Engineered upper with zonal support for an article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper and defines a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The upper is formed, in part, from an engineered textile that includes an elastic base layer, a plurality of lockout panels attached to the elastic base layer, and a plurality of stretch channels formed between adjacent lockout panels. The elastic base layer is capable of multi-directional stretch, and each lockout panel has a stiffness greater than a stiffness of the elastic base layer and is configured to limit stretch of the elastic base layer in regions covered by the lockout panels. Each stretch channel is an uncovered portion of the elastic base layer configured to permit controlled elasticity, and the lockout panels and stretch channels cooperate to create distinct support zones and flexibility zones within the upper.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.