ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING MULTIPLE BRAIDED STRUCTURES

• US 20150201707A1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Bruce, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,863,794 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/06 Braid or lace serving particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

A method of making an article of footwear and a resulting article of footwear are described. An article of footwear includes an upper with a first braided structure, a second braided structure, and an overlay system. The overlay system is bonded to the first braided structure and the overlay system is bonded to the second braided structure. The overlay system may be more resistant to stretching than the first braided structure and the overlay system may be more resistant to stretching than the second braided structure.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper and a sole system;

wherein the upper comprises a first braided structure, a second braided structure, and an overlay system;

wherein the overlay system is bonded to the first braided structure and wherein the overlay system is bonded to the second braided structure; and

wherein the overlay system is more resistant to stretching than the first braided structure and wherein the overlay system is more resistant to stretching than the second braided structure.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the second braided structure overlaps an outer surface of the first braided structure.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2, wherein a substantial portion of the second braided structure is overlapping and directly contacting the first braided structure.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the overlay system comprises a first layer and a second layer;

wherein the first layer is bonded to the first braided structure;

wherein the first layer is bonded to the second layer; and

wherein the second layer is bonded to the second braided structure.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate layer separates the first braided structure and the second braided structure.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the intermediate layer is foam;

and

wherein an edge of the intermediate layer is bonded to the overlay system.

7. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper and a sole system;

the upper comprising a first braided structure, a second braided structure, a member, and an overlay system;

wherein the overlay system is bonded to the first braided structure and wherein the overlay system is bonded to the second braided structure; and

wherein the member is positioned between the first braided structure and the second braided structure.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the member directly contacts the first braided structure;

and

wherein the member direct contacts the second braided structure.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein the overlay system substantially surrounds the member.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the member is spaced from the overlay system.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the member is attached to the overlay system.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the member is an ankle pad, the ankle pad being positioned in an ankle portion of the article of footwear;

and

wherein the upper further includes a heel pad, the heel pad being positioned in a heel portion of the article of footwear.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 7, wherein the member is made of foam and wherein the overlay system is made of thermoplastic.

14. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

a first braided structure including a first opening edge;

a second braided structure including a second opening edge, the second opening edge being substantially aligned with the first opening edge;

an overlay system including a first layer and a second layer;

wherein the first layer is bonded to the first opening edge; and

wherein the second layer is bonded to the second opening edge.

15. The upper according to claim 14, wherein the first layer is bonded to the second layer.

16. The upper according to claim 14, further comprising:

an intermediate layer, the intermediate layer being positioned between the first braided structure and the second braided structure.

17. The upper according to claim 16, wherein the second layer includes a first portion and a second portion;

wherein the second portion extends along the second opening edge; and

wherein the intermediate layer includes a member, the member being positioned between the first portion and the second portion.

18. The upper according to claim 17, wherein the member is spaced from the second portion;

and

wherein the member is spaced from the first portion.

19. The upper according to claim 17, wherein the member is attached to the second portion;

and

wherein the member is attached to the first portion.

20. The upper according to claim 17, wherein the first layer includes a fourth portion and a fifth portion;

wherein the fifth portion extends along the first opening edge; and

wherein the member is positioned between the fourth portion and the fifth portion.