Article of footwear having an upper with a matrix layer

• US 9,681,708 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Hurd, John, Hoke, III, John R., Greene, Pamela S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US14/480,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20140373288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 36 54, 36105, 36 45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/02 Uppers; Boot legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0215 Plastics or artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0225 Composite materials, e.g. material with a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0295 Pieced uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/17 made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/085 in the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/006 Rear lacing, i.e. with a lace placed on the back of the foot in place of, or in addition to the traditional front lace
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 : with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 : Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/00 : Machines for cutting, ornamenting, marking or otherwise working up shoe part blanks pulling-over or lasting A43D9/00 - A43D23/00; making or fastening soles, heels or welts A43D25/00 - A43D83/00
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/126 : Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/146 : Uppers

Abstract

Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and/or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

forming a unitary, one piece polymer matrix structure that defines a plurality of apertures separated by polymer segments, the polymer matrix structure formed from a flat member that is symmetrical about an axis extending in a front-to-rear direction, wherein the polymer matrix structure includes a first free end and a second free end;

incorporating the polymer matrix structure into an upper such that the first free end extends along a heel region of the upper and the second free end extends along the heel region of the upper;

engaging the first free end and the second free end; and

securing a sole member to the upper.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first free end includes a plurality of openings and the second free end includes a plurality of openings, and wherein the engaging includes passing a cord between the openings of the first and second free ends.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first free end includes a first engagement structure and the second free end includes a second engagement structure, and wherein the engaging includes connecting an intermediate member between the first engagement structure and the second engagement structure.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first free end includes a first engagement structure and the second free end includes a second engagement structure, and wherein the engaging includes engaging the first engagement structure to the second engagement structure.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the polymer matrix structure extends as a unitary structure to form at least a major portion of a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and the heel region of the article of footwear.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

engaging a heel tongue element with at least one of the upper or the sole structure, wherein the heel tongue element is engaged at the heel region adjacent the first free end and the second free end.

7. The method recited in claim 6, further comprising:

releasably engaging a bootie member with the heel tongue element.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising:

inserting a bootie member into a foot-receiving chamber at least partially defined by the upper.

9. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the first free end and the second free end are fixed together at a lap joint seam.

10. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

forming a unitary, one piece polymer matrix structure that defines a plurality of apertures separated by polymer segments, the polymer matrix structure formed from a flat member that is symmetrical about an axis extending in a front-to-rear direction, wherein the polymer matrix structure extends as a unitary structure to form a major portion of at least a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion of the article of footwear;

incorporating the polymer matrix structure into an upper;

securing a sole member to the upper; and

engaging a heel tongue element with at least one of the upper or the sole member.

11. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising:

releasably engaging a bootie member with the heel tongue element.

12. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising:

releasably engaging a bootie member within a foot-receiving chamber at least partially defined by the upper.

13. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising:

providing a footwear securing mechanism over a throat area defined in the upper member.

14. The method recited in claim 13, further comprising:

engaging a tongue member adjacent the footwear securing mechanism and adjacent a foot-receiving chamber at least partially defined by the upper.

15. The method recited in claim 14, wherein the tongue member is releasably engaged with the upper.

16. The method recited in claim 10, wherein the heel tongue element is releasably engaged with at least one of the upper or the sole member.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the heel tongue element is releasably engaged with at least one of the upper or the sole member, and whether the method further comprises:

releasably engaging a bootie member with the heel tongue element.

18. The method recited in claim 17, further comprising:

providing a footwear securing mechanism over a throat area defined in the upper member; and

engaging a tongue member adjacent the footwear securing mechanism and adjacent a foot-receiving chamber at least partially defined by the upper.

19. The method recited in claim 18, wherein the tongue member is releasably engaged with the upper.

20. The method recited in claim 10, further comprising:

providing a size adjusting mechanism for the upper in the heel portion adjacent the heel tongue element.