PERFORMANCE FOOTWEAR

• US 20150047227A1
• Filed: 08/13/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Inventors: Fallon, Kevin, Dombrow, David
• Application Number:
  US14/458,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20150047227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/88
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/087 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/17 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/26 with toe-spacers or toe-spreaders

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward footwear including an upper connected to a sole structure. The upper includes two portions formed via compression molding in which textile layers are compressed to form a fabric laminate. One of the upper portions generally defines a seamless heel cup. The other upper portion generally defines a toe cage. The toe cage includes one or more integrated toe guides operable to position a toe of a wearer in a predetermined position within the cavity.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper secured to the sole structure,

wherein the article of footwear includes a hindfoot section, a midfoot section, and a forefoot section, the sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer,

and wherein the article of footwear comprises a single compartment toe cage operable to house all toes of the foot, the toe cage including a toe guide extending into the cavity, the toe guide operable to orient a toe of the foot in a predetermined position relative to at least one of the upper and an adjacent toe.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises a planum portion including a seamless heel cup and a dorsum portion including a toe cap disposed above the toes of the foot.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the toe cap includes the toe guide operable to position the toe within the footwear.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the toe guide comprises a truncated wall extending downward from the toe cap.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises a laminate comprising an interior layer facing the cavity, an exterior layer forming an exterior of the shoe, and an intermediate layer disposed between interior and exterior layers.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein at least one of the interior layer and the exterior layer comprises fabric.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper comprises a planum portion including a seamless heel cup and a dorsum portion including a seamless toe cap, the toe cap being disposed above the toes of the foot.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein:

the toe cap comprises an undulating surface defined by a plurality of raised areas and recesses; and

the toes of the foot align with the raised areas of the toe cap.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the toe guide is formed into the upper via compression molding.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the toe guide is effective to deflect and receives the hallux, thereby separating it from the second toe.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper comprising;

a planum section including a seamless heel cup, and

a dorsum section including a toe cap,

wherein the planum section is connected to the dorsum section, the planum and dorsum sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein at least one of the planum section and the dorsum section comprises a laminate including an interior layer facing the cavity, an exterior layer forming an exterior of the shoe, and an intermediate layer disposed between interior and exterior layers.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein at least one of the interior layer and the exterior layer comprises fabric.

14. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein:

the interior layer comprises a synthetic fabric including an elastic fiber;

the intermediate layer comprises foam; and

the exterior layer comprises a synthetic fabric including an elastic fiber.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the laminate is capable of being formed into a three-dimensional shape via compression molding.

16. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the toe cap is seamless.

17. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein:

the sole structure includes a first, upper-facing surface and a second, ground-facing surface; and

the second surface of the sole structure further comprises a generally transverse groove, the groove defining a flection line of the sole structure.

18. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein:

the toe cap cooperates with the planum portion to form a toe cage; and

the toe cap is a molded structure including a generally horizontal toe cover portion bordered by rim extending toward the sole structure.

19. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure;

an upper coupled to the sole structure;

a toe cage operable to house a plurality of toes; and

a partition extending into the cavity, the partition operable to orient a toe of the plurality of toes in a predetermined position.

20. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein:

the toe cage defines a ceiling; and

the partition extends distally from the ceiling toward the sole structure such that a gap exists between a distal end of the partition and sole structure.

21. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein:

the upper defines a toe cage having a ceiling and a floor; and

the partition extends distally from the ceiling toward the floor such that a gap exists between a distal end of the partition and floor of the toe cage.

22. The article of footwear of claim 21, wherein the upper further includes a seamless heel cup.

23. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the article of footwear includes a hindfoot section, a midfoot section, and a forefoot section, the sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer.

24. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the partition is truncated.

25. The article of footwear of claim 19, wherein the partition is defined by a curved recess molded into the toe cage.

26. The article of footwear of claim 19 further including a raised area formed into the upper, the raised area being operable to receive a single toe.