Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear with tensile strand elements
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
- positioning a base material layer on an assembly apparatus, a plurality of first pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through a first area of the base material layer, and a plurality of second pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through a second area of the base material layer;
locating a strand adjacent to a surface of the base material layer and around the first pegs and the second pegs, the strand extending from the first area of the base material layer to the second area of the base material layer;
securing the strand to the base material layer; and
incorporating the strand and the base material layer into the upper, the first area being located in a lace region of the upper, and the second area being located in a lower region of the upper, the lower region being spaced from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An upper for an article of footwear may have material layers and a plurality of strand segments. The material layers are located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, and the material layers are located in a lace region and a lower region of the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region. The strand segments may be located and secured between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region. The strand segments may form both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region. The material layers may define an opening between the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments extend across the opening.
94 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
-
positioning a base material layer on an assembly apparatus, a plurality of first pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through a first area of the base material layer, and a plurality of second pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through a second area of the base material layer; locating a strand adjacent to a surface of the base material layer and around the first pegs and the second pegs, the strand extending from the first area of the base material layer to the second area of the base material layer; securing the strand to the base material layer; and incorporating the strand and the base material layer into the upper, the first area being located in a lace region of the upper, and the second area being located in a lower region of the upper, the lower region being spaced from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
-
providing a base material layer having a first area, a second area spaced from the first area, and an opening located between the first area and the second area, and the base material layer defining a plurality of apertures in at least the first area; positioning the base material layer on an assembly apparatus, a plurality of first pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through the apertures in the first area of the base material layer, and a plurality of second pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through the second area of the base material layer; locating a strand adjacent to a surface of the base material layer and around the first pegs and the second pegs, multiple segments of the strand extending from the first area of the base material layer to the second area of the base material layer, and the segments of the strand extending across the opening; securing the strand to the base material layer; and incorporating the strand and the base material layer into a side area of the upper, the first area being located in a lace region of the upper, and the second area being located in a lower region of the upper, the lower region being spaced from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
-
positioning an upper element on an assembly apparatus, a plurality of pegs of the assembly apparatus protruding through the upper element; locating a strand adjacent to a surface of the upper element, a plurality of loops of the strand extending and around the pegs; securing the strand to the upper element; incorporating the strand and the upper element into the upper; and extending a lace through the loops. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification