Footwear article having cord structure

• US 10,092,060 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Aveni, Michael A., Tawney, John, Fuerst, Rory
• Primary Examiner(s): Ostrup, Clinton T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carter, Cameron A
• Application Number:
  US14/076,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20140130372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 36 83, 36105
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/122 characterised by the attachment of the straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/126 characterised by the shape or layout of the straps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/128 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/16 Overshoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/06 tightened by draw-strings
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 9/08 made of paper or wire
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 5/00 Knitting apparatus or machines without needles for domestic use with needles D04B7/08
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.

Claims

1. A footwear article, comprising:

an upper, at least a portion of which is formed via one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords configured to at least partially enclose a foot, at least one of the cords engaged with a sole, wherein a first cord of the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords forms a first plurality of loops and a second cord of the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords forms a second plurality of loops, wherein an upper loop region comprises a first loop of the first plurality of loops intertwined with and slidably movable relative to at least two loops of the second plurality of loops of a lower loop region, wherein a second loop of the at least two loops is intertwined with and slidably movable relative to at least two loops of the first plurality of loops including the first loop between the upper and lower loop regions, and where a loop intersecting midline, arranged along an interface between the upper and lower loop regions, comprises each of the first and second pluralities of loops, wherein the first cord forms lace attachment loops, and wherein a lace cord is intertwined with at least two loops of the lace attachment loops, and where a heel counter is adjacent to a heel side of the sole, and where the first loop and the second loop follow a single path around the heel counter wherein the heel counter is interlaced with one or more of the cords and where the heel counter has less flexibility than a cord structure, the cord structure comprising the upper loop region, the lower loop region, and the loop intersecting midline.

2. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises one or more uninterrupted cords engaging with at least one of itself and one or more additional cords at a plurality of intertwined, yet at least partially slippably-engaged selected locations.

3. The footwear article of claim 2, wherein the slippably-engaged locations are positioned along one or more loop lines traversing around a portion of the upper.

4. The footwear article of claim 3, wherein one or more of the cords interfaces with the sole in partial-locking engagement at a plurality of locations fully or partially around at least a portion of the sole.

5. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the heel counter is a strap.

6. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords are flexible to bend in any direction, yet a shape of the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords is retained at least partially in a free-state.

7. The footwear article of claim 1, further comprising a bootie at least partially enclosed by the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords.

8. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein a loop of the first cord is slippably-engaged along an entire length of a loop of the second cord.

9. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the lace attachment loops include a loop that the lace cord is not intertwined with, the loop positioned between the at least two loops of the lace attachment loops.

10. A footwear article comprising a looped upper with cords and a heel counter and is adjacent to a heel side of the sole forming a structure configured to enclose a foot, the cords in the upper in slippable engagement with respect to one another, but being fixedly attached at interfaces with a sole, wherein the cords form a cord structure with a first cord of the cords forms a first plurality of loops along a vamp and a second cord of the cords forms a second plurality of loops along a rand, wherein a loop of the first plurality of loops is in slippable engagement with at least two loops of the second plurality of loops, and wherein a loop of the second plurality of loops is in slippable engagement with at least two loops of the first plurality of loops, and where a midline arranged between the vamp and the rand of the footwear article comprises the first and second pluralities of loops intertwining, wherein the first and second pluralities of loops are displaced in a direction perpendicular to the midline and where the heel counter is interlaced with at least one of the cords following a single path around the heel counter, and where the heel counter has less flexibility than the cord structure.

11. The footwear article of claim 10, wherein the slippable engagement is formed at cord interfaces, the cord interfaces positioned along a loop line traversing across lateral and medial sides of the looped upper, and further across at least one of a forefoot and a toe region, wherein the cord interfaces comprise a first loop intertwined with and slidably movable with respect to a second loop, the first loop and the second loop formed from the cords.

12. The footwear article of claim 11, wherein the looped upper is formed in an intertwined pattern, but substantially free of knots at a plurality of slippable interfaces positioned away from the sole.

13. The footwear article of claim 10, wherein the cords in the structure are coupled to the sole via attachment openings in the sole.

14. A footwear article, comprising:

a cord structure comprising one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords configured to at least partially enclose a foot, at least one of the cords engaged with a sole, wherein a vamp comprises a first cord of the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords-having a first plurality of loops and a rand comprises a second cord of the one or more slippably-engaged and intertwined cords having a second plurality of loops, wherein a first loop of the first plurality of loops is intertwined with and slidably movable relative to at least two loops of the second plurality of loops, wherein a second loop of the at least two loops of the second plurality of loops is intertwined with and slidably movable relative to at least two loops of the first plurality of loops including the first loop, wherein a beginning of each loop is substantially adjacent to an ending of each loop, and wherein a loop of the first cord is slippably-engaged along an entire length of a loop of the second cord, wherein a midline is arranged between the vamp and the rand, the first and second pluralities of loops being intertwined at the midline, and where the first and second pluralities of loops are slidably movable perpendicular to the midline, and where a heel counter adjacent to a heel side of the sole is interlaced with one or more of the cords and

wherein the heel counter is interlaced with one or more of the cords and where the heel counter has less flexibility than a cord structure, the cord structure comprising the intertwined cords.