Material elements incorporating tensile strands
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
- a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer being positioned between the first layer and the third layer, and the second layer being formed from a thermoplastic polymer material; and
at least one strand located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand lying substantially parallel to the second layer for a distance of at least five centimeters,wherein the thermoplastic polymer material joins the first layer and the third layer to the second layer.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear or other product may include a material element having a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, and at least one strand. The second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer, and the second layer is formed from a thermoplastic polymer material. The strand is located between the first layer and the second layer, and the strand lies substantially parallel to the second layer for a distance of at least five centimeters. In this configuration, the thermoplastic polymer material may join the first layer and the third layer to the second layer. The thermoplastic polymer material may also join the strand to the second layer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, the second layer being positioned between the first layer and the third layer, and the second layer being formed from a thermoplastic polymer material; and at least one strand located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand lying substantially parallel to the second layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material joins the first layer and the third layer to the second layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper including an element comprising:
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a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, each of the first layer, the second layer and the third layer defining an edge of the element, the second layer being positioned between the first layer and the third layer, and the second layer being a sheet of a thermoplastic polymer material; and a plurality of strands located between the first layer and the second layer, the strands lying substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters, at least some of the strands having ends located at the edge, wherein heatbonds between the thermoplastic polymer material and each of the first layer and third layer join the second layer to the first layer and third layer. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising:
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a first layer and a second layer, at least the second layer being a polymer sheet that defines a plurality of apertures; and at least one strand located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand lying substantially parallel to the second layer for a distance of at least five centimeters. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification