# US 11,297,902 B2 · Laceless shoe > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,297,902 B2 - Document ID: US11297902B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/553,765 - Filed: 2019-08-28 - Published: 2019-12-19 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2016-10-03 - Assignees: adidas AG - Applicants: adidas AG - Inventors: Fu Wen Lee; LuLu Chen; Sam Forester - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11297902B2 ## CPC - A43B 23/0235: {Different layers of different material} - A43B 23/0245: {characterised by the constructive form} - A43B 5/025: {characterised by an element which improves the contact between the ball and the footwear} - A43B 23/0205: {characterised by the material (material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08)} - A43B 23/0215: {Plastics or artificial leather} - D04B 1/18: elastic threads - A43B 3/0078: {provided with logos, letters, signatures or the like decoration (A43B23/24 takes precedence)} - A43C 15/16: Studs {or cleats} for football or like boots - D10B 2403/0112: One smooth surface, e.g. laminated or coated - D10B 2501/043: Footwear - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - D04B: KNITTING - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - D10B: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBLASSES OF SECTION D, RELATING TO TEXTILES ## Abstract Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shoe comprising: a sole; and a laceless shoe upper comprising: a lateral portion having a first coating portion applied at least partially thereto; a medial portion having a second coating portion applied at least partially thereto; and an intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion and including a material that is continuous across the lateral portion, the intermediate portion, and the medial portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a cupped portion uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion, wherein when the laceless shoe upper is separate from the sole and arranged on a flat surface that is continuously flat underneath an entirety of the laceless shoe upper, at least a majority of the laceless shoe upper lies within or parallel to a horizontal plane and at least a majority of the cupped portion is cupped above surrounding areas of the laceless shoe upper so as to be above the horizontal plane and out of contact with the flat surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein: the lateral portion is adapted to extend from a lateral junction of the upper with the sole to the intermediate portion; and the medial portion is adapted to extend from a medial junction of the upper with the sole to the intermediate portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion extends at least partly on a dorsal portion of the shoe upper. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, wherein a length of the intermediate portion is between 20% and 50% of a length of the shoe upper; and a width of the intermediate portion is between 10% and 60% of the width of the shoe upper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, further comprising at least one continuous one-piece layer at least partially covering the lateral portion and at least partially covering the intermediate portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a knitted layer. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The shoe of claim 6, wherein the knitted layer is knitted in one piece and extends over at least 80% of a surface area of the shoe upper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The shoe of claim 6, the knitted layer further comprising a first area having a first knit structure and a second area having a second knit structure different from the first knit structure. ### Claim 9 A shoe comprising: a sole; and a laceless shoe upper comprising: a lateral portion having a first coating portion applied at least partially thereto; a medial portion having a second coating portion applied at least partially thereto; and an intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion and including a material that is continuous across the lateral portion, the intermediate portion, and the medial portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a cupped portion uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion, wherein when the laceless shoe upper is separate from the sole and arranged on a flat surface, at least a majority of the laceless shoe upper lies within or parallel to a horizontal plane and at least a majority of the cupped portion maintains a shape of being cupped above the lateral portion and the medial portion so as to be tented above the horizontal plane and out of contact with the flat surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The shoe of claim 9, wherein the maintained shape of the cupped portion is configured to deform so as to permit introduction of a foot in the shoe and extraction of the foot out of the shoe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The shoe of claim 9, further comprising a sock arranged at least partially inside the shoe upper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The shoe of claim 11, further comprising: a collar surrounding a shoe opening; and a holding tab proximate a junction between the intermediate portion and the collar, wherein a first end of the holding tab is attached to the shoe upper, and a second end of the holding tab is attached to the sock. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The shoe of claim 12, wherein the first end of the holding tab is attached to the shoe upper at a top of the intermediate portion. ### Claim 14 A shoe comprising: a sole; and a laceless shoe upper comprising: a lateral portion having a first coating portion applied at least partially thereto; a medial portion having a second coating portion applied at least partially thereto; an intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion and including a material that is continuous across the lateral portion, the intermediate portion, and the medial portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a cupped portion uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion; and a collar portion connecting to the intermediate portion and at least partially surrounding a foot opening, the collar portion being uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion; wherein when the laceless shoe upper is independent from the sole and arranged on a flat surface that is continuously flat underneath an entirety of the laceless shoe upper, at least a majority of the laceless shoe upper lies within or parallel to a horizontal plane and a majority of the cupped portion and the collar portion lie above the horizontal plane and out of contact with the flat surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The shoe of claim 14, wherein the maintained shapes of the cupped portion and the collar portion hold a portion of a rim of the foot opening of the shoe at least partially upright to keep from collapsing into a position obstructing a portion of the foot opening and to facilitate introduction of a wearer's foot into the shoe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The shoe of claim 14, wherein the arrangement of the first coating portion and the second coating portion contribute to the cupped portion maintaining its shape. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The shoe of claim 14, further comprising a holding tab proximate a junction between the intermediate portion and the collar portion.