FOOTWEAR HAVING AN UPPER WITH FOREFOOT TENSILE STRAND ELEMENTS

• US 20170265568A1
• Filed: 06/05/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Dojan, Frederick J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,912,349 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• 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 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 3/00 Hooks for laces making from sheet metal B21D53/46; Guards for hooks
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00

Abstract

Articles of footwear may include an upper with a forward lace-receiving element and a plurality of strands that extend forward from the lace-receiving element. In some configurations, the strands are located between a pair of material layers and lay substantially parallel to the material layers.

Claims

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

a throat area that includes a plurality of lateral lace-receiving elements extending along a lateral side of the upper, a plurality of medial lace-receiving elements extending along a medial side of the upper, and a first forward lace-receiving element located between the lateral side and the medial side;

a lace engaging with the lateral lace-receiving elements, the medial lace-receiving elements, and the first forward lace-receiving element; and

a tensile strand element located within a forefoot region of the footwear, the tensile strand element including a first plurality of strands that extend from an area proximal to the first forward lace-receiving element and toward a forward edge of the footwear,

wherein the first plurality of strands engage with the first forward lace-receiving element to resist rearward movement of the first forward lace-receiving element when a force is applied to the first forward lace-receiving element by the lace.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of strands radiate outward from the area proximal to the first forward lace-receiving element.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first forward lace-receiving element comprise a first aperture.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of strands extend around the first aperture.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first forward lace-receiving element comprises a first hook configured to receive the lace.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the first plurality of strands extend beneath the first hook.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensile strand element includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first plurality of strands are located between the first layer and the second layer.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the tensile strand element comprises a tab area that extends rearward, the first forward lace-receiving element being located at the tab area of the tensile strand element.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of strands terminate inward of the forward edge.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a second forward lace-receiving element and a second plurality of strands that extend from an area proximal to the second forward lace-receiving element and toward a forward edge of the footwear,

wherein the second plurality of strands engage with the second forward lace-receiving element to resist rearward movement of the second forward lace-receiving element when a force is applied to the second forward lace-receiving element by the lace.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the second forward lace-receiving element comprise a second aperture and the second plurality of strands extend around the second aperture.

12. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the second forward lace-receiving element comprises a second hook configured to receive the lace, and the second plurality of strands extend beneath the second hook.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of strands comprises at least a first strand and a second strand that are spaced apart from one another and extend from the forward edge of the article, around the first aperture, and back to the forward edge, and the second plurality of strands comprises at least a third strand and a fourth strand that are spaced apart from one another and extend from the forward edge of the article, around the second aperture, and back to the forward edge.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second plurality of strands includes at least three strands.

15. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second plurality of strands includes at least three strands.

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

a throat area extending forward from an ankle opening of the upper towards a forefoot region, the throat area including a plurality of lateral lace-receiving elements extending along a lateral side of the upper, a plurality of medial lace-receiving elements extending along a medial side of the upper, a first forward lace-receiving element, and a second forward lace-receiving element, the first and second forward lace-receiving elements being centrally positioned and extending between the lateral side and the medial side at a forward portion of the throat area adjacent to the forefoot region;

a lace extending through the lateral lace-receiving elements, the medial lace-receiving elements, and the first and second forward lace-receiving elements;

a tensile strand element located within the forefoot region of the footwear, the tensile strand element including a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of strands located between the first layer and the second layer;

wherein the first layer, the second layer, and the plurality of strands extend forward from an area proximal to the first and second forward lace-receiving elements on the top portion of the upper towards a forward edge of the article of footwear; and

wherein the plurality of strands engage with the at least one of the first and second forward lace-receiving elements to resist stretch in the forefoot region when tension is applied to the lace.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the first and second forward lace-receiving elements comprise a first aperture and a second aperture, the first and second apertures being encircled by at least some of the plurality of strands.

18. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the first and second forward lace-receiving elements comprise a first hook and a second hook, the first and second hooks having respective portions that engage with at least some of the plurality of strands.

19. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the tensile strand element comprises a tab area on which the first and second forward lace-receiving elements are positioned, the tab area extending rearward and defining a gap between the tab area and portions of the throat area that include the plurality of lateral lace-receiving elements and the plurality of medial lace-receiving elements.

20. The article of footwear of claim 16, wherein the plurality of strands terminate inward of the forward edge.