CN111602927A - Sole structure with apertures arranged in auxetic configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

An article of footwear (100) includes a sole structure (103, 1100) having a midsole component (1122, 122). The midsole component (1122, 122) includes a plurality of apertures (1130, 1150, 1170, 1172, 200, 300, 402) arranged in an auxetic configuration. The plurality of holes (1130, 1150, 1170, 1172, 200, 300, 402) includes a through hole (1130, 1150, 1170, 1172, 200, 300, 402) and a blind hole (1152). A blind hole (1152) surrounds the through hole (1130, 1150, 1170, 1172, 200, 300, 402).

Description

Sole structure with apertures arranged in auxetic configuration

The application is a divisional application, and the national application number of the parent application is as follows: 201580077276.2 (International application No. PCT/US2015/066905), the date of entering China national phase is: 31/08/2017 (2015/12/18/international application date), and the invention name is: a sole structure having apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a continuation-in-part of the following applications: U.S. patent application No. 14/030,002, filed 2013, 9/18, entitled "Auxetic Structures and Footwear Having a sole with an Auxetic structure" (automated Structures and footware with So Having a high automatic Structures), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to the following applications: co-pending U.S. patent application No. ______ entitled "midsole component and outsole member with Auxetic Structure (middle Sole and Outer Sole Members with automatic Structure" filed on 3/10/2015 "(attorney docket No. 51-4273), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is also related to the following applications: co-pending U.S. patent application No. ______ entitled "Multi-Component Sole Structure with Auxetic Structure" (attorney docket No. 51-4338), filed on day 2015, 3/10, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Background

The present embodiments relate generally to articles of footwear, and more particularly, to articles of footwear having an upper and a sole structure.

The article of footwear generally includes two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper may be formed from a variety of materials that are stitched or adhesively bonded together to form a void within the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. The sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In many footwear articles, including athletic footwear styles, the sole structure often includes an insole, a midsole, and an outsole.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, an article of footwear includes a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface. The midsole component includes a plurality of apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration in an outer surface. The plurality of holes includes a first hole and a second hole. The first hole is a through hole extending from the outer surface to the inner surface and the second hole is a blind hole.

An article of footwear includes a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface. The midsole component further includes a lower portion and a sidewall portion. The midsole component includes a plurality of apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration in an outer surface. At least one of the plurality of apertures includes an aperture portion disposed in a sidewall portion of the midsole component.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

Drawings

The embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear;

FIG. 2 is an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear including a sole structure constructed from an insole assembly, a midsole assembly, and a plurality of outsole members;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of an article of footwear;

FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of a sole structure, including an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the sole structure;

FIG. 5 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of a sole structure, including an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the sole structure, wherein the portion of the sole structure is undergoing auxetic expansion;

FIG. 6 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of a sole structure including blind and through holes arranged in an auxetic structure;

FIG. 7 is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of a sole structure including blind and through holes arranged in an auxetic structure;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of an embodiment of a sole structure having apertures disposed in two areas;

figures 9-10 illustrate auxetic expansion of two different apertures on an embodiment of a sole structure; and

figures 11-12 illustrate embodiments of the sole structure before and when a compressive force is applied.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear 100. In an exemplary embodiment, article of footwear 100 has the form of an athletic shoe. However, in other embodiments, the arrangements discussed herein with respect to article of footwear 100 may be incorporated into various other types of footwear, including, but not limited to: basketball shoes, hiking boots, soccer shoes, athletic shoes, running shoes, training shoes, football shoes, baseball shoes, and other types of shoes. Further, in some embodiments, the arrangements discussed herein with respect to article of footwear 100 may be incorporated into various other types of non-athletic related footwear, including but not limited to: slippers, sandals, high-heeled shoes and loafers (loafers).

For purposes of clarity, the following detailed description discusses features of article of footwear 100 (also referred to simply as article 100). However, it will be understood that other embodiments may include corresponding articles of footwear (e.g., a right article of footwear when footwear 100 is a left article of footwear) that may share some, and possibly all, of the features of article 100 described herein and shown in the figures.

Embodiments may be characterized by various directional adjectives and reference sections. These directions and reference portions may be helpful in describing portions of an article of footwear. In addition, these directions and reference portions may also be used to describe sub-components of the article of footwear (e.g., directions and/or portions of an insole component, a midsole component, an outsole component, an upper, or any other component).

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are used throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. The term "longitudinal," as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to a direction extending along a length of an element (e.g., an upper or a sole element). In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from a forefoot portion to a heel portion of the assembly. Furthermore, the term "lateral" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction extending along the width of the assembly. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between the medial and lateral sides of the assembly. Furthermore, the term "perpendicular" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in the case of an article lying flat on the ground, the vertical direction may extend upwardly from the ground. Further, the term "interior" refers to a portion of the article that is disposed adjacent to the interior of the article or adjacent to the foot when the article is worn. Likewise, the term "exterior" refers to a portion of the article that is disposed away from the interior of the article or away from the foot. Thus, for example, the inner surface of the component is disposed closer to the interior of the article than the outer surface of the component. This detailed description utilizes these directional adjectives to describe articles and various components of articles, including uppers, midsole structures, and/or outsole structures.

The article 100 may be characterized by a plurality of distinct regions or portions. For example, article 100 may include a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, a heel portion, and an ankle portion. Further, components of article 100 may likewise include corresponding portions. Referring to fig. 1, article 100 may be divided into forefoot portion 10, midfoot portion 12, and heel portion 14. Forefoot portion 10 may generally be associated with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. The midfoot portion 12 may generally be associated with the arch of the foot. Likewise, the heel portion 14 may generally be associated with the heel of a foot, including the calcaneus bone. Article 100 may also include ankle portion 15 (which may also be referred to as a collar portion). In addition, article 100 may include exterior side 16 and interior side 18. In particular, lateral side 16 and medial side 18 may be opposite sides of article 100. In addition, lateral side 16 and medial side 18 may extend through forefoot portion 10, midfoot portion 12, heel portion 14, and ankle portion 15.

Fig. 2 shows an exploded isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear 100. Fig. 1-2 illustrate various components of an article of footwear 100, including an upper 102 and a sole structure 103.

In general, upper 102 may be any type of upper. In particular, upper 102 may have any design, shape, size, and/or color. For example, in embodiments where article 100 is a basketball shoe, upper 102 may be a high-top upper shaped to provide high support for the ankle. In embodiments where article 100 is a running shoe, upper 102 may be a low-top upper.

In some embodiments, upper 102 includes an opening 114 that provides the foot with access to the interior void of upper 102. In some embodiments, upper 102 may also include a tongue (not shown) that provides cushioning and support across the instep of the foot. Some embodiments may include fastening arrangements including, but not limited to: laces, tethers, straps, buttons, zippers, and any other arrangement known in the art for securing articles. In some embodiments, lace 125 may be applied in a fastening area of upper 102.

Some embodiments may include an upper that extends under the foot, providing 360 degrees of coverage in some areas of the foot. However, other embodiments need not include an upper that extends under the foot. In other embodiments, for example, the upper may have a lower periphery that is connected with the sole structure and/or sock liner.

The upper may be formed from a variety of different manufacturing techniques that yield a variety of upper structures. For example, in some embodiments, the upper may have a braided structure, a knitted (e.g., warp knitted) structure, or some other braided structure. In an exemplary embodiment, upper 102 may be a knit upper.

In some embodiments, sole structure 103 may be configured to provide traction for article 100. In addition to providing traction, sole structure 103 may attenuate ground reaction forces when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. The configuration of sole structure 103 may vary significantly in different embodiments to include a variety of conventional or non-conventional structures. In some cases, the configuration of sole structure 103 may be configured according to one or more types of ground surfaces that sole structure 103 may utilize. Examples of the ground include, but are not limited to: natural turf, artificial turf, dirt, hardwood flooring, and other surfaces.

Sole structure 103 is secured to upper 102 and extends between the foot and the ground when article 100 is worn. In different embodiments, sole structure 103 may include different components. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 1-2, sole structure 103 may include an insole assembly 120, a midsole assembly 122, and a plurality of outsole members 124. In some cases, one or more of these components may be optional.

Referring now to fig. 2, in some embodiments, the insole assembly 120 may be configured for use as an inner layer of a midsole. For example, as discussed in further detail below, insole assembly 120 may be integrated or received into a portion of midsole assembly 122. However, in other embodiments, the insole assembly 120 may be used as an insole layer and/or as a strobel layer. Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, to secure sole structure 103 to upper 102, insole assembly 120 may be joined (e.g., stitched or glued) to lower portion 104 of upper 102.

The insole assembly 120 may have an inner surface 132 and an outer surface 134. Interior surface 132 may be generally oriented toward upper 102. Outer surface 134 may be generally oriented toward midsole component 122. Further, a peripheral sidewall surface 136 may extend between the inner surface 132 and the outer surface 134.

Midsole element 122 may be configured to provide cushioning, shock absorption, energy return, support, and possibly other effects. To this end, midsole component 122 may have a geometry that provides structure and support to article 100. In particular, midsole component 122 may be viewed as having a lower portion 140 and a sidewall portion 142. Sidewall portion 142 may extend around the entire periphery 144 of midsole component 122. As shown in fig. 1, sidewall portions 142 may partially wrap the sides of article 100 to provide increased support along the bottom of the foot.

Midsole component 122 may further include an inner surface 150 and an outer surface 152. Interior surface 150 may be generally oriented toward upper 102, while exterior surface 152 may be oriented outward. Moreover, in the exemplary embodiment, midsole component 122 includes a central recess 148 disposed in an interior surface 150. The central recess 148 may generally be sized and configured to receive the insole assembly 120.

In some embodiments, midsole component 122 may include a plurality of apertures 200, at least some of which may extend through the entire thickness of midsole component 122. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2, some of the plurality of apertures 200 are visible within the central recess 148.

In different embodiments, midsole component 122 may generally include various arrangements associated with a midsole. For example, in one embodiment, the midsole component may be formed from a polymer foam material that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) during walking, running, and other ambulatory activities. In various embodiments, the midsole component may also include fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that, for example, further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motion of the foot.

Figure 3 illustrates a bottom view of sole structure 103. As shown in fig. 2-3, plurality of outsole members 124 includes four different outsole members. Specifically, sole structure 103 includes a first outsole member 160, a second outsole member 162, a third outsole member 164, and a fourth outsole member 166. Although the exemplary embodiment includes four different outer sole members, other embodiments may include any other number of outer sole members. In another embodiment, for example, there may be only a single outsole member. In another embodiment, only two outsole members may be used. In another embodiment, only three outsole members may be used. In other embodiments, five or more outer sole members may be used.

In general, the outsole member may be configured as a ground engaging member. In some embodiments, the outsole member may include properties associated with the outsole such as durability, wear-resistance, and increased traction. In other embodiments, the outer sole member may include properties associated with the midsole, including cushioning, strength, and support. In an exemplary embodiment, plurality of outsole members 124 may be configured as outsole-shaped members that enhance traction with the ground while maintaining wear-resistance.

In different embodiments, the location of one or more outer sole members may vary. In some embodiments, one or more outsole members may be disposed in a forefoot portion of the sole structure. In other embodiments, one or more outer sole members may be disposed in the midfoot portion of the sole structure. In other embodiments, one or more outer sole members may be disposed in a heel portion of the sole structure. In an exemplary embodiment, first outer sole member 160 and second outer sole member 162 may be disposed in forefoot portion 10 of sole structure 103. More specifically, first outer sole member 160 may be disposed on medial side 18 of forefoot portion 10, while second outer sole member 162 may be disposed on lateral side 16 of forefoot portion 10. Moreover, in an exemplary embodiment, third outer sole member 164 and fourth outer sole member 166 may be disposed in heel portion 14 of sole structure 103. More specifically, third outsole member 164 may be disposed on lateral side 16, and fourth outsole member 166 may be disposed on medial side 18. Further, it can be seen that first and second outer sole members 160, 162 are spaced apart from one another in the center of forefoot portion 10, while third and fourth outer sole members 164, 166 are spaced apart from one another in the center of heel portion 14. This exemplary structure provides increased ground contact to the outsole member in areas during various cuts and undercuts to enhance traction during these movements.

The size of the different outsole members may vary. In an exemplary embodiment, first outer sole member 160 may be the largest outer sole member of the plurality of outer sole members 124. In addition, second outsole member 162 may be substantially smaller than first outsole member 160, thereby increasing traction on medial side 18 of sole structure 103 more in forefoot portion 10 than lateral side 16. At heel portion 14, third outer sole member 164 and fourth outer sole member 166 are each widest along rear edge 109 of sole structure 103 and taper slightly toward midfoot portion 12.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, it can be seen that first outer sole member 160 has an inner surface 170 and an outer surface 172. Inner surface 170 may be generally positioned against midsole component 122. The outer surface 172 may face outward and may be a ground surface. For purposes of clarity, only the inner and outer surfaces of first outer sole member 160 are indicated in fig. 2-3, however, it is understood that the remaining outer sole members may likewise include respective inner and outer surfaces having a similar orientation as midsole component 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, insole assembly 120 may be disposed within central recess 148 of midsole assembly 122. More specifically, outer surface 134 of insole component 120 may be oriented toward and in contact with inner surface 150 of midsole component 122. Further, in some cases, the peripheral sidewall surface 136 may also contact the inner surface 150 along the inner recess sidewall 149. In addition, a plurality of outer sole members 124 may be disposed against outer surface 152 of midsole component 122. For example, inner surface 170 of first outer sole member 160 may face and contact outer surface 152 of midsole component 122. In some embodiments, when assembled, midsole component 122 and insole component 120 may comprise a composite midsole component or a dual-layer midsole component.

In different embodiments, upper 102 and sole structure 103 may be connected in various ways. In some embodiments, upper 102 may be attached to insole assembly 120, for example, using an adhesive or by stitching. In other embodiments, upper 102 may be connected to midsole component 122, for example, along sidewall portion 142. In other embodiments, upper 102 may be coupled with both insole component 120 and midsole component 122. In addition, these components may be joined using any method known in the art for joining a sole component to an upper, including various lasting techniques and processes (e.g., board lasting, slip lasting, etc.).

In different embodiments, the attachment configuration of the various components of the article 100 may vary. For example, in some embodiments, insole component 120 may be glued or otherwise attached to midsole component 122. Such bonding or attachment may be accomplished using any known method for bonding components of an article of footwear, including but not limited to: adhesives, films, tapes, staples, stitching or other methods. In some other embodiments, it is contemplated that insole assembly 120 may not be bonded or attached to midsole assembly 122, but may be free-floating. In at least some embodiments, insole assembly 120 may be friction fit with central recess 148 of midsole assembly 122.

Likewise, outer sole member 124 may be bonded or otherwise attached to midsole component 122. Such bonding or attachment may be accomplished using any known method for bonding components of an article of footwear, including but not limited to: adhesives, films, tapes, staples, stitching or other methods.

It is contemplated that, in at least some embodiments, two or more of insole assembly 120, midsole assembly 122, and/or outsole member 124 may be formed and/or bonded together during the molding process. For example, in some embodiments, once midsole component 122 is formed, insole component 120 may be molded within central recess 148.

Embodiments may include provisions that facilitate expansion and/or adaptability of the sole structure during dynamic motion. In some embodiments, the sole structure may be configured with an auxetic structure. In particular, one or more components of the sole structure may be capable of undergoing auxetic motions (e.g., expansion and/or contraction).

As shown in fig. 1-5 and described in further detail below, sole structure 103 has an auxetic structure or configuration. Sole structures incorporating auxetic structures are described in the following applications: cross-over U.S. patent application No. 14/030,002 filed 2013, 9/18 and entitled "Auxetic structures and Footwear Having a sole with an Auxetic Structure" (Auxetic structures and Footwear with a solution Having an "Auxetic Structure application"), the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

As described in the auxetic structure application, auxetic materials have a negative poisson's ratio such that when they are tensioned in a first direction, their dimensions increase in the first direction and a second direction that is orthogonal or perpendicular to the first direction. This property of auxetic materials is shown in fig. 4 and 5.

As shown in fig. 3, sole structure 103 may include a plurality of apertures 300. As used herein, the term "aperture" refers to any hollow or recessed region in a component. In some cases, the hole may be a through hole, wherein the hole extends between two opposing surfaces of the component. In other cases, the holes may be blind holes, wherein the holes may not extend through the entire thickness of the component and may therefore be open on only one side. In addition, as discussed in further detail below, the assembly may utilize a combination of through holes and blind holes. Further, the term "aperture" may be used interchangeably with "port" or "recess" in some cases.

Sole structure 103 may be further associated with a plurality of discrete sole portions 320 in areas that include one or more apertures. In particular, sole portion 320 includes portions of sole structure 103 that extend between plurality of apertures 300. It can also be seen that a plurality of apertures 300 extend between sole portions 320. Thus, it will be appreciated that each aperture may be surrounded by a plurality of sole portions such that the boundary of each aperture may be defined by the edges of the sole portions. This arrangement between the apertures (or ports) and the sole portion is discussed in further detail in the auxetic structure application.

As shown in fig. 3, a plurality of apertures 300 may extend through a majority of midsole component 122. In some embodiments, a plurality of apertures 300 may extend through forefoot portion 10, midfoot portion 12, and heel portion 14 of midsole component 122. In other embodiments, the plurality of holes 300 may not extend through each of these portions.

A plurality of apertures 300 may also extend through a plurality of outsole members 124. In an exemplary embodiment, each of first outsole member 160, second outsole member 162, third outsole member 164, and fourth outsole member 166 includes two or more apertures. However, in other embodiments, one or more outer sole members may not include any apertures.

The geometry of one or more of the apertures may vary in different embodiments. Examples of different geometries that may be used in an auxetic sole structure are disclosed in the auxetic structure application. In addition, embodiments may also utilize any other geometry, such as utilizing sole portions having parallelogram geometry or other polygonal geometry arranged in a pattern that provides an auxetic structure for the sole. In the exemplary embodiment, each of plurality of apertures 300 has a tri-star geometry including three arms or points extending from a common center.

The geometry of one or more sole portions may also vary. Examples of different geometries that may be used in an auxetic sole structure are disclosed in the auxetic structure application. It will be appreciated that the geometry of the sole portion may be determined by the geometry of the apertures in the auxetic pattern and vice versa. In an exemplary embodiment, each sole portion has an approximately triangular geometry.

The plurality of apertures 300 may be arranged in an auxetic pattern or auxetic configuration on sole structure 103. In other words, the plurality of apertures 300 may be disposed on midsole component 122 and/or outsole member 124 in a manner that allows these components to undergo an auxetic motion, such as expansion or contraction. Fig. 4 and 5 illustrate examples of auxetic expansion due to the auxetic configuration of plurality of holes 300. Initially, in fig. 4, sole structure 103 is in an unstressed state. In this state, the plurality of holes 300 have an unstressed region. For purposes of illustration, only a region 400 of midsole component 122 is shown, where region 400 includes a subset of apertures 402.

When tension is applied across sole structure 103 along an exemplary linear direction 410 (e.g., a longitudinal direction) shown in fig. 5, sole structure 103 undergoes auxetic expansion. That is, sole structure 103 expands along direction 410 and in a second direction 412 that is perpendicular to direction 410. In fig. 5, it can be seen that as the size of the aperture 402 increases, the representative area 400 expands in both direction 410 and direction 412.

Embodiments may include provisions for varying the degree to which portions of the sole structure (including portions of the midsole component and/or the outsole member) may experience auxetic expansion. Since expansion of the sole structure may result in increased surface contact and/or increased flexibility of regions of the sole structure, varying the degree to which different regions or portions expand (or contract) under tension (or compression) may allow for adjustment of the traction properties and/or flexibility of those different regions.

Varying the degree to which the midsole component undergoes auxetic expansion may be accomplished by varying the nature of the various openings. For example, embodiments of the midsole component may include some through-holes and some blind-holes, as the through-holes may generally expand more (relative to their initial configuration) than the blind-holes during auxetic movements.

Figure 6 illustrates a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of sole structure 103, including several enlarged views of representative apertures in midsole component 122. Figure 7 illustrates a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of sole structure 103, including two enlarged cross-sectional views. Referring to fig. 6-7, the properties of two or more of the plurality of pores 200 may differ from one another. Examples of possible differences between two or more apertures include, but are not limited to, the following differences: surface area of each hole, hole geometry, hole depth, hole type (e.g., blind or through), and possibly other types of differences.

Embodiments may employ through holes, blind holes, or both. In some embodiments, the sole structure may be configured to include only through-holes. In other embodiments, the sole structure may be configured to include only blind holes. In other embodiments, the sole structure may include one or more through holes and one or more blind holes.

As shown in fig. 6, the exemplary embodiment includes both through holes and blind holes. As an example, the hole 600 of the plurality of holes 200 may be a through hole. Specifically, apertures 600 extend entirely between outer surface 152 of midsole component 122 and inner surface 150 of midsole component 122. Further, in the exemplary view, the insole assembly 120 is visible through the aperture 600 (schematically represented by shading in fig. 6). As another example, hole 602 of plurality of holes 200 is also a through hole.

Although both holes 600 and 602 are through holes, they may differ in other respects, including opening size or opening area, location, and possibly other aspects. In this case, the hole 602 has a slightly smaller opening size or opening area than the hole 600. Specifically, while the arm portions of apertures 600 and 602 may be substantially similar in length, in the non-tensioned configuration, the arms of apertures 600 are wider than the arms of apertures 602, resulting in a larger open area for the same approximate perimeter size of apertures 600 and 602. In addition, aperture 602 may be disposed in heel portion 14 of sole structure 103, while aperture 600 may be disposed in midfoot portion 12. In other embodiments, aperture 600 may have a greater arm length and/or a greater perimeter length than aperture 602.

The entire set of through-holes comprising a portion of plurality of holes 200 may best be seen in fig. 2, where only the through-holes are visible on inner surface 150 of midsole component 122. Thus, it can be seen that the through-holes of the exemplary embodiments are generally disposed through midfoot portion 12 and a portion of heel portion 14 and a portion of forefoot portion 10. Additionally, as discussed in further detail below, the through-holes may be located generally in a central region of midsole component 122.

The plurality of holes 200 may also include one or more blind holes. For example, in fig. 6, it can be seen that plurality of holes 200 includes hole 604, hole 604 being a blind hole. The plurality of apertures 200 further includes an aperture 606, the aperture 606 being a blind aperture. Here, apertures 604 may be disposed at a forward-most portion of midsole component 122, while apertures 606 may be disposed on a lateral edge of midsole component 122.

As best shown in fig. 7, the holes of the plurality of holes 200 may have different depths. For example, apertures 610 disposed on lower portion 140 of midsole component 122 are shown having a depth 704. Additionally, holes 610 are shown as through holes, and thus depth 704 is also equivalent to the thickness of midsole component 122 at the location of holes 610.

Fig. 7 also shows aperture 612 having portion 613 (shown in enlarged cross-sectional view) disposed in sidewall portion 142. In this case, portion 613 of hole 612 has a depth 702. Additionally, holes 612 are shown as blind holes, and thus it is seen that depth 702 is less than the thickness of midsole component 122 at the location of holes 612.

It will also be appreciated that the depth of the through-holes may vary depending on the thickness of the portion of midsole component 122 in which each through-hole is located. In other words, the through-holes disposed in the thicker portions of midsole component 122 may have a different depth than the through-holes disposed in the relatively thinner portions of midsole component 122. In addition, because the blind holes may have a thickness that is different than the local thickness of midsole component 122, two or more blind holes on midsole component 122 may have different depths.

In different embodiments, the outsole member may also be configured with different types of apertures. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 6-8, outsole member 124 has holes that are blind holes. Such a configuration may help limit the auxetic expansion of the outsole member under tension, as blind holes may result in a smaller degree of expansion than through holes of similar configuration. However, other embodiments may use one or more through-holes in the outsole member. Further, in some cases, such through-holes may be continuous with underlying holes in the midsole component (including blind or through-holes in the midsole component).

The location of the one or more apertures may vary. In some embodiments, the apertures may be disposed on a lower portion of the midsole component. In other embodiments, the apertures may be provided on a sidewall portion of the midsole component. In other embodiments, the apertures may be provided on a lower peripheral portion connecting the lower portion of the midsole component and the sidewall portions.

As shown in fig. 6 and 7, midsole component 122 includes a lower portion 140, a sidewall portion 142, and a lower peripheral portion 143 that extends around the periphery of lower portion 140 and connects with sidewall portion 142. In the exemplary embodiment, at least some of plurality of apertures 200 extend through lower peripheral portion 143 and/or sidewall portion 142. For example, aperture 612 extends partially through lower peripheral portion 143, while portion 613 of aperture 612 extends onto sidewall portion 142.

By passing holes through each of lower portion 140, lower peripheral portion 143, and sidewall portions 142 of midsole component 122, each of these portions may be configured to undergo auxetic expansion under tension, thereby allowing increased traction and elasticity in these portions.

As previously discussed, through-holes may tend to expand more relative to the original size of the hole than blind holes of similar geometry and opening size. Thus, in an auxetic configuration, the through-holes may provide the auxetic material with the greatest expansion (or compression) capability during an auxetic event. In some embodiments, through holes may be used in areas where maximum expansion is sought, while blind holes may be used in areas where relatively less expansion under tension is desired. In other words, through holes and blind holes may be used in combination on the sole structure to provide different degrees of expansion depending on the desired function of different areas of the sole structure.

Figure 8 illustrates a bottom view of sole structure 103. For purposes of illustrating possible arrangements of apertures on outer surface 152 of midsole component 122, the bottom of sole structure 103 has been divided into two distinct regions, namely a first region 800 and a second region 802. Each region may generally correspond to a group of holes having a common characteristic, such as depth. Because depth may affect the degree to which a hole expands when under tension, holes having similar depths may tend to experience a similar amount of expansion (or contraction) when under tension (horizontal compression).

Here, first region 800 includes a central or interior portion of midsole component 122 that extends through a portion of heel portion 14, a majority of midfoot portion 12, and a portion of forefoot portion 10. In at least some locations, the second region 802 may be disposed at a periphery of the first region 800. As a first example, the second area 802 may extend forward of the first area 800 in the forefoot portion 10 such that the second area 802 extends to the front edge 811 of the forefoot portion 10. Likewise, the second region 802 may extend behind the first region 800 in the heel portion 14 such that the second region 802 extends to a rear edge 813 of the heel portion 14. In midfoot portion 12, second region 802 may extend around a periphery of first region 800 such that second region 802 is disposed on a portion of lateral edge 815 of midsole component 122 and on a portion of medial edge 817 of midsole component 122.

In an exemplary embodiment, the holes in the first region 800 may be through holes, and the holes in the second region 802 may be blind holes. In other words, the apertures in first region 800 may extend all the way through midsole component 122. For example, first hole 810 in first region 800 is a through hole that extends from outer surface 152 to inner surface 150 of midsole component 122. In contrast, the second holes 812 in the second region 802 are blind holes. In this case, second aperture 812 may extend only partially through midsole component 122 and may not be open on inner surface 150 of midsole component 122.

As schematically illustrated in fig. 9 and 10, the through-holes may generally experience a greater degree of expansion as midsole component 122 (and sole structure 103 as a whole) are auxetically deformed. For illustrative purposes, only representative first 810 and second 812 apertures are shown in fig. 9-10. It should be understood that the behavior of the first aperture 810 may generally represent other apertures in the first region 800, while the behavior of the second aperture 812 may generally represent other apertures in the second region 802.

As shown in fig. 9-10, a tensile force 850 may be applied to sole structure 103 to cause sole structure 103 to expand. It should be understood here that tension 850 is applied in a single linear direction, but the auxetic nature of sole structure 103 causes sole structure 103 (including midsole component 122 and outsole member 124) to expand uniformly in the horizontal direction.

In the exemplary embodiment, first aperture 810 is shown expanding from an initial opening size 830 to an expanded opening size 832 under tension 850 applied to sole structure 103. In addition, the second aperture 812 is shown expanding from an initial opening size 834 to an expanded opening size 836 under the application of a tensile force 850. As clearly shown in fig. 9-10, the first hole 810 experiences a greater degree of expansion than the second hole 812 because the first hole 810 is a through hole. Specifically, the ratio of expanded opening size 832 to initial opening size 830 is greater than the ratio of expanded opening size 836 to initial opening size 834.

By providing through-holes in a central region of the sole structure and blind-holes around the periphery of the sole structure, the degree of auxetic expansion through the sole structure may be varied and controlled. In particular, the through-holes in the center of the sole structure allow for a greater degree of expansion through most of the midfoot and arch, as well as a portion of the forefoot adjacent the midfoot, allowing for increased resilience of those areas under tension. In contrast, the peripheral region of the sole structure may include blind holes to provide some auxetic expansion to increase surface area and improve traction. However, at the periphery, it may be undesirable to have the degree of expansion occur in the midfoot and adjacent areas, as excessive elasticity at the periphery of the sole structure may reduce stability.

Figures 11 and 12 show bottom isometric views of another embodiment of a sole structure 1100. Specifically, figure 11 shows a bottom isometric view of sole structure 1100 in an uncompressed state, while figure 12 shows a bottom isometric view of sole structure 1100 in a compressed state. In particular, figure 12 illustrates sole structure 1100 deformed under vertically-oriented compressive forces 1190 (i.e., forces generally perpendicular to the sole surface or the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sole). For clarity, this embodiment includes outsole member 1124 in heel portion 14 of sole structure 1100 rather than forefoot portion 10.

As with the previous embodiments, the sole structure 1100 includes a midsole component 1122 and an insole component 1120 (visible through the apertures). Midsole component 1122 further includes a plurality of apertures 1130 arranged in an auxetic configuration that also extend into outer sole member 1124.

In the embodiment of fig. 11 and 12, the plurality of apertures 1130 includes a set of through-holes 1150 and a set of blind holes 1152 that substantially surround the set of through-holes 1150. In addition, the plurality of through-holes 1150 include holes of different opening sizes. For example, the first aperture 1116 provided in the midfoot portion 12 has a larger opening size or cross-sectional area than the second aperture 1162 in the forefoot portion 10.

In some embodiments, compressing a sole structure having apertures arranged in an auxetic configuration may be used to close the apertures of the sole structure when the sole portion around the apertures expands under compression. As shown, for example, in fig. 12, the opening size or cross-sectional area of the bore 1150 decreases during application of the compressive force 1190. In this case, some apertures may be fully closed (e.g., second aperture 1162), while other apertures may be only partially closed (e.g., first aperture 1161).

Using the example structure, sole structure 1100 may be configured to stiffen in some areas under vertical compression. For example, the first set of apertures 1170 in the forefoot portion 10 may collapse or close under compression, thereby forming a continuous forefoot portion 10 of the sole structure 1100 that may be stiffer than the uncompressed structure of the forefoot portion 10. In contrast, the opening size of the second set of apertures 1172 in the midfoot portion 12 may be reduced, but may not be completely closed, allowing for increased flexibility in the forefoot portion 10. This configuration is useful in providing increased support to the forefoot as the forefoot contacts the ground (requiring substantial support) while the arch remains curved (and thus requires resilience).

While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or instead of any other feature or element in any other embodiment, unless expressly limited otherwise. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a plurality of apertures extending from the outer surface;

wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged to provide an auxetic structure to the midsole component such that when the midsole component is placed in tension in a first direction, the midsole component expands in both the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

wherein the plurality of apertures includes a plurality of through-holes and a plurality of blind-holes, wherein each of the through-holes extends through the midsole component and through the inner surface and the outer surface, and wherein each of the blind-holes extends through a portion of the midsole component; and

an outsole member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outsole member being attached to the midsole component such that the inner surface of the outsole member abuts the outer surface of the midsole component, and wherein the outsole member includes a blind hole extending from the outer surface of the outsole member to the inner surface of the outsole member.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the outsole member extends into at least one through-hole of the plurality of through-holes.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the blind hole of the outsole member extends into at least one through hole of the plurality of through holes.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of through-holes in the midsole component are surrounded by the plurality of blind-holes.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of through-holes and each of the plurality of blind-holes in the midsole component have a tri-star shape.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of through-holes has a tri-star shape.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the outsole member is a first outsole member, the article of footwear further comprising a second outsole member;

wherein the second outsole member has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is attached to the midsole component such that the inner surface abuts the outer surface of the midsole component.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the second outsole member includes a blind hole extending from the outer surface.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the midsole component has a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion; and

wherein the first outsole member is attached to the forefoot portion of the midsole component, and wherein the second outsole member is attached to the heel portion of the midsole component.

10. An article of footwear, comprising:

a midsole component having an inner surface and an outer surface and including a plurality of apertures extending from the outer surface;

wherein the plurality of apertures are arranged to provide an auxetic structure to the midsole component such that when the midsole component is placed in tension in a first direction, the midsole component expands in both the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

wherein the plurality of apertures comprises at least a first aperture and a second aperture;

wherein the first aperture is a through-hole extending through the midsole component and through the inner surface and the outer surface;

wherein the second hole is a blind hole extending into the midsole component from the outer surface; and

wherein the through-holes expand to a greater extent than the blind-holes when the midsole component is under tension in the first direction or the second direction; and

an outsole member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the outsole member being attached to the midsole component such that the inner surface of the outsole member abuts the outer surface of the midsole component.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the outsole member extends into the first aperture of the midsole component.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the outsole member includes a blind hole extending from the outer surface.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the blind hole of the outsole member extends into the first hole of the midsole component.

14. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the outsole assembly is a first outsole assembly, the article of footwear further comprising a second outsole member;

wherein the second outsole member has an inner surface and an outer surface, and is attached to the midsole component such that the inner surface abuts the outer surface of the midsole component.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the midsole component has a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion; and

wherein the first outsole member is attached to the forefoot portion of the midsole component, and wherein the second outsole member is attached to the heel portion of the midsole component.

16. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture each have a tri-star shape.

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