Footwear midsole with lattice structure formed between platforms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11457693-B2
Application number	US-202016881138-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2020
Priority date	May 8, 2015
Publication date	Oct 4, 2022
Grant date	Oct 4, 2022

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a midsole, an upper disposed above the midsole, and an outsole disposed below the midsole. The midsole includes a lattice structure having an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side is a user-facing side and the lower side is a ground-facing side. A first platform is integrally formed into the upper side of the lattice structure. A second platform is integrally formed into the lower side of the lattice structure. The lattice structure extends from the first platform to the second platform.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
a midsole including,
a lattice structure including an upper side and a lower side, wherein the upper side is a user-facing side and the lower side is a ground-facing side, the lattice structure comprised of a network of interconnected laths connected at nodes,
a first platform integrally formed into the upper side of the lattice structure,
a second platform integrally formed into the lower side of the lattice structure, wherein the lattice structure extends from the first platform to the second platform;

an upper disposed above the midsole; and
an outsole disposed below the midsole.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the laths are configured as parallel wave structures in multiple layers, and wherein the wave structures in a first layer are transverse to the wave structures in a second layer.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the first platform forms a rim extending around a perimeter of the upper side of the lattice structure.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 wherein the lattice structure is exposed within the upper shelf.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the second platform is a discontinuous lower platform comprising at least one opening, and wherein the lattice structure is exposed by the lower platform through the at least one opening.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the second platform spans from a lateral side to a medial side of the article of footwear in a midfoot region of the article of footwear.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the lattice structure comprises a network of wave structures arranged multiple transverse layers, wherein peaks of the wave structures in one layer are joined to valleys in the wave structures of an adjacent layer.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein voids are provided between the plurality of laths and the plurality of nodes, and wherein the midsole is unitary in construction from the first platform to the second platform.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the midsole is free of gate marks, sprue marks, parting line marks and ejector pin marks.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein the midsole extends from a heel region to a forefoot region of the article of footwear.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1 wherein each of the laths is configured as an elongated thin strip of material.

12. A method of manufacturing a midsole for an article of footwear, the method comprising:
printing a midsole including:
a lattice structure including a network of laths extending from a user-facing side to a ground-facing side, the network of laths include a plurality of interconnected integrally-formed laths connected at a plurality of nodes,
a first platform integrally formed into the user-facing side of the lattice structure, and
a second platform integrally formed into the ground-facing side of the lattice structure, wherein the network of laths extend from the first platform to the second platform;

coupling an upper to the user-facing side of the midsole; and
coupling an outsole to the ground-facing side of the midsole.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the laths are configured as parallel wave structures in multiple layers, and wherein the wave structures in a first layer are transverse to the wave structures in a second layer.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first platform forms a rim extending around a perimeter of the upper side of the lattice structure, and wherein the second platform is a discontinuous lower platform comprising at least one opening.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the second platform spans from a lateral side to a medial side of the article of footwear in a midfoot region of the article of footwear.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the lattice structure is configured to extend from a heel region to a forefoot region of the midsole.

17. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper;
an outsole; and
a midsole positioned between the upper and the outsole, the midsole including an upper platform, a lower platform, and a lattice structure comprising a network of elongated and cylindrical laths extending between the upper platform and the lower platform, wherein the laths are configured as parallel wave structures in multiple integrally formed layers, and wherein the wave structures in a first layer are transverse to the wave structures in a second layer.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17 wherein upper platform, lower platform, and lattice structure are integrally formed as a unitary structure.

19. The article of footwear of claim 17 wherein the upper platform is an upper shelf that forms a rim extending around a perimeter of an upper side of the lattice structure, and wherein the lattice structure is exposed within the upper shelf.

20. The article of footwear of claim 17 wherein each of the laths has a circular cross-section.

Assignees

• Under Armour Inc

Inventors

• Guyan Alan

Classifications

• A43B1/0009

  made at least partially of alveolar or honeycomb material · CPC title

• A43B3/0052

  X-shaped or cross-shaped · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/186

  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 title

• A43D999/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title