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US 9,038,287 B2Granted
Article of footwear with integral upper and sole
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsThomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
Claims20
An article of footwear comprising:
- an interior layer;
- an exterior layer connected to the interior layer;
- wherein the interior layer and the exterior layer are cut in a pattern forming an integral upper portion and sole portion;
- wherein the exterior layer comprises:
- an outer material;
- and
- a structural overlay disposed over the outer material;
- wherein the structural overlay comprises at least a first material and a second material, wherein the first material and second material have different levels of durability, the structural overlay having a first opening that exposes a first portion of the outer material in the upper portion;
- and
- wherein the first material comprises a ground engaging portion, the ground engaging portion having a tread pattern adjacent to the first opening.
7 more elements
An article of footwear comprising:
- an integral upper portion and sole portion comprising an exterior layer connected to an interior layer,
- wherein the integral upper portion and sole portion are folded along a midline so that a top lateral edge of the exterior layer is connected to a bottom lateral edge of the interior layer,
- wherein the integral upper portion and sole portion comprise a folding heel portion, the folding heel portion being disposed in an upright position so that the interior layer at the folding heel portion faces a forefoot region of the article of footwear in an assembled configuration, and
- wherein the integral upper portion and sole portion further comprise at least one heel tab portion removably attached to the exterior layer at the folding heel portion in the assembled configuration.
1 more element
An article of footwear comprising:
- a first preassembled configuration, comprising:
- an interior layer;
- an exterior layer connected to the interior layer;
- wherein the interior layer and the exterior layer are cut in a pattern forming an integral upper portion and sole portion in a flat configuration;
- wherein the exterior layer comprises a top lateral edge and the interior layer comprises a bottom lateral edge, the top lateral edge and the bottom lateral edge being disposed on opposite ends of the integral upper and sole portion in the first preassembled configuration;
- and
- wherein the integral upper portion and sole portion comprise a folding heel portion, the folding heel portion being disposed parallel to the top lateral edge and the bottom lateral edge in the first preassembled configuration;
- a second assembled configuration, comprising:
- the integral upper portion and sole portion being folded along a midline so that the top lateral edge of the exterior layer is connected to the bottom lateral edge of the interior layer, and
- wherein the folding heel portion is disposed in an upright position so that the interior layer at the folding heel portion faces a forefoot region of the article of footwear in the second assembled configuration;
- wherein the integral upper portion and sole portion further comprise at least one heel tab portion being disposed parallel to the top lateral edge and the bottom lateral edge in the first preassembled configuration;
- and
- wherein the at least one heel tab portion is removably attached to the exterior layer at the folding heel portion in the second assembled configuration.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.