Article of Footwear With Reinforced Elastic Upper

• US 20140237858A1
• Filed: 02/26/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Adami, Giovanni, Smith, Timothy J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,085,516 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/107
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/184 the structure protruding from the outsole
• 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 23/021 Leather
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/022 with waterproof breathable membranes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0078 provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration A43B23/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/00 Shoe lacing fastenings garment fastening devices A41F
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/16 Studs or cleats for football or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 5/00 Eyelets machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an elastic skin material forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. In addition, the upper may include substantially inelastic reinforcing material selectively located adjacent portions of the elastic skin material, wherein the elastic skin material is more elastic than the substantially inelastic reinforcing material.

Claims

1. An article of footwear including a sole structure fixedly attached to an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper comprising:

an elastic skin material forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper; and

a substantially inelastic reinforcing material selectively located adjacent portions of the elastic skin material;

wherein the elastic skin material is more elastic than the substantially inelastic reinforcing material.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the substantially inelastic reinforcing material is located on an inner side of the elastic skin material, thereby forming an internal skeletal structure.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the substantially inelastic reinforcing material is located on at least a portion of an outer side of the elastic skin material, thereby forming an external skeletal structure.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper further includes additional material selectively placed adjacent to the elastic skin material between sections of the reinforcing material.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the additional material is a compressible foam material.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the additional material is a wind-stopping material.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the additional material is a water-proof material.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper further includes a perforated liner material located internally of the elastic skin material.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the sole structure includes a ground-engaging sole component having a ground-engaging lower surface and a plurality of ground engaging members extending from the lower surface of the sole component, the ground-engaging members being configured to provide traction.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the article of footwear has a standard shoe size and the upper defines an inner cavity having a volume that is smaller than the volume of a majority of wearer'"'"'s feet having the standard shoe size.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper includes at least a first eyelet configured to receive a lace.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the upper includes a lace configured to secure the article of footwear on the foot of a wearer.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the inelastic reinforcing material includes a strip aligned with the first eyelet.

14. The article of footwear according to claim 11, wherein the upper includes a second eyelet;

wherein the inelastic reinforcing material includes a first strip and a second strip associated with the first eyelet and extending away from the first eyelet, the first strip and the second strip extending divergently from one another;

wherein the inelastic reinforcing material includes a second strip and a third strip associated with the second eyelet and extending away from the second eyelet, the third strip and the fourth strip extending divergently from one another; and

wherein the second strip and the third strip extend in a criss-cross manner with respect to one another.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the inelastic reinforcing material is configured to surround an unreinforced section of the elastic skin material of the upper.

16. A method of making an article of footwear,

forming, from an elastic skin material, an externally exposed portion of an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer;

fixedly attaching a sole structure to the upper; and

assembling, as part of the upper, a substantially inelastic reinforcing material, by selectively locating the reinforcing material adjacent portions of the elastic skin material;

wherein the elastic skin material is more elastic than the substantially inelastic reinforcing material.

17. The method of claim 16, further including attaching the substantially inelastic reinforcing material to the elastic skin material in at least one location.

18. The method of claim 17, further including assembling, as part of the upper, an additional material selectively located adjacent the elastic skin material and between sections of the reinforcing material.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the additional material includes at least one of a compressible foam material, a wind-stopping material, and a water-proof material.

20. The method of claim 16, further including assembling, as a part of the upper, an inner liner formed of a perforated material.