Article of footwear having an upper with thread structural elements
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer being formed from a material with two-directional stretch;
a plurality of threads that are separate from the base layer, the threads having portions that lay adjacent and parallel to the first surface for a distance of at least five centimeters; and
a connecting layer secured to the first surface and the threads,the threads being oriented to form;
a first zone wherein the threads are absent from the first surface;
a second zone wherein the threads are substantially parallel to each other and the threads do not cross each other; and
a third zone wherein the threads are oriented such that a first portion of the threads extend in a first direction and a second portion of the threads extend in a second direction, the first threads crossing the second threads.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.
183 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer being formed from a material with two-directional stretch; a plurality of threads that are separate from the base layer, the threads having portions that lay adjacent and parallel to the first surface for a distance of at least five centimeters; and a connecting layer secured to the first surface and the threads, the threads being oriented to form; a first zone wherein the threads are absent from the first surface; a second zone wherein the threads are substantially parallel to each other and the threads do not cross each other; and a third zone wherein the threads are oriented such that a first portion of the threads extend in a first direction and a second portion of the threads extend in a second direction, the first threads crossing the second threads. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer defining a lace aperture that extends from the first surface to the second surface; a first thread group having a plurality of first thread sections that are positioned around the lace aperture and extend radially-outward from the lace aperture; and a second thread group having a plurality of second thread sections extending outward from an area proximal to the lace aperture and toward a lower area of the upper. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer including a plurality of lace-receiving elements; a plurality of first thread sections laying adjacent to the first surface, each of the first thread sections extending radially-outward from one of the lace-receiving elements; and a plurality of second thread sections, each of the second thread sections extending outward from an area proximal to the lace-receiving elements and toward a lower area of the upper, and the second thread sections laying adjacent to the first surface and substantially parallel to the first surface for a distance of more than five centimeters. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer defining a lace aperture that extends from the first surface to the second surface; a plurality of thread sections that are positioned around the lace aperture and extend radially-outward from the lace aperture, at least a portion of the thread sections extending from an area proximal to the lace aperture to a lower area of the upper; and a connecting layer secured to the first surface of the base layer and the thread sections, each of the thread sections being located between the connecting layer and the base layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification