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US 2014/0173934 A1Published application
Woven Planar Footwear Upper
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorThomas G. Bell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Aspects of the present invention relate to a shoe upper that is formed as a substantially planar article with varied functional zones integrated therein. The varied functional zones may be strategically positioned zones having varied degrees of stretch. Additionally, it is contemplated that the functional zones may provide dimensional variation (e.g., thickness) and/or permeability (e.g., breathability) characteristics. The substantially planar upper may then be formed into a three-dimensional upper having a volume that may be occupied by a wearer's foot.
Claims20
A woven substantially-planar shoe upper comprising:
- a woven first side portion extending from a first coupling edge at a heel end towards a toe end and also extending from an upper edge towards a first side edge, the upper edge defining, in part, a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;
- a woven second side portion extending from the heel end towards the toe end and also extending from the upper edge towards a second side edge, the second side portion and the first side portion form, in part, a medial side and a lateral side of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;
- a woven toe region extending between the first side portion at the toe end and the second side portion at the toe end, the toe region also extending towards the upper edge forming a toe end of the forefoot opening;
- a woven heel region extending from an ankle edge to a heel sole edge and also extending between the heel end of the second side portion and a second coupling edge;
- and
- the first side portion seamlessly coupled with the toe region, the toe region seamlessly coupled with the second side portion, and the second side portion seamlessly coupled with the heel region, wherein the first side portion, the second side portion, the toe portion, and the heel portion are substantially planar.
3 more elements
A woven shoe upper comprising:
- a woven heel portion having an ankle edge and an opposite heel sole edge, the heel portion comprised of a dimensional portion, a stretch portion, and a non-stretch portion, the dimensional portion has a thickness greater than the stretch portion and the non-stretch portion, wherein the dimensional portion, the stretch portion, and the non-stretch portion are integrally formed;
- a woven toe portion having a forefoot edge and an opposite toe sole edge, the toe portion comprised of a stretch portion and a non-stretch portion, the stretch portion and the non-stretch portion integrally formed;
- a woven medial side portion extending between the heel portion and the toe portion on a medial side of the shoe upper, the medial side portion having a first upper edge and an opposite medial sole edge;
- and
- a woven lateral side portion extending between the heel portion and the toe portion on a lateral side of the shoe upper, the lateral side portion having a first upper edge and an opposite lateral sole edge.
2 more elements
A shoe construction comprising:
- a sole;
- and
- an upper, the upper comprising:
- (1) a medial side portion, the medial side portion comprised of:
- a) a first region extending from a forefoot opening towards the sole;
- b) a second region extending from the forefoot opening toward the first region, the second region having a greater modulus of elasticity than the first region;
- and
- c) a first aperture extending through the medial side portion proximate the forefoot opening within the first region;
- (2) a lateral side portion, the lateral side portion comprised of:
- a) a third region extending from the forefoot opening towards the sole;
- b) a fourth region extending from the forefoot opening toward the third region, the fourth region having a greater modulus of elasticity than the third region;
- and
- c) a second aperture extending through the lateral side portion proximate the forefoot opening within the third region;
- (3) wherein the first region and the second region are integrally coupled sharing a common warp;
- and
- (4) the third region and the fourth region are integrally coupled sharing a common warp.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.