Article of footwear incorporating braided tensile strands

• US 9,930,922 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2016
• Issued: 04/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Follet, Lysandre
• Primary Examiner(s): BAYS, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US15/385,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20170099905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 36 45, 36 501
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• 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 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: D04C 1/12 Cords, lines, or tows
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

A branched braid member has a central braid portion and one or more tensile strands or small braids at either end of the central braid portion. The branched braid member may be incorporated into a shoe upper.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure; and

a group of tensile strands forming a branched braid member, the branched braid member comprising a central braid portion, a first tensile strand, and a second tensile strand,

wherein the central braid portion includes a first end and a second end,

the central braid portion extends around a heel region of the article,

the first tensile strand extends from the first end along an outer surface of the upper and the second tensile strand extends from the first end along an outer surface of the upper, and

the second tensile strand extends along the outer surface of the upper towards a forefoot portion of the article and has at least one unexposed portion along that extends along an inner surface of the upper.

2. The article of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the upper comprises a first opening and a second opening, and the at least one unexposed portion extends from the location of the first opening to the location of the second opening.

3. The article of claim 2, further comprising a passageway within the upper extends that extends between the first and second openings.

4. The article of claim 2, further comprising a third opening in the outer surface of the upper, wherein the second tensile strand comprises a first exposed portion that forms a loop between the second and third openings.

5. The article of claim 4, further comprising a third tensile strand that extends at least partly along the inner surface of the upper and that has at least a portion that is permanently secured to the sole structure, the third tensile strand having a second exposed portion that forms a second loop.

6. The article of claim 4, wherein the first tensile strand extends along the outer surface of the upper and forms a third loop.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the first tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure and at least a portion of the second tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure.

8. The article of claim 1, wherein the central braid portion extends through a first securing loop in the heel region, and the first and second tensile strands extend through a second securing loop located proximate the sole structure.

9. The article of claim 1, wherein the branched braided member is incorporated into the upper.

10. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure; and

a plurality of tensile strands forming a braid member having a first end and a second end,

the plurality of tensile strands including a first tensile strand and a second tensile strand extending from the first end, and a third tensile strand and a fourth tensile strand extending from the second end,

wherein the first and third tensile strands extend along an outer surface of the upper and are permanently secured to the sole structure, the first and third tensile strands forming a first and third exposed loop, respectively, and

the second and fourth tensile strands extend at least partly beneath the outer surface of the upper and are permanently secured to the sole structure, the second and fourth tensile strands forming a second and fourth exposed loop, respectively.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the outer surface of the upper comprises:

a first opening into which the second tensile strand enters and a second opening from which second tensile strand exits; and

a third opening into which the fourth tensile strand enters and a fourth opening from which fourth tensile strand exits,

wherein the second tensile strand extends at least partly beneath the outer surface of the upper between the first and second openings, and the fourth tensile strand extends at least partly beneath the outer surface of the upper between the third and fourth openings.

12. The article of claim 11, wherein the braid member extends through a first securing loop located in the heel region of the article, and the first and second tensile strands extend through a second securing loop located proximate the sole structure of the article on a medial side of the article.

13. The article of claim 12, wherein the third and fourth tensile strands extend through a third securing loop located proximate the sole structure of the article on a lateral side of the article.

14. The article of claim 11, wherein the braid member is incorporated into the upper.

15. An article of footwear comprising:

an upper and a sole structure; and

a group of tensile strands forming a braid member,

wherein the braid member comprising a central braid portion, a first tensile strand, and a second tensile strand,

the central braid portion located at a heel region of the article and including a first end and a second end,

the first tensile strand extends from the first end and is an exposed strand that extends along an outer surface of the upper,

the second tensile strand extends from the first end and is a partly exposed strand that includes a first unexposed portion that extends along an inner surface of the upper,

the first tensile strand forming a first loop along a first side of the upper,

the second tensile strand having a first exposed portion that forms a second loop along the first side of the upper.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the first tensile strand crosses over the first unexposed portion of the second tensile strand.

17. The article of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the first tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure and at least a portion of the second tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure.

18. The article of claim 15, further comprising a third tensile strand with at least a portion that is permanently secured to the sole structure, the third tensile strand having a second exposed portion that forms a third loop and a second unexposed portion that extends along the inner surface of the upper and intersects with a third unexposed portion of the second tensile strand.

19. The article of claim 15, wherein the first tensile strand and the third tensile strand are a continuous piece.