Article of footwear having an upper with a structured intermediate layer
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, including a midsole and an outsole, secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a first layer of the upper;
a second layer of the upper formed from a polymer material, the second layer being molded to the first layer and having different properties in different portions of the upper;
a third layer of the upper joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and
wherein the third layer diverges from the first and second in a bottom region of the upper to extend over a top surface of the midsole and the first and second layers extend over a lower surface of the midsole and extend over a top surface of the outsole, wherein at least one of the first and second layers are in contact with the outsole.
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Abstract
An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper is secured to sole structure and the upper is formed from three layers: a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is formed from a polymer material and molded to the first layer, but the second layer may alternately be molded to the third layer. The third layer is joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, including a midsole and an outsole, secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a first layer of the upper; a second layer of the upper formed from a polymer material, the second layer being molded to the first layer and having different properties in different portions of the upper; a third layer of the upper joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and wherein the third layer diverges from the first and second in a bottom region of the upper to extend over a top surface of the midsole and the first and second layers extend over a lower surface of the midsole and extend over a top surface of the outsole, wherein at least one of the first and second layers are in contact with the outsole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An article of footwear, comprising:
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an upper defining a void for receiving at least one of a foot and an insole, the upper having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer being formed from a polymer material and molded to the first layer, the second layer having a mesh structure providing stretch resistance in the plane of the upper and flexibility in other directions and the third layer being joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, at least one of the first layer and the second layer extending between the midsole and the outsole and at least one of the first layer and the second layer contacting the outsole, and the third layer extending over the midsole. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An article of footwear, comprising:
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an upper defining a void for receiving at least one of a foot and an insole, the upper having a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer having a mesh structure formed from a polymer material that is molded to the first layer and the second layer having different properties in different portions of the upper, and the third layer being joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and a sole structure secured to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An article of footwear, comprising:
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an upper defining a void, the upper having a first layer, a second layer, the second layer having a mesh structure providing stretch resistance in the plane of the upper and flexibility in other directions, wherein at least one dimension of the mesh structure varies throughout the upper, and a third layer, the third layer being joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including an insole positioned with the void, the third layer forming a third surface of the upper that defines substantially all of the void, edges of the third layer being joined together to form seams, the insole being positioned between; each of the seams except a substantially vertical heel seam; and a portion of the void that receives the foot; wherein the sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole, at least one of the first layer and the second layer extending between the midsole and the outsole and at least one of the first layer and the second layer contacting the outsole, and the third layer extending over the midsole. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the method comprising steps of:
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providing a first layer of an upper of the article of footwear; molding a second layer of the upper to the first layer, the second layer having a mesh structure with different properties in different portions of the upper; joining a third layer of the upper with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer; and in a bottom region of the upper, separating the third layer from the first and second layers and extending the third layer over a top surface of the midsole; and extending the first and second layers over a bottom surface of the midsole, at least one of the first and second layers being in contact with the outsole. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification