Article of Footwear Having A Chain-Linked Tensile Support Structure

• US 20170020231A1
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Hausmann, Stephan, Parrett, Laura C., Williams, Robert C. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US15/211,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20170020231A1
• 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 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/021 Leather
• 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 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/12 Sandals; Strap guides thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/002 Mountain boots or shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/02 Football boots or shoes, i.e. for soccer, football or rugby
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/14 Shoes for cyclists
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/06 tightened by draw-strings
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00

Abstract

Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

a base layer having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the base layer forming at least a portion of the upper of the article of footwear;

a tensile support structure disposed proximate to the exterior surface of the base layer, the tensile support structure comprising a plurality of strands that extend between a lace region of the upper and a lower region of the upper; and

wherein the plurality of strands are joined together in a chain-link arrangement through the tensile support structure.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of strands is secured between the upper and the sole structure at the lower region of the upper.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of strands are unsecured to the upper between the lower region of the upper and the lace region.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a lace that extends through one or more lace-receiving elements.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the lace extends through at least a first lace loop formed by a first strand of the plurality of strands and a second lace loop formed by a second strand of the plurality of strands.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the first lace loop is disposed proximate a forefoot region of the article of footwear and the second lace loop is disposed nearer to a heel region of the article of footwear than is the first lace loop.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein a tensile force applied to the first lace loop of the first strand is transmitted through the tensile support structure to the second strand such that an opposing tensile force is applied at the second lace loop.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a cover layer disposed over at least a portion of the exterior surface of the base layer;

the cover layer forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper of the article of footwear.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 8, wherein at least a first portion of the plurality of strands are disposed between the exterior surface of the base layer and an inside surface of the cover layer and at least a second portion of the plurality of strands are exposed at the exterior of the upper.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the first portion of the plurality of strands and the second portion of the plurality of strands are joined in a chain-link arrangement at one or more locations through the tensile support structure.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the cover layer further comprises one or more openings that extend through the cover layer;

and

wherein at least one of the first portion of the plurality of strands and the second portion of the plurality of strands extend through the one or more openings.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the base layer comprises a knitted component.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein each strand of the plurality of strands comprises an ascending portion, a lace loop, and a descending portion;

and

wherein the ascending portion extends from the lower region to the lacing region, the descending portion extends from the lacing region to the lower region, and the lace loop is disposed between the ascending portion and the descending portion.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the chain-link arrangement of the plurality of strands in the tensile support structure comprises a plurality of intertwined links;

and

wherein each intertwined link joins at least one ascending portion and at least one descending portion of one or more strands of the plurality of strands.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14, wherein the at least one ascending portion and the at least one descending portion are located on one of:

(i) a same strand, or (ii) different strands.

16. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

a knitted component forming at least a portion of the upper of the article of footwear; and

a tensile support structure;

wherein the tensile support structure includes a plurality of strands that extend through the knitted component between a lace region of the upper and a lower region of the upper; and

wherein the plurality of strands are joined in a chain-link arrangement through the tensile support structure.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein a first portion of the plurality of strands extend through tubes in the knitted component formed by overlapping knit layers and a second portion of the plurality of strands are exposed at an exterior of the upper.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 16, wherein each strand of the plurality of strands comprises an ascending portion, a lace loop, and a descending portion;

and

wherein the ascending portion extends from the lower region to the lacing region, the descending portion extends from the lacing region to the lower region, and the lace loop is disposed between the ascending portion and the descending portion.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18, wherein the chain-link arrangement of the plurality of strands in the tensile support structure comprises a plurality of intertwined links;

and

wherein each intertwined link joins at least one ascending portion and at least one descending portion of one or more strands of the plurality of strands.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein the at least one ascending portion and the at least one descending portion are located on one of:

(i) a same strand, or (ii) different strands.

21. The article of footwear according to claim 19, wherein one or more of the plurality of intertwined links are exposed at the exterior of the upper.