# US 12,004,601 B2 · Article of footwear with upper having tensile strands > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,601 B2 - Document ID: US12004601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/668,213 - Filed: 2022-02-09 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-09 - Assignees: NIKE, Inc. - Applicants: NIKE, Inc. - Inventors: Aaron A C Cooper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004601B2 ## CPC - A43C 5/00: Eyelets (machines for setting eyelets A43D100/00) - A43B 5/06: Running shoes; Track shoes - A43B 5/10: Tennis shoes - A43B 23/0245: {characterised by the constructive form} - A43C 1/04: with rings or loops - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, a slotted eyelet, an opening, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion and a lateral portion. The slotted eyelet is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion and has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the slotted eyelet along the major axis is larger than a width of the slotted eyelet along the minor axis. The opening is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion, and the opening is spaced apart from the slotted eyelet. The tensile strand has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the opening and defines an aperture adjacent the slotted eyelet, and the second portion extends from the first portion toward the sole structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure; an upper coupled to the sole structure and having a medial portion, a lateral portion, an innermost surface, an outermost surface, and an opening extending through the upper from the innermost surface to the outermost surface; and a tensile strand having a first portion with a first length and a second portion with a second length, the second portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first portion is disposed inwardly from the innermost surface of the upper, such that the first portion is positioned between a wearer's foot and the innermost surface of the upper when the wearer's foot is inserted into the article of footwear, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion and is disposed adjacent the outermost surface of the upper, such that the first end and the second end of the second portion extend through the opening, and wherein the first portion has a first cross-sectional profile that is flat along the first length, and wherein the second portion has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded along the second length. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the tensile strand defines an eyelet. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the tensile strand are integrally formed as a single, continuous piece of material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tensile strand further comprises a third portion extending from the second portion and having a third cross-sectional profile that is flat along a length of the third portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the third portion is disposed inwardly from the innermost surface of the upper, such that the third portion is positioned between the wearer's foot and the innermost surface of the upper when the wearer's foot is inserted into the article of footwear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the third portion of the tensile strand has a width that is greater than a thickness of the third portion of the tensile strand. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the first, second, and third portions of the tensile strand are integrally formed as a single, continuous piece of material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a fixed end that is secured to the sole structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a slot extending through the upper, the article of footwear further comprising a lace, wherein the lace extends through the slot and further extends through an eyelet formed by the second portion of the tensile strand. ### Claim 10 An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure; an upper coupled to the sole structure and having a medial portion, a lateral portion, an innermost surface, an outermost surface, and an opening extending through the upper from the innermost surface to the outermost surface; and a tensile strand having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first portion is disposed inwardly from the innermost surface of the upper, such that the first portion is positioned between a wearer's foot and the innermost surface of the upper when the wearer's foot is inserted into the article of footwear, wherein the second portion extends from the first portion and is disposed adjacent the outermost surface of the upper, such that the first end and the second end of the second portion extend through the opening, and wherein the first portion has a first cross-sectional profile and the second portion has a second cross-sectional profile, wherein the first cross-sectional profile and the second cross-sectional profile are different. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising a lace member extending between the medial portion and the lateral portion of the upper. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the second portion defines an eyelet configured to receive a lace member. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first cross-sectional profile is flat along the length of the first portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the second cross-sectional profile is rounded along the length of the second portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the tensile strand further comprises a third portion extending from the second portion and having a third cross-sectional profile that is flat along the length of the third portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the third portion is disposed inwardly from the innermost surface of the upper, such that the third portion is positioned between the wearer's foot and the innermost surface of the upper when the wearer's foot is inserted into the article of footwear. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the third portion of the tensile strand has a width that is greater than a thickness of the third portion of the tensile strand. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third portions of the tensile strand are integrally formed as a single, continuous piece of material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the first portion has a fixed end that is attached to the sole structure. ### Claim 20 An article of footwear comprising: a sole structure; an upper coupled to the sole structure and having a medial portion, a lateral portion, an innermost surface, an outermost surface, and a plurality of openings extending through the upper from the innermost surface to the outermost surface; and a plurality of tensile strands each having a first portion and a second portion, each second portion having a first end and a second end, wherein each first portion is disposed inwardly from the innermost surface of the upper, such that each first portion is positioned between a wearer's foot and the innermost surface of the upper when the wearer's foot is inserted into the article of footwear, wherein each second portion respectively extends from each first portion and is disposed adjacent the outermost surface of the upper, such that the first end and the second end of each second portion extends through a same opening of the plurality of openings, and wherein each first portion has a first cross-sectional profile and each second portion has a second cross-sectional profile, wherein the first cross-sectional profile and the second cross-sectional profile are different.