Patent Grant
10264848
Articles of footwear generally include two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper is often formed from a plurality of material elements (e.g., textiles, polymer sheet layers, polymer foam layers, leather, synthetic leather) that are stitched or adhesively bonded together to form a void within the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. More particularly, the upper forms a structure that extends over instep and toe areas of the foot, along medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around a heel area of the foot. The upper may also incorporate a closure element (e.g., a shoelace, buckle, strap, etc.) to selectively adjust the fit of the footwear, as well as permitting entry and removal of the foot from the void within the upper. In addition, the upper may include a tongue that extends under the closure element to enhance adjustability and comfort of the footwear, and the upper may incorporate a heel counter for stabilizing the heel area of the foot.
The sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and positioned between the foot and the ground. In athletic footwear, for example, the sole structure often includes a midsole and an outsole. The midsole may be formed from a polymer foam material that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) during walking, running, and other ambulatory activities. The midsole may also include fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot, for example. In some configurations, the midsole may be primarily formed from a fluid-filled chamber. The outsole forms a ground-contacting element of the footwear and is usually fashioned from a durable and wear-resistant rubber material that includes texturing to impart traction. The sole structure may also include a sockliner positioned within the void of the upper and proximal a lower surface of the foot to enhance footwear comfort.
An article of footwear configured for wearing on a foot of a wearer is disclosed. The article of footwear is configured to support a closure element that selectively secures the article of footwear to the foot. The article of footwear includes an upper configured to receive the foot and configured to support the closure element. The upper includes a heel region that is configured to extend at least partially about a posterior of the heel. The upper additionally includes a medial side and a lateral side. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure that is fixed to the upper. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a longitudinal strand that extends along at least one of the medial side and the lateral side. Also, the article of footwear includes an underfoot strand that is coupled to the longitudinal strand and that extends across the sole structure to extend between the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes a closure strand that is coupled to the longitudinal strand. The closure strand is configured to couple to the closure element such that tensioning of the closure element tensions the longitudinal strand, the underfoot strand, and the closure strand to selectively secure the article of footwear to the foot.
Also, an article of footwear is disclosed that is configured for wearing on a foot of a wearer. The foot includes a heel. The article of footwear is configured to support a closure element that selectively secures the article of footwear to the foot. The article of footwear includes an upper configured to receive the foot. The upper includes a heel region that is configured to extend at least partially about a posterior of the heel. The upper additionally includes a medial side and a lateral side. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes a sole structure that is fixed to the upper. The sole structure includes a strand securement member with a medial extension that extends over the medial side of the upper and a lateral extension that extends over the lateral side of the upper. The article of footwear further includes a medial longitudinal strand that extends along the medial side of the upper and that is coupled to the medial extension of the strand securement member and the heel region. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a lateral longitudinal strand that extends along the lateral side of the upper and that is coupled to the lateral extension of the strand securement member and the heel region. Additionally, the article of footwear includes an underfoot strand that extends continuously between and alternately couples to the medial longitudinal strand and the lateral longitudinal strand. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes a medial closure strand that is coupled to the medial extension of the strand securement member and the medial longitudinal strand. The medial closure strand is configured to couple to the closure element. Still further, the article of footwear includes a lateral closure strand that is coupled to the lateral extension of the strand securement member and the lateral longitudinal strand. The lateral closure strand is configured to the couple to the closure element such that tensioning of the closure element tensions the medial and lateral longitudinal strands, the underfoot strand, and the medial and lateral closure strands to selectively secure the article of footwear to the foot.
Moreover, an article of footwear is disclosed that is configured for wearing on a foot of a wearer. The foot includes a heel, and the article of footwear includes an upper configured to receive the foot. The upper includes a heel region with a heel strap that is configured to extend at least partially about a posterior of the heel. The upper additionally includes a medial side and a lateral side. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes a closure element that is supported at the closure region. The closure element is configured to be tensioned to selectively secure the article of footwear to the foot. Additionally, the article of footwear includes a sole structure that is fixed to the upper. The sole structure includes a strand securement member with a medial extension that extends over the medial side of the upper and a lateral extension that extends over the lateral side of the upper. Also, the article of footwear includes a medial longitudinal strand that extends along the medial side of the upper and that is knotted to the medial extension of the strand securement member and that is knotted to the heel strap. The article of footwear additionally includes a lateral longitudinal strand that extends along the lateral side of the upper and that is knotted to the lateral extension of the strand securement member and the heel strap. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes an underfoot strand that extends continuously between and alternately turns over the medial longitudinal strand and the lateral longitudinal strand. Moreover, the article of footwear includes a medial closure strand that is fixed to the medial extension of the strand securement member and that is turned over the medial longitudinal strand. The medial closure strand is configured to turn over the closure element. Still further, the article of footwear includes a lateral closure strand that is fixed to the lateral extension of the strand securement member and that is turned over the lateral longitudinal strand. The lateral closure strand is configured to the turn over to the closure element such that tensioning of the closure element tensions the medial and lateral longitudinal strands, the underfoot strand, and the medial and lateral closure strands to selectively secure the article of footwear to the foot.
The advantages and features of novelty characterizing aspects of the present disclosure are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims. To gain an improved understanding of the advantages and features of novelty, however, reference may be made to the following descriptive matter and accompanying figures that describe and illustrate various configurations and concepts related to the present disclosure.
The foregoing Summary and the following Detailed Description will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose various articles of footwear having uppers that include tensile strands (i.e., tensile strand elements) that operably couple closure elements, such as shoelaces, to other portions of the footwear. For instance, the tensile strands can operably couple the closure element to a sole structure and/or an ankle region of the footwear. The articles of footwear are disclosed, for purposes of example, as having configurations of running shoes. Concepts associated with the articles of footwear, including the uppers, may also be applied to a variety of other athletic footwear types, including basketball shoes, baseball shoes, cross-training shoes, cycling shoes, football shoes, tennis shoes, golf shoes, soccer shoes, walking shoes, hiking boots, ski and snowboard boots, and ice and roller skates, for example. The concepts may also be applied to footwear types that are generally considered to be non-athletic, including dress shoes, loafers, sandals, and work boots. The concepts disclosed herein apply, therefore, to a wide variety of footwear types.
General Footwear Structure
An article of footwear 10 is depicted in
For purposes of reference in the following discussion, footwear 10 may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot region 11, a midfoot region 12, and a heel region 13. Forefoot region 11 generally includes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot region 12 generally includes portions of footwear 10 corresponding with an arch area of the foot. Heel region 13 generally corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone and areas surrounding the Achilles tendon (i.e., the posterior of the heel or ankle of the foot). Footwear 10 also includes a lateral side 14 (
Embodiments of Sole Structure
Sole structure 20 can include a midsole 21, an outsole 22, and a sockliner 23 (
Outsole 22 can be secured below the midsole 21 and may be formed from a wear-resistant polymeric (e.g., rubber) material that is textured to impart traction. In the illustrated embodiments, the outsole 22 can be collectively defined by a plurality of pads 41 (
Sockliner 23 can be located within upper 30, as depicted in
The sole structure 20 can further include a strand securement member 24. As shown in
Embodiments of Upper
Upper 30 may be formed from a variety of sheet-like elements that are stitched, adhesively bonded, or otherwise joined together to define the void 31. The void 31 can be generally foot-shaped for receiving and securing the foot relative to sole structure 20. As such, upper 30 extends along the lateral side of the foot, along the medial side of the foot, over the foot, around a heel of the foot, and under the foot. Access to void 31 is provided by an ankle opening 32 located in at least heel region 13.
The upper 30 can be configured to support a closure element 33, such as a shoelace 29 that selectively secures the footwear 10 to the foot. The shoelace 29 can be flexible, but can have a substantially fixed length (i.e., substantially non-extendable in length), or the shoelace 29 can be resiliently elastic somewhat such that the shoelace 29 is resiliently extendable. Attachment of the shoelace 29 to the footwear 10 will be discussed in detail below. The shoelace 29 can be untied such that the upper 30 is relatively loose to allow the wearer's foot to be inserted into the footwear 10. Once inserted, the wearer can pull and tighten the shoelace 29 and can tie the shoelace 29 into a knot and/or bow to selectively secure the footwear 10 to the foot. Then, the shoelace 29 can be untied to re-loosen the footwear 10, facilitating removal of the foot from the void 31.
In the embodiments illustrated, the shoelace 29 is disposed generally at the top of the midfoot region 12 and zig-zags toward the forefoot region 11. However, it will be appreciated that the shoelace 29 could be disposed at another area of the upper 30. It will also be appreciated that the closure element 33 could include implements in addition to or instead of the shoelace 29. For instance, the closure element 33 can include a strap with pile tape (e.g., VELCRO™), a strap that buckles to a corresponding portion of the upper 30, a snap, a button, or other closure element 33. Also, in some embodiments, the closure element 33 could be an elongate, flexible wire that spools on a corresponding spool (not shown). This spool can selectively and automatically take up slack and tension the closure element 33, and in some embodiments, the closure element 33 can incorporate one or more lacing systems that are commercially available from Boa Technology of Denver, Colo.
Also, in the embodiments illustrated, the footwear 10 can include a heel strap 35. The heel strap 35 can be elongate and flexible and can include a first end 37 with a first hole 36 and a second end 39 with a second hole 38. Edges of the holes 36, 38 can be reinforced with a reinforcing member (e.g., a grommet) in some embodiments. The heel strap 35 can be disposed on and can extend across the heel region 13. Also, the heel strap 35 can be attached via adhesives, stitching, or any other suitable manner. As such, the first end 37 and the first hole 36 can be disposed on the medial side 15 of the upper 30, and the second end 39 and the second hole 38 can be disposed on the lateral side 14 of the upper 30.
In some configurations, upper 30 may also incorporate other elements, such as reinforcing members, aesthetic features, a heel counter that limits heel movement in heel region 13, and/or a wear-resistant toe guard located in forefoot region 11. The upper 30 can also include indicia (e.g., a trademark), a symbol, an image, or other visual features.
Embodiments of Tensile Strands
The article of footwear 10 can further include one or more strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 (tensile strand elements), each of which will be described in detail below. The strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be made from wire, string, cord, various flexible filaments, fibers, yarns, threads, cables, or ropes that are formed from rayon, nylon, polyester, polyacrylic, silk, cotton, carbon, glass, aramids (e.g., para-aramid fibers and meta-aramid fibers), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, liquid crystal polymer, copper, aluminum, and steel. An individual filament utilized in the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 may be formed form a single material (i.e., a monocomponent filament) or from multiple materials (i.e., a bicomponent filament). Similarly, different filaments may be formed from different materials. As an example, yarns utilized as strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 may include filaments that are each formed from a common material, may include filaments that are each formed from two or more different materials, or may include filaments that are each formed from two or more different materials. Similar concepts also apply to threads, cables, ropes, etc. The thickness (diameter) of strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be within a range from approximately 0.03 millimeters to 5 millimeters, for example. Also, the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can have a substantially circular cross section, an ovate cross section, or a cross section of any other suitable shape.
As an example, one or more of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 may be formed from a bonded nylon 6.6 with a breaking or tensile strength of 3.1 kilograms and a weight of 45 tex. One or more strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 may be formed from a bonded nylon 6.6 with a breaking or tensile strength of 6.2 kilograms and a tex of 45. As a further example, one or more strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 may have an outer sheath that sheathes and protects an inner core.
In some embodiments, at least one of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can have a fixed length (e.g., can be nonextendible). Also in some embodiments, at least one of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be resiliently extendible. Some of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be nonextendible while others can be extendible in various embodiments as well.
In the embodiments illustrated, the strands 40, 50, 74, 84 extend over and across respective portions of the upper 30, and the strand 60 extends across and through the sole structure 20 between the medial and lateral sides 14, 15 of the footwear 10. Also, the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be interconnected together (similar to a web) and coupled with respective portions of the upper 30, the sole structure 20, and the shoelace 29 as will be described in detail. As will be discussed, two or more of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be interconnected together by turning over each other one or more times, by being tied or otherwise knotted together, via fasteners, or in another suitable fashion. Also, the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be attached to respective portions of the upper 30 and/or the sole structure 20 via adhesives, via fasteners, by knots, or in another suitable fashion. Thus, as will be appreciated, the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can secure the footwear 10 to the wearer's foot, and the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can improve comfort and performance of the footwear 10.
It is noted that although the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 are exposed from outside the footwear 10 in the embodiments shown, one or more of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 could be at least partially embedded or otherwise hidden from outside the footwear 10. For instance, in some embodiments, the upper 30 could include an outer layer that covers over the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84. Also, in some embodiments, the upper 30 could include inner and outer layers, and the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 could be embedded between those layers. Moreover, in some embodiments, the strand 60 could be embedded within the sole structure 20.
For instance, as shown in
More specifically, the medial longitudinal strand 40 includes a first end 42 that is looped through the hole 36 in the first end 37 of the heel strap 35 and that is fixed to the heel strap 35 via a knot 44. In additional embodiments, the strand 40 is attached to the heel strap 35 via a fastener, adhesives, or in another fashion. The medial longitudinal strand 40 also includes a second end 46 that is coupled (e.g., fixed) to the strand securement member 24, adjacent the hole 17. For instance, as shown in
The footwear 10 can also include a lateral longitudinal strand 50. More specifically, the lateral longitudinal strand 50 includes a first end 52 that is looped through the hole 38 in the second end 39 of the heel strap 35 and that is fixed to the heel strap 35 via a knot 54. The lateral longitudinal strand 50 also includes a second end 56 that is coupled (e.g., fixed) to the strand securement member 24, adjacent the hole 19 by a crimped coupling 47 of the type shown in
It will be appreciated that, in additional embodiments, the footwear 10 can include a single, continuous longitudinal strand that extends between the medial and lateral sides 14, 15. For instance, one end of the strand could be fixed at the hole 17, across the medial side 15, around the heel region 13, across the lateral side 14, and the opposite end of the strand could be fixed at the hole 19.
The footwear 10 can additionally include an underfoot strand 60 with a first end 62 (
The middle portion 70 can be coupled to the medial longitudinal strand 40. For instance, as shown in
Moreover, the footwear 10 can include a medial closure strand 74 (
The footwear 10 can similarly include a lateral closure strand 84 (
Accordingly, after the wearer has inserted his or her foot into the upper 30, the wearer can tension and tighten the shoelace 29. This, in turn, can pull and tension the medial and lateral closure strands 74, 84. As a result, the medial and lateral longitudinal strands 40, 50 can be pulled and tensioned to pull the heel strap 35 (and, generally, the heel region 13) inward against the wearer's Achilles heel. As another result, the underfoot strand 60 can be tensioned to pull the sole structure 20 upward toward the bottom of the wearer's foot. The shoelace 29 can be additionally knotted, bowed, clamped, or otherwise fixed in this tensioned condition such that the upper 30 and sole structure 20 remain tightly secured to the foot. Furthermore, flexion of the foot can increase tension in one or more of the straps 40, 50, 60, 74, 84, causing tensioning of the other straps 40, 50, 60, 74, 84. Thus, the footwear 10 can have a so-called “active fit,” whereby movement of the foot causes the footwear 10 to flex toward and secure more tightly to the foot. As a result, the footwear 10 can provide ample support while worn running, cutting, pivoting, etc.
It will be appreciated that the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can vary from the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For instance, in some embodiments, the underfoot strand 60 can be fixed to the strand securement member 24. For instance, the middle portion 70 could be bonded to the member 24. Also, the middle portion 70 could be attached to the member 24 via bonded textiles, adhesives, via ultrasonic welding, etc. Also, in some embodiments, the longitudinal length of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 could be adjustable in some embodiments. For instance, one or more of the strands 40, 50, 60, 74, 84 can be coupled to a clamp, spool, or similar device that selectively shortens and/or lengthens the strand 40, 50, 60, 74, 84.
The invention is disclosed above and in the accompanying figures with reference to a variety of configurations. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide an example of the various features and concepts related to the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the configurations described above without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.
This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/767,768, filed Feb. 14, 2013, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
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| Child | 14844146 | US |
