FOOTWEAR ANKLE COLLAR TRIM TRANSITION

• US 20170105485A1
• Filed: 10/16/2015
• Published: 04/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Schenone, Kyle D., Wright, Ellisha K.
• Granted Patent: US 10,182,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence

Abstract

An article of footwear having an upper with enhanced transition properties is described herein. The transition properties may be incorporated in an ankle collar trim transition region, a heel stay reinforcing structure, and/or a heel padding structure. Additionally, a method for manufacturing the article of footwear with enhanced transition properties in a heel region is provided.

Claims

1. An upper of an article of footwear having an ankle collar, comprising:

an inner material extending to the ankle collar; and

an upper first material extending to the ankle collar, wherein the inner material extends upwardly beyond the upper first material at the ankle collar such that a top edge of the inner material is superior to a top edge of the upper first material at the ankle collar.

2. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising an ankle collar reinforcing material that overlaps the top edge of the upper first material and retains the top edge of the upper first material in contact against an outer surface of the inner material.

3. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material extends around a heel end of the upper from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper.

4. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material comprises an elongate band.

5. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material comprises a thermoplastic material.

6. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material is thermally bonded to each of the upper first material and the inner material.

7. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the top edge of the inner material is superior to a top edge of the ankle collar reinforcing material, and a top edge of the ankle collar reinforcing material is superior to the top edge of the upper first material at the ankle collar.

8. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 7, further comprising:

a first ankle collar trim transition region comprising the inner material, and not comprising the upper first material nor the ankle collar reinforcing material;

a second ankle collar trim transition region comprising the inner material and the ankle collar reinforcing material, and not comprising the upper first material; and

a third ankle collar trim transition region comprising the inner material, the ankle collar reinforcing material, and the upper first material.

9. The upper of the article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the inner material is more flexible than the upper first material.

10. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole; and

an upper, the upper comprising;

a toe end;

a heel end;

a medial side;

a lateral side; and

a heel region extending between the medial side and the lateral side at the heel end, the heel region comprising;

an ankle collar;

an upper first material extending from proximate the sole to the ankle collar; and

an inner material extending from proximate the sole to the ankle collar, wherein a top edge of the inner material is superior to a top edge of the upper first material at the ankle collar.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the inner material is more flexible than the upper first material.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising an ankle collar reinforcing material that overlaps the top edge of the upper first material and retains the top edge of the upper first material in contact against an outer surface of the inner material.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material comprises an elongate thermoplastic band that extends around the heel end of the upper from the medial side of the upper to the lateral side of the upper.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material is thermally bonded to each of the upper first material and the inner material.

15. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a heel stay reinforcing structure positioned at the heel region exterior surface.

16. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a heel stay reinforcing structure inferior to the top edge of the inner material.

17. The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a heel padding region disposed in the heel region between the inner material and the upper first material, and between a heel region top edge and a heel region bottom edge.

18. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the inner material extends from a heel region bottom edge to a heel region top edge.

19. A method for manufacturing an article of footwear having an ankle collar trim transition, the method comprising:

forming a substantially planar upper from an upper first material;

coupling an inner material to a portion of the upper corresponding to an interior heel surface of the article of footwear, the inner material having a top edge extending above a top edge of the upper first material at an ankle collar;

coupling an ankle collar reinforcing material to an exterior heel surface of the article of footwear, wherein the ankle collar reinforcing material overlaps the top edge of the upper first material and retains the top edge of the upper first material in contact against an outer surface of the inner material; and

affixing the article of footwear to a sole.

20. The method for manufacturing the article of footwear of claim 19, further comprising affixing the upper to a sole.