Under Armour, Inc.

Roger Fan

Daniel Lee

Alan Toronjo

Thomas White

A method of manufacturing a panel for an article of apparel includes stretching a base layer from a resting configuration to a stretched configuration. The method further includes coupling a reinforcement layer to the base layer when the base layer is in the stretched configuration. The method also includes applying an auxetic structure to the reinforcement layer when the base layer is in the stretched configuration. The auxetic structure includes a plurality of interconnected members defining a repeating pattern of voids, and each void has a reentrant shape. The method further includes releasing the base layer to allow the base layer to return to the resting configuration.

Method of making an article of footwear

An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.

Article of apparel

An article of footwear includes at least one panel comprised of a composite material. The composite material includes a plurality of layers that are secured together according to a predetermined embroidery stitching pattern. The panel includes a first layer having a maximum elongation in a length direction of the article of footwear, and a second layer having a maximum elongation in a width direction of the article of footwear. The composite material also includes additional layers coupled to the first layer and the second layer.

Article of footwear with composite upper

An article of footwear includes an upper formed of a base layer, a reinforcement layer, and an auxetic structure coupled to the reinforcement layer. The base layer includes an elastic material and is elastically deformable between a resting configuration and a stretched configuration. The base layer is configured to be stretched to a predetermined amount. The inelastic reinforcement layer is coupled to the base layer. The reinforcement layer is configured to delimit the stretch amount of the base layer when the base layer is in the stretched configuration.

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Hong Kong, China

Roger Fan