Articles of footwear with tensile strand elements
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured together, the upper comprising:
- at least three material layers located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, the at least three 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 where the sole structure is secured to the upper, and the at least three material layers defining an opening between the lace region and the lower region;
the at least three material layers comprising an external material layer, an interior material layer, and a backing material layer, wherein the interior material layer is disposed between the external material layer and the backing material layer;
a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strand segments being located and secured between at least two of the three 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;
wherein a first strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the interior material layer and the external material layer in the lace region; and
wherein a second strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the interior material layer and the backing 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.
90 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured together, the upper comprising:
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at least three material layers located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, the at least three 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 where the sole structure is secured to the upper, and the at least three material layers defining an opening between the lace region and the lower region; the at least three material layers comprising an external material layer, an interior material layer, and a backing material layer, wherein the interior material layer is disposed between the external material layer and the backing material layer; a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strand segments being located and secured between at least two of the three 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; wherein a first strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the interior material layer and the external material layer in the lace region; and wherein a second strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the interior material layer and the backing material layer in the lace region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured together, the upper comprising:
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a lace region including a plurality of lace-receiving elements; a lower region proximal to an area where the sole structure is secured to the upper; and a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strand segments being secured to the upper in the lace region and the lower region, and 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 an area between the lace region and the lower region; wherein a first material layer, a second material layer, and a third material layer are located in the lace region; and wherein a first strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the first material layer and the second material layer in the lace region; and wherein a second strand segment of the plurality of strand segments is located and secured between the second material layer and the third material layer in the lace region. - View Dependent Claims (8, 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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providing at least three material layers located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, the at least three 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 at least three 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; wherein the at least three material layers comprises an external material layer, an interior material layer, and a backing material layer, and wherein the step of providing the at least three material layers includes locating the interior material layer between the external material layer and the backing material layer; locating a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region and securing the strand segments between at least two of the three 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; and wherein the plurality of strand segments comprises a first strand segment and a second strand segment, and wherein the step of locating the plurality of strand segments includes locating and securing the first strand segment between the interior material layer and the external material layer in the lace region and locating and securing the second strand segment between the interior material layer and the backing material layer in the lace region. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification