IPC分类号：
A43B7/14 | A43C1/00 | A43B23/02 | A43C11/14 | B33Y80/00 | A43C7/00 | A43B23/00 | B33Y40/00 | A43C1/04 | A43B23/24 | A43C11/16
国民经济行业分类号：
C1954 | C1953 | C1952 | C1951 | C2444 | C1761 | O8192 | C1959
当前申请(专利权)人：
NIKE INNOVATE C.V. | NIKE, INC.
原始申请(专利权)人：
NIKE INNOVATE C.V. | NIKE, INC.
当前申请(专利权)人地址：
Dutch Partnership,One Bowerman Drive,Beaverton, OR 97005-6453 US | One Bowerman Drive,Beaverton, OR 97005-6453 US
发明人：
GUEST, STEFAN, E. | HOLMES, MATTHEW, J. | STERMAN, YOAV
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：
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1 . A tunnel spring structure attached to a base layer, the tunnel spring structure comprising:
a plurality of tubular structures with each tubular structure including a first end and a second end, wherein each tubular structure has a tunnel;
a plurality of connecting portions with each connecting portion including a third end and a fourth end;
wherein the second end of a first tubular structure of the plurality of tubular structures is attached to the third end of a first connecting portion of the plurality of connecting portions; and
wherein the first end of a second tubular structure of the plurality of tubular structures is attached to the fourth end of the first connecting portion.
2. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 1 , further comprising a tensile strand having a first end and a second end, the tensile strand extending through the tunnels of the plurality of tubular structures;
wherein the first end of the tensile strand is secured at the first end of the first tubular structure; and
wherein the tensile strand is partially exposed proximate each of the plurality of connecting portions.
3. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 2, wherein tension applied to the second end of the tensile strand urges one or more of the plurality of tubular structures to deviate from a first state to a second state;
wherein the plurality of tubular structures are spaced apart a first distance when the tunnel spring structure is in the first state;
wherein the plurality of tubular structures are spaced apart a second distance when the tunnel spring structure is in the second state; and
wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.
4. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 3, wherein when the tension is released, the plurality of connecting portions urge the tunnel spring structure from the
second state to the first state.
5. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the tensile strand is a cord.
6. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of connecting portions is elastic.
7. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plurality of connecting portions have arc-like shapes protruding away from one or more of the plurality tubular structures.
8. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein
at least one of the tubular structures of the plurality of tubular structures has a greater stiffness than at least one of connecting portions of the plurality of connecting portions.
9. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein
at least one of the plurality of tubular structures is made of a different material than at least one of the plurality of connecting portions.
10. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tunnel spring structure is disposed on a portion of an article of apparel.
1 1 . The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the tunnel spring structure is disposed on a portion of an article of footwear.
12. A tunnel spring structure attached to a base layer, the tunnel spring structure comprising:
a first tubular structure attached to the base layer including a first end portion and a second end portion, the first tubular structure having a first tunnel extending from the first end portion to the second end portion;
a second tubular structure attached to the base layer including a third end portion and a fourth end portion, the second tubular structure having a second tunnel extending
from the third end portion to the fourth end portion;
a third tubular structure attached to the base layer including a fifth end portion and a sixth end portion, the third tubular structure having a third tunnel extending from the fifth end portion to the sixth end portion;
a first connecting portion disposed between the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure, wherein the first connecting portion is attached to the second end portion of the first tubular structure and the third end portion of the second tubular structure;
a second connecting portion disposed between the second tubular structure and the third tubular structure, wherein the second connecting portion is attached to the fourth end portion of the second tubular structure and the fifth end portion of the third tubular structure;
a tensile strand including a first end and a second end, the tensile strand extending through the first tunnel, the second tunnel, and the third tunnel; and
wherein the tensile strand is partially exposed proximate the first connecting portion and is also partially exposed proximate the second connecting portion.
13. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 12, wherein the tunnel spring structure is configured in a non-linear shape.
14. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 13, wherein the tunnel spring structure is in a first state when the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure are spaced apart a first distance;
wherein the tunnel spring structure is in a second state when the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure 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 and the second end of the tensile strand forces the tunnel spring structure from the first state to the second state.
15. The tunnel spring structure according to claim 14, wherein when the predetermined tension is released, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion force the tunnel spring structure from the second state to the first state.
16. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the first
connecting portion is more flexible than the first tubular structure.
17. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the base layer has a geometry, and wherein the geometry of the base layer changes when the tunnel spring structure transitions from the first state to the second state.
18. The tunnel spring structure according to any of claims 12 to 17, wherein either or both of the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion have arc-like shapes protruding away from the second tubular structure.
19. A method of forming a tunnel spring system coupled with a base layer, comprising: printing a first tubular structure including a first end and a first opposite end;
printing a second tubular structure including a second end and a second opposite end;
printing a third tubular structure including a third end and a third opposite end; wherein the first tubular structure, the second tubular structure, and the third tubular structure are sequentially arranged on the base layer;
wherein each tubular structure has a tunnel;
printing a first connecting portion so that the first connecting portion attaches to the first opposite end of the first tubular structure and the second end of the second tubular structure; and
printing a second connecting portion so that the second connecting portion attaches to the second opposite end of the second tubular structure and the third end of the third tubular structure.
20. The method of forming according to claim 19, wherein the step of printing the first tubular structure 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.
21 . The method of forming according to claim 19, further comprising extending a tensile strand through the tunnels of the first tubular structure, the second tubular structure, and the third tubular structure;
wherein the tensile strand is partially exposed proximate the connecting portions; and
wherein tension applied to the tensile strand urge the first tubular structure, the second tubular structure, and the third tubular structure toward each other.
22. The method of forming according to claim 21 , wherein the steps of printing the first tubular structure and extending the tensile strand 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 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.
23. The method of forming according to claim 21 , wherein the steps of printing the first tubular structure and extending the tensile strand involves placing the tensile strand on the base layer;
wherein the tensile strand includes a side portion and an opposite side portion; printing a first side tubular structure portion extending from the base layer near the side portion of the tensile strand;
printing a second side tubular structure portion extending from the base layer near the opposite side portion of the tensile strand;
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; and
wherein the tensile strand is moveable through the first tubular structure.
24. The method of forming according to any of claims 19-23, wherein the tunnel spring system is configured in a non-linear shape.
25. The method of forming according to any of claims 19-23, wherein the tunnel spring system is configured in a linear shape.
26. The method of forming according to claim 19, further comprising:
printing a first support member to support the first connecting portion and printing a second support member to support the second connecting portion.
27. The method of forming according to claim 26, wherein the first support member and the second support member are dissolvable.