IP Library Granted Patent US 10,426,226
Granted Patent B2
US 10,426,226 · App. 15/436,499 · Granted Oct 1, 2019

Footwear upper with dynamic and lock-out regions

Inventors: Alan Guyan (Baltimore, MD); David McManus (Portland, OR); John Acevedo (Portland, OR); Alan Toronjo (Portland, OR)
Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
A43B23/027A43B23/026A43B23/028A43B23/0215A43B23/0245A45F3/12A45F3/04A45F2003/001Y10T428/24273
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,426,226
App. No.
15/436,499
Granted
Oct 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

An article of apparel includes a base layer and an auxetic layer coupled to the base layer. The auxetic layer includes an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of shapes, with each of the shapes defined by perimeter walls and an interior recess. The auxetic layer includes a first region and a second region. Each interior recess in the first region provides a void exposing the base layer, and each interior recess in the second region is at least partially filled with a recess material.

Claims (28)

1. An article of apparel comprising:

a base layer; and

an auxetic layer coupled to the base layer, the auxetic layer comprising an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of perimeter walls and interior recesses, the auxetic layer including a first region and a second region, wherein each interior recess in the first region provides a void exposing the base layer, and wherein each interior recess in the second region is at least partially filled with a recess material.

2. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the base layer is a four way stretch material.

3. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the recess material is unitary in composition with the perimeter walls.

4. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear.

5. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the perimeter walls include a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface faces the base layer, and wherein the recess material covers the base layer in each interior recess of the second region without extending to the top surface of the perimeter walls.

6. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the perimeter walls of the auxetic structure comprise a plurality of interconnected wall segments that form a repeating pattern of reentrant polygonal shapes.

7. The article of apparel of claim 1 wherein the auxetic structure has a Poisson's ratio of substantially zero or less than zero.

8. An article of apparel comprising:

a base layer; and

an auxetic structure coupled to the base layer, the auxetic structure including a plurality of interconnected members forming an array of cell units, each of the plurality of interconnected members forming cell walls with interior recesses defined within the cell walls, the array of cell units including at least one dynamic region wherein the interior recesses expose the base layer and at least one lockout region wherein a fill in the interior recesses covers the base layer.

9. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the base layer is a four way stretch material.

10. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the fill is unitary in composition with the interconnected members.

11. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the article of apparel is an article of footwear.

12. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the interconnected members include a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface faces the base layer, and wherein the fill covers the base layer in each interior recess of the lockout region without extending to the top surface of the cell walls.

13. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the interconnected members of the auxetic structure comprise a plurality of wall segments that form a repeating pattern of reentrant polygonal shapes.

14. The article of apparel of claim 8 wherein the auxetic structure has a Poisson's ratio of substantially zero or less than zero.

15. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole; and

an upper connected to the sole, the upper including

a base layer; and

an auxetic layer connected to the base layer, the auxetic layer comprising an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of shapes, each of the shapes defined by perimeter walls with an interior recess provided within each shape, the auxetic layer including a first region and a second region, wherein each interior recess in the first region provides a void exposing the base layer, and wherein each interior recess in the second region is at least partially filled with a recess material.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the perimeter walls define a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface faces the base layer, and wherein the recess material covers the base layer in each interior recess without extending to the top surface of the perimeter walls in the second region.

17. The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the perimeter walls are comprised of a wall material, wherein the wall material is integrally formed with the recess material in the second region.

18. The article of footwear of claim 15 , the second region is provided in a toe region and a transition region of the upper extending along the perimeter of the sole.

19. The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the repeating pattern of shapes is a repeating pattern of polygonal reentrant shapes and the auxetic structure has a Poisson's ratio of substantially zero or less than zero.

20. The article of footwear of claim 15 wherein the base layer comprises a four way stretch material.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 13, 2020
From: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 052654/0756 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2019
From: GUYAN, ALAN; MCMANUS, DAVID; ACEVEDO, JOHN; TORONJO, ALAN
To: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
Reel/Frame 049791/0016 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation In Part 15386975 · Dec 21, 2016
Continuation 14137038 · Dec 20, 2013
Continuation In Part 13838827 · Mar 15, 2013
Provisional Application 62296190 · Feb 17, 2016
Provisional Application 61695993 · Aug 31, 2012
Related Publication 20170156443A1 · Jun 8, 2017
Cited By (14)
US 1,073,273 US 1,076,363 US 1,086,662 US 1,092,030 US 1,105,724 US 1,108,786 US 1,124,612 US 12,245,659 US 12,414,602 US 12,446,655 US 12,446,662 US 12,527,378 US 12,550,975 US 12,708,175