Article of Footwear With Mesh Structure

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper having an upper interior surface and an upper exterior surface, the upper interior surface being disposed closer to an interior cavity of the upper than the upper exterior surface;
• a mesh structure comprised of a plurality of cords, wherein the mesh structure is disposed over the upper exterior surface;
• the mesh structure having a mesh periphery further including a first mesh periphery portion and a second mesh periphery portion;
• the first mesh periphery portion and the second mesh periphery portion being separated by a gap;
• a fastening cord engaging the first mesh periphery portion and the second mesh periphery portion such that when an end portion of the fastening cord is pulled the fastening cord pulls the first mesh periphery portion closer to the second mesh periphery portion, thereby tightening the mesh structure against the upper;
• and
• wherein at least one cord in the plurality of cords comprising the mesh structure has a first cord diameter and a first cord tensile strength;
• wherein the fastening cord has a second cord diameter and a second cord tensile strength;
• and
• wherein the first cord diameter is substantially equal to the second cord diameter and wherein the first cord tensile strength is substantially equal to the second cord tensile strength.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper having an upper interior surface and an upper exterior surface, the upper interior surface being disposed closer to an interior cavity of the upper than the upper exterior surface;
• a sole structure;
• a knit mesh structure comprised of a plurality of knitted segments having a mesh configuration;
• the knit mesh structure having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, wherein the second portion is disposed between the first portion and the third portion;
• wherein the first portion is disposed over an instep portion of the upper on the upper exterior surface;
• wherein the second portion is disposed around a toe portion of the upper on the upper exterior surface;
• wherein the third portion is disposed between the upper and the sole structure;
• and
• wherein the first portion is separated from the third portion by a gap on a side portion of the upper.

A method of making an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure, comprising:

• flat knitting a knit mesh structure;
• stretching a first portion of the knit mesh structure over a top portion of the upper;
• stretching a second portion of the knit mesh structure around a toe portion of the upper;
• stretching a third portion of the knit mesh structure over a bottom portion of the upper;
• and
• assembling the sole structure with the bottom portion of the upper such that the third portion of the knit mesh structure is disposed between the upper and the sole structure.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper having an upper interior surface and an upper exterior surface, the upper interior surface being disposed closer to an interior cavity of the upper than the upper exterior surface;
• a mesh structure comprised of a plurality of cords, the mesh structure being wrapped around the article of footwear;
• a plurality of channels disposed on the upper exterior surface;
• wherein a portion of the mesh structure is in contact with a portion of the upper exterior surface;
• and
• wherein at least some cords in the plurality of cords are disposed through channels in the plurality of channels.