# US 11,026,478 B2 · Upper for an article of footwear having a tie structure

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- Number: US 11,026,478 B2
- Document ID: US11026478B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/164,412
- Filed: 2018-10-18
- Published: 2019-04-25
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-20
- Assignees: NIKE, Inc.
- Applicants: NIKE, Inc.
- Inventors: Monica M. Poulsen; Juan L. Aceves Tinajero
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026478B2

## CPC

- A43C 1/04: with rings or loops
- A43B 3/0036: {characterised by a special shape or design}
- A43B 3/244: {characterised by the attachment between upper and sole}
- A43B 9/00: Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
- A43B 23/0245: {characterised by the constructive form}
- A43B 23/025: {assembled by stitching}
- A43B 23/0295: {Pieced uppers}
- A43C 5/00: Eyelets (machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00)
- A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

An upper may be included with an article of footwear. The upper may include a textile portion, the textile portion forming a throat area of the upper. The upper may further include a base portion, the base portion extending to a biteline area of the upper. The upper may further include a tie structure, the tie structure extending through a first opening of the textile portion and a second opening of the base portion to secure the textile portion to the base portion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An article of footwear, comprising:
a textile portion, the textile portion forming a throat area of an upper;
a base portion, the base portion being secured to, or formed integrally with, a sole structure, wherein the base portion extends from the sole structure towards the throat area; and
a tie structure, the tie structure extending from a toe area of the article of footwear towards a heel area of the upper, wherein the tie structure extends through an opening of the textile portion and an opening of the base portion to secure the tie structure with respect to the base portion, and
a grommet coupled to a loop formed by the tie structure, wherein the grommet includes a first aperture for receiving the tie structure and a second aperture for receiving a fastening element of the article of footwear.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the textile portion is a knitted component.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the textile portion and the base portion are additionally secured via a sewn seam, wherein the sewn seam extends along an edge of the base portion.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the textile portion extends to a biteline area of the article of footwear such that the textile portion and the base portion overlap at a location adjacent to the biteline area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tie structure extends from a medial side of the article of footwear, through the heel area of the article of footwear, and to a lateral side of the article of footwear.