Footwear Incorporating Crossed Tensile Strand Elements
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
- a pair of lace-receiving elements spaced from each other;
a material layer extending from the lace-receiving elements to the sole structure; and
a pair of strands extending from an area proximal to the lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure, the strands lying substantially parallel to a surface of the material layer in a region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure, and the strands crossing each other in the region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure.
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Abstract
An article of footwear may include various strands that extend from an area proximal to lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to a sole structure. The strands lie substantially parallel to a surface of a material layer in a region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure, and the strands cross each other in the region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure.
231 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
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a pair of lace-receiving elements spaced from each other; a material layer extending from the lace-receiving elements to the sole structure; and a pair of strands extending from an area proximal to the lace-receiving elements to an area proximal to the sole structure, the strands lying substantially parallel to a surface of the material layer in a region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure, and the strands crossing each other in the region between the lace-receiving elements and the sole structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
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a first lace-receiving element and a second lace-receiving element spaced from each other; a material layer extending from the lace-receiving elements to the sole structure; a first group of strands extending between an area proximal to the first lace-receiving element and the sole structure, the first group of strands lying substantially parallel to a surface of the material layer for a distance of at least five centimeters; and a second group of strands extending between an area proximal to the second lace-receiving element and the sole structure, the second group of strands lying substantially parallel to the surface of the material layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, wherein at least two of the first group of strands crosses at least two of the second group of stands. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
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a material layer extending along at least one of a lateral side and a medial side of the upper and from an upper region of the upper to a lower region of the upper, the material layer defining a first lace aperture and a second lace aperture located in the upper region; a first strand extending from an area proximal to the first lace aperture to the lower area of the upper, the first strand lying substantially parallel to a surface of the material layer and in contact with the surface for a distance of at least five centimeters; and a second strand extending from an area proximal to the second lace aperture to the lower area of the upper, the second strand crossing the first strand. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification