Abstract: An article of apparel has at least one panel including a first material having a first modulus of elasticity and a second material having a second modulus of elasticity, the first modulus of elasticity being greater than the second modulus of elasticity. An auxetic structure is provided by the first material on the panel, the auxetic structure comprising a pattern of reentrant shapes. A fill portion is provided by the second material on the panel, the fill portion formed by a plurality of stitches positioned inside of each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure, and the fill portion substantially filling an interior area defined by each reentrant shape. The fill portion is a base layer of the at least one panel and the auxetic structure is an auxetic layer positioned on the base layer.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An improved article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and is configured to receive at least a portion of a human foot. The upper further includes a toebox, a medial quarter, a lateral quarter, a heel cup. The upper also includes a three dimensional auxetic structure at least partially formed within the medial quarter, lateral quarter, and heel cup of the upper. The three dimensional auxetic structure defines a primary expansion direction, a secondary expansion direction, and a tertiary expansion direction. The secondary expansion direction is transverse to the primary expansion direction. The tertiary expansion direction is normal to the plane defined by the primary expansion direction and the secondary expansion direction. Furthermore, the upper of the article of footwear is constructed via a thermoforming process.

Abstract: An improved article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and is configured to receive at least a portion of a human foot. The upper further includes a toebox, a medial quarter, a lateral quarter, a heel cup. The upper also includes a three dimensional auxetic structure at least partially formed within the medial quarter, lateral quarter, and heel cup of the upper. The three dimensional auxetic structure defines a primary expansion direction, a secondary expansion direction, and a tertiary expansion direction. The secondary expansion direction is transverse to the primary expansion direction. The tertiary expansion direction is normal to the plane defined by the primary expansion direction and the secondary expansion direction. Furthermore, the upper of the article of footwear is constructed via a thermoforming process.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a base layer defined by a Poisson's ratio, and a polymer structure coupled to the base layer. The polymer structure is configured to lower the Poisson's ratio of the base layer. The polymer structure includes a plurality of interconnected members forming an array of cell units. The plurality of interconnected members form cell walls with interior recesses defined within the cell walls.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a four way stretch material. The second layer, coupled to the first layer, includes an auxetic layer.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a base layer and an auxetic layer coupled to the base layer. The auxetic layer includes an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of shapes, with each of the shapes defined by perimeter walls and an interior recess. The auxetic layer includes a first region and a second region. Each interior recess in the first region provides a void exposing the base layer, and each interior recess in the second region is at least partially filled with a recess material.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a base layer and an auxetic layer. The base layer includes a four way stretch material. The auxetic layer is coupled to the base layer and includes an auxetic structure defining a repeating pattern of voids. The base layer is exposed by at least one void of the auxetic layer.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a first layer and a second layer. An auxetic structure penetrates the first layer. The auxetic structure includes a plurality of interconnected members forming an array of cell units. Each of the plurality of interconnected members form cell walls with interior recesses defined within the cell walls. The second layer is coupled to the first layer via the auxetic structure.

Abstract: An improved article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and is configured to receive at least a portion of a human foot. The upper further includes a toebox, a medial quarter, a lateral quarter, a heel cup. The upper also includes a three dimensional auxetic structure at least partially formed within the medial quarter, lateral quarter, and heel cup of the upper. The three dimensional auxetic structure defines a primary expansion direction, a secondary expansion direction, and a tertiary expansion direction. The secondary expansion direction is transverse to the primary expansion direction. The tertiary expansion direction is normal to the plane defined by the primary expansion direction and the secondary expansion direction. Furthermore, the upper of the article of footwear is constructed via a thermoforming process.

Abstract: An article of apparel has at least one panel including a first material having a first modulus of elasticity and a second material having a second modulus of elasticity, the first modulus of elasticity being greater than the second modulus of elasticity. An auxetic structure is provided by the first material on the panel, the auxetic structure comprising a pattern of reentrant shapes. A fill portion is provided by the second material on the panel, the fill portion formed by a plurality of stitches positioned inside of each reentrant shape of the auxetic structure, and the fill portion substantially filling an interior area defined by each reentrant shape. The fill portion is a base layer of the at least one panel and the auxetic structure is an auxetic layer positioned on the base layer.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes at least one panel including a first edge and an opposing second edge. The at least one panel includes an auxetic structure defining a primary elongation direction and a secondary elongation direction. A plurality of lace coupling pairs are positioned along the first edge and the second edge of the at least one panel. Each lace coupling pair defines a lace pull direction that is perpendicular to a line extending through two adjacent lace couplings of the lace coupling pair. Each lace pull direction is defined by the plurality of lace couplings substantially in alignment with either the primary elongation direction or the secondary elongation direction of the auxetic structure between the two adjacent lace couplings of the lace coupling pair.

Abstract: A garment includes at least one garment panel made of a fabric including a first yarn having a first denier and a second yarn having a second denier, the first denier being greater than the second denier. The first yarn forms an auxetic structure comprising a pattern of interconnected segments on the garment panel. The second yarn forms a fill portion extending between the interconnected segments of the auxetic structure.