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 lacing system to adjust 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 lacing system 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 may have an upper and a sole structure secured together. The upper includes at least two material layers and a plurality of strand segments. The material layers are located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, and the material layers are located in (a) a lace region that includes a plurality of lace-receiving elements and (b) a lower region proximal to an area where the sole structure is secured to the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region. In some configurations, the strand segments are located and secured between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region. In some configurations, the strand segments form both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region. In some configurations, the material layers define an opening between the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments extend across the opening. Various example methods for manufacturing a tensile strand element of the upper are also disclosed.
In another configuration, an upper for an article of footwear includes a plurality of material elements and strand segments. The material elements are joined together to define a lace region and a lower region. The material elements include a base material layer located in at least the lace region. The base material layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the base material layer defines an aperture of a lace-receiving element that extends from the first surface to the second surface in the lace region. The lower region is spaced from the lace region and located proximal to an area where the sole structure is secured to the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region and include a first strand segment and a second strand segment. The first strand segment is located adjacent to the first surface of the base material layer and extends at least partially around the aperture. The second strand segment is located adjacent to the second surface of the base material layer and extends at least partially around the aperture.
A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes locating a strand adjacent to a surface of a base material layer, with the strand extending from a first area of the base material layer to a second area of the base material layer. The strand is secured to the base material layer. The strand and the base material layer are incorporated into a footwear upper, with the first area being located in a lace region of the upper and the second area being located in a lower region of the upper. The lower region is spaced from the lace region and located proximal to an area for securing a sole structure to the upper.
The advantages and features of novelty characterizing aspects of the invention 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 invention.
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 strand elements. The articles of footwear are disclosed, for purposes of example, as having configurations of running shoes, sprinting shoes, and basketball shoes. Concepts associated with the articles of footwear, including the uppers, may also be applied to a variety of other athletic footwear types, including 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. Footwear 10 also includes a lateral side 14 and a medial side 15, which extend through each of regions 11-13 and correspond with opposite sides of footwear 10. More particularly, lateral side 14 corresponds with an outside area of the foot (i.e. the surface that faces away from the other foot), and medial side 15 corresponds with an inside area of the foot (i.e., the surface that faces toward the other foot). Regions 11-13 and sides 14-15 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 10. Rather, regions 11-13 and sides 14-15 are intended to represent general areas of footwear 10 to aid in the following discussion. In addition to footwear 10, regions 11-13 and sides 14-15 may also be applied to sole structure 20, upper 30, and individual elements thereof.
Sole structure 20 includes a midsole 21, an outsole 22, and a sockliner 23. Midsole 21 is secured to a lower surface of upper 30 and may be formed from a compressible polymer foam element (e.g., a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate foam) that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. In further configurations, midsole 21 may incorporate fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot, or midsole 21 may be primarily formed from a fluid-filled chamber. Outsole 22 is secured to a lower surface of midsole 21 and may be formed from a wear-resistant rubber material that is textured to impart traction. Sockliner 23 is located within upper 30, as depicted in
Upper 30 may be formed from a variety of elements that are stitched, bonded, or otherwise joined together to form a structure 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. Moreover, upper 30 defines a void 31, which is a generally hollow area of footwear 10, that has a general shape of the foot and is intended to receive the foot. Access to void 31 is provided by an ankle opening 32 located in at least heel region 13. A lace 33 extends through various lace apertures 34 and permits the wearer to modify dimensions of upper 30 to accommodate the proportions of the foot. More particularly, lace 33 permits the wearer to tighten upper 30 around the foot, and lace 33 permits the wearer to loosen upper 30 to facilitate entry and removal of the foot from void 31 (i.e., through ankle opening 32). As an alternative to lace apertures 34, upper 30 may include other lace-receiving elements, such as loops, eyelets, hooks, and D-rings. In addition, upper 30 includes a tongue 35 that extends between void 31 and lace 33 to enhance the comfort and adjustability of footwear 10. 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, a wear-resistant toe guard located in forefoot region 11, or indicia (e.g., trademark) identifying the manufacturer. Accordingly, upper 30 is formed from a variety of elements that form a structure for receiving and securing the foot.
For purposes of reference in the following discussion, upper 30 also includes a lace region 36 and a lower region 37, as shown for example in
Tensile Strand Element
Although a variety of material elements or other components may be incorporated into upper 30, areas of one or both of lateral side 14 and medial side 15 incorporate a tensile strand element 40 that includes an exterior material layer 41, an interior material layer 42, and a strand 43. An example of one tensile strand element 40 is depicted in
Material layers 41 and 42 are located adjacent to each other and are generally coextensive with or otherwise overlap each other. Although material layers 41 and 42 are often stitched, bonded, adhered, or otherwise secured to each other, material layers 41 and 42 may also be unsecured. With reference to
Strand 43 repeatedly extends between lace region 36 and lower region 37. More particularly, segments of strand 43 (i.e., strand segments) extend from lace region 36 to lower region 37 and are located and secured between material layers 41 and 42 in each of regions 36 and 37. Although portions of strand 43 are located between material layers 41 and 42, other portions of strand 43 extend across an opening 44 that is formed through each of material layers 41 and 42 and positioned between regions 36 and 37. The segments of strand 43 are unsecured, therefore, in the area between regions 36 and 37, and the segments of strand 43 form both the exterior surface of upper 30 and the opposite interior surface of upper 30 in the area between regions 36 and 37. In this regard, the foot or a sock worn over the foot may contact portions of strand 43 extending across opening 44.
During activities that involve walking, running, or other ambulatory movements (e.g., cutting, braking), a foot within void 31 may tend to stretch upper 30. That is, many of the material elements forming upper 30 (e.g., material layers 41 and 42) may stretch when placed in tension by movements of the foot. Although strand 43 or individual segments of strand 43 may also stretch, strand 43 generally stretches to a lesser degree than the other material elements forming upper 30. The various segments of strand 43 may be located, therefore, to form structural components in upper 30 that (a) resist stretching in specific directions or locations, (b) limit excess movement of the foot relative to sole structure 20 and upper 30, (c) ensure that the foot remains properly positioned relative to sole structure 20 and upper 30, and (d) reinforce locations where forces are concentrated.
In addition to extending between regions 36 and 37, the segments of strand 43 also extend at least partially around each of lace apertures 34. As such, a segment of strand 43 extends (a) upward from lower region 37 to lace region 36, (b) around one of lace apertures 33, and (c) downward from lace region 36 to lower region 37 in a repeating pattern. In this manner, strand 43 effectively extends around each of lace apertures 34. Moreover, segments of strand 43 form loops around portions of lace 33, as generally depicted in
Opening 44 is positioned between lace region 36 and lower region 37 and is an area of tensile strand element 40 where material layers 41 and 42 are absent. As such, opening 44 may be an aperture formed through each of material layers 41 and 42, thereby extending from the exterior surface of upper 30 to void 31. In addition, opening 44 is located in an inner area of tensile strand element 40 and is spaced inward from edges of material layers 41 and 42. In other configurations, which are discussed below, opening 44 may extend to the edges of material layers 41 and 42. Although an area of opening 44 may vary considerably, the area is often at least nine square centimeters. In some configurations of footwear 10 intended for wear by an adult, opening 44 may have a larger area of at least sixteen or twenty-five square centimeters. These examples of areas of opening 44 have advantages of (a) removing mass from footwear 10, (b) facilitating breathability in footwear 10, and (c) imparting a unique aesthetic to footwear 10. Given these areas for opening 44, the distance across opening 44 may be at least four centimeters. As such, segments of strand 43 located in opening 44 may be unsecured for the distance of at least four centimeters that extends across opening 44.
Each of material layers 41 and 42 may be formed from any generally two-dimensional material. As utilized with respect to the present invention, the term “two-dimensional material” or variants thereof is intended to encompass generally flat materials exhibiting a length and a width that are substantially greater than a thickness. Accordingly, suitable materials for material layers 41 and 42 include various textiles, polymer sheets, or combinations of textiles and polymer sheets, for example. Material layers 41 and 42 may also be leather, synthetic leather, or polymer foam layers. Textiles are generally manufactured from fibers, filaments, or yarns that are, for example, either (a) produced directly from webs of fibers by bonding, fusing, or interlocking to construct non-woven fabrics and felts or (b) formed through a mechanical manipulation of yarn to produce a woven or knitted fabric. The textiles may incorporate fibers that are arranged to impart one-directional stretch or multi-directional stretch, and the textiles may include coatings that form a breathable and water-resistant barrier, for example. The polymer sheets may be extruded, rolled, or otherwise formed from a polymer material to exhibit a generally flat aspect. Two-dimensional materials may also encompass laminated or otherwise layered materials that include two or more layers of textiles, polymer sheets, or combinations of textiles and polymer sheets. In addition to textiles and polymer sheets, other two-dimensional materials may be utilized for material layers 41 and 42. Although two-dimensional materials may have smooth or generally untextured surfaces, some two-dimensional materials will exhibit textures or other surface characteristics, such as dimpling, protrusions, ribs, or various patterns, for example. Despite the presence of surface characteristics, two-dimensional materials remain generally flat and exhibit a length and a width that are substantially greater than a thickness. In some configurations, mesh materials or perforated materials may be utilized for either or both of material layers 43 and 44 to impart greater breathability or air permeability.
As examples, interior material layer 42 may be formed from a textile material and exterior material layer 41 may be formed from a polymer sheet that is bonded to the textile material, or each of material layers 41 and 42 may be formed from polymer sheets that are bonded to each other. In circumstances where interior material layer 42 is formed from a textile material, exterior material layer 41 may incorporate thermoplastic polymer materials that bond with the textile material of interior material layer 42. That is, by heating exterior material layer 42, the thermoplastic polymer material of exterior material layer 42 may bond with the textile material of interior material layer 41, as well as strand 43. As an alternative, a thermoplastic polymer material may infiltrate or be bonded with the textile material of interior material layer 42 in order to bond with exterior material layer 41 and strand 43. That is, interior material layer 42 may be a combination of a textile material and a thermoplastic polymer material. An advantage of this configuration is that the thermoplastic polymer material may rigidify or otherwise stabilize the textile material of interior material layer 42 during the manufacturing process of tensile strand element 40, including portions of the manufacturing process involving laying and securing strand 43 upon interior material layer 42. Another advantage of this configuration is that another material layer may be bonded to interior material layer 42 opposite exterior material layer 41 using the thermoplastic polymer material in some configurations. This general concept is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/180,235, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on 25 Jul. 2008 and entitled Composite Element With A Polymer Connecting Layer, such prior application being entirely incorporated herein by reference.
Strand 43 may be formed from any generally one-dimensional material. As utilized with respect to the present invention, the term “one-dimensional material” or variants thereof is intended to encompass generally elongate materials exhibiting a length that is substantially greater than a width and a thickness. Accordingly, suitable materials for strand 43 includes various filaments, fibers, yarns, threads, cables, cords, 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. Whereas filaments have an indefinite length and may be utilized individually as strand 43, fibers have a relatively short length and generally go through spinning or twisting processes to produce a strand of suitable length. An individual filament utilized in strand 43 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 strand 43 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, or ropes. The thickness of strand 43 may also vary significantly to range from less than 0.03 millimeters to more than 5 millimeters, for example. Although one-dimensional materials will often have a cross-section where width and thickness are substantially equal (e.g., a round or square cross-section), some one-dimensional materials may have a width that is greater than a thickness (e.g., a rectangular, oval, or otherwise elongate cross-section). Despite the greater width, a material may be considered one-dimensional if a length of the material is substantially greater than a width and a thickness of the material.
As an example, strand 43 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, or strands 43 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, strand 43 may have an outer sheath 51 that extends around an inner core 52, as depicted in
Strand 43 may be a continuous and unbroken filament, fiber, yarn, thread, cable, cord, or rope that extends through both lateral side 14 and medial side 15. As an alternative, two separate sections of strand 43 may extend through lateral side 14 and medial side 15. That is, one section may form strand 43 on lateral side 14 and another section may form strand 43 on medial side 15. In any of these configurations, a section of strand 43 extends repeatedly between regions 36 and 37. In some configurations, however, separate segments of strand 43 may extend between regions 36 and 37. For example, one section of strand 43 may extend from lower region 37 to lace region 36, around lace aperture 34, and back to lower region 37, and a separate section of strand 43 may traverse a similar path to extend around a different lace aperture 34. Accordingly, strand 43 may be a continuous or unbroken element, or strand 43 may be a plurality of separate sections. In some configurations, the separate sections of strand 43 may be formed from different materials to vary the properties of strand 43 in different areas of upper 30.
Based upon the above discussion, footwear 10 is generally formed from upper 20 and sole structure 30, which are secured together. Upper 20 may be formed from a plurality of material elements, such as material layers 41 and 42, and includes both lace region 36 and lower region 37. Whereas lace region 36 includes a plurality of lace-receiving elements, such as lace apertures 34, lower region 37 is proximal to an area where sole structure 20 is secured to upper 30. A plurality of segments of strand 43 extend from lace region 36 to lower region 37. The segments of strand 43 are secured to upper 30 in lace region 36 and lower region 37, and the segments of strand 43 are unsecured for a distance of at least four centimeters in an area between lace region 36 and lower region 37. In some configurations, segments of strand 43 form both the exterior surface of upper 30 and the opposite interior surface of upper 30 in the area between lace region 36 and lower region 37. Additionally, in some configurations, the material layers forming upper 30 define opening 44 between lace region 36 and lower region 37, with the segments of strand 43 extending across opening 44.
Further Configurations
The various features discussed above provide example configurations for footwear 10 and tensile strand element 40. In further configurations, however, numerous features of footwear 10 and tensile strand element 40 may vary to impart a variety of properties or aesthetics to footwear 10. Although various examples of further configurations are discussed below, a variety of other configurations may also fall within the scope of the present discussion. Moreover, although the configurations are discussed and depicted separately, aspects of some configurations may be utilized in combination with aspects of other configurations.
A further configuration of footwear 10 is depicted in
Another configuration of footwear 10 is depicted in
Referring to
Another configuration of footwear 10 is depicted in
In the configuration of
Continuing with the discussion of
Aspects relating to tensile strand element 40 may also vary from the general configuration discussed above. Referring to
Another configuration of tensile strand element 40 is depicted in
Referring to
Although material layers 41 and 42 may be formed from a single material, each of material layers 41 and 42 may also be formed from multiple materials. Referring to
Manufacturing Processes
Tensile strand element 40 may be manufactured through various processes.
The following discussion details four example manufacturing processes that may be utilized to attain various features discussed in connection with the above configurations. Although the processes discussed below display a range of techniques for manufacturing tensile strand element 40 variations upon these processes, combinations of these processes, or additional processes may also fall within the scope of the present discussion.
In the discussion below, four example manufacturing processes are presented. In general, three of the example manufacturing processes may be utilized to form tensile strand element 40 with the general configuration depicted in
Each of the example manufacturing processes utilize precursor elements (i.e., precursor elements 61 and 65) that become one of material layers 41 or 42 at later stages of the processes. One of the processes additionally utilizes a precursor element (i.e., a precursor element 73) that becomes backing material layer 46 at a later stage of the process. Although terminology may vary, either exterior material layer 41 or the precursor element forming exterior material element 41 may be referred to as a “cover material layer” given that exterior material layer 41 may be considered to cover interior material layer 42 and strand 43 during the manufacturing processes or when incorporated into footwear 10. Similarly, either interior material layer 42 or the precursor element forming interior material element 42 may be referred to as a “base material layer” given that interior material layer 42 may be considered to form a base to which other elements (e.g., exterior material layer 41 and strand 43) are secured during the manufacturing processes or when incorporated into footwear 10. Additionally, either backing material layer 46 or the precursor element forming backing material element 46 may be referred to as a “backing material layer” given that backing material layer 46 may be considered to form a support or lining element during the manufacturing processes or when incorporated into footwear 10.
A first example manufacturing process will now be discussed. Referring to
Although the order of steps may vary in this manufacturing process, as well as other manufacturing processes,
Once opening 44 is formed, a first portion of strand 43 may be stitched to interior material layer 42 with a thread 63, as depicted in
At this stage of the process, strand 43 is stitched to interior material element 42 with thread 63 at a location that generally corresponds with lower region 37. Continuing with the manufacturing process, the cording machine extends strand 43 across opening 44 and stitches strand 43 to interior material element 42 on an opposite side of opening 44, as depicted in
The general process discussed relative to
Although strand 43 is intended to extend over opening 44, thread 63 may remain limited to the areas where strand 43 is secured to interior material element 42. Aesthetic considerations may make it undesirable to have thread 63 extend across opening 44. Moreover, thread 63 may snag or otherwise catch upon other objects and break. As such, a cutting device 64 may be utilized to cut thread 63, as depicted in
Although cutting device 64 may be scissors, a variety of other methods may be utilized to cut thread 63, including a cutting device that is incorporated into the cording machine. In some manufacturing processes, thread 63 may also be cut during the process of repeatedly extending strand 43 across opening 44. That is, strand 43 may be stitched to interior material layer 42 with thread 63 in one location, and thread 63 may be cut prior to stitching strand 43 to interior material layer 42 in a subsequent location.
Once thread 63 is removed from opening 44, a precursor element 65 that becomes exterior material layer 41 may be positioned adjacent to precursor element 61, as depicted in
Precursor elements 61 and 65 are now bonded together, as depicted in
A substantially completed tensile strand element 40 may be removed from excess portions of precursor elements 61 and 65, as depicted in
Although the first example manufacturing process discussed above provides a suitable process for forming for tensile strand element 40, a second example manufacturing process will now be discussed. Referring to
Continuing with the manufacturing process, the cording machine or another stitching machine stitches a portion of strand 43 to interior material layer 42 with thread 63, as depicted in
At this stage of the process, strand 43 is effectively secured to interior material layer 42 by both thread 63 and soluble thread 67. Additionally, soluble thread 67 extends across opening 44 in various locations, which may be undesirable for aesthetic considerations and ability to snag and break. Whereas thread 63 is insoluble in water, soluble thread 67 may be soluble in water. In order to remove soluble thread 67, precursor element 61, strand 43, and both of threads 63 and 67 may be located within a water bath 68, as depicted in
In the first example manufacturing process, cutting device 64 removed portions of thread 63 extending across opening 44. When the cutting operations are performed by the cording machine, the cutting operations may consume time that could otherwise be utilized to lay strand 43 or perform other aspects of the process. That is, the time necessary (a) to lay strand 43 upon interior material layer 42, (b) stitch strand 43 to interior material layer 42, and (c) cut excess portions of thread 63 is greater than the time necessary to only (a) to lay strand 43 upon interior material layer 42 and (h) stitch strand 43 to interior material layer 42. As such, when cutting operations are performed by the cording machine, fewer total tensile strand elements 40 may be produced by that cording machine in a given amount of time. Moreover, manual cutting operations may require additional personnel. Accordingly, the use of soluble thread 67 may permit the cording machine to produce a greater number of elements or otherwise enhance manufacturing efficiency.
Once soluble thread 67 is removed, the various steps discussed in relation to
In addition to the manufacturing processes discussed above, a third example manufacturing process may be utilized to produce tensile strand element 40. Referring to
At this stage of the process, precursor element 61 is placed upon a jig or other assembly apparatus that includes various lace pegs 71 and lower pegs 72, as depicted in
Once pegs 71 and 72 are positioned to extend through lace apertures 34 and apertures 69, a first portion of strand 43 may be stitched to interior material layer 42 with thread 63, as depicted in
At this stage of the process, strand 43 is stitched to interior material element 42 with thread 63 at a location that generally corresponds with lower region 37. Continuing with the manufacturing process, the cording machine extends strand 43 across opening 44 and to a location that generally corresponds with lace region 36. Additionally, strand 43 passes around (or at least partially around) one of lace pegs 71, as depicted in
The cording machine then extends strand 43 across opening 44 once again and around one of lower pegs 72, as depicted in
With strand 43 still extending around pegs 71 and 72, the cording machine or another stitching machine stitches portions of strand 43 to interior material layer 42 with thread 63 or another thread, as depicted in
Given that strand 43 is effectively secured to interior material layer 42 with thread 63, pegs 71 and 72 are withdrawn from lace apertures 34 and apertures 69. Additionally, precursor element 65, which becomes exterior material layer 41, may be positioned adjacent to precursor element 61, as depicted in
Precursor elements 61 and 65 are now bonded together, as depicted in
A substantially completed tensile strand element 40 may be removed from excess portions of precursor elements 61 and 65, as depicted in
As an additional matter,
Each of the example manufacturing processes discussed above may be utilized to form the configurations of tensile strand element 40 in
With reference to
Strand 43 is now laid upon a first surface of interior material layer 42, as depicted in
As this stage of the process, each of strands 43 and 45 (a) repeatedly extend across opening 44 and between locations that generally corresponds with each of regions 36 and 37, (b) are stitched or otherwise secured to opposite surfaces of interior material layer 42, and (c) form loops that extend around the portions of lace apertures 34 defined by interior material layer 42. A precursor element 73 that becomes backing material layer 46 may be positioned adjacent to precursor element 61, as depicted in
Precursor elements 61, 65, and 73 are now bonded together, as depicted in
A substantially completed tensile strand element 40 may be removed from excess portions of precursor elements 61, 65, and 73, as depicted in
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.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2034091 | Dunbar | Mar 1936 | A |
2048294 | Roberts | Jul 1936 | A |
2205356 | Gruensfelder | Jun 1940 | A |
2311996 | Parker | Feb 1943 | A |
3439434 | Tangorra | Apr 1969 | A |
3672078 | Fukuoka | Jun 1972 | A |
3823493 | Brehm et al. | Jul 1974 | A |
4627369 | Conrad et al. | Dec 1986 | A |
4634616 | Musante | Jan 1987 | A |
4642819 | Ales et al. | Feb 1987 | A |
4756098 | Boggia | Jul 1988 | A |
4858339 | Hayafuchi et al. | Aug 1989 | A |
4873725 | Mitchell | Oct 1989 | A |
5149388 | Stahl | Sep 1992 | A |
5156022 | Altman | Oct 1992 | A |
5271130 | Batra | Dec 1993 | A |
5285658 | Altman et al. | Feb 1994 | A |
5345638 | Nishida | Sep 1994 | A |
5359790 | Iverson et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5367795 | Iverson et al. | Nov 1994 | A |
5380480 | Okine et al. | Jan 1995 | A |
5399410 | Urase | Mar 1995 | A |
5645935 | Kemper et al. | Jul 1997 | A |
5832540 | Knight | Nov 1998 | A |
D405587 | Merikoski | Feb 1999 | S |
5930918 | Healy | Aug 1999 | A |
5990378 | Ellis | Nov 1999 | A |
6003247 | Steffe | Dec 1999 | A |
6004891 | Tuppin et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6009637 | Pavone | Jan 2000 | A |
6029376 | Cass | Feb 2000 | A |
6038702 | Knerr | Mar 2000 | A |
6128835 | Ritter et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6151804 | Hieblinger | Nov 2000 | A |
6164228 | Lin | Dec 2000 | A |
6170175 | Funk | Jan 2001 | B1 |
6213634 | Harrington et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6505424 | Oorei et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6615427 | Hailey | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6665958 | Goodwin | Dec 2003 | B2 |
6701644 | Oorei et al. | Mar 2004 | B2 |
6718895 | Fortuna | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6860214 | Wang | Mar 2005 | B1 |
6910288 | Dua | Jun 2005 | B2 |
7086179 | Dojan | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7086180 | Dojan | Aug 2006 | B2 |
7100310 | Foxen | Sep 2006 | B2 |
7293371 | Aveni | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7337560 | Marvin et al. | Mar 2008 | B2 |
7540097 | Greene et al. | Jun 2009 | B2 |
7574818 | Meschter | Aug 2009 | B2 |
7665230 | Dojan | Feb 2010 | B2 |
7676956 | Dojan | Mar 2010 | B2 |
7870681 | Meschter | Jan 2011 | B2 |
7870682 | Meschter et al. | Jan 2011 | B2 |
7894518 | Yang | Feb 2011 | B2 |
20010051484 | Ishida et al. | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020148142 | Oorei et al. | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20030079376 | Oorei et al. | May 2003 | A1 |
20030178738 | Staub et al. | Sep 2003 | A1 |
20040074589 | Gessler et al. | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040118018 | Dua | Jun 2004 | A1 |
20040142631 | Luk | Jul 2004 | A1 |
20040181972 | Csorba | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20040261295 | Meschter | Dec 2004 | A1 |
20050028403 | Swigart | Feb 2005 | A1 |
20050115284 | Dua | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050132609 | Dojan | Jun 2005 | A1 |
20050268497 | Alfaro | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20060048413 | Sokolowski et al. | Mar 2006 | A1 |
20060137221 | Dojan | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20070199210 | Vattes et al. | Aug 2007 | A1 |
20070271821 | Meschter | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20080110049 | Sokolowski et al. | May 2008 | A1 |
20100018075 | Meschter et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20100037483 | Meschter et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100043253 | Dojan et al. | Feb 2010 | A1 |
20100154256 | Dua | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20100175276 | Dojan et al. | Jul 2010 | A1 |
20100251491 | Dojan et al. | Oct 2010 | A1 |
20100251564 | Meschter | Oct 2010 | A1 |
20110041359 | Dojan et al. | Feb 2011 | A1 |
20110192058 | Beers et al. | Aug 2011 | A1 |
20110192059 | Spanks et al. | Aug 2011 | A1 |
20120023778 | Dojan et al. | Feb 2012 | A1 |
20120198727 | Long | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120233882 | Huffa et al. | Sep 2012 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
101125044 | Feb 2008 | CN |
20215559 | Jan 2003 | DE |
0082824 | Jun 1983 | EP |
0818289 | Jan 1998 | EP |
1462349 | Feb 1967 | FR |
2046671 | Mar 1971 | FR |
2457651 | Dec 1980 | FR |
9843506 | Oct 1998 | WO |
03013301 | Feb 2003 | WO |
WO2004089609 | Oct 2004 | WO |
WO2007139567 | Dec 2007 | WO |
WO2007140055 | Dec 2007 | WO |
Entry |
---|
International Search Report and the Written Opinion mailed Jul. 22, 2013 in PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/026972. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20130219749 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |