Engineered braided tube
Assigneeadidas AG
InventorsTom O'Haire, Andrew Yip
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A braided component for an article of apparel or footwear may be formed by application of a method that utilizes a braiding machine to braid a plurality of braiding yarns to form a tubular structure with a plurality of axial yarns incorporated into the tubular structure during braiding. At least two different types of axial yarn may be incorporated into the braided component, for example, to provide different properties to different parts of the tubular structure.
Claims25
A method of forming a braided component for an article of footwear on a braiding machine, the method comprising:
- braiding a plurality of braiding yarns over an essentially cylindrical element to form the braided component so that the braided component comprises a tubular structure defining at least a midfoot region, wherein the essentially cylindrical element comprises a meltable component, wherein a braiding angle of the braiding yarns is varied along a longitudinal direction of the midfoot region of the braided component;
- incorporating a plurality of axial yarns into the tubular structure during braiding, wherein at least two different types of axial yarn including at least a first type of axial yarn and a different, second type of axial yarn are incorporated into the braided component;
- after braiding the braided component over said meltable component, melting said meltable component such that the braided component and the meltable component form one integral unit;
- and
- arranging the integral unit on a last.
A braided component for an article of footwear having a tubular structure, wherein the braided component comprises a plurality of braiding yarns and a plurality of incorporated axial yarns, wherein at least two different types of axial yarn including at least a first type of axial yarn and a different, second type of axial yarn are incorporated into the braided component, wherein a braiding angle of the braiding yarns is varied along a longitudinal direction of a midfoot region of the braided component, wherein the braided component forms one integral unit with a meltable component, the entire meltable component corresponding to an essentially cylindrical element over which the braided component was braided and which has been melted to form the integral unit with the braided component, wherein the integral unit is arrangeable on a last.
A shoe, comprising:
- an upper comprising a braided component having a tubular structure, wherein the braided component comprises a plurality of braiding yarns and a plurality of incorporated axial yarns, wherein at least two different types of axial yarn including at least a first type of axial yarn and a different, second type of axial yarn are incorporated into the braided component, wherein a braiding angle of the braiding yarns is varied along a longitudinal direction of a midfoot region of the braided component, wherein the braided component forms one integral unit with a meltable component, the entire meltable component corresponding to an essentially cylindrical element over which the braided component was braided and which has been melted to form the integral unit with the braided component;
- and
- an outsole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.