Multi-component sole structure having an auxetic configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9554622-B2
Application number	US-201514643161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2015
Priority date	Sep 18, 2013
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure with a midsole component and an inner sole component. The midsole component includes holes arranged in an auxetic configuration. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different density. The midsole component and the inner sole component may have a different compressibility.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sole structure, comprising:
a midsole component and an inner sole component;
the midsole component having a longitudinal direction extending along a length of the sole structure, a lateral direction extending along a width of the sole structure, and a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction;
the midsole component including a plurality of holes arranged in an auxetic configuration;
wherein the auxetic configuration is configured such that when the midsole component is under longitudinal tension it expands in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and when the midsole component is under lateral tension it expands in both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction;
wherein the plurality of holes includes at least one through hole that extends through a thickness of the midsole component in the vertical direction between an inner surface and an outer surface of the midsole component;
the midsole component being shaped to receive the inner sole component, wherein the inner sole component is disposed against the inner surface of the midsole component; and
wherein a first density of the midsole component is different than a second density of the inner sole component.

2. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the midsole component includes a recess on the inner surface that receives the inner sole component.

3. The sole structure according to claim 2 ,
wherein the recess further includes an inner recess sidewall extending around the recess; and
wherein a peripheral sidewall surface of the inner sole component is disposed against the inner recess sidewall of the midsole component.

4. The sole structure according to claim 3 , wherein a portion of the inner sole component is exposed through the at least one hole.

5. The sole structure according to claim 4 , wherein the midsole component is a different color than the inner sole component.

6. The sole structure according to claim 3 , wherein at least one hole of the plurality of holes is a blind hole.

7. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the midsole component has a higher density than the inner sole component.

8. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the midsole component is made of a material including foam.

9. The sole structure according to claim 8 , wherein the inner sole component is made of a material including foam.

10. The sole structure according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sole component is more compressible than the midsole component.

11. An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper;
a sole structure including a midsole component and an inner sole component;
the midsole component 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 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction;
the midsole component including an outer surface and an inner surface;
the outer surface including a plurality of holes arranged in an auxetic configuration;
wherein the auxetic configuration is configured such that when the midsole component is under longitudinal tension it expands in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction and when the midsole component is under lateral tension it expands in both the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction;
wherein the plurality of holes includes at least one through hole that extends through a thickness of the midsole component in the vertical direction between the inner surface and the outer surface of the midsole component;
the inner surface of the midsole component including a central recess that receives the inner sole component; and
at least one outer sole member attached to the outer surface of the midsole component.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the central recess has a first geometry, wherein the inner sole component has a second geometry and wherein the first geometry matches the second geometry.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein an inner surface of the inner sole component is flush with a portion of the inner surface of the midsole component.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the central recess extends from a front end of the midsole component to a rear end of the midsole component.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the inner sole component is more compressible than the midsole component.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the inner sole component is exposed on the outer surface of the sole structure through at least one hole in the midsole component.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one outer sole member has a different density than the inner sole component.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one outer sole member has a different density than the midsole component.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one outer sole member is disposed in a recess on the outer surface of the midsole component.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the midsole component is thicker than the inner sole component proximate the central recess.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Cross Tory M

Classifications

• A43B13/188

  Differential cushioning regions · CPC title

• A43B3/0073

  Y-shaped · CPC title

• A43B13/186 Primary

  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

• A43B13/181

  Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole · CPC title

• A43B13/187

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