Patent ID: 9554620
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: A43B,B32B

Claim:
1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure comprising an auxetic layer and a first liner, wherein the auxetic layer includes a pattern of apertures formed by sole elements surrounding the apertures; wherein each of the sole elements has a plurality of vertices; wherein the sole elements are joined at their vertices, and wherein the sole elements can rotate with respect to one another about their vertices; wherein the auxetic layer is characterized by having a lateral direction, a longitudinal direction and a vertical direction; wherein the auxetic layer is configured to expand in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction when tension is applied to the auxetic layer in the lateral direction; wherein the auxetic layer is configured to expand in the lateral direction and the longitudinal direction when tension is applied to the auxetic layer in the longitudinal direction; wherein the apertures comprise openings on opposite sides of the auxetic layer that extend through the auxetic layer in the vertical direction; wherein the first liner comprises a continuous sheet of material that is disposed adjacent to the auxetic layer, wherein the first liner is approximately parallel to the auxetic layer and wherein the first liner inhibits the introduction of debris into the openings of the apertures in the auxetic layer; wherein the first liner is an auxetic liner that comprises an auxetic structure with projections that mate with and fit into the apertures in the auxetic layer; and wherein the projections extend through the openings of the apertures through the vertical direction of the auxetic layer.