CN103596459A

CN103596459A - Seamless upper for footwear and method for making the same

Info

Publication number: CN103596459A
Application number: CN201280027964.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C.利特勒
Original assignee: DashAmerica Inc
Current assignee: Pearl Izumi USA Inc
Priority date: 2011-04-08
Filing date: 2012-04-09
Publication date: 2014-02-19
Also published as: KR20140051848A; EP2693904A1; WO2012166244A1; EP2693904A4; US20120255201A1; JP2014512911A; AU2012262964A1; US20130269212A1

Abstract

This invention relates generally to footwear and methods for making the same, more particularly to a seamless upper for footwear and methods for making a seamless upper. In one aspect of the invention, the upper is seamless and/or is of unitary construction that defines an interior void for comfortably receiving a foot.

Description

Seamless upper of a shoe and manufacture method thereof for footwear

The cross reference of related application

The application requires the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/473 submitting on April 8th, 2011,473, title is the rights and interests of " SEAMLESS UPPER FOR FOOTWEAR AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME ", and its full content is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates generally to the upper of a shoe for footwear, more specifically relate to seamless upper of a shoe and manufacture method thereof for footwear.

Technical field

The upper of a shoe part of footwear can change in structure and design to some extent based on several design parameters, comprises the factor of function/performance, weight, cost, aesthetic feeling, comfortableness and easily manufactured aspect.Sport footwear is for example emphasized exercise performance conventionally.Running shoes are conventionally lighter than tennis shoes weight, if for example running shoes do not require the outside-supporting of tennis shoes conventionally.In view of footwear and the related concrete cost competitiveness feature of volume, easily manufactured is another important Consideration.And then any footwear must be comfortable.

Conventionally, sport footwear comprises upper of a shoe part and sole portion.Upper of a shoe is provided for the covering of pin, and described covering receives and angle securely with respect to footwear sole construction.In addition, upper of a shoe can have protection pin and the structure of ventilation, thus cooling pin and perspiration removing are provided.Footwear sole construction is conventionally fixed to the lower surface of upper of a shoe and is conventionally positioned between pin and ground.Upper of a shoe and footwear sole construction are functionally operating as the structure that provides comfortable, and described comfortable structure is applicable to various mobile movable, for example walking and running.

The material that forms upper of a shoe for example can be selected based on wearability, flexibility, draftability and gas permeability.For skin, toe region and heel area can use leather, dermatine or elastomeric material to form, to give relatively high wearability.But leather, dermatine and elastomeric material do not have flexibility and the gas permeability of expected degree.Thereby various other regions of upper of a shoe exterior layer can form with synthetic or natural fabric material.Therefore the exterior layer of upper of a shoe can form with many material elements, and each gives different performances to the concrete part of upper of a shoe described material elements.Similarly, the interior layer of upper of a shoe can be used quick-drying (moisture-wicking) formation of fabrics, and it removes sweat from the region near pin.In traditional articles of athletic footwear, various layer can link by bonding agent, and sew up can for element is attached at single in or strengthen the concrete region of upper of a shoe.

Conventionally, fabric or fabric are as the upper of a shoe of sport footwear.It is said that the intrinsic favourable part of suitable elasticity of textile upper of a shoe can not cause oppressive sensation and tired sensation with it.For having with flexible so textile upper of a shoe, U.S. Patent No. 3,793,750 and 4,043, each has proposed to have the upper of a shoe of a plurality of layers of clamp structures 058 (both are by reference to being herein incorporated), and it for example, forms by plastic foam layer (polyurethane layer) is inserted between outer tissue layer and interior tissue layer and links them.Yet having the above-mentioned upper of a shoe of plastic foam layer of planting therein may not be satisfactory aspect gas permeability.Therefore, the problem causing is the become stuffiness and cause temperature to increase and heating because of the heat during movement producing from pin and perspiration of the inside of footwear, and this brings uncomfortable property.Further, although above-mentioned resin foam layer has elasticity, but the motion between its external tissue layer and interior tissue layer has very large resistance because its by bonding agent be attached to outer tissue layer and interior tissue layer each, this causes the resistance that upper of a shoe itself is crooked to become large.This can hinder alleviates the sense of depression of pin and the impact of sense of fatigue.The fabric that is used in upper of a shoe provides light weight, ventilating structure conventionally, and it has flexibility and can cosily hold pin.Conventionally, braid material improves motility and flexibility.Fabric can limit with the fiber, filament or the yarn manufacture that are characterised in that flexibility, very thin and big-length-Thickness Ratio.Yet, in upper of a shoe, use the prior art of fabric and/or fiber to need to sew up.Stitching brings difficulty and restriction, comprises that manufacture difficulty and design freely limit, and user is caused to unexpected wearing and tearing, for example, cause bleeding blister and hinder thus motility.

In order to give other performances for footwear, comprise durability and stretch resistance, extra material conventionally and fabric combination, for example, comprises leather, dermatine or rubber.For durability, the U.S. Patent No. 4,447,967 of Zaino discloses the upper of a shoe forming with textile material, and described textile material has the polymeric material that is injected into specific region, with wearability or the other forms of wearing and tearing of reinforced region.For stretching resistance, the U.S. Patent No. 4,813,158 of Brown and the U.S. Patent No. 4,756,098 of Boggia disclose the inextensible material substantially that is fixed to upper of a shoe, are limited in thus the extension degree of the specific part of upper of a shoe.U.S. Patent No. 4,447,967,4,813,158; With 4,756,098 by reference to being herein incorporated.

What expect is that material quantity and type in footwear are minimized, especially sport footwear.Footwear be fabricated to labor intensive process time, material still less reduces costs and increases efficiency.The step that typical footwear manufacture process comprises is, cutting upper material, reduce the thickness (" skiving ") that connects edge, reduce the thickness (" cutting apart ") of upper component, interlayer adhesion is arrived to upper component (" interlayer "), form eyelet, upper component is stitched together, the upper of a shoe that is shaped on shoe tree (" lasting ") and the bottom of footwear is bonding, molded or be sewn onto upper of a shoe (" upper base ").Design, the especially athletic shoe designs of modern footwear, require many upper components and complicated manufacturing step, causes high labor cost.In addition, independent material is incorporated to a plurality of different manufacturing steps that upper of a shoe can comprise a plurality of independent operations of needs.Except the fabric of knowing clearly, adopt also can the detract gas permeability of footwear of multiple material.In addition, need new pattern and the manufacture process must be for every and new design and pattern with for the footwear size of each expectation again machining tool.

In order to reduce labor cost, disclosed PCT application WO90/03744(is by reference to being incorporated in herein) hot padding has been described, so that the quantity of manufacturing step minimizes.The process of manufacturing footwear parts has been described in disclosed application, comprises the upper of a shoe of whole single-piece, wherein the upper material of multilayer in compacting tool set by hot padding, with the thickness reducing, with closure or sealing the margin, to be incorporated to Functional Design or pattern lines, and control for strain.After imprint step, the dorsal part that is stamped upper material by back of the body band, be sewed together and upper material by lasting and upper base, to form completed footwear.This process greatly reduces cutting with stitching step and can eliminate the skiving of common footwear manufacture process, separated and interlayer step.Yet this footwear manufacture process can greatly not reduce and form new pattern and be manufacture process design tool relevant built-up time and cost again for new design, new pattern and different footwear size.And new pattern and new impressing mould must form for each variation in design and impressing mould must be for the footwear size of each expectation separately.Similarly, many upper materials with changes colour and texture must retain stock, with the modal shift of adaptive expectation.

From the angle of manufacturing, utilize multiple material to think that it is not efficient practice process that article of footwear is given different performance.For example, the various materials that are used in conventional upper of a shoe do not obtain from single supplier conventionally.Thereby, manufacturing equipment must by the quantities received of concrete material from there are different business actual conditions or be positioned at zones of different or a plurality of suppliers of country coordinate.Various materials also can require extra plant equipment or different assembly line technology, to cut out or for the preparation of the material that is incorporated to footwear.In addition, independent material is incorporated to a plurality of different manufacturing steps that upper of a shoe can comprise a plurality of independent operations of needs.Except the fabric of knowing clearly, adopt also can the detract gas permeability of footwear of multiple material.Leather, dermatine or rubber for example do not have gas permeability conventionally.Thereby the outside that leather, dermatine or rubber are positioned to upper of a shoe can suppress air and flow through upper of a shoe, increase thus and be trapped in upper of a shoe and the amount of pin sweat, water vapour and heat around.

Prior art upper of a shoe for footwear conventionally utilizes a plurality of parts or material and needs a plurality of manufacturing steps.And then prior art upper of a shoe needs one or more suturing parts conventionally.Thus, existing upper of a shoe causes and reduces the free degree that footwear performance reduces, increases manufacture complexity, time and cost and limit design.Therefore, need to be for the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear and manufacture footwear.

Summary of the invention

Some embodiment of the present invention relates to for the upper of a shoe of footwear with for making the method for upper of a shoe.The present invention relates to braiding process to be applied to the production process of upper of a shoe and whole footwear.In a preferred embodiment, braiding process is described to form the upper of a shoe part of completely seamless footwear.This process can form seamless upper of a shoe with single step.In another embodiment, form the article of footwear of integral seamless, comprise upper of a shoe part.Some advantages of this process comprise make to produce easily and efficient, reduce built-up time, by minimizings, stitch and make comfortableness maximum and raising design freedom.Method can comprise weaving and/or braiding upper of a shoe.Braiding process generally includes by a series of stitch or ring interconnection are formed to upper of a shoe.

Although concentrate on sport footwear, provide many embodiment, can be used for other application scenarios.The occasion that this application scenario comprises increases the performance of footwear, reduce to manufacture complexity, time and cost and expect larger design freedom.Further; the use of the disclosed seamless upper of a shoe for footwear comprises the application beyond footwear, comprises clothes, protective cover, medical treatment and nursing (any application scenario of for example using seamless coverage thing for fire victim's wrapping, nursing for the aged and expectation).

And then, for footwear and the disclosed content of upper of a shoe, can be applied to article of footwear, its specific design for being applied to various other sports, for example, comprises basketball, baseball, football, Association football, walking and hiking, and also can be applied to various non-article of athletic footwear.Thereby, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that content disclosed herein can be applied to various article of footwear patterns and be not restricted to hereinafter described and specific embodiment shown in the drawings.

It is the article of non-sport footwear that described content also can be applied to conventionally be considered to, and comprises dress shoes, opera slipper, sandals and brogan.Therefore concept disclosed herein can be applicable to various types of footwear.Also have, aspects more of the present invention can be combined with other parts of footwear structure, the layer in upper component structure for example, for example, for the interior lining (socks formula lining) of article of footwear, and female's ankle boots member (alternatively for being included in footwear structure).

As used herein, term " " entity refers to one or more these entities.Thereby term " ", " one or more " and " at least one " can alternatively use herein.It shall yet further be noted that term " comprises ", " comprising ", " having " used interchangeably.

As used herein, " at least one ", " one or more " and "and/or" are open expression, represent operation can in conjunction with or separately.For example, these each in expressing of " at least one in A, B and C ", " at least one in A, B or C ", " in A, B and C one or more ", " in A, B or C one or more " and " A, B and/or C " mean only A, B only, C only, A is together with B, A is together with C, and B is together with C, or A, B are together with C.

Term " the interior end " refers to the part that can be removed of the sole of article of footwear as used herein, the pin that its opening from upper of a shoe is inserted into article of footwear and design and becomes wearer provides support, and this depends on the anatomical structure of wearer and the application target of article of footwear.

As used herein, term " the middle end " refers to the sole portion that is clipped in the article of footwear between the interior end and outer bottom, and outer bottom is attached to the end in this.

As used herein, term " outer bottom " is the sole portion of span upper of a shoe article of footwear farthest.

" braiding structure " refers to knit stitches and yarn and/or comprises in the threading method of knit stitches one or both of as used herein.As used herein, term " knitting element ", " braiding structure ", " fabric " and " fabric component " refer to for constructing the material of upper of a shoe.

As used herein, term " vamp " refers at toe and is connected to a part of upper of a shoe that covers any part at pin top between the leg of pin.

As used herein, term " upper of a shoe " refers to any part of the footwear above sole.As used herein, term " footwear " and " article of footwear " refer to by user's the article of wearing.

By extra background, contextual description are provided; and in order further to meet the demand of written description and 35U.S.C. $ 112; following list of references with its full content by reference to being herein incorporated; for explaining for the upper of a shoe of article of footwear and the feature of braiding structure and further describing associated various tool and other equipment: the open No.2011/0059288 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Flannel Sheeting Fabric for Use in Home Textiles "; The open No.2011/0067455 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Knitting Machine "; The open No.2011/0067455 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Warp Knitted Fabric, Method of Manufacturing the Same, and Knit Structure of Warp Knitted Fabric "; The open No.2011/0056248 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Shoe and Method of Manufacturing the Same "; The open No.2009/0241374 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Garment "; The open No.2009/0064721 of United States Patent (USP), title is " Warp Knitting Fabric And Its Manufacturing Method "; U.S. Patent No. 7,770,271, title is " Method And Device For Operating A Creel Designed For A Winding System And Corresponding Creel "; U.S. Patent No. 7,536,761, title is " Device And Method For Spreading A Carbon Fiber Hank "; U.S. Patent No. 7,458,236, title is " Device For Feeding Fiber Bands To A Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 7,332,836, title is " Guide Bar Drive In A Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 7,331,200, title is " Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 7,299,660, title is " Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 7,120,976, title be " Process And Apparatus For Laying Fiber Bands Of Filaments "; U.S. Patent No. 6,993,939, title is " Method And System For Producing A Multi-Layer, Pre-Fixed Thread Or Fiber Arrangement "; U.S. Patent No. 6,691,535, title is " Fabric For The Formation Of Garment Pieces, The Garment Pieces Obtained Therefrom And The Garments Produced Therewith "; U.S. Patent No. 6,651,420, title is " Method And Device For Treating Filament Yarn With Air "; U.S. Patent No. 6,354,069, title is " Method And Device For Treating Filament Yarn With Air "; U.S. Patent No. 6,322,255, title is " Joint Bearing Between Two Structural Elements Of Warp Knitting Machines "; U.S. Patent No. 6,253,583, title is " Warp Knitting Machine With Pattern "; U.S. Patent No. 6,247,337, title is " Gripping Breadth Holders In A Warp Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 6,233,798, title is " Warping Machine And Process For Producing Pattern Warps "; U.S. Patent No. 6,212,915, title is " Warp Knitting Machine With Thread Sheet Turning Arrangement "; U.S. Patent No. 6; 151; 929, title is " Device For Fastening Active Components To The Bar Of A Wrap Knitting Machine And Accompanying Tool For Removing And Installing The Active Components "; U.S. Patent No. 6,151,923, title is " Apparatus for Supplying A Multi-Layer, Multi-Axial Layer Of Yarn To The Knitting Site Of A Warp Knitting Machine "; U.S. Patent No. 6,009,729, title is " Process For A Knitting Machine Employing Thread Processing Elements Embedded In Carrier "; The open No.2010/0146823 of United States Patent (USP) of Yoshihiro, title is " Sold and Method of Manufacturing Sole "; The open No.2010/0011479 of United States Patent (USP) of Onoda, title is " Sportswear "; The open No.2009/0241377 of United States Patent (USP) of Kita, title is " Sole Structure for a Shoe "; The open No.2008/0120871 of United States Patent (USP) of Sato, title is " Upper Structure for a Shoe "; The U.S. Patent No. 7,886,461 of Sato, title is " Midfoot Structure of a Sole Assembly for a Shoe "; The U.S. Patent No. 7,051,460 of Orei etc., title is " Light Weight Shoes "; The open No.2008/0179030 of United States Patent (USP) of O'Connor.Title is " Subassembly for Industrial Fabrics "; The open No.2004/0237599 of United States Patent (USP) of Kondou etc., title is " Elastic Knitting Fabric Having Multilayer Structure "; The U.S. Patent No. 7,552,604 of Waldrop etc., title is " Double Needle Bar Elastomeric Spacer Knit "; The open No.2009/0056857 of United States Patent (USP) of Heinrich etc., title is " Method for Producing a Multidirectional Fabric Web "; The open No.2007/0224897 of United States Patent (USP) of Shimazaki, title is " Fabric and Textile Product "; The U.S. Patent No. 7,070,845 of Thomas etc., title is " Fluid-Filled Bladder For An Article Of Footwear ".

In addition; by extra background, contextual description are provided; and in order further to meet the demand of written description and 35U.S.C. $ 112; following list of references with its full content by reference to being herein incorporated; for explaining for the upper of a shoe of article of footwear and the feature of braiding structure and further describing associated various tool and other equipment: the open No.2012/0055044 of United States Patent (USP), the open No.US2005/0193592 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.US2010/0325916 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.US2012/0005922 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.US2008/0196181 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2012/0079743 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2012/0079741 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2009/0084142 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2010/0107590 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2010/0107383 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2010/0107382 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2011/0214313 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2012/0005923 of United States Patent (USP); The open No.2012/0011744 of United States Patent (USP); U.S. Patent No. 4,785,558; U.S. Patent No. 5,377,430; U.S. Patent No. 6,393,620; U.S. Patent No. 6,533,885; U.S. Patent No. 7,347,011; U.S. Patent No. 7,814,598; U.S. Patent No. 8,042,288; U.S. Patent No. 8,128,457; U.S. Patent No. 8,133,824; U.S. Patent No. 8,132,340; U.S. Patent No. 8,104,197; U.S. Patent No. 8,100,532; U.S. Patent No. 8,099,797; U.S. Patent No. 8,099,796; U.S. Patent No. 8,095,996; U.S. Patent No. 8,042,289; U.S. Patent No. 8,029,715; U.S. Patent No. 8,028,440; U.S. Patent No. 7,992,226; U.S. Patent No. 7,945,343; U.S. Patent No. 7,941,945; U.S. Patent No. 7,941,869; U.S. Patent No. 7,870,682; U.S. Patent No. 7,845,023; U.S. Patent No. 7,845,022; U.S. Patent No. 7,814,687; U.S. Patent No. 7,814,574; U.S. Patent No. 7,788,827; U.S. Patent No. 7,784,111; U.S. Patent No. 7,774,956; U.S. Patent No. 7,752,772; U.S. Patent No. 7,637,032; U.S. Patent No. 7,636,950; U.S. Patent No. 7,565,703; U.S. Patent No. 7,562,471; U.S. Patent No. 7,555,851; U.S. Patent No. 7,543,397; U.S. Patent No. 7,386,946; U.S. Patent No. 7,278,173; U.S. Patent No. 7,131,296; U.S. Patent No. 7,076,891; U.S. Patent No. 7,070,845; U.S. Patent No. 6,986,269; U.S. Patent No. 6,931,762; U.S. Patent No. 6,910,288; U.S. Patent No. 6,654,964; U.S. Patent No. 6,484,419; U.S. Patent No. 7,331,363 and U.S. Patent No. 5,271,101.

In one embodiment of the invention, the upper of a shoe for article of footwear comprises the fabric component forming by braider.In one aspect of the invention, upper of a shoe is seamless and/or is unibody construction.Braider can have such structure, and it is by forming fabric component through volume (warp knitting) or weft knitting (weft knitting).

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing article of footwear.This method comprises by the circular braider step of operate yarn mechanically, for example, to form round basketwork structure (cylindrical textile structure).In addition, method relates to from fabric construction removes at least one fabric component, and fabric component is incorporated to the upper of a shoe of article of footwear, to form seamless upper of a shoe and/or seamless whole footwear.

In another aspect of this invention, article of footwear has seamless upper of a shoe and is fixed to the footwear sole construction of upper of a shoe.Upper of a shoe is incorporated to the fabric component forming by braider.Fabric component is removed from comprising the fabric construction of fabric component profile, and fabric component has the edge linking together, to be defined at least a portion in the hole that receives pin.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe forms with fabric component at least in part, and described fabric component is defined for and cosily receives pin and by the pin inner cavity fixing with respect to the position of footwear sole construction.Each edge of fabric component is fixed together to form upper of a shoe shape subsequently.In certain embodiments, fabric component can form all uppers of a shoe, all upper of a shoe substantially, or fabric component can be only a part for upper of a shoe.

Various materials can be for the manufacture of upper of a shoe.The upper of a shoe of articles of athletic footwear for example can form with a plurality of material layers, and described a plurality of material layers comprise exterior layer, intermediate layer and interior layer.The material that forms upper of a shoe exterior layer for example can the performance based on wearability, flexibility and gas permeability be selected.For exterior layer, toe region and heel area can use leather, dermatine or elastomeric material to form, to give relatively high wearability.Leather, dermatine and elastomeric material may not can present flexibility and the gas permeability of expected degree.Thereby various other regions of upper of a shoe exterior layer can form with synthetic or natural fabric.Therefore the exterior layer of upper of a shoe can form with many material elements, and each gives different performances to the concrete part of upper of a shoe described material elements.

The invention provides a kind of method, the tubular upper of a shoe (tubular sole) for seamless knitted for footwear.Circle is compiled (Circular knitting) and is the example that is used to form the process of upper of a shoe part through compiling.Through compiling, be a class weaving method, wherein yarn is Z-shaped along fabric length, follows the adjacent column (" wales ") of braiding, rather than single row (" course ").The periphery that circle is compiled or weft-knitted process is included in circular cylinder is as a yarn of braiding.Textile fabric provides dimensional stability conventionally, and weft-knitted fabric has more elasticity conventionally.WARP-KNITTING is by these two performance combinations: they can be fabricated to stable, flexible and highly flexible dimensionally.WARP-KNITTING is generally used for gym suit, swimming suit, underwear that need to more durable braided fabric.

The intermediate layer of upper of a shoe can form with light polymer foams, and it provides buffering and the protection for the object of contact site upper of a shoe for pin.Similarly, the interior layer of upper of a shoe can be used quick-drying (moisture-wicking) formation of fabrics, and it removes sweat from the region near pin.In some articles of athletic footwear, various layer can link by bonding agent, and sew up can for element is attached at single in or strengthen the concrete region of upper of a shoe.

Although the material of selecting for upper of a shoe is greatly different, textile material often forms at least a portion of exterior layer and interior layer.Fabric can limit with the fiber, filament or the yarn manufacture that are characterised in that flexibility, very thin and big-length-Thickness Ratio.

Fabric is divided into two classes conventionally.The first kind comprises the fabric directly forming with the web frame of filament or fiber to construct non-textile fabric and felt by random interlocking.Equations of The Second Kind comprises the fabric forming by mechanically actuated yarn, for example, manufactures thus textile fabric.

Yarn is the raw material that are used to form Equations of The Second Kind fabric.Conventionally, yarn is defined as has the overall of big-length and relative small bore part, and it forms with at least one filament or a plurality of fiber.Fiber has relative to short length and needs to rotate or twist process, with the yarn of the appropriate length that is formed for using in fabric.The common example of fiber is cotton and wool.But filament has uncertain length and only can combine to form the yarn that is applicable to use in fabric with other filaments.Modern filament comprises kinds of artificial material, for example artificial silk, nylon, polyester and polyacrylic, and silk is a kind of important abiogenous exception.Yarn can form with single filament, and it is commonly referred to monofilament yarn, or a plurality of filament is combined.Yarn also can comprise the filament separating forming with different materials, or yarn can comprise the filament that each forms with two or more different materials.Similar principle also can be applied to use fibroplastic yarn.Thereby yarn can have various structures, it meets definition as above conventionally.

For yarn being mechanically operable to the various technology of fabric, comprise interweave (interweaving), entanglement (intertwining), twisting (twisting) and the collar (interlooping).Interweaving is the chi structure with the angular cross at right angle each other and two yarns interweaving.For the yarn interweaving, be commonly referred to warp thread and weft yarn.Entanglement and twisting comprise such process, and braiding and knotting that for example yarn is wound around each other, to form fabric.The collar relates to the form of the engaged ring of multiple row, and braiding is modal collar method.

At circle, be numbered with at least some advantages of carrying out through compiling as follows: durability; Larger design structure scope; Can form mesh type and size; Position and carry out various compressions, stretching, extension and thickness is set; Can be at least along material, through compiling direction, change yarn; Can change the front portion of braiding cylinder and the yarn between back; Form substantially seamless structure; With can aspect the structure/form of footwear, form substantially seamless structure.For example, upper of a shoe can be woven to there is buffering, compression, ventilative, colored and containing the region of yarn.

Be used in according in example arrangement of the present invention time, horizontal volume can provide various advantages.For example, horizontal volume can be used for being provided for the fabric construction using in having the upper of a shoe of final intended shape, thereby fabric cutting step can be avoided (this has eliminated waste, avoids needs that cut edge is processed, saves time, and saves money etc.).Horizontal volume element also can directly form the 3D shape of expectation, and this can help avoid and in total shoe construction, use the needs of extra supporting construction (this also saves time, money etc.; Form gentlier and/or more flexible product; Can eliminate seam and at least some sew applications etc.; ).By optionally a plurality of different yarns and/or skill of handling needles pattern being placed in to a plurality of diverse locations during braiding process in total structure, horizontal volume product can have multiple different physical characteristics (for example different stretch, DIFFERENT WET gas control ability etc.) (for example having different performance in zones of different or position in single footwear structure) in single, unibody construction in a plurality of diverse locations or region.In addition, horizontal volume is used in and in final products, forms pocket, sleeve or other hierarchies.

Fabric component can form by horizontal volume process.Conventionally, horizontal volume is the method that is used to form braided material, material periodically turn back (being that material weaves from both sides) in described braided material.The both sides of material (or be called " face ") typically refer to " positive side " (towards outside towards observer's side) and " tossing about " (towards interior side away from observer).Horizontal volume can be compiled structure by circle, and wherein fabric is always woven from the same side.Various round volume technology are known, and for example narrow cylinder circle is compiled (narrow tube circular knitting) and wide cylinder circle is compiled (wide tube circular knitting).More object lessons circle volume technology be described in U.S. publication No.2005/0193592, it is fully incorporated herein by reference.Compile on the contrary with circle, horizontal volume can be more complicated, because from positive side with toss about while weaving and to form the identical skill of handling needles (when seen from positive side) by two different motion.Thereby knit stitches (as from positive side) can or form by the purl stitch tossing about by the knit stitches in positive side.When horizontal volume, fabric is turned back conventionally after every row.Although horizontal volume is provided for forming the suitable method of fabric component, the braiding of other types also can utilize, and comprises that wide cylinder circle is compiled, narrow cylinder circle is weaved jacquard fabric, and single circle of compiling is weaved jacquard fabric, and double knit circle is weaved jacquard fabric and warp knitted jacquard fabric.The advantage of carrying out horizontal volume on the braiding structure of various other types is, horizontal volume process can be used to form the structure (jointly extending at least in part) that roughly three-dimensional structure or material layer overlap each other, to form the collar or other overlapping structures.More specifically, horizontal volume process can be manufactured such structure, thereby its middle level is attached to opposition side and other layer of formation unibody construction of a layer each other.In addition, horizontal volume can be used to form the region with the dissimilar skill of handling needles and the region with dissimilar yarn.For example, upper of a shoe can be configured to compare from the non-rib columnar structure of core and/or rear portion the degree stretching, extension with different to forward part.And, compare fabric component with front part and can use the skill of handling needles of extensible type still less to form, and the yarn of selecting for selecteed fabric component can there is larger wearability than the yarn for selecting for front part.As another example, for the braiding/yarn combinations of rear portion, can be selected, thinking that ankle opening is given stretches and recovery.Thereby horizontal volume process can be used to form roughly three-dimensional or overlapping structure.It has the region of different performance, and described different performance forms from the dissimilar skill of handling needles and dissimilar yarn.In manufacture process, this feature also cuts the waste and saves time and money.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe with fabric component, form and also can comprise to for the relevant shoestring of the conventional upper of a shoe of footwear or other elements.Fabric component is single material elements, and it is formed and presents monomer () structure, and fabric component is formed or is configured as around pin extension around.Fabric component can form a part for larger fabric component.Fabric component is removed from larger fabric component subsequently, to form the shape of upper of a shoe.

Fabric component is the single material elements with unibody construction, as mentioned above.For the purposes of the present invention, unibody construction and/or " seamless " object mean such structure, and wherein the some parts of fabric component does not link together by stitching or other syndetons.First fabric component forms with one or more yarns, for example, described one or more yarns by interweave, tangle and twisting or the collar in any mechanically operates.As mentioned above, interweaving is the chi structure with the angular cross at right angle each other and two yarns interweaving.For the yarn interweaving, be commonly referred to warp thread and weft yarn.Entanglement and twisting comprise such process, and braiding and knotting that for example yarn is wound around each other, to form fabric.The collar relates to the form of the engaged ring of multiple row, and braiding is modal collar method.Therefore fabric component can be used for the manufacture of a formation in these processes of fabric.

Various mechanical process has been developed to manufacture fabric.Conventionally, mechanical process can be classified as through compiling or weft knitting.For through compiling, can comprise for the manufacture of the concrete subtype of fabric the oblique fabric of warp-wise, raschel, crosspointer-excellent raschel (it further comprises jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent raschel).For weft knitting, can comprise for the manufacture of the various concrete subtype of fabric circle volume and horizontal volume.Various types of circle volumes comprise knits socks (narrow cylinder), clothes (seamless or loose cylinder) and jacquard fabric.

Fabric component can form by any above-mentioned mechanical process.Thereby fabric component can form on tricot machine or weft machine.As an example, do not expect to limit the present invention, a suitable braider that is used to form fabric component is that circle is weaved jacquard fabric machine.In one embodiment, the fabric component forming via circle weave jacquard fabric machine has the various regions of buffering, compression, gas permeability, colour and yarn content.

Another the suitable braider that is used to form fabric component is wide cylinder circle volume machine, and its Lonati Group by gondola Santoni S.p.A. manufactures, and model is SM8TOPI.The formation of wide cylinder circle volume machine (as manufactured by Santoni S.p.A.) is roughly justified basketwork structure and can in single fabric construction, form various types of skill of handling needles.Conventionally, wide cylinder circle volume machine can be changed the design of fabric construction for the selection by pin by program control.Being formed on each locational skill of handling needles type of fabric construction can be by wide cylinder circle volume machine is programmed and selected, thereby receives or do not receive concrete pin in each knitting position.By this way, various patterns, texture or design can be optionally and are on purpose given fabric construction.

Fabric construction can form has wide cylinder circle volume machine, as mentioned above.The skill of handling needles type that forms fabric construction can change on fabric construction, to form the profile of one or more fabric components.Be that wide cylinder circle volume machine can be programmed in fabric construction, form dissimilar skill of handling needles structure, to sketch the contours of one or more fabric components.The yarn that forms fabric component can be defined as the part with big-length and relatively little cross section, and it is with at least one filament or the formation of a plurality of fiber.

As another example, do not expect to limit the present invention, the suitable braider that is used to form fabric component is U.S. Patent No. 8,132, the machine in 431.The invention provides a kind of braider, it comprises traversing driving (shogging drive), wave driving (swing through drive) and at least one guide bar, and it can be by traversing driving move and drive and move perpendicular to sideslip direction by waving along sideslip direction.The sequence of motion of guide bar is controlled as and makes, and under collar form, guide bar is moved backward once and travels forward once along sideslip direction.(sideslip direction is the direction corresponding to the extend longitudinally direction of guide bar, and all guide portion of all guide bar are set to one in the direction at another rear).Further, slidingsurface is to having two slidingsurfaces, and it is orientated perpendicular to sideslip direction, and traversing driving via slidingsurface to acting in guide bar.According to embodiment, traversing driving can comprise along the directed transmitting element of sideslip direction, a right slidingsurface of its support slidingsurface.Transmitting element can form actuator rod.U.S. Patent No. 8,132,431 by reference to being herein incorporated.

Do not expect to limit the present invention, in order to provide and to stretch and recoverability for upper of a shoe and/or fabric component, can utilize the yarn that is incorporated to elastomer.This elastomer can, from E.I.duPont de Nemours Company, obtain by Lycra trade mark.This fiber can the chlamydate Lycra of tool structure, wherein fiber comprises the Lycra core supporting by nylon sheath.For example, a kind of suitable yarn comprises 70 fiber numbers (denier) elastomer core, and it covers by having 2 layers, the nylon of 80 fiber numbers, 92 filament structures.Other fibers or the filament with elastic performance also can utilize, and include but not limited to spandex (spandex), Yi Lasibang (elaspan), creora, as Lycra (roica), dorlastan (dorlastan), linel and ESPA (espa).

As mentioned above, the yarn that is incorporated to elastomer is applicable to fabric component.Multiple other yarns (no matter whether elasticity or nonelastic) are also applicable to fabric component.The feature of the yarn of selecting for fabric component depends primarily on the material that forms various filaments and fiber.Cotton for example provides softness, natural beauty and biodegradability.Elastomer provides remarkable stretching, extension and reversibility as mentioned above.Artificial silk (Rayon) provides high glaze and moisture absorbability.Wool also provides high humidity absorbability except insulating properties.Polytetrafluorethylecoatings coatings can provide the low CONTACT WITH FRICTION between fabric and skin.Nylon is to have high-intensity durable and high-abrasive material.Finally, polyester is hydrophobic material, and it also provides relatively high durability.Thereby, comprise that the material of yarn can be selected as fabric component to give various physical properties, and physical property can for example comprise intensity, extensibility, supportive, rigidity, restoring force, matching and form.

Except changing the skill of handling needles type that forms texture, the yarn types that is used in the various regions of fabric component can change, to give different performance.For example, yarn can use cotton, wool, elastomer, artificial silk, nylon and polyester to form.Each can give different performance these yarn types.For example, elastomer can be for giving extensibility, and wool can be for insulation, and nylon can be for durability.Thereby different yarns type can be for giving different performance.Can be used to form and there is different performance the woven type of zones of different of (such as yarn feature, texture etc.) can greatly change, as above various through compiling and weft-knitted process to comprise, for example the oblique fabric of warp-wise, raschel, crosspointer-excellent raschel, circle are compiled and horizontal volume.

Fabric component form is to have roughly level and smooth, constant skill of handling needles structure.Be that the similar skill of handling needles is used in whole fabric component, think that the various parts of fabric component are given common texture.But as mentioned above, wide cylinder circle volume machine can form various types of skill of handling needles structures conventionally in single fabric construction.Therefore, wide cylinder circle volume machine can change the skill of handling needles at fabric component, for example to form various patterns, design or texture.Various types of skill of handling needles also can shape braider by other types form.

The article of footwear of many routines is incorporated in upper of a shoe by various material elements (each presents different performance).For example, the first material elements can be level and smooth, and the second material elements can be with texture.The first and second material elements are sewed together subsequently, to form a part for conventional upper of a shoe.Fabric component also presents region level and smooth and with texture.But contrary with conventional upper of a shoe, the first texture and the second texture are incorporated into single, monomer fabric component, rather than two separate elements of making or otherwise linking together.

Various through compiling or weft-knitted process can be used to form fabric component or above-mentioned various other fabric components.The advantage of this process is that the various skill of handling needles can be incorporated into the particular location of fabric component, to change physical property or the aesthetic feeling of fabric component.Yet conventional upper of a shoe comprises, make or the various elements of bonding link, fabric component is material elements single, monomer.From the angle of manufacturing, utilize multiple material to think that it is not efficient practice process that article of footwear is given different performance.But, by forming as fabric component single, monomer material element, can increase efficiency, wherein upper of a shoe can comprise single fabric component, rather than many link components.

Various braiding processes can be used to form fabric component, as mentioned above.As concrete example, jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine (jacquard double needle-bar raschel knitting machine) can be used to form horizontal woollen yarn knitting structure, and also can be used to form the fabric construction with spacer web fabric structure.Not like fabric construction, it presents roughly circle and compiles structure, and the fabric construction that jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine forms has horizontal volume structure.But, similar textile structures, the profile of fabric component can be endowed by the fabric construction that jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine forms.The difference that is the skill of handling needles in fabric construction can form shape and the profile partly with object fabric component.Thereby footwear be removed and be incorporated into fabric component can from fabric construction.In addition, jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine can be used to fabric component to give various textures, different performance or different yarns type.Similarly, the braiding structure of other types, for example horizontal volume (flat knitting), can be used within the scope of the invention, to give various textures, different performance or different yarns type for fabric component.

Jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine is an example of tricot machine, and it can be simultaneously in the braiding of the both sides of fabric.Can use this class machine by the both sides of fabric being stitched together during braiding process, to weave through compiling cylinder.Tricot machine can be designed to by utilizing jacquard weave crosspointer rod machine to be woven with the cylinder of shape.Electronic jacquard crosspointer rod machine can be manufactured the belt shape cylinder with design structure.There is the multiple possibility for upper of a shoe design and performance.Following content can be adjusted to be formed for the upper of a shoe of concrete application: yarn types (for example, elasticity, non-resilient, yarn dimensions, fiber type (such as fiber number, composition, polyester, nylon etc.)), skill of handling needles structure (mexh for example, for gas permeability and/or durability and more closed or A Kai), for stretching and/or elastic performance, rigidity (for supporting and dress), size (for the dress of footwear).

In one embodiment, for example use warp-wise twill weave machine or the such braider of La Xieer tricot machine and weave upper of a shoe.Braiding can periodically be carried out, the step that comprises braiding one or more braids or type (for example outer and inner knitted textile layer) and the step that one or more braids or type are connected with cross spider.Alternatively, braiding can be used two La Xieer tricot machines to carry out, and it can be simply with a step braiding upper of a shoe, because can side by side carry out two steps as above.

The cutting operation of any desired type can be utilized and not depart from the present invention, such as cross cutting, laser cutting, manually cutting etc.Also have, the material of any desired type can be used and not depart from the present invention.Compare (for example comparing with the stretching, extension resistance or the compression stress that form other fabric components, elastomer, cotton or the polyester of this structure) with the fabric component that forms other parts of upper of a shoe and/or footwear structure, this material can be the material (for example tensile force is more had resistance and/or higher compression stress is provided) with higher elasticity modulus.Some examples more specifically of plant, material can be to be for example conventionally used in material, canvas types of material, polyester type material, the hot retrospective polyurethane adhesive material of tackle twill (tackle twill) in manufacturing.

In certain embodiments, via be configured to mate shoe tree and thermosetting shaping through the seamless upper component of compiling and/or circle volume forms.Seamless upper of a shoe is attached to sole subsequently, for example, form final footwear.In certain embodiments, structural detail can be sewed up and/or be attached to upper of a shoe, and to form footwear, wherein in upper of a shoe and structural detail or both comprise supporting construction (one or more), form ectoskeleton, tighten or closed-system.Some embodiment comprise insert of the interior end.

In one embodiment, the braided fabric of upper of a shoe does not have basically identical thickness, but instead forms profile, ridge or pattern.

In one embodiment, only the upper of a shoe of footwear is seamless knitted.In another embodiment, whole footwear (comprising upper of a shoe) are seamless knitted.

In one embodiment, fabric component is " dimension (dimensionalized) " structure, and as U.S. Patent No. 8,133,824 is disclosed, and it is by reference to being herein incorporated.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe comprises one or more braiding eyelets, and it is seamless and/or integrally and/or side by side constructs with together with the structure of upper of a shoe.

In one embodiment, the braiding structure structure of single type for upper of a shoe.In one embodiment, upper of a shoe is with single layer structure and/or with single skill of handling needles Structural Tectonics.In one embodiment, upper configuration is for making it not have longitudinal edge.

In one embodiment, upper configuration is the fabric that is incorporated to the single type with a plurality of knitting structures.In one embodiment, upper configuration is for merging the fabric of a type of the braiding structure with single type.In one embodiment, upper of a shoe is by circular knitter structure, and to form round basketwork structure, it is incorporated to a kind fabric with multiple knitting structure.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe is constructed by weft-knitted fabric element, and it is incorporated to a kind fabric with single braiding structure.In one embodiment, upper of a shoe is constructed by weft-knitted fabric element, and it is incorporated to single layer and/or is configured to have a kind of skill of handling needles structure.

In one embodiment, knitting element is constructed during braiding process.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe does not have the feature of braided material and/or the overlapping structure of layer.

In one embodiment, upper configuration is for having knitting element, and it is non-textile element.In one embodiment, upper of a shoe constructs and/or not be used in the element structure forming on loom without textile element.In one embodiment, article of footwear comprises that upper of a shoe and footwear sole construction are attached to upper of a shoe.

In one embodiment, article of footwear comprises that upper of a shoe and footwear sole construction are attached to upper of a shoe, and upper of a shoe comprises shoestring receiving element and/or eyelet, and upper of a shoe is not included in the attached multi cord (strand) extending near the region of footwear sole construction of shoestring receiving element.

In one embodiment, upper of a shoe comprises the knitting element with outside and relative inner side, knitting element defines at least one outer passage forming between two isolated braids and be positioned at outside, and at least one inner channel forming between two isolated braids and be positioned at inner side, each forms outer passage and inner channel with unibody construction.

Aforementioned is that simplification content of the present invention is to provide the understanding to some aspects of the present invention.This content is not that the complete or limit of the present invention and its various embodiment is summarized.Object is not that identification key of the present invention or vital key element neither define scope of the present invention, but provides the aspect through selecting more of the present invention with the form of simplifying, as described below.As is understood, other embodiment of the present invention can utilize as mentioned above or one or more features as described below alone or in combination.

In various embodiment, structure or aspect, the present invention includes as shown in the figure and parts, method, process, system and/or equipment as herein described, comprise various embodiment, constructor combination and its subgroup.Those skilled in the art can after understanding the present invention, understand how to form and use of the present invention various aspect, embodiment, structure, sub-portfolio and subgroup.Aspect various, in embodiment and structure, the present invention includes provide do not have as herein described and/or shown in item destination device and process, or aspect various, embodiment or structure in, do not comprise this project of having used in former device or process, for example, for improving performance, acquisition easily and the object of the embodiment of or minimizing cost.

For the object showing and describe, provided aforementioned description of the present invention.Aforementionedly be not intended to limit the invention to form disclosed herein.For example, in aforementioned detailed description, in simplifying object of the present invention, various features of the present invention can be aspect one or more, embodiment or tectonic association together.The feature of aspect of the present invention, embodiment or structure can replace be not aspect replacement as above, combination in embodiment or structure.This method of the present invention should not be understood to that the claimed content that is need to be than the more feature of the feature described in claim.On the contrary, as claimed in claim, what aspects more of the present invention related to single aforementioned aspect, embodiment or structure is not whole features.Thus, following claim is incorporated in this detailed description, and each claim is originally as independent preferred embodiment of the present invention.

And, although description of the invention comprises one or more aspects, embodiment or structure and some changes and revises within the scope of the invention, but after understanding the present invention, other descriptions that change, combine and revise are also within the technology and ken of this area.Object is aspect, the embodiment that obtains the replacement that comprises that scope allows or the right of constructing, comprise replacement, interchangeable and/or equivalent structure, function, scope or step, no matter this replacement, interchangeable and/or whether equivalent structure, function, scope or step open herein, and do not need openly to provide any theme that can be patented.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Subsidiary accompanying drawing is incorporated into and forms a part for description, so that several examples to be shown.These accompanying drawings are explained principle of the present invention (one or more) together with the description.Accompanying drawing show simply the present invention (one or more) how to form and use preferably and the example of replacing and be not that the present invention (one or more) is limited only and is illustrated and described example.

Further feature and advantage will be from the various embodiment of the present invention (one or more) below, be described in more detail and the understanding that becomes, as accompanying drawing illustrates.

Figure 1A is the perspective view for an embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Figure 1B is the upward view for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 1A;

Fig. 1 C is the top view for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 1A;

Fig. 1 D is the outside four/three-view diagram for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 1A;

Fig. 1 E is the inner side four/three-view diagram for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 1A;

Fig. 2 is the schematic diagram of weaving, weft knitting and warp knit structure;

Fig. 3 has shown a method that forms a plurality of uppers of a shoe;

Fig. 4 has shown the other method that forms a plurality of uppers of a shoe;

Fig. 5 is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Fig. 6 is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear, wherein experiences plastic dip coating step;

Fig. 7 A is the perspective view of an embodiment of braiding eyelet;

Fig. 7 B is the perspective view of another embodiment of braiding eyelet;

Fig. 8 A is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Fig. 8 B is the top view for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Fig. 8 A;

Fig. 9 is the top view for a method of the embodiment forming process of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Fig. 8 A;

Figure 10 A is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Figure 10 B is the top view for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 10 A, and wherein toe covering reinforcing section is unassembled to seamless upper of a shoe;

Figure 10 C is the top view of embodiment of seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 10 A, and wherein vamp reinforcing section is unassembled to seamless upper of a shoe;

Figure 10 D is the top view for the embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear of Figure 10 A, and wherein heel cap reinforcing section is unassembled to seamless upper of a shoe;

Figure 11 is for having the side view of another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of the footwear that divide bottom;

Figure 12 is for having the cross-sectional side elevational view further describing of the seamless upper of a shoe embodiment of the footwear that divide the bottom of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Figure 14 is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Figure 15 A is the cross-sectional side elevational view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear;

Figure 15 B is the cross-sectional side elevational view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear; With

Figure 16 is the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear.

The specific embodiment

The present invention relates to the method for upper of a shoe and the manufacture upper of a shoe of footwear.The present invention relates to braiding process (knitting process) to be applied to the production process of upper of a shoe.In a preferred embodiment, braiding process is described to form the upper of a shoe part of completely seamless footwear.This process can form upper of a shoe with single step.Some advantages of this process comprise make to produce easily and efficient, reduce built-up time, by minimizings, stitch and make comfortableness maximum and raising design freedom.Method can comprise weaving (weave) and/or braiding upper of a shoe.Braiding process generally includes by a series of stitch or ring (loop) interconnection are formed to upper of a shoe.

In following description, and for purposes of illustration, many details have been described, so that the complete understanding to each side of the present invention to be provided.But, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can not be embodied as and has these details.In other cases, known structure and device are more generally shown as or are described, to avoid interference the present invention.In many cases, the description of operating process is enough to carry out various formation of the present invention, especially in operating process during with implement software.Should be noted that, can apply to the present invention structure, device and the technology of many differences and replacement.Gamut of the present invention is not limited to following example.

Following description provides for concrete structure embodiment and method conventionally.Should be appreciated that, be not intended to limit the invention to concrete disclosed embodiment and method, but the present invention can use other features, element, method and embodiment to describe.Describe preferred embodiment to show the present invention, rather than will limit its scope, described scope limits by claim.And then, described embodiment can with concrete or not specifically described any one or more other embodiment combination herein.It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various equivalent transformation described below.Similar elements in various embodiment has identical Reference numeral conventionally.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to the method for manufacturing article of footwear.This method comprises by circle compiles the mechanically step of operate yarn of (circular knitting) machine, for example, to form round basketwork structure (cylindrical textile structure).In addition, method relates to from fabric construction removes at least one fabric component, and fabric component is incorporated to the upper of a shoe of article of footwear, to form seamless upper of a shoe and/or seamless whole footwear.

Referring now to Fig. 1-16,, several view of the present invention and structure have been shown.Referring to Figure 1A-E, shown an embodiment for the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear.Footwear 100 are shown as has base section 130 and top section (herein also referred to as " upper of a shoe " or " upper of a shoe part ") 120.Footwear 100 comprise heel part 103, toe portion 102, upper portion 104 and upper of a shoe covering 108.In the embodiment of the footwear 100 shown in Figure 1A-E, footwear 100 are shown as the braiding structure with three types.More specifically, heel part 103 and toe portion 102 are shown as has wear-resisting braiding structure, and upper portion 104 has supportive braiding structure, and that remainder (for example upper of a shoe covering 108 and bottom 130) has is ventilative/and open braiding structure.The supportive braiding structure of upper portion 104 has the thicker braiding structure of ventilative/open braiding structure than upper of a shoe covering 108 and bottom 130 conventionally.Yet various braiding structures are configured to substantially or are fully seamless.Figure 1A has shown the footwear 100 of being worn by user's (not shown).In the structure of Figure 1A, upper of a shoe 130 has formed in the hole of footwear 100 inside, for receiving user's pin.On the contrary, Fig. 1 C has shown the top view of footwear 100 when not worn by user, thereby above-mentioned hole almost or is fully closed.In one embodiment, there is the upper of a shoe part that flexible another braiding structure is assembled to upper of a shoe covering 108, to expand fully to allow above-mentioned hole to form, or make the within of footwear 100 receive user's pin.Other embodiment of footwear 100 and/or upper of a shoe part 120 comprise substantially the same braided material, and other embodiment of footwear 100 and/or upper of a shoe part 120 comprise multiple braiding structure.

The upper of a shoe of braiding can have one or more supports and/or tighten up region.One or more supports and/or the braiding structure that tightens up region can comprise elastomeric material yarn (yarn) and/or braid, its in tightening up region (one or more) than more having tightening non-in tightening up region.And then, compare with the non-braiding structure that tightens up region (one or more), support and/or tighten up that region (one or more) can comprise more by force, more tough and tensile or braiding structure that more can bearing load.One or more regions of upper of a shoe can comprise open braiding structure.Preferably, open braiding structure is such structure, and it is " ventilative " substantially.As used herein, " ventilative " refers to has permeability to one or more in air, oxygen and water vapour.

One or more regions of upper of a shoe can comprise buffering braiding structure.Preferably, buffering braiding structure is the braiding structure with at least some shock absorbing performances." shock absorbing " refers to alleviation, buffering or dissipate to impact and/or Impact energy as used herein, for example at people's pin in running or impact energy during tread surface during walking.Buffering braiding structure is around located at one or more region (one or more) and interior ends of tightening up conventionally.

Preferably, one or more regions of upper of a shoe are wear-resisting substantially.More preferably, wear-resisting region (one or more) comprise substantially to the indefatigable braiding structure that weares and teares." wearability " refers to friction and/or the scraping causing due to machinery and/or abrasive action as used herein.Even more preferably, one or more wear-resisting regions comprise wear-resisting braiding structure.The nonrestrictive example of wear-resisting braiding structure comprises high density braided structure and wear-resisting yarn and/or silk thread (thread) structure.

The upper of a shoe that should be understood that braiding has one or more ventilative regions, one or more tightening up and/or supporting zone alternatively; One or more buffer areas; One or more wear-resisting regions alternatively.And then, optional one or more ventilative, tighten up and/or support, any one (except its corresponding braiding structure) in buffering and wear-resisting region comprise corresponding to ventilative, tighten up and/or support, the braiding structure of buffering and wear-resisting braiding structure.For example, except comprising ventilative braiding structure, in certain embodiments, ventilative region also can comprise buffering braiding structure.

Referring to Fig. 2, provide schematic weaving, weft knitting and warp knit structure.More specifically, shown bamboo basket formula weave (basket weave) and weft knitting and through weave.In one embodiment, footwear 100 and/or upper of a shoe part 120 comprise one or more weft knittings and through woven material.

Various through compiling or weft-knitted process can be used to form fabric component or above-mentioned various other fabric components.The advantage of this process is that the various skill of handling needles (stitch) can be incorporated into the particular location of fabric component, to change physical property or the aesthetic feeling of fabric component.Yet conventional upper of a shoe comprises, make or the various elements of bonding link, fabric component is material elements single, monomer.From the angle of manufacturing, utilize multiple material to think that it is not efficient practice process that article of footwear is given different performance.But, by forming as fabric component single, monomer material element, can increase efficiency, wherein upper of a shoe can comprise single fabric component, rather than many link components.

Referring to Fig. 3 and 4, shown the method that forms and/or cut footwear and/or upper of a shoe part 302.At Fig. 3 and 4 in each, the single pieces of fabric 301 of top region representation, as from braider (not shown) and the output coming.Fig. 3 has shown that a plurality of braiding uppers of a shoe 302 in certain embodiments form single pieces of fabric 301.Should be understood that the process that forms a plurality of braiding uppers of a shoe in braiding process preferably forms the process of each braiding upper of a shoe and/or be the process that forms weaving upper of a shoe.Fig. 4 has shown that upper of a shoe 302 in certain embodiments can be woven on single pieces of fabric 301, and its structure is the waste that remarkable minimizing not weaves the pieces of fabric of a upper of a shoe part.

Referring to Fig. 5, shown the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 500.Fig. 5 has shown the pin that weaving direction 501 in certain embodiments can be along medial/lateral direction around wearer.In other embodiments, the pin (heel) that weaving direction 501 can be along front (toe)/rear (heel) direction around wearer.Should be understood that the embodiment having along the weaving direction 501 of medial/lateral direction can further comprise one or more supports and/or tighten up region, the pin of described region along medial/lateral direction around wearer.In certain embodiments, knitting element 501 can around meet with stresses at wearer pin, such as but not limited to the stress from coming for footwear being fixed on to the fastening system wearer pin.

In certain embodiments, braiding upper of a shoe 504 can comprise braiding toe 502.Toe braiding structure 502 can be ventilative, tighten up and/or support, one or more in buffering and wear-resisting braiding structure.Ventilative, tighten up and/or support, one or more can the formation by knit stitches or by forming one or more yarns of knit stitches in buffering and wear-resisting braiding structure.

In other embodiments, braiding upper of a shoe 504 can comprise braiding heel portion 503.Heel braiding structure 504 can be ventilative, tighten up and/or support, one or more in buffering and wear-resisting braiding structure.Ventilative, tighten up and/or support, the one or more of buffering and wear-resisting braiding structure can form by knit stitches or by forming one or more yarns of knit stitches.

Referring to Fig. 6, shown the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 600.In one embodiment, Fig. 6 has shown and has comprised that the footwear 600 that weave upper of a shoe can scribble the material such as but not limited to plastic dip coating (plastic dip).Plastic dip coating can be footwear and provides such as the feature that is limited to wearability, water proofing property, one or more team colors, decoration element etc.Fig. 6 has shown toe portion 602 and the heel part 603 that scribbles plastic dip coating.In certain embodiments, plastic dip coating is applied by everyone of footwear, and in other embodiments, plastic dip coating can be applied by footwear." plastics " dip-coating layer can be any material known to those skilled in the art, to have wear-resisting feature, for example, comprises natural rubber, latex, artificial rubber and other fiber-reinforced resin materials, artificial material, polymer and natural material.

Referring to Fig. 7, shown the perspective view of two embodiment of the braiding eyelet that weaves upper of a shoe 700.In the embodiment of Fig. 7 A, eyelet hole 701 is formed in upper of a shoe surface.In the embodiment of Fig. 7 B, eyehole ring 702 is formed in upper of a shoe 700.Eyelet can comprise any knitting structure forming by any knit stitches structure known in the art.

Referring to Fig. 8 A-B and 9, shown another embodiment for the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear.Fig. 8 A is that perspective view and Fig. 8 B are the top views of the embodiment of seamless upper of a shoe 801.Fig. 9 is the top view of a formation method of the embodiment of seamless upper of a shoe 801, has shown seamless upper of a shoe 801 and braiding vamp (or side) 802, as (its braiding output roller is shown as upper and lower parallel dotted line) of manufacturing by braider.Braiding upper of a shoe 801 can be woven to the wing with one or more braidings side 802, toe portion 803 and heel part 804.Braiding side 802, toe portion 803 and heel part 804 wings can comprise any braiding structure.And then the braiding structure of side 802, toe portion 803 and heel part 804 can be identical or can be different.In certain embodiments, one or more braidings side 802, toe portion 803 and heel part 804 wings can comprise and comparing from braiding upper of a shoe 801 in different knit stitches and different yarn one or both of.Although do not expect to be limited by example, one or more braidings side 802, toe portion 803 and heel part 804 wings can comprise strengthening and/or wear-resisting knit stitches and/or the yarn different from the braiding knit stitches of upper of a shoe 801 and/or yarn (one or more).In certain embodiments, braiding side, toe portion 803 and heel part 804 wings can comprise tubular knitted structure 805.By nonrestrictive example, tubular knitted structure 805 can form interval braiding structure (spacer knit), to surround the pin of wearer.

Referring to Figure 10 A-D, shown another embodiment for the seamless upper of a shoe 801 of footwear.Figure 10 A is the perspective view of this embodiment.Figure 10 B-D has shown that corresponding toe cap reinforcing section 803, vamp (side) reinforcement 802 and heel cap 804 parts are not assembled into the top view of seamless upper of a shoe 801.In this embodiment, braiding side wing (vamp) 802 forms four/part of footwear.Braiding side wing/vamp 802 can have space networks well format, and it can surround four/part of footwear, to give more traditional upper of a shoe aesthetic feeling.

In one embodiment, braiding upper of a shoe has one or more inner sides and/or outside wing 802.Side wing can be in the braiding inner side of upper of a shoe 801 and outside one or both and surround braiding upper of a shoe 801.Preferably, the further supporting and location of side wing 802 in braiding the pin in upper of a shoe 801 and/or inner side and the outer lateral side of upper of a shoe.Preferably, one of braiding toe portion 802 and heel part 804 wings or both comprise wearability braiding structure.

Referring to Figure 11, shown the side view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 1100.Figure 11 has shown the footwear 1100 that comprise the braiding upper of a shoe 1102 with the end 1101 in braiding.In braiding, the end 1101, is positioned between upper of a shoe 1102 and sole 1103.Preferably, in braiding, the end 1101, is attached to sole 1103 by upper of a shoe 1102.In braiding, the end 1101, can comprise a kind of braiding structure, and they are different from the braiding structure of braiding upper of a shoe 1102.In one embodiment, in braiding, the end 1101, forms by sole 1103 is molded and/or the bonding braiding upper of a shoe 1102 that is connected to.More specifically, sole 1103 is being molded in the process of upper of a shoe 1102, in resin injection mould, when forming sole 1103, the resin of injection is by least some braiding uppers of a shoe 1102 perfusions, to form the end 1101 in braiding.By sole 1103 is bonding be connected to braiding upper of a shoe 1102 in the situation that, should be understood that bonding agent will pour into weave upper of a shoe, to form the end 1101 in braiding.

Referring to Figure 12, shown the cross-sectional side elevational view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear.Figure 12 has shown a kind of footwear, and it comprises by 1/4th or the vamp wing 1205 of braiding upper of a shoe is attached to sole 1201 through the hole 1204 of sole 1201 by braiding upper of a shoe.Sole 1201 comprises the middle end 1202 and outer bottom 103, and hole 1204 was preferably orientated as around the middle end 1201.

Referring to Figure 13, shown the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 1300.Figure 13 has shown the opanken 1300 that comprises the braiding upper of a shoe 1301 that is attached to sole 1303.Braiding upper of a shoe 1300 can comprise a plurality of holes 1302.Opanken 1300 can be in sandals, slippers, water shoes or this type of shoe.The bonding link of sole 1303, molded and by braiding synthetic (knitted composition) be formed into braiding upper of a shoe 1301.

Referring to Figure 14, shown the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 1400.Figure 14 has shown the footwear/article of footwear 1400 that comprises the braiding upper of a shoe 1401 that is interconnected to sole 1403 and framework 1402.Framework 1402 can or can not be interconnected to braiding upper of a shoe 1401.Preferably, framework 1402 interconnects or is attached to framework 1402.Framework 1402 can comprise any rigidity or semi-rigid material." semi-rigid " refers to any material as used herein, and it has flexibility at least to a certain degree and not because stress ruptures or for good and all distortion when stress applies.The stress applying is in the scope of the stress that footwear meet with conventionally.The nonrestrictive example of footwear type is the footwear for road, leisure, motion, industry, specialty, work, dress ornament and formal use occasion.Preferably, framework comprises polymeric material.

Referring to Figure 15 A-B, shown the cross-sectional side elevational view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 1500.Figure 15 has shown the cross-sectional plan views of footwear/article of footwear 1500, and it comprises sole 1501 and braiding upper of a shoe 1502.Braiding upper of a shoe 1052 has one or more braiding uppers of a shoe hole (not shown).Sole 1501 comprises at least one arm 105 of the interior end 1503 of interconnection and outer bottom 1504 elements.Braiding upper of a shoe is by allowing element of the interior ends 1503 be interconnected to sole 1501 by one or more braiding uppers of a shoe hole (not shown).Should be understood that one or more braiding uppers of a shoe hole preferably forms by weave one or more holes in braiding upper of a shoe 1502.

Referring to Figure 16, shown the perspective view for another embodiment of the seamless upper of a shoe of footwear 1600.Figure 16 has shown the footwear 1600 with a plurality of passages 1602 of braiding in upper of a shoe 1601.Preferably, a plurality of path 10 602 each be configured to receive a member 1603.Each member 1603 can be in shape and physical property one or two aspect change.For example some members can have more or less flexibility and/or rigidity than other members 1603.And then that some members can have is differently contoured, width, length, thickness or its combination.In certain embodiments, the wearer of footwear 1600 is selected a plurality of members 1603, to construct footwear 1600 according to his or her needs and/or pin.Member 1603 comprises any material.Preferably, member 1603 comprises polymeric material.

Although described various embodiment of the present invention in detail, be apparent that those skilled in the art can understand modification and the change of these embodiment.However, it should be understood that such modification and change in scope and spirit of the present invention, as described in claim.

For the object showing and describe, provided aforementioned description of the present invention.Aforementionedly be not intended to limit the invention to form disclosed herein.For example, in aforementioned detailed description, for simplifying object of the present invention, various features of the present invention can be combined in one or more embodiments.This method of the present invention should not be understood to that claimed content need to be than the more feature of the feature described in claim.On the contrary, as claimed in claim, what aspects more of the present invention related to single previous embodiment is not whole features.Thus, following claim is incorporated in this detailed description, and each claim is originally as independent preferred embodiment of the present invention.

And, although the present invention includes the description of one or more embodiment and some changes and modification, can make other changes and modification within the scope of the present invention, can be for example after having understood the present invention in the technology and ken of this area.Be intended that the right that acquisition comprises the embodiment of replacement as far as possible, structure replacement, interchangeable and/or equivalent, function, scope or the step that comprise claim, no matter this replacement, interchangeable and/or whether equivalent structure, function, scope or step open herein, and do not need any theme that can be patented of open appointment.

Claims

1. an article of footwear, comprises upper of a shoe part, and upper of a shoe partly comprises seamless knitted material and be configured to have pin receiving unit, and pin receiving unit is defined for the hole of the pin that receives user.

2. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, seamless knitted material from ring set braiding, the braiding that interweaves, through compiling, weft knitting, circle is compiled and horizontal woven material is selected.

3. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, seamless knitted material comprises at least one in artificial silk, polyester, polyacrylic, silk, cotton, wool and elastomer.

4. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upper of a shoe partly comprises at least one in end cap part, upper portion and heel part.

5. article of footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein, at least one in end cap part, upper portion and heel part comprises elastomeric material.

6. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upper of a shoe is partly configured to engage sole.

7. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upper of a shoe partial configuration is for engaging the one or more structure inserts that are connected with the upper portion of upper of a shoe.

8. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein upper of a shoe partly forms article of footwear.

9. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, upper of a shoe further comprises a plurality of braiding eyelets.

10. article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein, braided material has by changing at least one the multiple different braiding texture that form in skill of handling needles type and yarn types.

11. 1 kinds of manufactures are used for the method for the upper of a shoe of article of footwear, comprising: form seamless knitted material, described seamless knitted material comprises pin receiving unit; During braiding process, be formed for receiving the opening of user's pin in pin receiving unit; With formation upper of a shoe.

12. methods as claimed in claim 11, wherein said formation comprises and utilizes jacquard weave crosspointer braiding process to form knitting element.

13. methods as claimed in claim 11, wherein upper of a shoe further comprises a plurality of braiding eyelets

14. methods as claimed in claim 11, wherein upper of a shoe is partly configured to engage sole.

15. 1 kinds of methods of manufacturing article of footwear, method comprises: fabric component is woven to and has fabric construction around, and braided fabric element is configured to form seamless upper of a shoe; From knitted fabric structure around, remove braided fabric element; Braided fabric element is formed in article of footwear upper of a shoe.

16. methods as claimed in claim 15, wherein, when removing from knitted fabric structure around, braided fabric element has the structure of general plane.

17. methods as claimed in claim 15, wherein, braided fabric element has by changing at least one the multiple different braiding texture that form in skill of handling needles type and yarn types.

18. methods as claimed in claim 15, wherein, with fabric construction around side by side braided fabric element comprise and utilize jacquard weave crosspointer-excellent La Xieer tricot machine.

19. if right is in the method requiring as described in 15, and wherein, upper of a shoe further comprises a plurality of braiding eyelets.

20. if right is in the method requiring as described in 15, and wherein, upper of a shoe is partly configured to engage sole.