摘要：
A tunnel spring structure (1002, 100, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1604, 2200, 2702, 2806, 3402, 426, 602, 902) three-dimensionally printed on a base layer (1000, 400, 600, 900). The tunnel spring structure (1002, 100, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1604, 2200, 2702, 2806, 3402, 426, 602, 902) includes three tubular structures and two connecting portions. A connecting portion (422, 626) is disposed between two tubular structures. A tensile strand (1008, 2302, 3202, 3902, 424, 604, 908) extends through the tubular structures. Tension applied to the tensile strand (1008, 2302, 3202, 3902, 424, 604, 908) forces the tubular structures to adjoin due to the flexibility of the connection portions.
权利要求：
1. A tunnel spring structure attached to a base layer (400), wherein the tunnel spring structure (100) is disposed on a portion of an article of apparel or an article of footwear, the tunnel spring structure (100) comprising: a plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106), with each tubular structure including a first end (118, 122, 126) and a second end (120, 124, 128), wherein each tubular structure has a tunnel; a plurality of connecting portions (108, 110) with each connecting portion including a third end (136, 140) and a fourth end (138, 142); wherein the second end (120) of a first tubular structure (102) of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) is attached to the third end (136) of a first connecting portion (108) of the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110); and wherein the first end (118) of a second tubular structure (104) of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) is attached to the fourth end (138) of the first connecting portion (108); the first tubular structure (102) being adjacent to the second tubular structure (104); wherein the tunnel spring structure is characterized by the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) being printed onto the base layer (400).
2. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 1, further comprising a tensile strand (424) having a first end (428) and a second end (430), the tensile strand (424) extending through the tunnels of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106); wherein the first end (428) of the tensile strand (424) includes a catching element that is sized to press against the first end (118) of the first tubular structure (102); and wherein the tensile strand (424) is partially exposed proximate each of the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110); and wherein tension applied to the second end (430) of the tensile strand (424) urges one or more of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) to deviate from a first state to a second state; wherein the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) are spaced apart a first distance when the tunnel spring structure (100) is in the first state; wherein the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) are spaced apart a second distance when the tunnel spring structure (100) is in the second state; and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, wherein optionally when the tension is released, the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110) urge the tunnel spring structure (100) from the second state to the first state.
3. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the tensile strand (424) is a cord; and/or wherein the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110) is elastic; and/or wherein the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110) have arc-like shapes protruding away from one or more of the plurality tubular structures (102, 104, 106).
4. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the tubular structures of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) has a greater stiffness than at least one of connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110); and/or wherein at least one of the plurality of tubular structures (102, 104, 106) is made of a different material than at least one of the plurality of connecting portions (108, 110).
5. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 1, wherein the tunnel spring structure (100) is configured in a non-linear shape.
6. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 5, wherein the tunnel spring structure (100) is in a first state when the first tubular structure (102) and the second tubular structure (104) are spaced apart a first distance; wherein the tunnel spring structure (100) is in a second state when the first tubular structure (102) and the second tubular structure (104) are spaced apart a second distance; wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance; and wherein a predetermined tension applied to the first end (428) and the second end (430) of the tensile strand (424) forces the tunnel spring structure (100) from the first state to the second state. wherein optionally when the predetermined tension is released, the first connecting portion (108) forces the tunnel spring structure (100) from the second state to the first state.
7. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1, 5 or 6, wherein the first connecting portion (108) is more flexible than the first tubular structure (102).
8. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 6 to 7, wherein the base layer (400) has a geometry, and wherein the geometry of the base layer (400) changes when the tunnel spring structure (100) transitions from the first state to the second state.
9. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 or 5 to 8, wherein the first connecting portion (108)has arc-like shape protruding away from the second tubular structure (104).
10. A method of forming a tunnel spring structure attached to a base layer (400) and disposed on a portion of an article of apparel or an article of footwear, comprising: printing a first tubular structure (102) including a first end (118) and a first opposite end (120); printing a second tubular structure (104) including a second end (122) and a second opposite end (124); printing a third tubular structure (108) including a third end (126) and a third opposite end (128); wherein the first tubular structure (102), the second tubular structure (104), and the third tubular structure (108) are sequentially arranged on the base layer (400); wherein each tubular structure has a tunnel; printing a first connecting portion (108) so that the first connecting portion (108) attaches to the first opposite end (120) of the first tubular structure (102) and the second end (122) of the second tubular structure (104); and printing a second connecting portion (110) so that the second connecting portion (110) attaches to the second opposite end (124) of the second tubular structure (104) and the third end (126) of the third tubular structure (108); the method further comprising extending a tensile strand (424) through the tunnels of the first tubular structure (102), the second tubular structure (104), and the third tubular structure (106); wherein the tensile strand (424) is partially exposed proximate the connecting portions (108, 110); and wherein tension applied to the tensile strand (424) urges the first tubular structure (102), the second tubular structure (104), and the third tubular structure (106) toward each other.
11. The method of forming according to claim 10, wherein the step of printing the first tubular structure (102) involves printing a bottom tubular structure layer including a first side and a first opposite side; printing a first side tubular structure portion extending from a first side end, printing a second side tubular structure portion extending from a first opposite side end; and printing a top tubular structure layer connecting the first side tubular structure portion and the second side tubular structure portion thereby forming the tunnel of the first tubular structure.
12. The method of forming according to claim 10, - wherein the steps of printing the first tubular structure (102) and extending the tensile strand (424) involves printing a bottom tubular structure layer including a first side and a first opposite side; printing a first side tubular structure portion extending from the first side, printing a second side tubular structure portion extending from the first opposite side; laying the tensile strand (424) on top of the bottom tubular structure layer; and printing a top tubular structure layer connecting the first side tubular structure portion and the second side tubular structure portion thereby forming the tunnel of the first tubular structure; or - wherein the steps of printing the first tubular structure (102) and extending the tensile strand (424) involves placing the tensile strand (424) on the base layer (400); wherein the tensile strand (424) includes a side portion and an opposite side portion; printing a first side tubular structure portion extending from the base layer (400) near the side portion of the tensile strand (424); printing a second side tubular structure portion extending from the base layer (400) near the opposite side portion of the tensile strand (424); printing a top tubular structure layer connecting the first side tubular structure portion and the second side tubular structure portion thereby forming the tunnel of the first tubular structure (102); and wherein the tensile strand (424) is moveable through the first tubular structure (102).
13. The method of forming according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the tunnel spring structure is configured in a non-linear shape; or wherein the tunnel spring structure is configured in a linear shape.
14. The method of forming according to claim 10, further comprising: printing a first support member to support the first connecting portion (108) and printing a second support member to support the second connecting portion (110), wherein optionally the first support member and the second support member are dissolvable.