Shoe with composite upper and method of making the same
First Claim
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1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a base layer, wherein the base layer has a first color;
an intermediate layer partially covering an exterior surface of the base layer, wherein the intermediate layer has a second color, and wherein the intermediate layer includes a first eye stay reinforcing element, the first eye stay reinforcing element including a first opening defined through it; and
a first skin layer partially covering and bonded to the exterior surface of the base layer and at least partially covering an exterior surface of the intermediate layer, wherein the first skin layer covers an exterior surface of the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer includes a second opening defined through it that is axially aligned with the first opening defined through the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer has a third color and is partially transparent or translucent, and wherein the upper includes;
(a) a first color appearance at a first portion where the first skin layer is absent, (b) a second color appearance different from the first color appearance at a second portion where the first skin layer partially covers the exterior surface of the base layer and the intermediate layer is absent, wherein the second color appearance includes a blend of the first color and the third color, and (c) a third color appearance different from the first color appearance and the second color appearance at a third portion where the first skin layer at least partially covers the exterior surface of the intermediate layer, wherein the third color appearance includes a blend of the second color and the third color.
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Abstract
Uppers for article of footwear may include one or more skin layers attached to a base layer, wherein at least one of the skin layers is at least partially transparent or translucent. The transparent or translucent skin layer may be applied over other elements of the upper (e.g., other skin layers, base layers, reinforcing layers, etc.) to provide interesting color change options and color palettes for the upper. Additional aspects of this invention relate to production of curved tongue composite structures and/or footwear having a bonded (hot melt) side seam for forming the upper (and optionally do not include a rear heel seam).
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
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a base layer, wherein the base layer has a first color; an intermediate layer partially covering an exterior surface of the base layer, wherein the intermediate layer has a second color, and wherein the intermediate layer includes a first eye stay reinforcing element, the first eye stay reinforcing element including a first opening defined through it; and a first skin layer partially covering and bonded to the exterior surface of the base layer and at least partially covering an exterior surface of the intermediate layer, wherein the first skin layer covers an exterior surface of the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer includes a second opening defined through it that is axially aligned with the first opening defined through the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer has a third color and is partially transparent or translucent, and wherein the upper includes;
(a) a first color appearance at a first portion where the first skin layer is absent, (b) a second color appearance different from the first color appearance at a second portion where the first skin layer partially covers the exterior surface of the base layer and the intermediate layer is absent, wherein the second color appearance includes a blend of the first color and the third color, and (c) a third color appearance different from the first color appearance and the second color appearance at a third portion where the first skin layer at least partially covers the exterior surface of the intermediate layer, wherein the third color appearance includes a blend of the second color and the third color. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An article of footwear, comprising:
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a sole structure; and an upper engaged with the sole structure, wherein the upper includes; a base layer, wherein the base layer has a first color; a first eye stay reinforcing element partially covering an exterior surface of the base layer, wherein the first eye stay reinforcing element has a second color, and wherein the first eye stay reinforcing element includes a first opening defined through it; and a first skin layer partially covering and bonded to the exterior surface of the base layer and covering an exterior surface of the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer includes a second opening defined through it that is axially aligned with the first opening defined through the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the first skin layer has a third color and is partially transparent or translucent, and wherein the upper includes;
(a) a first color appearance at a first portion where the first skin layer is absent, (b) a second color appearance different from the first color appearance at a second portion where the first skin layer partially covers the exterior surface of the base layer and the first eye stay reinforcing element is absent, wherein the second color appearance includes a blend of the first color and the third color, and (c) a third color appearance different from the first color appearance and the second color appearance at a third portion where the first skin layer covers the exterior surface of the first eye stay reinforcing element, wherein the third color appearance includes a blend of the second color and the third color. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification