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:
- locating a strand adjacent to a surface of a material layer;
tacking a portion of the strand to the material layer with a first thread;
stitching another portion of the strand to the material layer with a second thread; and
dissolving at least a portion of the first thread.
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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.
90 Citations
19 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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locating a strand adjacent to a surface of a material layer; tacking a portion of the strand to the material layer with a first thread; stitching another portion of the strand to the material layer with a second thread; and dissolving at least a portion of the first thread. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, the method comprising:
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locating a strand adjacent to a surface of a base material layer, the strand extending from a first area of the base material layer to a second area of the base material layer, the first area being spaced from the second area by an opening, and the strand extending across the opening; tacking the strand to the base material layer with a first thread having a water-soluble configuration, the first thread securing the strand to the base material layer in the first area and the second area, and the first thread extending along the strand across the opening; stitching the strand to the base material layer with a second thread having a non-water-soluble configuration; dissolving the first thread with water; and joining the base material layer to additional upper elements, the first area being located in a portion of the additional upper elements that form a lace region of the upper, and the second area being located in a portion of the additional upper elements that form a lower region of the upper, the lower region being spaced from the lace region by the opening and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (9, 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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locating a strand adjacent to a surface of a base material layer, the strand extending from a first area of the base material layer to a second area of the base material layer, the first area being spaced from the second area by an opening, and the strand extending across the opening; stitching the strand to the base material layer with a thread, the thread securing the strand to the base material layer in the first area and the second area, and a portion of the thread extending across the opening; cutting the thread to remove the portion of the thread extending across the opening; and incorporating the strand, the base material layer, and the thread 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 by the opening and located proximal to an area for securing the sole structure to the upper. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification