Footwear Having Auxetic Structures With Controlled Properties

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374429-A1
Application number	US-201615263548-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 13, 2016
Priority date	Jul 11, 2014
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole incorporating an auxetic structure. The article of footwear further includes a strobel that may be placed along the auxetic structure of the sole. The strobel may restrict the motion of the auxetic structure in particular locations. The strobel may be used to provide rigidity and support in the area of the strobel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
an upper; a sole with a forefoot region, a midfoot region and a heel region, the sole including a first direction and a second direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction; the sole including a plurality of apertures that extend from an upper surface of the sole to a lower surface of the sole; the plurality of apertures including a first aperture associated with a first group of portions; the first group of portions including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being joined to the second portion at a hinge portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion can rotate with respect to each other about the hinge portion; wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to rotate away from one another when a tensioning force is applied at the hinge portion in a first direction, the first direction being oriented away from the first aperture; a strobel attached to the upper surface of the sole the strobel having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion of the strobel being located in the forefoot region of the sole, the second portion of the strobel being located in the heel region of the sole; the first portion of the strobel having a first stretch resistance in the first direction and a second stretch resistance in the second direction; the second portion of the strobel having a third stretch resistance in the first direction and a fourth stretch resistance in the second direction; wherein the first stretch resistance is greater than the third stretch resistance and the fourth stretch resistance is greater than the second stretch resistance.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the strobel and the second portion of the strobel abut each other at a junction.

3 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the junction is located in the forefoot region of the sole.

4 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the junction is located in the midfoot region of the sole.

5 . The article of claim 2 , wherein the first portion and the second portion overlap each other at the junction.

6 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first direction extends laterally across the sole.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first direction extends longitudinally across the sole.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the strobel is located in the forefoot region of the sole and wherein the second portion of the strobel is located in the heel region of the sole.

9 . A sole structure comprising:
a sole including an upper surface and a lower surface, the sole having an auxetic structure; the auxetic structure including: a plurality of apertures that extend through the sole from the upper surface to the lower surface, the plurality of apertures being surrounded by a plurality of portions, wherein each aperture in the plurality of apertures has a plurality of sides defined by a group of portions surrounding the aperture; the plurality of apertures including a first aperture associated with a first group of portions; the first group of portions including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being joined to the second portion at a hinge portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion can rotate with respect to each other about the hinge portion; wherein the first portion and the second portion rotate away from one another when a tensioning force is applied at the hinge portion in a first direction, the first direction being oriented away from the first aperture; the sole structure including a strobel; the strobel having a first portion that extends along a perimeter of the sole, the first portion having a first stretch resistance in the first direction and a second stretch resistance in the second direction; the strobel having a second portion that extends between the first portion, the second portion having a third stretch resistance in the first direction; wherein the third stretch resistance is less than the first stretch resistance.

10 . The sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion is located in a midfoot region of the sole structure.

11 . The sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the first direction extends longitudinally along the sole structure.

12 . The sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein a first portion of a first aperture of the plurality of apertures is covered by the second portion of the strobel and at least a second portion of the first aperture of the plurality of apertures remains uncovered by the second portion of the strobel.

13 . The sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion of the strobel is located in a central region between portions of the first portion of the strobel.

14 . The sole structure according to claim 9 , wherein the first portion extends continuously around the perimeter of the sole.

15 . An article of footwear comprising:
an upper attached to a sole structure; the sole structure including a sole with an upper surface and an opposite lower surface; the sole including a plurality of apertures that extend through the sole from the upper surface to the lower surface; the sole including a perimeter portion that extends around the sole; a strobel attached to the upper surface of the sole; the strobel including a first portion that extends around the perimeter portion of the sole; a first central portion of the sole being exposed such that at least one of the plurality of apertures remains uncovered by the strobel.

16 . The article according to claim 15 , wherein the first central portion extends continuously from a forefoot region to a heel region of the sole.

17 . The article according to claim 15 , further including a second central portion, the first central portion and the second central portion being separated from each other by a second portion of the strobel.

18 . The article according to claim 17 , wherein the first central portion is located in a forefoot region of the sole and the second central portion is located in a heel region of the sole.

19 . The article according to claim 15 , further including a second portion of the strobel, the second portion being located between the first portion of the strobel.

20 . The article according to claim 15 , wherein the first portion of the strobel has a first stretch resistance in a first direction and a second stretch resistance in a second direction, the first direction being orthogonal to the second direction; and
the strobel includes a second portion that extends between the first portion, the second portion having a third stretch resistance in the first direction; wherein the third stretch resistance is less than the first stretch resistance.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Langvin Elizabeth

Classifications

• A43B13/32

  by adhesives · CPC title

• A43B13/122

  characterised by the outsole or external layer · CPC title

• A43B13/187

  Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials · CPC title

• A43B13/026

  Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite · CPC title

• A43B13/141

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title