Article of footwear with tubular structures

• US 10,492,566 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2016
• Issued: 12/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Guest, Stefan E., Holmes, Matthew J., Sterman, Yoav
• Primary Examiner(s): Kozak, Anne M
• Application Number:
  US15/370,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20170156445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 36 97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/22 Soles made slip-preventing or wear-resisting, e.g. by impregnation or spreading a wear-resisting layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/00 Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/24 Ornamental buckles; Other ornaments for shoes without fastening function
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• 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 11/16 Fastenings secured by wire, bolts, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 7/00 Holding-devices for laces
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 2200/60 Computer aided manufacture of footwear, e.g. CAD or CAM
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/00 Additive manufacturing, i.e. manufacturing of three-dimensional [3D] objects by additive deposition, additive agglomeration or additive layering, e.g. by 3D printing, stereolithography or selective laser sintering
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/106 using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/112 using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/118 using filamentary material being melted, e.g. fused deposition modelling [FDM]
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/30 Auxiliary operations or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 22/00 Producing hollow articles tubular articles B29D23/00; pneumatic tyres B29D30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/12 : Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels, uppers, by a moulding technique
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 : Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0082 : Flexural strength; Flexion stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/505 : Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/727 : Fastening elements bolts B29L2001/002; nuts B29L2001/005; screws B29L2001/007; slide fasteners B29L2005/00; buttons for haberdashery B29L2019/00
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 : Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 : Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure;

a tubular structure extending along the upper, the tubular structure including a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, wherein the intermediate portion is attached to the upper;

the tubular structure having a tunnel extending through the tubular structure from the first end to the second end, wherein the intermediate portion of the tubular structure includes a surface with a plurality of openings extending to the tunnel;

a first tensile strand extending through the tunnel of the tubular structure;

a secondary tensile strand having a first portion attached to the sole structure; and

the secondary tensile strand also having a second portion engaged with the first tensile strand, wherein a portion of the first tensile strand extends through a first opening of the plurality of openings in the tubular structure to engage the second portion of the secondary tensile strand;

wherein applying tension to the first tensile strand also applies tension to the secondary tensile strand at the second portion of the secondary tensile strand.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

a third portion of the secondary tensile strand is attached to an attachment region of the article of footwear; and

wherein the second portion of the secondary tensile strand is disposed between the first portion of the secondary tensile strand and the third portion of the secondary tensile strand.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein:

the tubular structure has an axial direction and a circumferential direction;

wherein the plurality of openings includes a second opening; and

wherein a center of the first opening has a different circumferential orientation than a center of the second opening.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein applying tension across the first tensile strand elastically deforms the intermediate portion of the tubular structure.

5. The article of footwear as in claim 4, wherein the upper includes a base portion proximate the intermediate portion of the tubular structure, the base portion having a geometry, and wherein the geometry of the base portion changes when the tubular structure is elastically deformed.

6. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper;

a sole structure;

a tubular structure, the tubular structure including a first end, a second end, a first intermediate portion and a second intermediate portion, the first intermediate portion being attached to the upper and the second intermediate portion being attached to the upper;

the tubular structure having a tunnel extending through the tubular structure from the first end to the second end;

wherein the first intermediate portion of the tubular structure includes a first opening extending to the tunnel and wherein the second intermediate portion of the tubular structure includes a second opening extending to the tunnel;

a first tensile strand extending through the tunnel of the tubular structure;

a plurality of secondary tensile strands comprising a secondary tensile strand and another secondary tensile strand, the secondary tensile strand having a first portion engaging the first tensile strand adjacent the first opening and a second portion engaging the first tensile strand adjacent the second opening;

wherein applying tension along the secondary tensile strand applies tension between two different portions of the first tensile strand, wherein the first intermediate portion has a third opening, the another secondary tensile strand engages the first tensile strand adjacent the third opening, and wherein the another secondary tensile strand is anchored to the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the tubular structure includes at least one non-linear portion between the first intermediate portion and the second intermediate portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the secondary tensile strand extends over a top portion of the upper.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the secondary tensile strand has a different diameter than the first tensile strand.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the first intermediate portion is on a medial side of the upper;

and wherein the second intermediate portion is on a lateral side of the upper.