Article of footwear having multiple braided structures

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper and a sole system;
• the upper comprising:
• a first braided structure having a first plurality of edges that form a first angled notch portion extending downward on a medial side of an instep region of the upper and a second angled notch portion extending downward on a lateral side of the instep region of the upper, and having a lower side that is configured to extend under a foot of a wearer;
• a second braided structure having a second plurality of edges that form a first angled notch portion on the medial side of the instep region of the upper and a second angled notch portion on the lateral side of the instep region of the upper, and having a lower side that is configured to extend under the foot of the wearer, wherein the first plurality of edges of the first braided structure and the second plurality of edges of the second braided structure collectively define a foot-receiving opening;
• a member;
• and
• an overlay system comprising a first overlay layer and a second overlay layer;
• wherein the first overlay layer is bonded to a first portion of the first braided structure and wherein the second overlay layer is bonded to a first portion of the second braided structure, the first overlay layer extending continuously from a bottom of the first angled notch portion of the first braided structure downward to the lower side of first braided structure and further continuously from the lower side of the first braided structure upward to a bottom of the second angled notch portion of the first braided structure, the second overlay layer extending continuously from a bottom of the first angled notch portion of the second braided structure downward to the lower side of second braided structure and further continuously from the lower side of the second braided structure upward to a bottom of the second angled notch portion of the second braided structure;
• wherein the first portion of the first braided structure is positioned between a first portion of the first overlay layer and the first portion of the second braided structure, and wherein the first portion of the second braided structure is positioned between the first portion of the first braided structure and a first portion of the second overlay layer;
• wherein the first overlay layer is more resistant to stretching than a second portion of the first braided structure that is not directly bonded to the first overlay layer and wherein the second overlay layer is more resistant to stretching than a second portion of the second braided structure that is not directly bonded to the second overlay layer;
• wherein the member is positioned between the first braided structure and the second braided structure.

An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

• a first braided structure including a first plurality of edges that form a first angled notch portion extending downward on a medial side of an instep region of the upper and a second angled notch portion extending downward on a lateral side of the instep region of the upper, the first braided structure further including a lower side that is configured to extend under a foot of a wearer;
• a second braided structure including a second plurality of edges that form a first angled notch portion on the medial side of the instep region of the upper and a second angled notch portion on the lateral side of the instep region of the upper, the first plurality of edges and the second plurality of edges collectively defining a foot-receiving opening, the second braided structure further including a lower side that is configured to extend under the foot of the wearer;
• an overlay system including a first layer and a second layer;
• wherein the first layer is bonded to the first plurality of edges of the first braided structure at least at the first angled notch portion of the first braided structure and the second angled notch portion of the first braided structure, the first layer extending continuously from a bottom of the first angled notch portion of the first braided structure downward to the lower side of the first braided structure and further continuously from the lower side of the first braided structure upward to a bottom of the second angled notch portion of the first braided structure;
• wherein the second layer is bonded to the second plurality of edges of the second braided structure at least at the first angled notch portion of the second braided structure and the second angled notch portion of the second braided structure, the second layer extending continuously from a bottom of the first angled notch portion of the second braided structure downward to the lower side of the second braided structure and further continuously from the lower side of the second braided structure upward to a bottom of the second angled notch portion of the second braided structure;
• wherein the first plurality of edges of the first braided structure is positioned between at least a portion of the first layer of the overlay system and the second plurality of edges of the second braided structure, and wherein the second plurality of edges of the second braided structure is positioned between the first plurality of edges of the first braided structure and at least a portion of the second layer of the overlay system;
• wherein the first layer of the overlay system is more resistant to stretching than a portion of the first braided structure that is not directly bonded to the first layer, and wherein the second layer of the overlay system is more resistant to stretching than a portion of the second braided structure that is not directly bonded to the second layer;
• and
• wherein the first layer is bonded to the second layer.