Article of footwear incorporating an illuminable panel
First Claim
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- an illuminating panel that emits light, the illuminating panel having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being oriented to face toward an exterior of the footwear, and the second surface being oriented to face toward an interior of the footwear, the first surface having a covered area and an exposed area, the covered area including a substantially opaque covering disposed on the first surface of the illuminating panel and blocking light emitted by the illuminating panel, and the exposed area being at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear; and
a first plurality of strands positioned to extend adjacent and parallel to the illuminating panel, the strands being located to correspond with the exposed area of the illuminating panel;
wherein the plurality of strands are disposed on an opposite side of the first surface as the substantially opaque covering.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes an illuminable panel and a plurality of strands positioned to extend adjacent and parallel to the illuminable panel. The illuminable panel has a surface with a covered area and an exposed area. The covered area includes a substantially opaque covering, and the exposed area is at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear. The strands are located to correspond with the exposed area of the illuminable panel. Light from the exposed area of the illuminable panel may enhance, highlight, or otherwise increase the visibility of the strands or areas of the upper that include the strands.
152 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- an illuminating panel that emits light, the illuminating panel having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being oriented to face toward an exterior of the footwear, and the second surface being oriented to face toward an interior of the footwear, the first surface having a covered area and an exposed area, the covered area including a substantially opaque covering disposed on the first surface of the illuminating panel and blocking light emitted by the illuminating panel, and the exposed area being at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear; and
a first plurality of strands positioned to extend adjacent and parallel to the illuminating panel, the strands being located to correspond with the exposed area of the illuminating panel;
wherein the plurality of strands are disposed on an opposite side of the first surface as the substantially opaque covering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- an illuminating panel that emits light, the illuminating panel having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being oriented to face toward an exterior of the footwear, and the second surface being oriented to face toward an interior of the footwear, the first surface having a covered area and an exposed area, the covered area including a substantially opaque covering disposed on the first surface of the illuminating panel and blocking light emitted by the illuminating panel, and the exposed area being at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear; and
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10. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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an illuminating panel that emits light, the illuminating panel having a surface with a covered area and an exposed area, the covered area including a substantially opaque covering on the surface of the illuminating panel and blocking light emitted by the illuminating panel, and the exposed area being at least partially visible from an exterior of the footwear, the exposed area including a plurality of linear portions extending from a lace region of the upper to a region where the sole structure is joined to the upper; a cover layer extending adjacent to the surface of the illuminating panel and forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper, the cover layer being formed from an at least semi-transparent material; and a plurality of strands located in the plurality of linear portions of the exposed area; wherein the plurality of strands are disposed on an opposite side of the surface of the illuminating panel as the substantially opaque covering. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
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a lace region having a plurality of lace-receiving elements; a lower region where the sole structure is secured to the upper; and an illuminating panel that emits light, the illuminating panel at least partially located between the lace region and the lower region, the illuminating panel including a covered area including a substantially opaque covering blocking light emitted by the illuminating panel and defining an exposed area forming a plurality of substantially linear exposed areas extending between the lace region and the lower region; and a plurality of strands positioned adjacent to the illuminating panel and being respectively located in the linear exposed areas of the illuminating panel; wherein the plurality of strands are disposed on an opposite side of the illuminating panel as the substantially opaque covering. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification