Article of footwear with tubular structures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12369691-B2
Application number	US-202318306940-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2023
Priority date	Dec 7, 2015
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.

First claim

We claim:

1. An article of apparel, comprising:
a base layer;
a tunnel spring structure coupled to and extending along the base layer, the tunnel spring structure comprising:
a plurality of tunnel structures, each tunnel structure having a first end, a second end, and a tunnel extending through the tunnel structure from the first end to the second end;
a plurality of connecting portions extending between and secured to adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel structures, the connecting portions being moveable relative to the base layer; and
a tunnel path collectively defined by the tunnels of the plurality of tunnel structures; and

a first tensile strand extending through the tunnel path of the tunnel spring structure,
wherein the tunnel spring structure is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration in which at least some of the adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel structures are closer together than when in the first configuration, and wherein the tunnel spring structure moves from the first configuration to the second configuration when tension is applied to the first tensile strand.

2. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel path comprises one or more curved portions, and the one or more curved portions have a radius of curvature that is smaller in the second configuration than in the first configuration.

3. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the tunnel spring structure is coupled to the base layer at a plurality of anchoring portions.

4. The article of apparel of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of tunnel structures are printed structures that are bonded to the base layer at the plurality of anchoring portions.

5. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connecting members are biased to the first configuration.

6. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the first tensile strand is exposed at exposed areas between at least some adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel structures.

7. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the base layer comprises an upper of an article of footwear.

8. The article of apparel of claim 7 , wherein the upper comprises a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and the tunnel spring structure extends along the heel portion, the midfoot portion, and the forefoot portion of the upper.

9. The article of apparel of claim 8 ,
wherein the tunnel path comprises one or more curved portions, and the one or more curved portions have a radius of curvature that is smaller in the second configuration than in the first configuration, and
wherein the upper comprises a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and at least some of the one or more curved portions extend along the heel portion of the upper.

10. An article of apparel, comprising:
a base layer;
a tunnel spring structure extending along the base layer, the tunnel spring structure having a first end and a second end, and the tunnel spring structure comprising a plurality of tunnel segments bonded to the base layer at a plurality of anchoring portions and a plurality of connecting segments extending between adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel segments such that the plurality of connecting segments are movable relative to the base layer; and
a first tensile strand extending through a tunnel path collectively defined by the plurality of tunnel segments,
wherein the tunnel path comprises one or more curved portions or non-linear portions, and the tunnel spring structure is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration when tension is applied to the first tensile strand, and
wherein a geometry of the base layer changes when the tunnel spring structure moves from the first configuration to the second configuration.

11. The article of apparel of claim 10 , wherein at least some of the adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel segments are closer together in the second configuration than when in the first configuration.

12. The article of apparel of claim 10 , when the plurality of connect segments are biased toward the first configuration.

13. The article of apparel of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the base layer changes in shape from the first configuration to the second configuration.

14. The article of apparel of claim 10 , wherein the base layer comprises an upper of an article of footwear.

15. The article of apparel of claim 14 , wherein the upper comprises a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and the tunnel spring structure extends along the heel portion, the midfoot portion, and the forefoot portion of the upper.

16. The article of apparel of claim 14 , wherein the upper comprises a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and at least some of the one or more curved portions or non-linear portions extend along the heel portion of the upper.

17. The article of apparel of claim 14 , wherein the first tensile strand engages with a lace at one or more areas along a length of the tunnel spring structure.

18. The article of apparel of claim 10 , wherein the tunnel path comprises one or more curved portions.

19. The article of apparel of claim 18 , wherein the one or more curved portions has a radius of curvature that is smaller in the second configuration than in the first configuration.

20. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein the first tensile strand is exposed at exposed areas between at least some adjacent ones of the plurality of tunnel segments.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Guest Stefan E
• Holmes Matthew J
• Sterman Yoav

Classifications

• B29K2995/0082

  Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness · CPC title

• B29L2031/727

  Fastening elements (bolts B29L2001/002; nuts B29L2001/005; screws B29L2001/007; slide fasteners B29L2005/00; buttons for haberdashery B29L2019/00) · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/22

  Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer · CPC title

• A43B13/181

  Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole · CPC title