Article of footwear having an upper with a matrix layer
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsPamela Greene, John Hurd, John Hoke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and/or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
Claims45
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a lateral side element extending through at least a heel region of the footwear, the lateral side element defining a first edge in the heel region and a plurality of first apertures extending along the first edge;
- a medial side element extending through at least the heel region of the footwear, the medial side element defining a second edge in the heel region and a plurality of second apertures extending along the second edge;
- a cord extending through the first apertures and the second apertures;
- and
- a fastener receiving a portion of the cord.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a lateral side element extending through at least a heel region of the footwear and a medial side element extending through at least the heel region of the footwear, wherein the upper defines, at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber for the article of footwear, and wherein at least a portion of the lateral side element includes a polymer matrix and at least a portion of the medial side element includes a polymer matrix;
- a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region;
- a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism and the foot-receiving chamber;
- and
- a sole structure engaged with the upper.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper that defines, at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber for the article of footwear, and wherein at least a portion of the upper includes a polymer matrix, wherein the upper defines a throat area;
- a shoe securing mechanism engaged with the upper at the throat area;
- a tongue member engaged with the upper and adjacent the foot-receiving chamber at least in the throat area;
- a heel tongue element located adjacent a heel portion of the upper;
- and
- a sole structure engaged with the upper.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper that defines, at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber for the article of footwear, and wherein a major portion of a first element of the upper includes a polymer matrix, wherein the first element extends at least over a forefoot portion and a midfoot portion of the upper;
- a shoe securing mechanism engaged with the upper, wherein the shoe securing mechanism includes at least one strap for engaging a wearer's heel or ankle that extends from a first side of the upper to a second side of the upper;
- and
- a sole structure engaged with the upper.
An article of footwear, comprising:
- an upper including a lateral side element extending through at least a heel region of the footwear and a medial side element extending through at least the heel region of the footwear, wherein the upper defines, at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber for the article of footwear, and wherein at least a portion of the lateral side element includes a polymer matrix and at least a portion of the medial side element includes a polymer matrix;
- a seam joining the lateral side element and the medial side element together at the heel region;
- and
- a sole structure engaged with the upper.
45-74. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.