Abstract:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured together is provided. The upper comprises: a plurality of material elements joined together to define (a) a lateral side of the upper, (b) a medial side of the upper located opposite the lateral side, and (c) a void within the upper and between the lateral side and the medial side for receiving at least a foot, the material elements being located in (a) a forefoot region of the upper, (b) a midfoot region of the upper, and (c) a heel region of the upper, and the material elements defining (a) a lace region that includes a plurality of lace-receiving elements and (b) a lower region proximal to an area where the sole structure is secured to the upper, and the material elements defining an opening that extends from an ankle opening of the upper in the heel region to an area between the lace region and the lower region in the midfoot region, the opening extending from an exterior surface of the upper to the void; and a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region and across the opening, the strand segments being secured to the material elements in the lace region and the lower region; wherein the opening is located on the lateral side, and another opening is located on the medial side; and wherein the material elements include a first material layer and a second material layer in the lace region, and the strand segments are located and secured between the first material layer and the second material layer in the lace region.
Abstract:
An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an elastic skin material forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. In addition, the upper may include substantially inelastic reinforcing material selectively located adjacent portions of the elastic skin material, wherein the elastic skin material is more elastic than the substantially inelastic reinforcing material.
Abstract:
An article of footwear has a multi-layer upper, where the outermost layers of the upper are cut into a pattern. The cut portions of the upper are mounted on a contiguous substrate layer so that the edges of the cut portions are visible and perceptible to touch. The upper remains durable in terms of abrasion resistance, ply adhesion, tensile strength, and flex testing.
Abstract:
An article of footwear is disclosed with a sole structure. An upper is attached to the sole structure and includes a plurality of gripping members extending from a surface of the upper. The plurality of gripping members includes a first gripping member and second, third, and fourth gripping members that are concentric with one another and with the first gripping member.
Abstract:
An article of footwear for climbing is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a sole structure including at least an outsole and having a concave shape; and an upper (100) secured to the sole structure. The upper includes a textile including an active region (130,132,134) and a secure region (140,142,144), the active region being between a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper at least in an area of the upper at a toe side of an area corresponding to a ball of a foot disposed in the article of footwear. The article of footwear provides for stretchibility in the active region and support in the secure region.
Abstract:
An upper includes an inner skin placed on a wear's skin side, and an outer skin placed on an opposite side from the inner skin, wherein a sponge member is housed between the inner skin and the outer skin in a heel portion; the sponge member includes a medial side portion covering a medial side of a calcaneal bone, and a lateral side portion covering a lateral side of the calcaneal bone; and in a developed view where the sponge member is unfolded into a planar shape, a height of a lateral first centroid of a portion corresponding to the lateral side portion is set to be higher than a height of a medial first centroid of a portion corresponding to the medial side portion.
Abstract:
The invention relates to an article of footwear (10) having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a knitted component (40) formed of unitary knit construction, the knitted component including at least one tubular structure (42) comprising a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer that are at least partially coextensive with each other and are joined along edges of the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer to form a tube ; and wherein the tube formed by the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer has a unitary knit construction so as to be a one-piece element with the remaining portion of the knitted component. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing an article of footwear.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an article of footwear (10), the method comprising: forming a knitted component (40) of unitary knit construction through a knitting process, the knitted component including a tubular structure (42); inlaying a strand (43) into the tubular structure during the knitting process; and incorporating the knitted component into an upper of the article of footwear. The invention also relates to an article of footwear.