Braided upper with multiple materials

• US 10,555,581 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2015
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruce, Robert M., Lee, Eun Kyung, Sills, Craig K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R
• Application Number:
  US14/721,450
• Publication Number:
  US 20160345674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/021 Leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/02 made from particular materials
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 3/48 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/02411 with a single array of unbent yarn, e.g. unidirectional reinforcement fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear is formed from multiple braided components. The braided components may be braided strands formed from different tensile elements. The tensile elements may have different cross-sections. The tensile elements may be from different materials. Different braided strands may then be over-braided over a last to form a braided upper for the article of footwear.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having a braided upper, comprising:

a first group of tensile elements having a square cross-sectional shape and braided to form a first braided strand having a first cross-sectional area;

a second group of tensile elements having a circular cross-sectional shape and braided to form a second braided strand having a a second cross-sectional area;

wherein the first braided strand is different than the second braided strand; and

wherein the first braided strand oriented along a first direction is braided with the second braided strand oriented along a second direction at a bias relative to the first direction to form at least a region of the braided upper and wherein one of the first braided strand and the second braided strand is an axial component of the braided upper.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first cross-sectional area is different than the second cross-sectional area.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first group of tensile elements are made from a first material, the second group of tensile elements are made of a second material, and wherein the first material is different than the second material.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first cross-sectional diameter, the second group of tensile elements have a second cross-sectional diameter, and wherein the first cross-sectional diameter is different than the second cross-sectional diameter.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first elasticity, the second group of tensile elements have a second elasticity, and wherein the first elasticity is different than the second elasticity.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first tensile strength, the second group of tensile elements have a second tensile strength, and wherein the first tensile strength is different than the second tensile strength.

7. An article of footwear having a braided upper, comprising:

a first braided strand comprised of a first group of tensile elements having a square cross-sectional shape, wherein the first group of tensile elements are braided together to form the first braided strand having a first cross-sectional area;

a second braided strand comprised of a second group of tensile elements having a circular cross-sectional shape, wherein the second group of tensile elements are braided together to form the second braided strand having a second cross-sectional area;

wherein the first braided strand oriented along a first direction is braided with the second braided strand oriented along a second direction at a bias angle relative to the first direction to form at least a region of the braided upper; and

wherein one of the first braided strand and the second braided strand is an axial component of the braided upper.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the first group of tensile elements are made from a first material, the second group of tensile elements are made of a second material, and wherein the first material is different than the second material.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first cross-sectional diameter, the second group of tensile elements have a second cross-sectional diameter, and wherein the first cross-sectional diameter is different than the second cross-sectional diameter.

10. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first elasticity, the second group of tensile elements have a second elasticity, and wherein the first elasticity is different than the second elasticity.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first tensile strength, the second group of tensile elements have a second tensile strength, and wherein the first tensile strength is different than the second tensile strength.

12. An article of footwear having a braided upper, comprising:

a first braided strand comprised of a first group of tensile elements having a square cross-sectional shape that are braided together to form the first braided strand having a first cross-sectional area;

a second braided strand comprised of a second group of tensile elements having a circular cross-sectional shape that are braided together to form the second braided strand having a second cross-sectional area;

wherein the first group of tensile elements are made of a first material;

wherein the second group of tensile elements are made of a second material;

wherein the first material is different than the second material; and

wherein the first braided strand oriented along a first direction is braided with the second braided strand oriented along a second direction at a bias angle relative to the first direction to form at least a region of the braided upper and wherein one of the first braided strand and the second braided strand is an axial component of the braided upper.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first cross-sectional area is different than the second cross-sectional area.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first cross-sectional diameter, the second group of tensile elements have a second cross-sectional diameter, and wherein the first cross-sectional diameter is different than the second cross-sectional diameter.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the first group of tensile elements have a first elasticity, the second group of tensile elements have a second elasticity, and wherein the first elasticity is different than the second elasticity.