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:
- providing a first material layer and a second material layer in at least one of a lace region and a lower region, the lower region being spaced apart from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper;
locating a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region and securing the strand segments to the upper in the lace region and the lower region, the strand segments being unsecured for a distance of at least four centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, the strand segments forming both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in the area between the lace region and the lower region; and
securing the strand segments between the first material layer and the second material layer in the lace region.
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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.
96 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
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providing a first material layer and a second material layer in at least one of a lace region and a lower region, the lower region being spaced apart from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper; locating a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region and securing the strand segments to the upper in the lace region and the lower region, the strand segments being unsecured for a distance of at least four centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, the strand segments forming both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in the area between the lace region and the lower region; and securing the strand segments between the first material layer and the second material layer in the lace region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
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providing a base material layer having (a) a first surface and an opposite second surface and (b) a first area and a second area spaced from each other; locating a first strand adjacent to the first surface and securing the first strand to the first surface, multiple segments of the first strand extending from the first area to the second area; locating a second strand adjacent to the second surface and securing the second strand to the second surface, multiple segments of the second strand extending from the first area to the second area, and the segments of the second strand being angled with respect to the segments of the first strand; and incorporating the base material layer, the first strand, and the second strand 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 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
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providing at least two material layers located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, the material layers being located in (a) a lace region that includes a plurality of lace-receiving elements and (b) a lower region proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper, the material layers being spaced apart between the lace region and the lower region to define an opening between the lace region and the lower region; locating a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region and securing the strand segments between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments extending across the opening between the lace region and the lower region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification