Article of footwear including upper having a mesh material

• US 9,351,532 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2012
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Converse Incorporated (Nike, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mokos, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trieu, Timothy K
• Application Number:
  US13/342,187
• Publication Number:
  US 20130055590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 36/45, 36/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/05 woven
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions

Abstract

An article of footwear includes include an upper and a mesh material. The mesh material may be incorporated into the upper. The mesh material may include high tensile strength strands and non-high tensile strength strands. The high tensile strength strands and non-high tensile strength strands may interlock so that the high tensile strength strands are substantially held in place. The mesh material may be provided as a woven material or a knitted material. The mesh material can have a stylish design, which can be a plaid pattern, herringbone pattern, seersucker pattern, or other pattern.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having a toe end, an opposite heel end to the toe end, a medial side, and an opposite lateral side to the medial side, the article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper coupled with the sole structure, the upper comprised of a mesh material having a plurality of higher tensile strength strands and a plurality of lower tensile strength strands, the plurality of higher tensile strength strands having a relatively greater tensile strength than the plurality of lower tensile strength strands, the upper comprising a plurality of lace apertures, the plurality of higher tensile strength strands being positioned adjacent to and extending diagonally from the plurality of lace apertures to the sole structure, such that the plurality of higher tensile strength strands resist stretch due to tension caused by a lace engaged with the plurality of lace apertures,

wherein the plurality of higher tensile strength strands and the plurality of the lower tensile strength strands interlock so that the plurality of higher tensile strength strands are substantially held in place.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material is a woven material.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material is a knitted material.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material has a plaid pattern.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the mesh material provides substantially an entire thickness of the upper.

6. An article of footwear, comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper including a mesh material, wherein the mesh material includes one or more sets of higher tensile strength strands and one or more sets of lower tensile strength strands, each higher tensile strength strand of the one or more sets higher tensile strength strands having a relatively greater tensile strength than each lower tensile strength strand of the one or more sets of lower tensile strength strands, wherein the one or more sets of higher tensile strength strands and the one or more sets of lower tensile strength strands interlock in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axes of the one or more sets of higher tensile strength strands so that the one or more sets of lower tensile strength strands substantially hold the one or more sets of higher tensile strength strands in place, the upper further comprising;

a plurality of lace apertures incorporated into the mesh material of the upper; and

at least a first set of higher tensile strength strands of the one or more sets of higher tensile strength strands that extend diagonally from at least a first lace aperture of the plurality of lace apertures to the sole structure, such that the at least the first set of higher tensile strength strands reinforce the upper against stretch between the at least the first lace aperture and the sole structure.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the mesh material is a woven material.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the mesh material provides substantially an entire thickness of the upper.