Shoe upper having multiple unwelded flex zones
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A shoe upper comprising:
- a base material forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, the base material including;
multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions overlaid on the base material;
the multiple weld zones comprising a plurality of welds formed in the base material , the plurality of welds being fused or melted areas of the base material;
the multiple unwelded flex zones comprising areas of the base material that remain unwelded;
wherein each of the multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper;
wherein at least one of the lateral side and the medial side includes;
(i) a first weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a to of the upper towards a lower area of the upper, (ii) a second weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a first eyelet portion towards the lower area of the upper, and (iii) a first unwelded flex zone disposed between the first weld zone and the second weld zone, wherein the first unwelded flex zone includes an unwelded portion of the base material that extends from the lower area of the upper and adjacent to the first eyelet portion; and
wherein the multiple eyelet portions are selectively located and spaced apart on the shoe upper to allow unencumbered flexibility in the unwelded flex zones.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A shoe having a shoe upper including multiple unwelded flex zones in selected locations on the shoe upper. The flex zones may be selectively located on the upper to flex when the shoe is in use.
38 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shoe upper comprising:
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a base material forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, the base material including; multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions overlaid on the base material; the multiple weld zones comprising a plurality of welds formed in the base material , the plurality of welds being fused or melted areas of the base material; the multiple unwelded flex zones comprising areas of the base material that remain unwelded; wherein each of the multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper; wherein at least one of the lateral side and the medial side includes;
(i) a first weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a to of the upper towards a lower area of the upper, (ii) a second weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a first eyelet portion towards the lower area of the upper, and (iii) a first unwelded flex zone disposed between the first weld zone and the second weld zone, wherein the first unwelded flex zone includes an unwelded portion of the base material that extends from the lower area of the upper and adjacent to the first eyelet portion; andwherein the multiple eyelet portions are selectively located and spaced apart on the shoe upper to allow unencumbered flexibility in the unwelded flex zones. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A shoe comprising an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper, the upper further comprising:
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a base material forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, the base material including; multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions overlaid on the base material; the multiple weld zones comprising a plurality of welds formed in the base material , the plurality of welds being fused or melted areas of the base material; the multiple unwelded flex zones comprising areas of the base material that remain unwelded; wherein each of the multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper; wherein at least one of the lateral side and the medial side includes;
(i) a first weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a to of the upper towards a lower area of the upper, (ii) a second weld zone having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a first eyelet portion towards the lower area of the upper, and (iii) a first unwelded flex zone disposed between the first weld zone and the second weld zone, wherein the first unwelded flex zone includes an unwelded portion of the base material that extends from the lower area of the upper and adjacent to the first eyelet portion;an outer heel support overlaid on the base material spanning from the medial side to the lateral side of the upper; and wherein the multiple eyelet portions are selectively located and spaced apart on the shoe upper to allow unencumbered flexibility in the unwelded flex zones. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A shoe comprising an upper and a sole structure attached to the upper, the upper further comprising:
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a base material forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, the base material including; multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions overlaid on the base material; the multiple weld zones comprising a plurality of welds formed in the base material, the plurality of welds being fused or melted areas of the base material; the multiple unwelded flex zones comprising areas of the base material that remain unwelded; wherein each of the multiple weld zones, multiple unwelded flex zones, and multiple eyelet portions are disposed on a lateral side of the upper and a medial side of the upper; wherein at least one of the lateral side and the medial side includes;
(i) a first eyelet portion having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from a to of the upper towards a lower area of the upper, (ii) a second eyelet portion having at least two welds of the plurality of welds that extend from the to of the upper towards the lower area of the upper, and (iii) at least one unwelded flex zone disposed between the plurality of welds, wherein the at least one unwelded flex zone includes an unwelded portion of the base material that extends from the lower area of the upper and between the first eyelet portion and the second eyelet portion; andwherein the multiple eyelet portions are selectively located and spaced apart on the shoe upper to allow unencumbered flexibility in the unwelded flex zones. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification