EP3267824B1 - Footwear soles with auxetic structures - Google Patents
Footwear soles with auxetic structures Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3267824B1 EP3267824B1 EP15820999.9A EP15820999A EP3267824B1 EP 3267824 B1 EP3267824 B1 EP 3267824B1 EP 15820999 A EP15820999 A EP 15820999A EP 3267824 B1 EP3267824 B1 EP 3267824B1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- interior
- aperture
- members
- connecting portion
- sole structure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
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Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/187—Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to sole structures and articles of footwear including these sole structures that may be used for athletic or recreational activities such as running, jogging, training, hiking, walking, volleyball, handball, tennis, lacrosse, basketball and other similar activities.
- Articles of footwear can generally be described as having two primary elements, an upper for enclosing the wearer's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper.
- the upper generally extends over the toe and instep areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot and around the back of the heel.
- the upper generally includes an ankle opening to allow a wearer to insert the wearer's foot into the article of footwear.
- the upper may incorporate a fastening system, such as a lacing system, a hook-and-loop system, or other system for fastening the upper over a wearer's foot.
- the upper may also include a tongue that extends under the fastening system to enhance adjustability of the upper and increase the comfort of the footwear.
- the sole structure is attached to a lower portion of the upper and is positioned between the upper and the ground.
- the sole structure may include an insole, a midsole, and an outsole.
- the insole is in close contact with the wearer's foot or sock, and provides a comfortable feel to the sole of the wearer's foot.
- the midsole generally attenuates impact or other stresses due to ground forces as the wearer is walking, running, jumping, or engaging in other activities.
- the midsole may be formed of a polymer foam material, such as a polyurethane (PU), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or ethylvinylacetate (EVA), that attenuates ground impact forces.
- PU polyurethane
- TPU thermoplastic polyurethane
- EVA ethylvinylacetate
- the midsole may incorporate sealed and fluid-filled bladders that further attenuate and distribute ground impact forces.
- the outsole may be made of a durable and wear resistant material, and it may carry a tread pattern to provide traction against the ground or playing surface. For some activities, the outsole may also use cleats, spikes or other protrusions to engage the ground or playing surface and thus provide additional traction.
- Document EP2702884 discloses the use of auxetic structures in articles of apparel.
- directional adjectives such as top, bottom, medial, lateral, forward, rear, and so on.
- Such directional adjectives refer to the orientation of the article of footwear as typically worn by a wearer when standing on the ground, unless otherwise noted.
- the term "longitudinal” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims may refer to a direction extending a length of the footwear. In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article of footwear.
- lateral as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims may refer to a direction extending along a width of the article of footwear.
- the lateral direction may extend between a lateral side and a medial side of the article of footwear.
- proximal may refer to a portion of an article of footwear that is closer to portions of a foot, for example, when the article of footwear is worn.
- distal may refer to a portion of an article of footwear that is further from a portion of a foot when the article of footwear is worn.
- top refers to the portion of an object substantially furthest from the ground in a vertical direction
- bottom refers to the portion of an object substantially closest to the ground in a vertical direction
- the foregoing directional terms when used in reference to an article of footwear, shall refer to the article of footwear when sitting in an upright position, with the sole facing groundward, that is, as it would be positioned when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially level surface.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a side perspective view of an article of footwear (article) 10 that may be used in a number of athletic or recreational activities such as running, walking, training, tennis, volleyball, tennis and racquetball.
- upper 100 of article of footwear 10 may be generally described as having a toe region 102, a forefoot region 104, a midfoot region 106 and a heel region 108.
- article 10 includes sole structure 110 that may generally be described as having a toe region 112, a forefoot region 114, a midfoot region 116 and a heel region 118.
- sole structure 110 may further be characterized as having a top sole surface 130, a bottom sole surface 132 opposite the top sole surface 130, and side sole surface 134 disposed between the top sole surface 130 and the bottom sole surface 132.
- Upper 100 of article 10 shown in FIG. 1 may be fabricated from any conventional or nonconventional materials, such as leather, woven or nonwoven textiles or synthetic leather.
- Upper 100 has an ankle opening 120 in upper 100 to allow a wearer to insert his or her foot into the interior cavity 122 of upper 100. The wearer may then use lace 124 to close upper 100 over tongue 126 to fasten article 10 over his or her foot.
- Upper 100 also has sole structure 110 that is attached to upper 100 by any conventional method, such as stitching, stapling, gluing, fusing or welding or other known method for attaching a sole structure to an upper.
- sole structure also referred to simply as “sole”, herein shall refer to any combination that provides support for a wearer's foot and bears the surface that is in direct contact with the ground or playing surface, such as a single sole; a combination of an outsole and an inner sole; a combination of an outsole, a midsole and an inner sole, and a combination of an outer covering, an outsole, a midsole and an inner sole.
- Sole structure 110 as shown in FIG. 1 and as described further in detail below, has an auxetic structure.
- Articles of footwear having sole structures made from an auxetic structure are described in Cross, titled “Auxetic Structures and Footwear with Soles Having Auxetic Structures” (now U.S. Patent Application Serial Number 14/030,022 , and on filed September 18, 2013), referred to hereafter as the '022 application.
- auxetic materials have a negative Poisson's ratio, such that when they are under tension in a first direction, their dimensions increase both in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal or perpendicular to the first direction. This property of an auxetic material is illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 9 .
- FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of an example of a portion of sole structure 110 having an auxetic structure not under tension.
- the portion of auxetic material 200 includes a group of members, also referred to simply as sole members or members 210 for purposes of convenience.
- members 210 are joined at their vertices by connecting portions 230.
- members 210 may have group length 370 and group width 372 (i.e., the group of members 210 collectively have group length 370 and group width 372).
- sole structure 110 is comprised of many other members arranged in similar patterns.
- members 210 of sole structure 110 may generally be tiled in a regular pattern comprised of smaller sets of members that have a configuration substantially similar to members 210.
- members 210 may further be delineated into sub-groups.
- members 210 may be characterized as having a first group and a second group.
- members 210 are characterized as having first longitudinal group 212 and second longitudinal group 214. That is, members of first longitudinal group 212 may share a common longitudinal position along first direction 280 of sole structure 110 and members of second longitudinal group 214 may share a common longitudinal position along first direction 280 of sole structure 110. It should be understood that division of members into longitudinal groups is used for purposes of clarity and other divisions of members are also possible.
- members 210 may be characterized as having a first lateral group and a second lateral group oriented, where members of each group share a common lateral position along second direction 282 of sole structure 110.
- first direction 280 may be orthogonal to second direction 282.
- first longitudinal group 212 may comprise of first exterior member 260, first interior member 262, second interior member 264, and second exterior member 266.
- second longitudinal group 214 may comprise third exterior member 268, third interior member 270, fourth interior member 272, and fourth exterior member 274.
- connecting portions 230 may be associated with individual members from first longitudinal group 212, second longitudinal group 214, or both longitudinal groups to join the individual members at a common vertex.
- first connecting portion 232 may join first exterior member 260 and first interior member 262.
- second connecting portion 234 may join first interior member 262 with second interior member 264.
- third connecting portion 236 may join second interior member 264 with second exterior member 266.
- fourth connecting portion 238 may join third exterior member 268 with third interior member 270.
- fifth connecting portion 240 may join third interior member 270 with fourth interior member 272.
- sixth connecting portion 242 may join fourth interior member 272 with fourth exterior member 274.
- some connecting portions 230 may join individual members belonging to first longitudinal group 212 with second longitudinal group 214.
- seventh connecting portion 244 may join first exterior member 260 with third exterior member 268.
- eighth connecting portion 246 may join first interior member 262 with third interior member 270.
- ninth connecting portion 248 may join second interior member 264 with fourth interior member 272.
- tenth connecting portion 250 may join second exterior member 266 with fourth exterior member 274.
- the connections, between members of first longitudinal group 212, between members of second longitudinal group 214, and between members of first longitudinal group 212 with second longitudinal group 214 may define a group of interior apertures 220, also referred to simply as interior apertures 220.
- interior apertures 220 may comprise of first interior aperture 222 oriented longitudinally along first direction 280, second interior aperture 224 also oriented longitudinally along first direction 280, and third interior aperture 226 oriented laterally along second direction 282.
- first exterior member 260, first interior member 262, third exterior member 268 and third interior member 270 may define and circumscribe first interior aperture 222.
- second interior member 264, second exterior member 266, fourth interior member 272, and fourth exterior member 274 may define and circumscribe second interior aperture 224.
- first interior member 262, second interior member 264, third interior member 270, and fourth interior member 272 may define and circumscribe third interior aperture 226.
- first interior aperture 222 and second interior aperture 224 may have the same size and shape.
- third interior aperture 226 may have a different size but similar shape as first interior aperture 222 and second interior aperture 224.
- first interior aperture 222, second interior aperture 224, and third interior aperture 226 may have the same sizes and shapes.
- first interior aperture 222, second interior aperture 224, and third interior aperture 226 may have different sizes and shapes.
- third interior aperture 226 has a larger size than first interior aperture 222 and second interior aperture 224, as shown in Figure 2 .
- the connections between members of first longitudinal group 212, the connections between members of second longitudinal group 214, and the connections between members of first longitudinal group 212 with second longitudinal group 214 may further define a group of peripheral apertures 290, also referred to simply as peripheral apertures 290.
- Peripheral apertures 290 may be disposed between members at a common connecting portion.
- peripheral apertures 290 may be characterized by an angle, for example, when peripheral apertures 290 are formed by two edges connected at a single vertex (connecting portions).
- peripheral apertures 290 may take on other shapes based on different geometries. It is understood that peripheral apertures 290 are not meant to define a location along a periphery of sole structure 110 but is merely meant to convey a descriptive term relative to their location to members 210 and interior apertures 220.
- first interior member 262, second interior member 264, and second connecting portion 234 may define first peripheral aperture 292.
- third interior member 270, fourth interior member 272, and fifth connecting portion 240 may define second peripheral aperture 294.
- first exterior member 260, third exterior member 268, and seventh connecting portion 244 may define third peripheral aperture 296.
- second exterior member 266, fourth exterior member 274, and tenth connecting portion 250 may define fourth peripheral aperture 298.
- peripheral apertures 290 may all have uniform sizes and shapes. In some other embodiments, peripheral apertures 290 may have different sizes and different shapes.
- members 210 may have a substantially quadrilateral shape.
- the shape may be in the form of a trapezoid.
- the shapes of members 210 are rectangles having substantially parallel opposite edges.
- the shapes may be squares having substantially parallel opposite edges that are also substantially equal in length.
- the shapes of members 210 could have any other polygonal or non-polygonal geometry (e.g., geometries comprised of contoured edges).
- the embodiments comprise sole members 210 (e.g. first interior member 262) that may be connected to other sole members 210 at their vertices. That is, the sides or edges of each sole member may be free, or separated from nearby sole members 210. More specifically, each edge of a sole member may be bounded by a portion of an aperture (interior or peripheral).
- FIG. 3 illustrates an isolated view of a portion of sole structure 110 of FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates members 210 isolated from other members 210 comprising sole structure 110.
- members 210 may include a plurality of edges and interior angles.
- first exterior member 260 may be comprised of first member edge 252, second member edge 253, third member edge 254, and fourth member edge 255.
- first exterior member 260 may also include first member angle 256, second member angle 257, third member angle 258, and fourth member angle 259.
- Some embodiments may have edges associated with a dimension such as a length or width.
- second member edge 253 and fourth member edge 255 may be associated with a member length 150, along a longitudinal or first direction 280.
- first member edge 252 and third member edge 254 may be associated with a member width 152, along a lateral or second direction 282.
- the member length and the member width may be equal.
- the member length may be greater than the member width.
- member width 152 is greater than member length 150.
- first exterior member 260 may include interior angles.
- first exterior member 260 may include first member angle 256, second member angle 257, third member angle 258, and fourth member angle 259.
- the member angles may be different from each other. In some other embodiments, all the member angles may be equal. In some other embodiments, the angles may be substantially 90 degrees. In still some other embodiments, only the opposite angles (i.e. non-consecutive) may be equal.
- first member angle 256, second member angle 257, third member angle 258, and fourth member angle 259 are substantially the same because of the rectangular shape of first exterior member 260.
- members 210 may have opposite edges that are parallel.
- first member edge 252 and third member edge 254 may be substantially parallel.
- first member edge 252 and third member edge 254 may be substantially equal in length.
- second member edge 253 and fourth member edge 255 may be substantially parallel.
- second member edge 253 and fourth member edge 255 may be substantially equal in length.
- second member edge 253 may not be equal in length to first member edge 252.
- first member edge 252 and third member edge 254 may not be substantially parallel.
- first member edge 252 and third member edge 254 may not be substantially equal in length.
- a member may have edges that are substantially straight. In some other embodiments, the member has edges which may be non-linear, contoured, rounded, or wavy. In an exemplary embodiment, first member edge 252, second member edge 253, third member edge 254, and fourth member edge 255 are substantially straight to form a rectangular polygon.
- Some embodiments may include provisions that allow members 210 to rotate in one or more directions with respect to each other when a force is applied to members 210.
- connecting portions 230 may enable members of first longitudinal group 212 and second longitudinal group 214 to rotate (or pivot) about a common connecting portion along a plane of sole structure 110 by functioning as a hinge.
- the rotation of members may provide sole structure 110 with auxetic properties.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sequence of configurations for members 210 under a force along second direction 282.
- the geometry and arrangement of members 210 may provide auxetic properties to sole structure 110 when a force is applied.
- members 210 are shown to be under no tension, or in other words a resting state.
- members 210 may collectively have an initial or first length 370 and an initial or first width 372.
- peripheral apertures 290 may have an initial angle during this resting state.
- the connecting portions 230 joining members 210 that enclose or circumscribe interior apertures 220 may be separated from one another by certain distances.
- second connecting portion 234 and fifth connecting portion 240 may be separated by first separation distance 360.
- eighth connecting portion 246 and ninth connecting portion 248 may be separated by second separation distance 362.
- members 210 are shown to be under tension 390 causing interior apertures 220 to expand due to the auxetic structure. This is in turn causes the distances between connecting portions 230 to either increase or decrease depending on the geometry and orientation of members 210.
- connecting portions 230 functioning as a hinges, enable members 210 to rotate in either a first rotational direction 310 or an opposite second rotational direction 312, thus causing the length and width of members 210 to increase.
- first connecting portion 232 may enable first exterior member 260 to rotate in a first rotational direction 310 towards first interior member 262.
- first rotational direction 310 may be associated with a clockwise direction.
- first connecting portion 232 may enable first interior member 262 to rotate towards first exterior member 260 in a second rotational direction 312.
- second rotational direction 312 may be associated with a counter-clockwise direction, or a direction opposite of first rotational direction 310.
- the remaining members 210 may also rotate about adjoining connecting portions 230. It is to be understood that while one member rotates away in either first rotational direction 310 or second rotational direction 312, the other member sharing the common connecting portion will rotate in the opposite rotational direction.
- a final or fourth configuration 350 members 210 have rotated and interior apertures 220 have expanded as a result of tension 390 along second direction 282. Due to the geometric configurations of members 210, and their interconnection via connecting portions 230, tension 390 has transformed members 210 from their initial resting stage of first configuration 320. In some embodiments, tension 390 has resulted in members 210 having a different length 374 and width 376. In addition, the rotation of members 210 along first rotational direction 310 or second rotational direction 312 have increased the size and shape of interior apertures 220.
- tension 390 has changed the distance between connecting portions 230.
- second connecting portion 234 and fifth connecting portion 240, in the fourth configuration 350 are now separated by third separation distance 364.
- third separation distance 364 of fourth configuration 350 may be greater than first separation distance 360 of first configuration 320.
- eighth connecting portion 246 and ninth connecting portion 248, in the fourth configuration 350 are now separated by fourth separation distance 366.
- fourth separation distance 366 may be less than second separation distance 362 of first configuration 320.
- interior apertures 220 are also transformed into a different shape and size from their initial shape and size during the resting state.
- interior apertures 220 may take on a rhombic shape as members 210 are rotated due to tension 390. In some embodiments, this rotation may expand a cross-sectional area (area) associated with interior apertures 220.
- first area 223 of first interior aperture 222 increases as seen for example in FIG. 4 .
- tension 390 applied across members 210 along second direction 282 increases second area 225 of second interior aperture 224.
- tension 390 applied across members 210 along second direction 282 increases third area 227 of third interior aperture 226. It is understood that due to the auxetic structure, in some other embodiments, tension applied across members 210 along first direction 280 may also result in the expansion of areas associated with interior apertures 220. It is further understood that tension 390 applied in any direction in a plane formed by the first direction 280 and the second direction 282 may increase the areas of interior apertures. In one embodiment, tension applied in a third direction in the plane formed by the first direction 280 and the second direction 282 increases first area 223, second area 225, and third area 227.
- third interior aperture 226, enclosed by first interior member 262, second interior member 264, third interior member 270, and fourth interior member 272 may include a first aperture edge 410, second aperture edge 412, third aperture edge 414, and fourth aperture edge 416.
- first aperture edge 410 and opposite third aperture edge 414 may be parallel.
- first aperture edge 410 and third aperture edge 414 may be equal in length.
- second aperture edge 412 and opposite fourth aperture edge 416 may be parallel.
- second aperture edge 412 and fourth aperture edge 416 may be equal in length.
- an aperture edge and its corresponding opposite aperture edge may not be parallel.
- an aperture edge and its opposite aperture edge may not be equal in length.
- third interior aperture 226 may include opposite angles which are substantially equal to each other.
- third interior aperture 226 may include a first aperture angle 418, second aperture angle 420, third aperture angle 422, and fourth aperture angle 424.
- first aperture angle 418 and opposite third aperture angle 422 may be equal.
- second aperture angle 420 and opposite fourth aperture angle 424 may be equal.
- first aperture angle 418 and third aperture angle 422 may not be equal.
- third interior aperture 226 may include several diagonals joining the vertices of the opposite aperture angles.
- third interior aperture 226 may include first aperture diagonal 426 and second aperture diagonal 428.
- First aperture diagonal 426 may connect and bisect first aperture angle 418 and third aperture angle 422.
- Second aperture diagonal 428 may connect and bisect second aperture angle 420 and fourth aperture angle 424.
- first aperture diagonal 426 is perpendicular with second aperture diagonal 428.
- first aperture diagonal 426 is not perpendicular with second aperture diagonal 428.
- first aperture diagonal 426 is longer than second aperture diagonal 428.
- second aperture diagonal 428 may be longer than first aperture diagonal 426.
- tension 390 may also transform peripheral apertures 290 from their initial size and shape during the resting stage to a different size and shape as members 210 are rotated. As shown in FIG. 5 , first peripheral aperture 292 may increase as tension 390 is applied along second direction 282. Thus, first peripheral aperture 292 may be wider or have an angle 293 in fourth configuration 350, that is greater than the initial angle in first configuration 320.
- Some embodiments may include provisions which provide members 210 with a prismatic geometry.
- the members may be right prisms.
- members 210 have a rectangular prism geometry bounded by a group of facets or surfaces.
- second interior member 264 and fourth interior member 272 may have rectangular prismatic geometries. In some embodiments, second interior member 264 and fourth interior member 272 may be joined at common vertices associated with ninth connecting portion 248. In some embodiments, second interior member 264 and fourth interior member 272 may be disposed between second interior aperture 224 (partially shown) and third interior aperture 226.
- fourth interior member 272 may have top surface 450 that forms part of the top surface of sole structure 110. In some embodiments, fourth interior member 272 may have a corresponding bottom surface 451, opposite top surface 450 that forms part of the bottom surface of sole structure 110, and is oriented towards a ground surface. In some embodiments, fourth interior member 272 may have first side surface 452 oriented facing towards third interior aperture 226. In some embodiments, fourth interior member 272 may have second side surface 453 oriented towards second interior aperture 224. In some embodiments, first side surface 452 may be disposed opposite of third side surface 454. In some embodiments, third side surface 454 may be disposed distally away from third interior aperture 226.
- second side surface 453 may be disposed opposite fourth side surface 455.
- fourth side surface 455 may be oriented towards second peripheral aperture 294. It is to be understood, that first side surface 452, second side surface 453, third side surface 454, and fourth side surface 455 are disposed and extend between top surface 450 and corresponding bottom surface 451.
- members 210 may be associated with a thickness.
- thickness 460 may be characterized as the distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of a member. In some embodiments, thickness 460 may be less than or equal to a member's length. In some other embodiments, thickness 460 may be less than or equal to a member's width. In some other embodiments, thickness 460 may be less than first aperture diagonal 426 of third interior aperture 226. In some other embodiments, thickness 460 may be greater than first separation distance 360 between second connecting portion 234 and fifth connecting portion 240 when members 210 are not in tension. According to the invention, thickness 460 is greater than one-half the size of the smaller sized member edge. For example, thickness 460 may be greater than one-half the size of second member edge 253. In still some other embodiments, thickness 460 may range from 0.10 mm to 50.0 mm. In one embodiment, thickness may be at least 5.0 mm.
- thickness 460 may be uniform as members 210 have a uniform distance between their top surface and the bottom surface. In some other embodiments, thickness 460 may be variable, as some members 210 have greater distances between the top surface and the bottom surface relative to other members 210. The variable thickness may allow for differing degrees of flexibility for sole structure 110. In an exemplary embodiment, members 210 (and sole structure 110) have a uniform thickness 460 as the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of members 210 are substantially the same for the group of members 210, as illustrated in FIG. 6 .
- interior apertures 220 arranged on an outsole or the bottom surface of sole structure 110 match the interior apertures 220 of top surface of sole structure 110.
- interior apertures 220 expand (i.e. open) on both the top sole surface 130 and the bottom sole surface 132 and extend through thickness 460 as members 210 are rotated.
- such apertures extending through sole structure 110 may be referred to as "through-hole" apertures.
- peripheral apertures 290 expand on both the top sole surface 130 and the bottom sole surface 132 as members 210 are rotated. When members 210 are not rotated (i.e. not in tension), interior apertures 220, and peripheral apertures 290 on the top sole surface 130 and the bottom sole surface 132 are not fully open, as shown for example in FIG. 3 .
- FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate another embodiment of a group of members (members) 500 that have a square geometry.
- members 500 may be viewed as a portion of sole structure 110 for an article of footwear 10.
- members 500 are divided into a first group and a second group. In some embodiments, members 500 may be connected to other members by connecting portions 540. In some embodiments, members 500 with a square geometry may have edges of substantially equal length. Further, in some embodiments, members 500 may enclose a group of interior apertures 560, also referred to as simply interior apertures 560. Each of these features will be further explained in detail below.
- members 500 are characterized as having first longitudinal group 512 and second longitudinal group 514.
- First longitudinal group 512 may include first exterior member 520 connected to first interior member 522 by first connecting portion 541.
- First interior member 522 may be connected to second interior member 523 by second connecting portion 542.
- Second interior member 523 may be connected to second exterior member 524 by third connecting portion 543.
- second longitudinal group 514 may comprise of several members 500 connected to each other by a connecting portion.
- second longitudinal group 514 may include third exterior member 526 connected to third interior member 528 by fourth connecting portion 544.
- Third interior member 528 may be connected to fourth interior member 529 by fifth connecting portion 545.
- Fourth interior member 529 may be connected to fourth exterior member 530 by sixth connecting portion 546.
- members of first longitudinal group 512 may be connected with members of second longitudinal group 514 with connecting portions 540.
- first exterior member 520 is connected to third exterior member 526 by seventh connecting portion 547.
- First interior member 522 may be connected to third interior member 528 by eighth connecting portion 548.
- Second interior member 523 may be connected to fourth interior member 529 by ninth connecting portion 549.
- Second exterior member 524 may be connected to fourth exterior member 530 by tenth connecting portion 550.
- first longitudinal group 512 may define a group of interior apertures (interior apertures) 560.
- first exterior member 520, first interior member 522, third exterior member 526, third interior member 528, along with first connecting portion 541, fourth connecting portion 544, seventh connecting portion 547, and eighth connecting portion 548 may define and circumscribe first interior aperture 562.
- first interior aperture 562 may be oriented along first direction 565.
- second interior aperture 563 may be defined by second interior member 523, second exterior member 524, fourth interior member 529, and fourth exterior member 530, along with third connecting portion 543, sixth connecting portion 546, ninth connecting portion 549, and tenth connecting portion 550.
- second interior aperture 563 may be oriented in the same direction as first interior aperture 562.
- third interior aperture 564 may be defined by first interior member 522, second interior member 523, third interior member 528 and fourth interior member 529 along with second connecting portion 542, fifth connecting portion 545, eighth connecting portion 548, and ninth connecting portion 549.
- third interior aperture 564 may be oriented along a second direction 566.
- second direction 566 may be orthogonal to first direction 565.
- first peripheral aperture 572 may be disposed between first interior member 522 and second interior member 523.
- Second peripheral aperture 574 may be disposed between third interior member 528 and fourth interior member 529.
- Third peripheral aperture 576 may be disposed between first exterior member 520 and third exterior member 526.
- Fourth peripheral aperture 578 may be exposed between second exterior member 524 and fourth exterior member 530.
- FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of members 500 that have been rotated with interior apertures 560 and peripheral apertures 570 expanded.
- members 500 may include a plurality of edges.
- third exterior member 526 may include first member edge 600, second member edge 602, third member edge 604, and fourth member edge 606.
- a member may have edges with different geometries. In some embodiments, a member may have edges which are substantially straight. In some other embodiments, a member has edges which may be non-linear, contoured, rounded, or wavy. In an exemplary embodiment, first member edge 600, second member edge 602, third member edge 604, and fourth member edge 606 are substantially straight forming a polygon with a square geometry.
- a member may have edges which are substantially equal in length. In some embodiments, a member may have non-consecutive edges that are parallel with each other. In an exemplary embodiment, first member edge 600, second member edge 602, third member edge 604, and fourth member edge 606 are substantially equal in length. Further, first member edge 600 and third member edge 604, second member edge 602 and fourth member edge 606 are substantially parallel thus providing a substantially square shape.
- the shape of a member may include interior angles.
- third exterior member 526 may further comprise of first member angle 608, second member angle 610, third member angle 612, and fourth member angle 614.
- first member angle 608, second member angle 610, third member angle 612, and fourth member angle 614 may be substantially equal.
- first member angle 608, second member angle 610, third member angle 612, and fourth member angle 614 may have different angle measurements relative to each other.
- first member angle 608, second member angle 610, third member angle 612, and fourth member angle 614 are all substantially 90 degrees.
- connecting portions 540 between the members of first longitudinal group 512, between members of second longitudinal group 514, and between the members of first longitudinal group 512 and second longitudinal group 514 allow members 500 to rotate in one or more directions with respect to each other when a tension is applied.
- connecting portions 540 allow members 500 to rotate about a common connecting portion along a plane of sole structure 110 by functioning as a hinge.
- members 500 may rotate in a clockwise or first rotational direction 630 when tension 800 is applied in second direction 566 as shown in FIG. 8 .
- members 500 may rotate in a counter-clockwise or second rotational direction 632 also illustrated in FIG. 8 .
- the rotation of members 500 about a common connecting portion in first rotational direction 630 and second rotational direction 632 provides a sole structure with auxetic properties.
- interior apertures 560 are also transformed into a different shape and size from their initial shape and size during their resting state.
- interior apertures 560 may take on a rhombic shape as members 500 are rotated. In some embodiments, this rotation may expand interior apertures 560 and a cross-sectional area associated with interior apertures 560.
- tension 800 is applied across members 500 along second direction 566 first area 582 of first interior aperture 562 increases as seen for example in FIG. 8 .
- tension 800 applied across members 500 along second direction 566 increases second area 584 of second interior aperture 563.
- tension 800 applied across members 500 along second direction 566 increases third area 586 of third interior aperture 564. It is understood that due to the auxetic structure, in some other embodiments, tension applied across members 500 along first direction 565 may also result in the expansion of areas associated with interior apertures 560.
- Some embodiments may have provisions that allow members 500 of first longitudinal group 512 and second longitudinal group 514 to have a prismatic geometry.
- members 510 have a cubic geometry, bounded by a group of facets or surfaces.
- FIG. 9 shows an enlarged partial schematic view of some members 500 fully expanded.
- first interior member 522 and third interior member 528 may be joined at vertices associated with eighth connecting portion 548. Further, first interior member 522 and third interior member 528 may be disposed between first interior aperture 562 (partially shown) and third interior aperture 564.
- first interior member 522 may have a top facet or surface 730 that forms part of the top surface of sole structure 110. In some embodiments, first interior member 522 may have a corresponding bottom surface 732 opposite top surface 730 that forms part of the bottom surface of sole structure 110, and is oriented towards a ground surface.
- first interior member 522 may have a first side surface 734 disposed facing towards third interior aperture 564. In some embodiments, first interior member 522 may have a second side surface 736 disposed facing towards first interior aperture 562. In some embodiments, first side surface 734 may be disposed opposite third side surface 738. In some embodiments, second side surface 736 may be disposed opposite fourth side surface 740. In some embodiments, fourth side surface 740 may be disposed facing towards first peripheral aperture 572. It is to be understood, that first side surface 734, second side surface 736, third side surface 738, and fourth side surface 740 are disposed and extend between top surface 730 and corresponding bottom surface 732.
- members 500 may be associated with a thickness 760.
- Thickness 760 may be characterized as the distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of a member. In some embodiments, thickness 760 may be less than or equal to a member's length. In some other embodiments, thickness 760 may be less than or equal to a member's width. In some other embodiments, thickness 760 may be greater than a members' length. In still some other embodiments, thickness 760 may be greater than a member's width. In an exemplary embodiment, thickness 760 of members 500 is less than the member's width and the member's length, as shown in FIG. 9 .
- thickness 760 may be uniform as members 500 have uniform distance between the top surface and the bottom surface. In some other embodiments, thickness 760 may be variable, as some members 500 have greater distances between the top surface and the bottom surface relative to other members 500. The variable thickness may allow for differing degrees of flexibility for sole structure 110. In an exemplary embodiment, members 500 (and sole structure 110) have a uniform thickness 760 as the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface are substantially the same for the group of members 500, as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
- interior apertures 560 arranged on an outsole or bottom sole surface 132 of sole structure 110 match the interior apertures 560 of top sole surface 130 of sole structure 110.
- interior apertures 560 expand (i.e. open) on both top sole surface 130 and bottom sole surface 132 as members 500 are rotated (i.e. sole structure 110 is in a tensioned state).
- such apertures may be referred to as "through-hole" apertures.
- peripheral apertures 570 expand on both top sole surface 130 and bottom sole surface 132 of sole structure 110 as members 500 are rotated. When members 500 are not rotated (i.e. not in tension), interior apertures 560, and peripheral apertures 570 on top sole surface 130 and bottom sole surface 132 of sole structure 110 are not fully open, as shown for example in FIG. 7 .
- an article of footwear with a sole structure having the components illustrated and described in FIGS 1 through 9 may improve cushioning effects as the sole structure contacts a ground surface.
- FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate how the members and apertures may change under applied compressive forces, generally applied in the vertical direction.
- article 900 has sole structure 910 with members 912 similar to the size and shape of the components described in FIGS. 2 through 6 .
- the enlarged view of FIG. 10 shows several members and apertures in isolation from the other members and apertures.
- first interior member 914, second interior member 916, third interior member 918, and fourth interior member 920 can be seen with no compressive forces applied.
- interior aperture 922, first peripheral aperture 924 and second peripheral aperture 926 may be initially open.
- members 912 may be in a rotated configuration as explained previously.
- members 912 may have a first thickness 928.
- first thickness 928 may be uniform throughout sole structure 910. In some other embodiments, as explained previously, first thickness 928 may vary.
- compressive forces 932 are applied in a vertical direction.
- compressive forces 932 will compress members 912 so that the thickness of members 912 is decreased to second thickness 934, which is substantially less than first thickness 928.
- members 912 may partially expand in the horizontal directions due to mass conservation (i.e., as the material dimensions are reduced in the vertical direction the material dimensions are increased in the horizontal directions). This may further cause one or more apertures to decrease in size.
- interior aperture 922 may shrink in size (e.g., in cross-sectional area).
- first peripheral aperture 924 and second peripheral aperture 926 may also may shrink in size.
- each individual sole member expands horizontally under compressive forces, the surface area of each sole member in contact with a ground surface may increase.
- a length 970 of fourth interior member 920 in the un-compressed state of FIG. 10 may be increased to a length 972 in the compressed state of FIG. 11 . This may allow for increased traction with a ground surface as an article contacts the ground and compresses slightly.
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Description
- The present invention relates generally to sole structures and articles of footwear including these sole structures that may be used for athletic or recreational activities such as running, jogging, training, hiking, walking, volleyball, handball, tennis, lacrosse, basketball and other similar activities.
- Articles of footwear can generally be described as having two primary elements, an upper for enclosing the wearer's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper. The upper generally extends over the toe and instep areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot and around the back of the heel. The upper generally includes an ankle opening to allow a wearer to insert the wearer's foot into the article of footwear. The upper may incorporate a fastening system, such as a lacing system, a hook-and-loop system, or other system for fastening the upper over a wearer's foot. The upper may also include a tongue that extends under the fastening system to enhance adjustability of the upper and increase the comfort of the footwear.
- The sole structure is attached to a lower portion of the upper and is positioned between the upper and the ground. Generally, the sole structure may include an insole, a midsole, and an outsole. The insole is in close contact with the wearer's foot or sock, and provides a comfortable feel to the sole of the wearer's foot. The midsole generally attenuates impact or other stresses due to ground forces as the wearer is walking, running, jumping, or engaging in other activities. The midsole may be formed of a polymer foam material, such as a polyurethane (PU), a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or ethylvinylacetate (EVA), that attenuates ground impact forces. In some cases, the midsole may incorporate sealed and fluid-filled bladders that further attenuate and distribute ground impact forces. The outsole may be made of a durable and wear resistant material, and it may carry a tread pattern to provide traction against the ground or playing surface. For some activities, the outsole may also use cleats, spikes or other protrusions to engage the ground or playing surface and thus provide additional traction. Document
EP2702884 discloses the use of auxetic structures in articles of apparel. - This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of this patent, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed embodiments. The proper scope of this patent may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description below and the drawings.
- In a first aspect of the invention a sole structure is disclosed by
independent claim 1. - In a second aspect of the invention an article of footwear is disclosed by independent claim 14.
- Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the embodiments will be, or will become, apparent to one of ordinary 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.
- 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 reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
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FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an article of footwear. -
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a sole structure. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 4 shows a sequence of schematic diagrams of a top view of the portion of the sole structure ofFIG. 2 in various states of tension. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a top view of an embodiment of a portion of a sole structure. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a sole structure in a non-compressed configuration. -
FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a sole structure in a compressed configuration. - For clarity, the detailed descriptions herein describe certain exemplary embodiments, but the disclosure in this application may be applied to any article of footwear comprising certain of the features described herein and recited in the claims. In particular, although the following detailed description describes certain exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that other embodiments may take the form of other articles of athletic or recreational footwear.
- For convenience and clarity, various features of embodiments of an article of footwear may be described herein by using directional adjectives such as top, bottom, medial, lateral, forward, rear, and so on. Such directional adjectives refer to the orientation of the article of footwear as typically worn by a wearer when standing on the ground, unless otherwise noted. The term "longitudinal" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims may refer to a direction extending a length of the footwear. In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article of footwear. Also, the term "lateral" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims may refer to a direction extending along a width of the article of footwear. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between a lateral side and a medial side of the article of footwear. The term "proximal" may refer to a portion of an article of footwear that is closer to portions of a foot, for example, when the article of footwear is worn. Similarly, the term "distal" may refer to a portion of an article of footwear that is further from a portion of a foot when the article of footwear is worn. The use of these directional adjectives and the depiction of articles of footwear or components of articles of footwear in the drawings should not be understood as limiting the scope of this disclosure in any way.
- The terms "top," "upper portion," "upper surface," and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object substantially furthest from the ground in a vertical direction, and the terms "bottom," "bottom surface", "lower," and other similar terms refer to the portion of an object substantially closest to the ground in a vertical direction.
- For purposes of this disclosure, the foregoing directional terms, when used in reference to an article of footwear, shall refer to the article of footwear when sitting in an upright position, with the sole facing groundward, that is, as it would be positioned when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially level surface.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a side perspective view of an article of footwear (article) 10 that may be used in a number of athletic or recreational activities such as running, walking, training, tennis, volleyball, tennis and racquetball. For reference purposes, upper 100 of article offootwear 10 may be generally described as having atoe region 102, aforefoot region 104, amidfoot region 106 and aheel region 108. Likewise,article 10 includessole structure 110 that may generally be described as having atoe region 112, aforefoot region 114, amidfoot region 116 and aheel region 118. In some embodiments,sole structure 110 may further be characterized as having a topsole surface 130, a bottomsole surface 132 opposite the topsole surface 130, andside sole surface 134 disposed between the topsole surface 130 and the bottomsole surface 132. - Upper 100 of
article 10 shown inFIG. 1 may be fabricated from any conventional or nonconventional materials, such as leather, woven or nonwoven textiles or synthetic leather. Upper 100 has an ankle opening 120 in upper 100 to allow a wearer to insert his or her foot into theinterior cavity 122 of upper 100. The wearer may then uselace 124 to close upper 100 overtongue 126 to fastenarticle 10 over his or her foot. Upper 100 also hassole structure 110 that is attached to upper 100 by any conventional method, such as stitching, stapling, gluing, fusing or welding or other known method for attaching a sole structure to an upper. - The term "sole structure", also referred to simply as "sole", herein shall refer to any combination that provides support for a wearer's foot and bears the surface that is in direct contact with the ground or playing surface, such as a single sole; a combination of an outsole and an inner sole; a combination of an outsole, a midsole and an inner sole, and a combination of an outer covering, an outsole, a midsole and an inner sole.
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Sole structure 110 as shown inFIG. 1 and as described further in detail below, has an auxetic structure. Articles of footwear having sole structures made from an auxetic structure are described in Cross, titled "Auxetic Structures and Footwear with Soles Having Auxetic Structures" (nowU.S. Patent Application Serial Number 14/030,022 , and on filed September 18, 2013), referred to hereafter as the '022 application. - As described in the '022 application, auxetic materials have a negative Poisson's ratio, such that when they are under tension in a first direction, their dimensions increase both in the first direction and in a second direction orthogonal or perpendicular to the first direction. This property of an auxetic material is illustrated in
FIGS. 2 through 9 . -
FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of an example of a portion ofsole structure 110 having an auxetic structure not under tension. As shown in the enlarged view, the portion ofauxetic material 200 includes a group of members, also referred to simply as sole members ormembers 210 for purposes of convenience. In some embodiments,members 210 are joined at their vertices by connectingportions 230. In some embodiments, whensole structure 110 is not under tension in any direction,members 210 may havegroup length 370 and group width 372 (i.e., the group ofmembers 210 collectively havegroup length 370 and group width 372). - For purposes of clarity, the embodiments discuss a subset of
sole members 210 and their relative configuration, however it will be understood that these particular members are only meant to be a representation andsole structure 110 is comprised of many other members arranged in similar patterns. Moreover,members 210 ofsole structure 110 may generally be tiled in a regular pattern comprised of smaller sets of members that have a configuration substantially similar tomembers 210. - In some embodiments,
members 210 may further be delineated into sub-groups. In some embodiments,members 210 may be characterized as having a first group and a second group. In an exemplary embodiment,members 210 are characterized as having firstlongitudinal group 212 and secondlongitudinal group 214. That is, members of firstlongitudinal group 212 may share a common longitudinal position alongfirst direction 280 ofsole structure 110 and members of secondlongitudinal group 214 may share a common longitudinal position alongfirst direction 280 ofsole structure 110. It should be understood that division of members into longitudinal groups is used for purposes of clarity and other divisions of members are also possible. For example, in some other embodiments,members 210 may be characterized as having a first lateral group and a second lateral group oriented, where members of each group share a common lateral position alongsecond direction 282 ofsole structure 110. In some embodiments,first direction 280 may be orthogonal tosecond direction 282. - In the exemplary embodiment, first
longitudinal group 212 may comprise of firstexterior member 260, firstinterior member 262, secondinterior member 264, and secondexterior member 266. In some embodiments, secondlongitudinal group 214 may comprise thirdexterior member 268, thirdinterior member 270, fourthinterior member 272, and fourthexterior member 274. - Some embodiments may include provisions for joining the group of members with each other. In other words, in some embodiments, connecting
portions 230 may be associated with individual members from firstlongitudinal group 212, secondlongitudinal group 214, or both longitudinal groups to join the individual members at a common vertex. In an exemplary embodiment, first connectingportion 232 may join firstexterior member 260 and firstinterior member 262. Further, second connectingportion 234 may join firstinterior member 262 with secondinterior member 264. Further, third connectingportion 236 may join secondinterior member 264 with secondexterior member 266. Further, fourth connectingportion 238 may join thirdexterior member 268 with thirdinterior member 270. Further, fifth connectingportion 240 may join thirdinterior member 270 with fourthinterior member 272. Further, sixth connectingportion 242 may join fourthinterior member 272 with fourthexterior member 274. - In some embodiments, some connecting
portions 230 may join individual members belonging to firstlongitudinal group 212 with secondlongitudinal group 214. In an exemplary embodiment, seventh connectingportion 244 may join firstexterior member 260 with thirdexterior member 268. Further, eighth connectingportion 246 may join firstinterior member 262 with thirdinterior member 270. Further, ninth connectingportion 248 may join secondinterior member 264 with fourthinterior member 272. Further, tenth connectingportion 250 may join secondexterior member 266 with fourthexterior member 274. - In some embodiments, the connections, between members of first
longitudinal group 212, between members of secondlongitudinal group 214, and between members of firstlongitudinal group 212 with secondlongitudinal group 214 may define a group ofinterior apertures 220, also referred to simply asinterior apertures 220. In some embodiments,interior apertures 220 may comprise of firstinterior aperture 222 oriented longitudinally alongfirst direction 280, secondinterior aperture 224 also oriented longitudinally alongfirst direction 280, and thirdinterior aperture 226 oriented laterally alongsecond direction 282. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , in some embodiments,first exterior member 260, firstinterior member 262, thirdexterior member 268 and thirdinterior member 270, based on their location, geometry and common vertices may define and circumscribe firstinterior aperture 222. Further, secondinterior member 264,second exterior member 266, fourthinterior member 272, and fourthexterior member 274, may define and circumscribe secondinterior aperture 224. Further, firstinterior member 262, secondinterior member 264, thirdinterior member 270, and fourthinterior member 272 may define and circumscribe thirdinterior aperture 226. - In some embodiments, first
interior aperture 222 and secondinterior aperture 224 may have the same size and shape. In some embodiments, thirdinterior aperture 226 may have a different size but similar shape as firstinterior aperture 222 and secondinterior aperture 224. In some other embodiments, firstinterior aperture 222, secondinterior aperture 224, and thirdinterior aperture 226 may have the same sizes and shapes. In still some other embodiments, firstinterior aperture 222, secondinterior aperture 224, and thirdinterior aperture 226 may have different sizes and shapes. In an exemplary embodiment thirdinterior aperture 226 has a larger size than firstinterior aperture 222 and secondinterior aperture 224, as shown inFigure 2 . - In some embodiments, the connections between members of first
longitudinal group 212, the connections between members of secondlongitudinal group 214, and the connections between members of firstlongitudinal group 212 with secondlongitudinal group 214 may further define a group ofperipheral apertures 290, also referred to simply asperipheral apertures 290.Peripheral apertures 290 may be disposed between members at a common connecting portion. In some embodiments,peripheral apertures 290 may be characterized by an angle, for example, whenperipheral apertures 290 are formed by two edges connected at a single vertex (connecting portions). In still some other embodiments,peripheral apertures 290 may take on other shapes based on different geometries. It is understood thatperipheral apertures 290 are not meant to define a location along a periphery ofsole structure 110 but is merely meant to convey a descriptive term relative to their location tomembers 210 andinterior apertures 220. - Referring to
FIG. 2 , in an exemplary embodiment, firstinterior member 262, secondinterior member 264, and second connectingportion 234 may define firstperipheral aperture 292. Further, thirdinterior member 270, fourthinterior member 272, and fifth connectingportion 240 may define secondperipheral aperture 294. Further,first exterior member 260, thirdexterior member 268, and seventh connectingportion 244 may define thirdperipheral aperture 296. Further,second exterior member 266, fourthexterior member 274, and tenth connectingportion 250 may define fourthperipheral aperture 298. In some embodiments,peripheral apertures 290 may all have uniform sizes and shapes. In some other embodiments,peripheral apertures 290 may have different sizes and different shapes. - In some embodiments,
members 210 may have a substantially quadrilateral shape. In some embodiments, the shape may be in the form of a trapezoid. In an exemplary embodiment the shapes ofmembers 210 are rectangles having substantially parallel opposite edges. In some other embodiments, the shapes may be squares having substantially parallel opposite edges that are also substantially equal in length. In still other embodiments, the shapes ofmembers 210 could have any other polygonal or non-polygonal geometry (e.g., geometries comprised of contoured edges). - As can be seen in
FIG. 2 , as well as inFIGS. 3-4 , the embodiments comprise sole members 210 (e.g. first interior member 262) that may be connected to othersole members 210 at their vertices. That is, the sides or edges of each sole member may be free, or separated from nearbysole members 210. More specifically, each edge of a sole member may be bounded by a portion of an aperture (interior or peripheral). -
FIG. 3 illustrates an isolated view of a portion ofsole structure 110 ofFIG. 2 . In particular,FIG. 3 illustratesmembers 210 isolated fromother members 210 comprisingsole structure 110. - In some embodiments,
members 210 may include a plurality of edges and interior angles. In some embodiments,first exterior member 260 may be comprised offirst member edge 252,second member edge 253,third member edge 254, andfourth member edge 255. In some embodiments,first exterior member 260 may also includefirst member angle 256,second member angle 257,third member angle 258, andfourth member angle 259. - Some embodiments may have edges associated with a dimension such as a length or width. In some embodiments,
second member edge 253 andfourth member edge 255 may be associated with amember length 150, along a longitudinal orfirst direction 280. In some embodiments,first member edge 252 andthird member edge 254 may be associated with amember width 152, along a lateral orsecond direction 282. In some embodiments, the member length and the member width may be equal. In some other embodiments, the member length may be greater than the member width. In an exemplary embodiment,member width 152 is greater thanmember length 150. - In some embodiments, the shape of first
exterior member 260 may include interior angles. In an exemplary embodiment,first exterior member 260 may includefirst member angle 256,second member angle 257,third member angle 258, andfourth member angle 259. In some embodiments, the member angles may be different from each other. In some other embodiments, all the member angles may be equal. In some other embodiments, the angles may be substantially 90 degrees. In still some other embodiments, only the opposite angles (i.e. non-consecutive) may be equal. In an exemplary embodiment,first member angle 256,second member angle 257,third member angle 258, andfourth member angle 259 are substantially the same because of the rectangular shape of firstexterior member 260. - In some embodiments,
members 210 may have opposite edges that are parallel. In some embodiments,first member edge 252 andthird member edge 254 may be substantially parallel. In some embodiments,first member edge 252 andthird member edge 254 may be substantially equal in length. In some embodiments,second member edge 253 andfourth member edge 255 may be substantially parallel. In some embodiments,second member edge 253 andfourth member edge 255 may be substantially equal in length. In some embodiments,second member edge 253 may not be equal in length tofirst member edge 252. In some other embodiments,first member edge 252 andthird member edge 254 may not be substantially parallel. In still some other embodiments,first member edge 252 andthird member edge 254 may not be substantially equal in length. - In some embodiments, a member may have edges that are substantially straight. In some other embodiments, the member has edges which may be non-linear, contoured, rounded, or wavy. In an exemplary embodiment,
first member edge 252,second member edge 253,third member edge 254, andfourth member edge 255 are substantially straight to form a rectangular polygon. - Some embodiments may include provisions that allow
members 210 to rotate in one or more directions with respect to each other when a force is applied tomembers 210. In some embodiments, connectingportions 230 may enable members of firstlongitudinal group 212 and secondlongitudinal group 214 to rotate (or pivot) about a common connecting portion along a plane ofsole structure 110 by functioning as a hinge. In some embodiments, the rotation of members may providesole structure 110 with auxetic properties. -
FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of a sequence of configurations formembers 210 under a force alongsecond direction 282. In some embodiments, the geometry and arrangement ofmembers 210 may provide auxetic properties tosole structure 110 when a force is applied. - As illustrated in
FIG. 4 , in an exemplary initial orfirst configuration 320,members 210 are shown to be under no tension, or in other words a resting state. Thus, in some embodiments,members 210 may collectively have an initial orfirst length 370 and an initial orfirst width 372. Further,peripheral apertures 290 may have an initial angle during this resting state. - In some embodiments, during this resting state, the connecting
portions 230 joiningmembers 210 that enclose or circumscribeinterior apertures 220 may be separated from one another by certain distances. For example, in some embodiments, second connectingportion 234 and fifth connectingportion 240 may be separated byfirst separation distance 360. Further, in some embodiments, eighth connectingportion 246 and ninth connectingportion 248 may be separated bysecond separation distance 362. - In a
second configuration 330,members 210 are shown to be undertension 390 causinginterior apertures 220 to expand due to the auxetic structure. This is in turn causes the distances between connectingportions 230 to either increase or decrease depending on the geometry and orientation ofmembers 210. - In a
third configuration 340, astension 390 continues increasing alongsecond direction 282,interior apertures 220 further expand. In some embodiments, connectingportions 230, functioning as a hinges, enablemembers 210 to rotate in either a firstrotational direction 310 or an opposite secondrotational direction 312, thus causing the length and width ofmembers 210 to increase. - In some embodiments, first connecting
portion 232 may enable firstexterior member 260 to rotate in a firstrotational direction 310 towards firstinterior member 262. In some embodiments, firstrotational direction 310 may be associated with a clockwise direction. In some embodiments, first connectingportion 232 may enable firstinterior member 262 to rotate towards firstexterior member 260 in a secondrotational direction 312. In some embodiments, secondrotational direction 312 may be associated with a counter-clockwise direction, or a direction opposite of firstrotational direction 310. The remainingmembers 210 may also rotate about adjoining connectingportions 230. It is to be understood that while one member rotates away in either firstrotational direction 310 or secondrotational direction 312, the other member sharing the common connecting portion will rotate in the opposite rotational direction. - In a final or
fourth configuration 350,members 210 have rotated andinterior apertures 220 have expanded as a result oftension 390 alongsecond direction 282. Due to the geometric configurations ofmembers 210, and their interconnection via connectingportions 230,tension 390 has transformedmembers 210 from their initial resting stage offirst configuration 320. In some embodiments,tension 390 has resulted inmembers 210 having adifferent length 374 andwidth 376. In addition, the rotation ofmembers 210 along firstrotational direction 310 or secondrotational direction 312 have increased the size and shape ofinterior apertures 220. - In some embodiments,
tension 390 has changed the distance between connectingportions 230. For example, in some embodiments, second connectingportion 234 and fifth connectingportion 240, in thefourth configuration 350, are now separated bythird separation distance 364. In some embodiments,third separation distance 364 offourth configuration 350 may be greater thanfirst separation distance 360 offirst configuration 320. Further, eighth connectingportion 246 and ninth connectingportion 248, in thefourth configuration 350, are now separated byfourth separation distance 366. In some embodiments,fourth separation distance 366 may be less thansecond separation distance 362 offirst configuration 320. - In some embodiments, as
members 210 are transformed because oftension 390,interior apertures 220 are also transformed into a different shape and size from their initial shape and size during the resting state. In some embodiments,interior apertures 220 may take on a rhombic shape asmembers 210 are rotated due totension 390. In some embodiments, this rotation may expand a cross-sectional area (area) associated withinterior apertures 220. In one embodiment, astension 390 is applied acrossmembers 210 alongsecond direction 282,first area 223 of firstinterior aperture 222 increases as seen for example inFIG. 4 . Correspondingly,tension 390 applied acrossmembers 210 alongsecond direction 282 increasessecond area 225 of secondinterior aperture 224. Further,tension 390 applied acrossmembers 210 alongsecond direction 282 increasesthird area 227 of thirdinterior aperture 226. It is understood that due to the auxetic structure, in some other embodiments, tension applied acrossmembers 210 alongfirst direction 280 may also result in the expansion of areas associated withinterior apertures 220. It is further understood thattension 390 applied in any direction in a plane formed by thefirst direction 280 and thesecond direction 282 may increase the areas of interior apertures. In one embodiment, tension applied in a third direction in the plane formed by thefirst direction 280 and thesecond direction 282 increasesfirst area 223,second area 225, andthird area 227. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , which is an enlarged partial schematic view of somemembers 210 infourth configuration 350 ofFIG. 4 , thirdinterior aperture 226, enclosed by firstinterior member 262, secondinterior member 264, thirdinterior member 270, and fourthinterior member 272, may include afirst aperture edge 410,second aperture edge 412,third aperture edge 414, andfourth aperture edge 416. In some embodiments,first aperture edge 410 and oppositethird aperture edge 414 may be parallel. In some embodiments,first aperture edge 410 andthird aperture edge 414 may be equal in length. In some embodiments,second aperture edge 412 and oppositefourth aperture edge 416 may be parallel. In some embodiments,second aperture edge 412 andfourth aperture edge 416 may be equal in length. In some other embodiments, an aperture edge and its corresponding opposite aperture edge may not be parallel. In still other embodiments, an aperture edge and its opposite aperture edge may not be equal in length. - In some embodiments, third
interior aperture 226 may include opposite angles which are substantially equal to each other. In some embodiments, thirdinterior aperture 226 may include afirst aperture angle 418,second aperture angle 420,third aperture angle 422, andfourth aperture angle 424. In an exemplary embodiment,first aperture angle 418 and oppositethird aperture angle 422 may be equal. In another exemplary embodiment,second aperture angle 420 and oppositefourth aperture angle 424 may be equal. In still some other embodimentsfirst aperture angle 418 andthird aperture angle 422 may not be equal. - In some embodiments, the shape of third
interior aperture 226 may include several diagonals joining the vertices of the opposite aperture angles. In an exemplary embodiment, thirdinterior aperture 226 may include first aperture diagonal 426 and second aperture diagonal 428. First aperture diagonal 426 may connect and bisectfirst aperture angle 418 andthird aperture angle 422. Second aperture diagonal 428 may connect and bisectsecond aperture angle 420 andfourth aperture angle 424. In some embodiments, first aperture diagonal 426 is perpendicular with second aperture diagonal 428. In some other embodiments, first aperture diagonal 426 is not perpendicular with second aperture diagonal 428. In at least some embodiments, first aperture diagonal 426 is longer than second aperture diagonal 428. In some other embodiments, second aperture diagonal 428 may be longer than first aperture diagonal 426. - In some embodiments,
tension 390 may also transformperipheral apertures 290 from their initial size and shape during the resting stage to a different size and shape asmembers 210 are rotated. As shown inFIG. 5 , firstperipheral aperture 292 may increase astension 390 is applied alongsecond direction 282. Thus, firstperipheral aperture 292 may be wider or have anangle 293 infourth configuration 350, that is greater than the initial angle infirst configuration 320. - Some embodiments may include provisions which provide
members 210 with a prismatic geometry. In some embodiments, the members may be right prisms. In an exemplary embodiment,members 210 have a rectangular prism geometry bounded by a group of facets or surfaces. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , in an exemplary embodiment secondinterior member 264 and fourthinterior member 272 may have rectangular prismatic geometries. In some embodiments, secondinterior member 264 and fourthinterior member 272 may be joined at common vertices associated with ninth connectingportion 248. In some embodiments, secondinterior member 264 and fourthinterior member 272 may be disposed between second interior aperture 224 (partially shown) and thirdinterior aperture 226. - In some embodiments, fourth
interior member 272 may havetop surface 450 that forms part of the top surface ofsole structure 110. In some embodiments, fourthinterior member 272 may have a correspondingbottom surface 451, oppositetop surface 450 that forms part of the bottom surface ofsole structure 110, and is oriented towards a ground surface. In some embodiments, fourthinterior member 272 may havefirst side surface 452 oriented facing towards thirdinterior aperture 226. In some embodiments, fourthinterior member 272 may havesecond side surface 453 oriented towards secondinterior aperture 224. In some embodiments,first side surface 452 may be disposed opposite ofthird side surface 454. In some embodiments,third side surface 454 may be disposed distally away from thirdinterior aperture 226. In some embodiments,second side surface 453 may be disposed oppositefourth side surface 455. In some embodiments,fourth side surface 455 may be oriented towards secondperipheral aperture 294. It is to be understood, thatfirst side surface 452,second side surface 453,third side surface 454, andfourth side surface 455 are disposed and extend betweentop surface 450 and correspondingbottom surface 451. - In some embodiments, members 210 (and sole structure 110) may be associated with a thickness. In some embodiments,
thickness 460 may be characterized as the distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of a member. In some embodiments,thickness 460 may be less than or equal to a member's length. In some other embodiments,thickness 460 may be less than or equal to a member's width. In some other embodiments,thickness 460 may be less than first aperture diagonal 426 of thirdinterior aperture 226. In some other embodiments,thickness 460 may be greater thanfirst separation distance 360 between second connectingportion 234 and fifth connectingportion 240 whenmembers 210 are not in tension. According to the invention,thickness 460 is greater than one-half the size of the smaller sized member edge. For example,thickness 460 may be greater than one-half the size ofsecond member edge 253. In still some other embodiments,thickness 460 may range from 0.10 mm to 50.0 mm. In one embodiment, thickness may be at least 5.0 mm. - In some embodiments,
thickness 460 may be uniform asmembers 210 have a uniform distance between their top surface and the bottom surface. In some other embodiments,thickness 460 may be variable, as somemembers 210 have greater distances between the top surface and the bottom surface relative toother members 210. The variable thickness may allow for differing degrees of flexibility forsole structure 110. In an exemplary embodiment, members 210 (and sole structure 110) have auniform thickness 460 as the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface ofmembers 210 are substantially the same for the group ofmembers 210, as illustrated inFIG. 6 . - It is understood that in some embodiments,
interior apertures 220 arranged on an outsole or the bottom surface ofsole structure 110 match theinterior apertures 220 of top surface ofsole structure 110. In other words,interior apertures 220 expand (i.e. open) on both the topsole surface 130 and the bottomsole surface 132 and extend throughthickness 460 asmembers 210 are rotated. In some embodiments, such apertures extending throughsole structure 110 may be referred to as "through-hole" apertures. - In some embodiments,
peripheral apertures 290 expand on both the topsole surface 130 and the bottomsole surface 132 asmembers 210 are rotated. Whenmembers 210 are not rotated (i.e. not in tension),interior apertures 220, andperipheral apertures 290 on the topsole surface 130 and the bottomsole surface 132 are not fully open, as shown for example inFIG. 3 . -
FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate another embodiment of a group of members (members) 500 that have a square geometry. In some embodiments,members 500 may be viewed as a portion ofsole structure 110 for an article offootwear 10. - In some embodiments,
members 500 are divided into a first group and a second group. In some embodiments,members 500 may be connected to other members by connectingportions 540. In some embodiments,members 500 with a square geometry may have edges of substantially equal length. Further, in some embodiments,members 500 may enclose a group ofinterior apertures 560, also referred to as simplyinterior apertures 560. Each of these features will be further explained in detail below. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , in an exemplary embodiment,members 500 are characterized as having firstlongitudinal group 512 and secondlongitudinal group 514. Firstlongitudinal group 512 may include firstexterior member 520 connected to firstinterior member 522 by first connectingportion 541. Firstinterior member 522 may be connected to secondinterior member 523 by second connectingportion 542. Secondinterior member 523 may be connected to secondexterior member 524 by third connectingportion 543. - In some embodiments, second
longitudinal group 514 may comprise ofseveral members 500 connected to each other by a connecting portion. In some embodiments, secondlongitudinal group 514 may include thirdexterior member 526 connected to thirdinterior member 528 by fourth connectingportion 544. Thirdinterior member 528 may be connected to fourthinterior member 529 by fifth connectingportion 545. Fourthinterior member 529 may be connected to fourthexterior member 530 by sixth connectingportion 546. - In some embodiments, members of first
longitudinal group 512 may be connected with members of secondlongitudinal group 514 with connectingportions 540. In an exemplary embodiment,first exterior member 520 is connected to thirdexterior member 526 by seventh connectingportion 547. Firstinterior member 522 may be connected to thirdinterior member 528 by eighth connectingportion 548. Secondinterior member 523 may be connected to fourthinterior member 529 by ninth connectingportion 549.Second exterior member 524 may be connected to fourthexterior member 530 by tenth connectingportion 550. - In some embodiments, the connections between members of first
longitudinal group 512, between members of secondlongitudinal group 514, and between members of both firstlongitudinal group 512 with secondlongitudinal group 514 may define a group of interior apertures (interior apertures) 560. In an exemplary embodiment,first exterior member 520, firstinterior member 522, thirdexterior member 526, thirdinterior member 528, along with first connectingportion 541, fourth connectingportion 544, seventh connectingportion 547, and eighth connectingportion 548 may define and circumscribe firstinterior aperture 562. In some embodiments, firstinterior aperture 562 may be oriented alongfirst direction 565. - In a similar way, in some embodiments, second
interior aperture 563 may be defined by secondinterior member 523,second exterior member 524, fourthinterior member 529, and fourthexterior member 530, along with third connectingportion 543, sixth connectingportion 546, ninth connectingportion 549, and tenth connectingportion 550. In some embodiments, secondinterior aperture 563 may be oriented in the same direction as firstinterior aperture 562. - In some embodiments, third
interior aperture 564 may be defined by firstinterior member 522, secondinterior member 523, thirdinterior member 528 and fourthinterior member 529 along with second connectingportion 542, fifth connectingportion 545, eighth connectingportion 548, and ninth connectingportion 549. In some embodiments, thirdinterior aperture 564 may be oriented along asecond direction 566. In some embodiments,second direction 566 may be orthogonal tofirst direction 565. - In some embodiments, the connections, between members of first
longitudinal group 512, between members of secondlongitudinal group 514, and between members of firstlongitudinal group 512 with secondlongitudinal group 514 may further defineperipheral apertures 570. In an exemplary embodiment, firstperipheral aperture 572 may be disposed between firstinterior member 522 and secondinterior member 523. Secondperipheral aperture 574 may be disposed between thirdinterior member 528 and fourthinterior member 529. Thirdperipheral aperture 576 may be disposed between firstexterior member 520 and thirdexterior member 526. Fourthperipheral aperture 578 may be exposed between secondexterior member 524 and fourthexterior member 530. -
FIG. 8 illustrates an exemplary embodiment ofmembers 500 that have been rotated withinterior apertures 560 andperipheral apertures 570 expanded. In some embodiments,members 500 may include a plurality of edges. In some embodiments, thirdexterior member 526 may includefirst member edge 600,second member edge 602,third member edge 604, andfourth member edge 606. - In some embodiments, a member may have edges with different geometries. In some embodiments, a member may have edges which are substantially straight. In some other embodiments, a member has edges which may be non-linear, contoured, rounded, or wavy. In an exemplary embodiment,
first member edge 600,second member edge 602,third member edge 604, andfourth member edge 606 are substantially straight forming a polygon with a square geometry. - In some embodiments, a member may have edges which are substantially equal in length. In some embodiments, a member may have non-consecutive edges that are parallel with each other. In an exemplary embodiment,
first member edge 600,second member edge 602,third member edge 604, andfourth member edge 606 are substantially equal in length. Further,first member edge 600 andthird member edge 604,second member edge 602 andfourth member edge 606 are substantially parallel thus providing a substantially square shape. - In some embodiments, the shape of a member may include interior angles. In some embodiments, third
exterior member 526 may further comprise offirst member angle 608,second member angle 610,third member angle 612, andfourth member angle 614. In some embodiments,first member angle 608,second member angle 610,third member angle 612, andfourth member angle 614 may be substantially equal. In some other embodiments,first member angle 608,second member angle 610,third member angle 612, andfourth member angle 614 may have different angle measurements relative to each other. In an exemplary embodiment,first member angle 608,second member angle 610,third member angle 612, andfourth member angle 614 are all substantially 90 degrees. - In some embodiments, connecting
portions 540, between the members of firstlongitudinal group 512, between members of secondlongitudinal group 514, and between the members of firstlongitudinal group 512 and secondlongitudinal group 514 allowmembers 500 to rotate in one or more directions with respect to each other when a tension is applied. In other words, connectingportions 540 allowmembers 500 to rotate about a common connecting portion along a plane ofsole structure 110 by functioning as a hinge. - In some embodiments,
members 500 may rotate in a clockwise or firstrotational direction 630 whentension 800 is applied insecond direction 566 as shown inFIG. 8 . In some embodiments,members 500 may rotate in a counter-clockwise or secondrotational direction 632 also illustrated inFIG. 8 . In some embodiments, the rotation ofmembers 500 about a common connecting portion in firstrotational direction 630 and secondrotational direction 632 provides a sole structure with auxetic properties. - In some embodiments, as
members 500 are rotated,interior apertures 560 are also transformed into a different shape and size from their initial shape and size during their resting state. In some embodiments,interior apertures 560 may take on a rhombic shape asmembers 500 are rotated. In some embodiments, this rotation may expandinterior apertures 560 and a cross-sectional area associated withinterior apertures 560. In one embodiment, astension 800 is applied acrossmembers 500 alongsecond direction 566first area 582 of firstinterior aperture 562 increases as seen for example inFIG. 8 . Correspondingly,tension 800 applied acrossmembers 500 alongsecond direction 566 increasessecond area 584 of secondinterior aperture 563. Further,tension 800 applied acrossmembers 500 alongsecond direction 566 increasesthird area 586 of thirdinterior aperture 564. It is understood that due to the auxetic structure, in some other embodiments, tension applied acrossmembers 500 alongfirst direction 565 may also result in the expansion of areas associated withinterior apertures 560. - Some embodiments may have provisions that allow
members 500 of firstlongitudinal group 512 and secondlongitudinal group 514 to have a prismatic geometry. In an exemplary embodiment, members 510 have a cubic geometry, bounded by a group of facets or surfaces. -
FIG. 9 shows an enlarged partial schematic view of somemembers 500 fully expanded. In some embodiments, firstinterior member 522 and thirdinterior member 528 may be joined at vertices associated with eighth connectingportion 548. Further, firstinterior member 522 and thirdinterior member 528 may be disposed between first interior aperture 562 (partially shown) and thirdinterior aperture 564. In some embodiments, firstinterior member 522 may have a top facet orsurface 730 that forms part of the top surface ofsole structure 110. In some embodiments, firstinterior member 522 may have a correspondingbottom surface 732 oppositetop surface 730 that forms part of the bottom surface ofsole structure 110, and is oriented towards a ground surface. - In some embodiments, first
interior member 522 may have afirst side surface 734 disposed facing towards thirdinterior aperture 564. In some embodiments, firstinterior member 522 may have asecond side surface 736 disposed facing towards firstinterior aperture 562. In some embodiments,first side surface 734 may be disposed oppositethird side surface 738. In some embodiments,second side surface 736 may be disposed oppositefourth side surface 740. In some embodiments,fourth side surface 740 may be disposed facing towards firstperipheral aperture 572. It is to be understood, thatfirst side surface 734,second side surface 736,third side surface 738, andfourth side surface 740 are disposed and extend betweentop surface 730 and correspondingbottom surface 732. - In some embodiments, members 500 (and sole structure 110) may be associated with a
thickness 760.Thickness 760 may be characterized as the distance between a top surface and a bottom surface of a member. In some embodiments,thickness 760 may be less than or equal to a member's length. In some other embodiments,thickness 760 may be less than or equal to a member's width. In some other embodiments,thickness 760 may be greater than a members' length. In still some other embodiments,thickness 760 may be greater than a member's width. In an exemplary embodiment,thickness 760 ofmembers 500 is less than the member's width and the member's length, as shown inFIG. 9 . - In some embodiments,
thickness 760 may be uniform asmembers 500 have uniform distance between the top surface and the bottom surface. In some other embodiments,thickness 760 may be variable, as somemembers 500 have greater distances between the top surface and the bottom surface relative toother members 500. The variable thickness may allow for differing degrees of flexibility forsole structure 110. In an exemplary embodiment, members 500 (and sole structure 110) have auniform thickness 760 as the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface are substantially the same for the group ofmembers 500, as illustrated inFIG. 9 . - It is understood that in some embodiments,
interior apertures 560 arranged on an outsole or bottomsole surface 132 ofsole structure 110 match theinterior apertures 560 of topsole surface 130 ofsole structure 110. In other words,interior apertures 560 expand (i.e. open) on both topsole surface 130 and bottomsole surface 132 asmembers 500 are rotated (i.e.sole structure 110 is in a tensioned state). In some embodiments, such apertures may be referred to as "through-hole" apertures. - In some embodiments,
peripheral apertures 570 expand on both topsole surface 130 and bottomsole surface 132 ofsole structure 110 asmembers 500 are rotated. Whenmembers 500 are not rotated (i.e. not in tension),interior apertures 560, andperipheral apertures 570 on topsole surface 130 and bottomsole surface 132 ofsole structure 110 are not fully open, as shown for example inFIG. 7 . - In some embodiments, an article of footwear with a sole structure having the components illustrated and described in
FIGS 1 through 9 , may improve cushioning effects as the sole structure contacts a ground surface.FIGS. 10 and11 illustrate how the members and apertures may change under applied compressive forces, generally applied in the vertical direction. - As shown in
FIG. 10 ,article 900 hassole structure 910 withmembers 912 similar to the size and shape of the components described inFIGS. 2 through 6 . For purposes of illustration, the enlarged view ofFIG. 10 shows several members and apertures in isolation from the other members and apertures. In particular, firstinterior member 914, secondinterior member 916, thirdinterior member 918, and fourthinterior member 920 can be seen with no compressive forces applied. Further,interior aperture 922, firstperipheral aperture 924 and secondperipheral aperture 926 may be initially open. In other words,members 912 may be in a rotated configuration as explained previously. In some embodiments, during this uncompressed state,members 912 may have afirst thickness 928. In some embodiments,first thickness 928 may be uniform throughoutsole structure 910. In some other embodiments, as explained previously,first thickness 928 may vary. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , asarticle 900 withsole structure 910contacts ground surface 930,compressive forces 932 are applied in a vertical direction. In some embodiments,compressive forces 932 will compressmembers 912 so that the thickness ofmembers 912 is decreased tosecond thickness 934, which is substantially less thanfirst thickness 928. In at least some embodiments, asmembers 912 undergo compression they may partially expand in the horizontal directions due to mass conservation (i.e., as the material dimensions are reduced in the vertical direction the material dimensions are increased in the horizontal directions). This may further cause one or more apertures to decrease in size. For example,interior aperture 922 may shrink in size (e.g., in cross-sectional area). Likewise, firstperipheral aperture 924 and secondperipheral aperture 926 may also may shrink in size. - As each individual sole member expands horizontally under compressive forces, the surface area of each sole member in contact with a ground surface may increase. For example, a
length 970 of fourthinterior member 920 in the un-compressed state ofFIG. 10 may be increased to alength 972 in the compressed state ofFIG. 11 . This may allow for increased traction with a ground surface as an article contacts the ground and compresses slightly.
Claims (14)
- A sole structure (110) for an article of footwear (10) comprising:a group of members (210) comprised of a first group and a second group;the sole structure (110) further includes a group of connecting portions (230) and a group of interior apertures (220);the first group comprises a first exterior member (260) connected to a first interior member (262) at a first connecting portion (232), the first interior member (262) connected to a second interior member (264) at a second connecting portion (234) forming a first peripheral aperture (292), and the second interior member (264) connected to a second exterior member (266) at a third connecting portion (236);the second group comprises a third exterior member (268) connected to a third interior member (270) at a fourth connecting portion (238), the third interior member (270) connected to a fourth interior member (272) at a fifth connecting portion (240) forming a second peripheral aperture (294), and the fourth interior member (272) connected to a fourth exterior member (274) at a sixth connecting portion (242);wherein the first group is connected to the second group at a seventh connecting portion (244) connecting the first exterior member (260) and the third exterior member (268) and forming a third peripheral aperture (296), at an eighth connecting portion (246) connecting the first interior member (262) and the third interior member (270), at a ninth connecting portion (248) connecting the second interior member (264) and the fourth interior member (272), and at a tenth connecting portion (250) connecting the second exterior member (266) and the fourth exterior member (274) and forming a fourth peripheral aperture (298);wherein the first exterior member (260), the first interior member (262), the third exterior member (268), and the third interior member (270) circumscribe a first interior aperture (222) oriented in a first direction;wherein the second interior member (264), the second exterior member (266), the fourth interior member (272), and the fourth exterior member (274) circumscribe a second interior aperture (224) oriented in the first direction;wherein the first interior member (262), the second interior member (264), the third interior member (270), and the fourth interior member (272) circumscribe a third interior aperture (226) oriented in a second direction;wherein the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction;wherein a first area (223) of the first interior aperture (222) increases when a tension is applied across the group of members (210) in a third direction, the third direction being a direction in a plane formed by the first direction and the second direction;wherein a second area (225) of the second interior aperture (224) increases when the tension is applied across the group of members (210) in the third direction;wherein a third area (227) of the third interior aperture (226) increases when the tension is applied across the group of members (210) in the third direction;wherein a thickness of the sole structure (110) is greater than one-half a size of a smaller edge of the first exterior member (260).
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 1, wherein at least one member of the group of members (210) comprises of a top surface (450), a bottom surface (451) opposite the top surface (450), a first surface disposed facing towards at least one interior aperture, a second surface disposed facing towards at least one peripheral aperture, a third surface opposite the first surface, and a fourth surface opposite the second surface.
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 2, wherein the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the fourth surface are disposed between the top surface (450) and the bottom surface (451).
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 3, wherein the second connecting portion (234) and the fifth connecting portion (240) are spaced apart a first distance from each other in a first configuration; and
wherein the eighth connecting portion (246) and the ninth connecting portion (248) are spaced apart a second distance from each other in the first configuration. - The sole structure (110) according to claim 4, wherein the group of connecting portions (230) allow the first group and the second group to rotate with respect to an adjoining member in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction thereby defining a second configuration.
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 5, wherein the second connecting portion (234) and the fifth connecting portion (240) are spaced apart a third distance from each other in the second configuration;
wherein the eighth connecting portion (246) and the ninth connecting portion (248) are spaced apart a fourth distance from each other in the second configuration.;
wherein the first distance is less than the third distance; and
wherein the fourth distance is less than the second distance. - The sole structure (110) according to claim 6, the third interior aperture (226) is larger than the first interior aperture (222), and wherein the third interior aperture (226) is larger than the second interior aperture (224).
- The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein the members (210) are hingedly connected to one another at the connecting portions (230) thereby allowing the members (210) to rotate with respect to each other in a plane of the sole structure (110).
- The sole structure according to claim 8, wherein the first interior aperture (222) expands on a top sole surface (130) and a bottom sole surface (132) when the first exterior member (260), the first interior member (262), the third exterior member (268), and the third interior member (270) are rotated.
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sole structure (110) is at least 5.0 mm.
- The sole structure according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the sole structure (110) is greater than a first separation distance between the second connecting portion (234) and the fifth connecting portion (240).
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 1, wherein the third area (227) of the third interior aperture (226) decreases when a vertical force is applied to the sole structure (110).
- The sole structure (110) according to claim 12, wherein a length of the first exterior member (260) increases when the vertical force is applied to the sole structure (110).
- An article of footwear (10) comprising:an upper (100); anda sole structure (110), secured to the upper (100), according to any of the preceding claims.
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PCT/US2015/066895 WO2016144407A2 (en) | 2015-03-10 | 2015-12-18 | Footwear soles with auxetic structures |
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CN (1) | CN107427106B (en) |
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EP3790732B1 (en) | 2018-05-08 | 2021-09-22 | Puma Se | Method for producing a sole of a shoe, in particular of a sports shoe |
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US20110059291A1 (en) * | 2009-09-07 | 2011-03-10 | Boyce Christopher M | Structured materials with tailored isotropic and anisotropic poisson's ratios including negative and zero poisson's ratios |
EP2702884A1 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2014-03-05 | Under Armour, Inc. | Articles of apparel including auxetic materials |
WO2014151045A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-25 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Low porosity auxetic sheet |
WO2016032626A1 (en) * | 2014-08-27 | 2016-03-03 | Nike Innovate C.V. | Auxetic sole with upper cabling |
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US7555687B2 (en) * | 2005-07-20 | 2009-06-30 | Texas Instruments Incorporated | Sequential scan technique for testing integrated circuits with reduced power, time and/or cost |
US8084117B2 (en) * | 2005-11-29 | 2011-12-27 | Haresh Lalvani | Multi-directional and variably expanded sheet material surfaces |
EP3024637B1 (en) * | 2013-07-23 | 2019-01-02 | Anomaly Action Sports S.R.L. | Composite element for protection devices of parts of the human body and production method therefor |
USD716027S1 (en) * | 2014-02-28 | 2014-10-28 | Nike, Inc. | Shoe outsole |
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- 2015-12-18 EP EP15820999.9A patent/EP3267824B1/en active Active
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Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20110059291A1 (en) * | 2009-09-07 | 2011-03-10 | Boyce Christopher M | Structured materials with tailored isotropic and anisotropic poisson's ratios including negative and zero poisson's ratios |
EP2702884A1 (en) * | 2012-08-31 | 2014-03-05 | Under Armour, Inc. | Articles of apparel including auxetic materials |
WO2014151045A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-25 | President And Fellows Of Harvard College | Low porosity auxetic sheet |
WO2016032626A1 (en) * | 2014-08-27 | 2016-03-03 | Nike Innovate C.V. | Auxetic sole with upper cabling |
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WO2016144407A2 (en) | 2016-09-15 |
TW201632100A (en) | 2016-09-16 |
TWI678166B (en) | 2019-12-01 |
EP3267824A2 (en) | 2018-01-17 |
CN107427106A (en) | 2017-12-01 |
TW201828848A (en) | 2018-08-16 |
CN107427106B (en) | 2020-06-16 |
TWI669078B (en) | 2019-08-21 |
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