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US 10,499,706 B2Granted
Molded footwear upper and method of making same
AssigneeReebok International Ltd.
InventorsWilliam Marvin, Kevin Leary, Paul E. Litchfield, Thomas Piacentini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for manufacturing an upper for an article of footwear includes: forming a foam layer; forming a preliminary upper by laminating an outer layer, an inner layer, and the foam layer intermediate to the outer layer and the inner layer; and molding the preliminary upper to a shape having a contour to substantially fit at least a portion of a foot to provide at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear.
Claims57
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a footwear upper comprising a single piece laminate including a pre-shaped contoured foam cushioning member, an innermost layer, and an outermost layer, wherein the foam cushioning member is disposed between the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein a first region of the single piece laminate corresponds to a portion of a lateral side of the foot and a second region of the single piece laminate corresponds to a portion of a medial side of the foot, wherein the outermost layer of the upper comprises an elastic material, and wherein the foam cushioning member comprises asymmetrical cross-sections such that an outer surface of the upper includes a protrusion and an inner surface of the upper includes a protrusion;
- and
- a footwear lower attached to the footwear upper to provide a sole supporting member to the article of footwear.
1 more element
An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a first molded laminate piece contoured for a forward portion of a foot, extending from a toe region to a midfoot region and including a first medial side portion and a first lateral side portion;
- and
- a second molded laminate piece contoured for a rearward portion of the foot, extending from a heel region to the midfoot region and including a second medial side portion and a second lateral side portion,
- wherein the first medal side portion is attached to the second medial side portion, and
- wherein the first lateral side portion is attached to the second lateral side portion,
- the first molded laminate piece and the second molded laminate piece each comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer.
7 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a footwear upper, comprising:
- a first molded laminate piece contoured for a forward portion of a foot, extending from a toe region to a midfoot region and including a first medial side portion and a first lateral side portion, and
- a second molded laminate piece contoured for a rearward portion of the foot, extending from a heel region to the midfoot region and including a second medial side portion and a second lateral side portion,
- wherein the first medal side portion is attached to the second medial side portion, and
- wherein the first lateral side portion is attached to the second lateral side portion,
- the first molded laminate piece and the second molded laminate piece each comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer;
- and
- a footwear lower attached to the footwear upper to provide a sole supporting member to the article of footwear.
9 more elements
An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
- a lateral side laminate piece extending from a heel region to a toe region of the upper;
- and
- a medial side laminate piece extending from the heel region to the toe region of the upper
- the lateral side laminate piece and the medial side laminate piece each comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer.
5 more elements
An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
- one or more molded laminate pieces, comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer, and
- wherein the molded laminate piece further comprises a plurality of eyelets.
3 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a footwear upper, comprising:
- a lateral side laminate piece extending from a heel region to a toe region of the upper, and
- a medial side laminate piece extending from the heel region to the toe region of the upper,
- the lateral side laminate piece and the medial side laminate piece each comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer;
- and
- a footwear lower attached to the footwear upper to provide a sole supporting member to the article of footwear.
7 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- a footwear upper, comprising:
- one or more molded laminate pieces, comprising:
- an innermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material,
- an outermost layer comprising a four-way stretch elastic material, and
- a foam cushioning member disposed between and contacting both the innermost layer and the outermost layer,
- wherein the foam cushioning member has a perimeter smaller than perimeters of the innermost layer and the outermost layer, such that the perimeter of the foam cushioning member is enveloped by the innermost layer and the outermost layer, and
- wherein the molded laminate piece further comprises a plurality of eyelets;
- and
- a footwear lower attached to the footwear upper to provide a sole supporting member to the article of footwear.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.