the midsole has a midsole geometry matching an outsole geometry of the outsole, such that the plurality of apertures extending in the vertical direction through at least the outsole and the midsole of the sole structure are formed by apertures in the outsole and apertures in the midsole that correspond with each other to form single apertures the extend through both the midsole and the outsole;

    wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged in geometrical patterns comprising triangular portions of the outsole that define and surround the apertures; and

    wherein when a portion of the sole structure is under longitudinal tension the plurality of apertures expand such that the sole structure expands in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and when the portion of the sole structure is under lateral tension the plurality of apertures expand such that the sole structure expands in both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×