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US 10,736,381 B2Granted
Article with directional tensioning
AssigneeUnder Armour, Inc.
InventorTom Luedecke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections running in at least two different directions. Ribbon sections are connected at nodes that may move substantially independently of other nodes. The ribbon structure can provide strength along one of the directions and may simultaneously remain slack in the other direction.
Claims20
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper having a first direction and a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction, the upper including a ribbon structure;
- the ribbon structure comprising a first set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in the first direction;
- the ribbon structure comprising a second set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in the second direction;
- the ribbon structure comprising a third set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a third direction, wherein the third direction is different than the first direction and the second direction;
- wherein at least one ribbon section in the first set of ribbon sections is stitched to at least one ribbon section in the second set of ribbon sections;
- wherein the first set of ribbons is placed in tension in response to a force applied along the first direction;
- and
- wherein the second set of ribbon sections is configured to remain substantially slack along the second direction while the force is applied along the first direction.
5 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a ribbon structure;
- the ribbon structure comprising a pattern of ribbon portions and nodes;
- wherein the pattern of ribbon portions and nodes is formed by:
- a first set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a first direction;
- a second set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a second direction that is different from the first direction;
- and
- a third set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a third direction, wherein the third direction is different than the first direction and the second direction;
- the ribbon structure including a first node and a second node, the first node and the second node being connected by a ribbon portion;
- wherein a ribbon section of the first set of ribbon sections is attached to a ribbon section of the second set of ribbon sections by a stitch at the first node and wherein a ribbon section of the first set of ribbon sections, a ribbon section of the second set of ribbon sections, and a ribbon section of the third set of ribbon sections are attached to each other by a stitch at the second node;
- and
- wherein the first node is configured to move substantially relative to the second node in response to a force applied to the ribbon structure.
8 more elements
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a ribbon structure;
- the ribbon structure comprising a pattern of ribbon portions and nodes;
- wherein the pattern of ribbon portions and nodes is formed by:
- a first set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a first direction;
- a second set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a second direction that is different from the first direction;
- and
- a third set of ribbon sections oriented substantially in a third direction, wherein the third direction is different than the first direction and the second direction;
- the ribbon structure including a first node and a second node, the first node having a first orientation and the second node having a second orientation;
- wherein a ribbon section of the first set of ribbon sections, a ribbon section of the second set of ribbon sections, and a ribbon section of the third set of ribbon sections are attached to each other by a stitch at the first node and wherein a ribbon section of the first set of ribbon sections is attached to a ribbon section of the second set of ribbon sections by a stitch at the second node;
- and
- wherein the second orientation of the second node is configured to change substantially without changing the first orientation of the first node.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.