Footwear midsole with warped lattice structure and method of making the same

US12102172B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• adidas AG · DE

Inventors

• Jacques Perrault · Poway, US
• Derek Luther · Portland, US
• Berin Skye B · Portland, US
• Marco Kormann · Herzogenaurach, DE
• Pradeepan Indrakumar · Portland, US
• Florian Josel Fick · Nuremberg, DE
• Felix Braun · Nuremberg, DE
• Yuehong Tu · Portland, US
• Andrew Jacob Schneider · Portland, US
• Christian Siegl · Peising, DE
• Brendan Epley · Portland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 26, 2021
• Grant date: Oct 1, 2024
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/62
• WIPO field: Other consumer goods
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A midsole for an article of footwear including a three-dimensional mesh including interconnected unit cells and methods of making the same. The interconnected unit cells each include a plurality of struts defining a three-dimensional shape. The interconnected unit cells are connected at nodes having a valence number defined by the number of struts connected at that node. The valence number of the nodes may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The plurality of interconnected unit cells may be organized in a warped cubic lattice structure. The warped cubic lattice structure and the size/shape of interconnected unit cells may vary to provide customized characteristics to zones or portions of the midsole. The three-dimensional mesh may be customized based on a biometric data profile for an individual, or group of individuals. The midsole may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process.