Tensioning system for an article of footwear

• US 10,405,607 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Pauk, Matthew R., Tesche, Sebastian, Workman, Brandon
• Primary Examiner(s): Gracz, Katharine
• Application Number:
  US15/077,102
• Publication Number:
  US 20170273403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 36 501
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/181 Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/003 Zone lacing, i.e. whereby different zones of the footwear have different lacing tightening degrees, using one or a plurality of laces laces combined with another system A43C11/008; zone tightening using straps A43C11/14
• 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

Abstract

An article of footwear can include a tensioning system with a multilayered upper and a relatively narrow strobel. One layer of the upper can be attached to an outer periphery of the strobel. Another layer of the upper can be attached to a portion of the sole structure. In addition, a lacing region can be formed by folding a laminated structure including the second layer. A third layer of the upper can provide a bootie within the article of footwear configured to receive a foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side;

an upper, a sole structure, and a strobel;

the sole structure including a proximal sole surface, the proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear;

the strobel being attached to a central sole portion of the proximal sole surface;

the upper comprising an interior component and an exterior component;

the interior component comprising a bootie configured to receive a foot, wherein a first bottom edge of the interior component is attached to a peripheral edge of the strobel;

the exterior component comprising a first layer, a second layer, and two laminated structures, wherein the first layer forms an exterior-facing surface of the article of footwear, wherein the first layer of the exterior component of the upper includes;

(a) a lateral upper portion that extends along the proximal sole surface from the peripheral edge of the strobel to a lateral outer edge of the proximal sole surface, and (b) a medial upper portion that extends along the proximal sole surface from the peripheral edge of the strobel to a medial outer edge of the proximal sole surface; and

the second layer being disposed between the interior component and the first layer, wherein a second bottom edge of the second layer is attached to the peripheral edge of the strobel, the second bottom edge of the second layer being disposed adjacent to the first bottom edge of the interior component.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the two laminated structures comprises a layered structure that includes a top overlay layer, a bottom overlay layer, a portion of the first layer, and a portion of the second layer.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the proximal sole surface has a first width in the midfoot region, the strobel has a second width in the midfoot region, and wherein the first width is substantially larger than the second width.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the two laminated structures include a lateral laminated structure disposed on the lateral side and a medial laminated structure disposed on the medial side.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein each of the two laminated structures comprises a plurality of apertures configured to receive a lacing element.

6. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the lateral laminated structure includes a folded edge.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the interior component further comprises an integrated tongue.

8. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;

an upper, a sole structure, and a strobel;

the sole structure including a proximal sole surface, the proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear, the proximal sole surface comprising a medial sole portion, a central sole portion, and a lateral sole portion, the central sole portion extending between the medial sole portion and the lateral sole portion and spaced inward from a lateral outer edge and a medial outer edge of the proximal sole surface;

the strobel being attached to the central sole portion of the proximal sole surface;

the upper comprising an outer layer, an intermediate layer, and an inner layer, wherein a majority of the intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer;

the inner layer forming a bootie, the bootie being configured to receive a foot;

the outer layer comprising a medial upper portion, a covering portion, and a lateral upper portion;

the medial upper portion of the outer layer being attached to the medial sole portion of the proximal sole surface, and the lateral upper portion of the outer layer being attached to the lateral sole portion of the proximal sole surface;

wherein the lateral upper portion extends from the lateral outer edge of the proximal sole surface to a lateral peripheral edge of the strobel, and wherein the medial upper portion extends from the medial outer edge of the proximal sole surface to a medial peripheral edge of the strobel;

the intermediate layer comprising a medial attachment portion and a lateral attachment portion, wherein the lateral attachment portion is attached to the strobel at the lateral peripheral edge of the strobel, and wherein the medial attachment portion is attached to the strobel at the medial peripheral edge of the strobel;

the intermediate layer further comprising a medial side portion and a lateral side portion, the medial side portion including a medial free portion and a medial laminated portion, the medial free portion extending from the medial attachment portion to the medial laminated portion; and

the medial laminated portion being disposed within a medial laminated structure.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the proximal sole surface has a first width in the midfoot region, the strobel has a second width in the midfoot region, and wherein the first width is substantially larger than the second width.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the medial upper portion has a third width in the midfoot region, the lateral upper portion has a fourth width in the midfoot region, and wherein the third width and the fourth width together comprise the first width.

11. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the medial laminated structure comprises a plurality of apertures.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the medial laminated structure is folded and forms a plurality of channels configured to receive a lacing element.

13. The article of footwear of claim 8, wherein the medial laminated structure includes a top overlay layer, a bottom overlay layer, and the medial laminated portion.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the top overlay layer provides an exterior-facing surface of the upper.

15. An article of footwear, comprising:

a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;

an upper, a sole structure, and a strobel;

the sole structure including a proximal sole surface, the proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear;

the strobel being attached to a central sole portion of the proximal sole surface;

the upper comprising an interior component and an exterior component;

the interior component comprising a bootie configured to receive a foot, wherein a first bottom edge of the interior component is attached to a peripheral edge of the strobel;

the exterior component comprising a first layer, a second layer, and two laminated structures, wherein the first layer forms an exterior-facing surface of the article of footwear, wherein a first edge of the first layer is disposed adjacent to a second edge of the second layer, and wherein the first layer of the exterior component of the upper includes;

(a) a lateral upper portion that extends along the proximal sole surface from the peripheral edge of the strobel to a lateral outer edge of the proximal sole surface, and (b) a medial upper portion that extends along the proximal sole surface from the peripheral edge of the strobel to a medial outer edge of the proximal sole surface;

the second layer being disposed between the interior component and the first layer, wherein a second bottom edge of the second layer is attached to the peripheral edge of the strobel, the second bottom edge of the second layer being disposed adjacent to the first bottom edge of the interior component; and

wherein the first layer extends through the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, and the second layer extends through the midfoot region and heel region.

16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein each of the two laminated structures includes a top overlay layer, a bottom overlay layer, a portion of the first layer, and a portion of the second layer.

17. The article of footwear of claim 15, further comprising a first looped strand and a second looped strand, the first looped strand being anchored along the peripheral edge of the strobel on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the second looped strand being anchored along the peripheral edge of the strobel on a medial side of the article of footwear.

18. The article of footwear of claim 17, wherein the first looped strand extends through a first slot formed in the first layer on the lateral side, and wherein the second looped strand extends through a second slot formed in the first layer on the medial side.

19. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the second layer wraps around the heel region and wherein the second layer extends from a medial side of the upper to a lateral side of the upper.