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US 8,893,405 B2Granted
Article of footwear incorporating tensile strands with an elongated cross-sectional shape
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsFrederick J. Dojan, Shane S. Kohatsu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a base layer and a plurality of strands. The base layer forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The strands are located adjacent to the base layer and form another portion of the exterior surface of the upper, the strands being unsecured to the base layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape.
Claims20
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a base layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper;
- and
- a plurality of strands located adjacent to the base layer and forming another portion of the exterior surface of the upper, the strands being unsecured to the base layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape;
- wherein the upper includes (a) a lace region defining a plurality of lace-receiving elements and (b) a lower region where the sole structure is secured to the upper, the strands extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strands being secured to the upper in a fixed position at the lace region and the lower region, and the strands being unsecured to the base layer for the distance of at least five centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region;
- wherein the plurality of strands is configured to lay against the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is placed in tension;
- and
- wherein the plurality of strands is configured to be spaced away from the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is compressed.
4 more elements
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a base layer extending from a lace region of the upper to a lower region of the upper, the lace region defining a plurality of lace-receiving elements, and the lower region being where the sole structure is secured to the upper;
- and
- a plurality of strands extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strands being secured to the upper in a fixed position at the lace region and the lower region, the strands being unsecured for a distance of at least five centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape that includes (a) a pair of facing surfaces located opposite each other and (b) a pair of end surfaces located opposite each other, a dimension between the facing surfaces defining a thickness, and a dimension between the end surfaces defining a width, the width being greater than the thickness, and one of the facing surfaces being oriented to contact the base layer;
- wherein one of the facing surfaces of the plurality of strands is configured to lay against the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is placed in tension;
- and
- wherein said one of the facing surfaces of the plurality of strands is configured to be spaced away from the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is compressed.
3 more elements
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
- a base layer extending from a lace region of the upper to a lower region of the upper, the lace region defining a plurality of lace-receiving elements, and the lower region being where the sole structure is secured to the upper;
- and
- a plurality of strands extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strands being secured to the upper in a fixed position at the lace region and the lower region, the strands being unsecured for a distance of at least five centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape that includes (a) a pair of facing surfaces located opposite each other and (b) a pair of end surfaces located opposite each other, a dimension between the facing surfaces defining a thickness, and a dimension between the end surfaces defining a width, a ratio of the width to the thickness being at least two;
- wherein one of the facing surfaces and the end surfaces of the plurality of strands is configured to lay against the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is placed in tension;
- and
- wherein said one of the facing surfaces and the end surfaces is configured to be spaced away from the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is compressed.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.