CN106455754B

CN106455754B - Footwear upper with selectively positioned inserts

Info

Publication number: CN106455754B
Application number: CN201580022695.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T·J·史密斯; 赛尔吉奥·卡瓦列雷; 乔瓦尼·阿达米
Original assignee: Nike Inc
Current assignee: Nike Inc
Priority date: 2014-05-05
Filing date: 2015-04-15
Publication date: 2020-09-11
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-15
Also published as: EP3139784B1; EP3139784A1; CN106455754A; WO2015171278A1

Abstract

An article of footwear is provided that may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an exposed outer layer that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The upper may also include a polymer foam material selectively positioned on a medial side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Description

Footwear upper with selectively positioned inserts

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application is a part continuation on application (CIP) entitled U.S. patent No. __________ entitled "Article of Footwear with reinforced Elastic Upper" by adam et al at ________ (now U.S. patent application No. 13/777,230 filed on 26.2.2013), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear, and more particularly, to an article of footwear having an upper with a selectively positioned pad.

Background

Conventional articles of athletic footwear include two primary elements: an upper and a sole structure. The upper provides a covering for the foot that comfortably receives the foot and securely positions the foot with respect to the sole structure. The sole structure is secured to a lower portion of the upper and is generally positioned between the foot and the ground. In addition to attenuating ground reaction forces (i.e., providing cushioning) during walking, running, and other ambulatory activities, the sole structure may, for example, affect foot motions (e.g., by resisting pronation), impart stability, and provide traction. Accordingly, the upper and the sole structure operate cooperatively to provide a comfortable structure that is suited for a variety of athletic activities.

The upper is generally formed from a plurality of material elements (e.g., textiles, polymer sheets, foam layers, leather, and synthetic leather) that are stitched or adhesively bonded together to define a void or cavity within the footwear for comfortably and securely receiving a foot. More particularly, the upper forms a structure that extends over the instep and toe areas of the foot, along the medial and lateral sides of the foot, and around the heel area of the foot. The upper may also incorporate a lacing system to adjust the fit of the footwear, as well as to allow a foot to enter and exit 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 or other stabilizing structure.

The upper may also include provisions for improving performance, fit, comfort, protection, and durability. The selection and placement of materials may be used to achieve certain desired characteristics.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, an article of footwear may have an upper that includes features that provide protection and durability. For example, in some embodiments, the upper may be formed from a thin, resilient skin and foam pad that are selectively placed in various portions of the upper. The pad may be disposed in a portion of the upper that corresponds with a predetermined portion of the foot. The selective placement of the pad may provide protection for certain portions of the foot and increased strength and durability for the padded portions of the upper. The unpadded portions of the upper may have a reduced thickness, and thus may provide an increased feel (e.g., a feel for soccer) and a reduced weight.

The present disclosure relates to the following aspects:

in one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear including a sole structure fixedly attached to an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper may include an exposed outer layer that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The upper also includes a polymer foam material selectively positioned on a medial side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Item 2. the article of footwear of item 1, wherein the padded portion of the upper is located in an area corresponding with phalanges of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Item 3. the article of footwear of item 2, wherein the padded portions of the upper are located in an area that includes an area of the upper corresponding to a distal phalanx of a hallux of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Item 4. the article of footwear of item 3, wherein a non-padded portion of the upper is disposed between the padded portions of the upper; and is

Wherein the unpadded portion includes an area of the upper that corresponds with a first metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe.

Item 5. the article of footwear of item 1, wherein the upper further comprises a liner disposed inside the exposed outer layer and the polymer foam material.

Item 6. the article of footwear of item 1, wherein the exposed outer layer is a substantially elastic material.

Item 7. the article of footwear of item 1, wherein a non-padded portion of the upper is disposed between the padded portions of the upper; and is

Wherein the upper includes one or more transparent portions in at least one of the non-padded portions of the upper.

The article of footwear includes a sole structure fixedly attached to an upper, the upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper may include an exposed outer layer that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The upper may also include a padded portion and a non-padded portion, wherein the padded portion of the upper includes a polymer foam material selectively located on an interior side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent to portions of the exposed outer layer. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with distal phalanges of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. The unpadded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with proximal phalanges of a wearer's foot.

Item 9. the article of footwear of item 8, wherein the padded portions of the upper are located in an area that includes an area of the upper that corresponds with a distal phalanx of a hallux of a wearer's foot.

Item 10. the article of footwear of item 9, wherein the unpadded portion of the upper includes an area of the upper corresponding with a first metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe.

Item 11, the article of footwear of item 8, wherein the upper further includes a liner disposed inside the exposed outer layer and the polymer foam material.

Item 12 the article of footwear of item 8, wherein the exposed outer layer is a substantially elastic material.

Item 13. the article of footwear of item 9, wherein the upper includes one or more transparent portions in at least one of the non-cushioned portions of the upper.

Item 14, in another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an article of footwear including a sole structure fixedly attached to an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper may include an exposed outer layer that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The upper may also include a padded portion and a non-padded portion, wherein the padded portion of the upper includes a polymer foam material selectively located on an interior side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent to portions of the exposed outer layer. At least one of the non-padded portions of the upper includes one or more transparent portions.

Item 15 the article of footwear of item 14, wherein the unpadded portions of the upper include an area of the upper that corresponds with a first metatarsophalangeal joint of a big toe of a wearer of the article of footwear.

Item 16 the article of footwear of item 14, wherein the first unpadded portion of the upper includes a first plurality of elongated transparent portions arranged substantially parallel to one another.

Item 17. the article of footwear of item 16, further comprising a second unpadded portion of the upper, the second unpadded portion of the upper including a second plurality of elongated transparent portions arranged substantially parallel to one another.

Wherein the first plurality of elongate transparent portions are aligned with the second plurality of elongate transparent portions; and is

Wherein the first plurality of elongate transparent portions is discontinuous with the second plurality of elongate transparent portions.

Item 18. the article of footwear of item 14, wherein the upper further comprises a liner disposed inside the exposed outer layer and the polymer foam material.

Item 19 the article of footwear of item 14, wherein the exposed outer layer is a substantially elastic material.

Item 20 the article of footwear of item 14, wherein at least one of the non-padded portions of the upper including one or more substantially transparent portions is located on a medial side or a lateral side of the article of footwear.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present embodiments will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description and this summary, be within the scope of the present embodiments, and be protected by the following claims.

Brief Description of Drawings

The present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The figures are schematic. Accordingly, the components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the current embodiments. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an article of footwear having an upper formed with an exposed outer layer and including a selectively placed inner liner.

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the article of footwear shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of footwear shown in fig. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top view of an article of footwear illustrating the arrangement of padded portions of the upper relative to a skeletal structure of a wearer's foot.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic assembly view of an article of footwear, and also shows a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a toe region of the article of footwear.

Fig. 6 is a schematic top view of an embodiment of an article of footwear having an upper including a plurality of transparent portions.

Fig. 7 is a schematic illustration of the article of footwear shown in fig. 6, with the peeled away section showing an interior layer of the upper.

Fig. 8 is a schematic illustration of a medial side view of the article of footwear shown in fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a schematic illustration of a lateral side view of the article of footwear shown in fig. 6.

Detailed description of the invention

The following discussion and accompanying figures disclose sole structures for articles of footwear. Concepts associated with the footwear disclosed herein may be applied to a variety of athletic footwear types, including soccer shoes, running shoes, baseball shoes, basketball shoes, cross-training shoes, cycling shoes, soccer shoes, golf shoes, tennis shoes, walking shoes, and hiking shoes and boots, for example. These concepts may also be applied to footwear styles that are generally considered to be non-athletic, including dress shoes, loafers, sandals, and work boots. Accordingly, the concepts disclosed herein are applicable to a variety of footwear types.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are used throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. The term "longitudinal" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that extends the length of a sole structure. In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from the forefoot portion to the heel portion of the sole. Furthermore, the term "lateral" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that extends the width of the sole. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between a medial side and a lateral side of the footwear, where the lateral side of the footwear is the surface facing away from the other foot and the medial side is the surface facing toward the other foot.

Furthermore, the term "vertical" as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims refers to a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, where the sole is flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend upward from the ground surface. It should be understood that each of these directional adjectives may apply to various components of footwear. Additionally, the terms "upward" and "downward" as used throughout this detailed description and claims refer to a generally vertical direction. For example, the term "upward" refers to a vertical direction away from the ground surface, while the term "downward" refers to a vertical direction toward the ground surface.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term fixedly attached shall mean that two components are connected in a manner such that the components cannot be easily separated (e.g., without damaging one or both of the components). Exemplary forms of fixedly attaching may include attachment with permanent adhesives, rivets, sutures, staples, u-shaped staples, welding or other thermal bonding, and/or other attachment techniques.

Fig. 1 depicts an embodiment of an article of footwear 100, which article of footwear 100 may include an upper 105 and a sole structure 110 secured to upper 105. Sole structure 110 may include an outer member 115 and may be fixedly attached to upper 105. For reference purposes, footwear 100 may be divided into three general regions: forefoot region 120, midfoot region 125, and heel region 130. Forefoot region 120 generally includes portions of footwear 100 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. Midfoot region 125 generally includes portions of footwear 100 corresponding with the arch area of the foot. Heel region 130 generally corresponds with a rear portion of the foot that includes the calcaneus bone. Forefoot region 120, midfoot region 125, and heel region 130 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 100. Rather, forefoot region 120, midfoot region 125, and heel region 130 are intended to represent generally opposite areas of footwear 100 to aid in the following discussion. Because both sole structure 110 and upper 105 span substantially the entire length of footwear 100, the terms forefoot region 120, midfoot region 125, and heel region 130 apply to not only footwear 100 generally, but also sole structure 110 and upper 105, as well as to individual elements of sole structure 110 and upper 105.

The disclosed footwear components may be formed from any suitable material. In some embodiments, one or more materials disclosed in Lyden et al (U.S. patent No. 5,709,954), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, may be used.

Sole structure 110 may be fixedly attached to upper 105 (e.g., with adhesive, stitching, welding, and/or other suitable techniques) and may have a configuration that extends between upper 105 and the ground. Sole structure 110 may include provisions for attenuating ground reaction forces (i.e., cushioning the foot). In addition, sole structure 110 may be configured to provide traction, impart stability, and/or limit various foot motions, such as pronation, supination, and/or other motions.

The configuration of sole structure 110 may vary significantly depending on the type or types of ground surfaces on which sole structure 12 may be used, such as, for example, natural turf, artificial turf, dirt, pavement (e.g., asphalt, concrete, and other types of pavement), and indoor surfaces, such as hardwood, synthetic rubber surfaces, tiles, and other indoor surfaces. In addition, the configuration of sole structure 110 may vary significantly depending on the type of activity for which footwear 100 is intended to be used (e.g., running, walking, soccer, baseball, basketball, and other activities). Footwear 100 is depicted in the figures as a clear shoe having a sole structure suitable for natural and/or artificial turf. Although footwear 100 as depicted may be suitable for soccer, such cleats may be suitable for use in other activities on natural and/or artificial turf, such as baseball activities, soccer activities, and other such activities where traction and grip may be enhanced by the cleats. However, many of the features of footwear 100 discussed herein may be applicable to other types of footwear, including non-slip footwear.

In some embodiments, sole structure 110 may include multiple components that individually and/or collectively may provide footwear 110 with a number of attributes, such as support, rigidity, flexibility, stability, cushioning, comfort, reduced weight, traction, and/or other attributes. Outer member 115 of sole structure 110 may be formed from suitable materials for achieving the desired performance attributes. The sole components may be formed from any suitable polymer, composite, and/or metal alloy material. Exemplary such materials may include thermoplastic and thermoset polyurethanes, polyesters, nylons, polyether block amides, alloys of polyurethane and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, carbon fiber, poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide), p-aramid fiber, for example,

) Titanium alloy and/or aluminum alloy. In some embodiments, the outer member 115 may be made of a durable and wear resistant material (e.g., rubber). Other suitable materials will be recognized by those skilled in the art.

Outer member 115 may include a ground engaging lower surface configured to engage a ground surface. Accordingly, outer member 115 may include one or more ground engaging members extending from a lower surface and configured to provide traction. It should be appreciated that any type of ground engaging member may be used with sole structure 110. In some cases, the ground engaging members may be configured to engage a soft ground surface. For example, in one embodiment, the ground engaging members may be configured to engage a soft grass surface. In other instances, the ground engaging members may be configured to engage hard surfaces. For example, in one embodiment, the ground engaging members may be configured to engage a hard grass surface or artificial turf. In still other embodiments, any other type of ground engaging member may be used.

Sole structure 110 may also include other components, such as an insole (sockliner), a midsole, and/or a sole plate (chassis plate). The insole may be a thin, compressible member that is located (and in some cases removable) within the upper and adjacent to the plantar (i.e., lower) surface of the foot to provide comfort, support, and stability. The midsole may be secured to a lower surface of the upper and may form a middle layer of the sole structure. Many midsole constructions are primarily formed from a resilient polymer foam material, such as Polyurethane (PU) or Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), that extends across the length and width of the footwear. The midsole may also incorporate plates, moderators, fluid-filled chambers, and/or other elements that further attenuate forces, influence foot motions, and/or impart stability, for example.

The insole, midsole, and sole plate may be selected and configured according to the activity for which article of footwear 100 is configured and the athlete. In some cases, one or more such components may be omitted from sole structure 110. For example, an article of footwear configured for soccer may omit the midsole. In some embodiments, the sole plate may be incorporated into outer member 115. Additionally, for a soccer shoe configuration, a minimal insole may be implemented to save weight and provide a low to ground standing position that meets the needs of a soccer shoe.

Upper 105 may include one or more material elements (e.g., textiles, foam, leather, and synthetic leather) that may be stitched, adhesively bonded, molded, or otherwise shaped to define an interior cavity configured to receive a foot. The material elements may be selected and arranged to selectively impart properties such as durability, air permeability, wear resistance, flexibility, and comfort.

In sports like soccer, it is desirable to provide an upper having a relatively thin structure to provide an increased feel when controlling the soccer ball by contacting the ball with the foot. However, it may be desirable to not only provide a feel of a ball but also to provide protection to the foot from, for example, another player stepping or kicking. In addition, it may also be desirable to provide reinforcement to the thin upper. While adding material to the upper may provide protection and reinforcement, it may reduce the feel of the ball as it may increase the thickness of the upper. Further, the added material may increase the weight of the article of footwear. Thus, to provide protection and reinforcement, while maintaining a high level of ball feel and minimizing weight, material may be added to the upper in selected locations where protection or reinforcement is desired, while other portions of the upper omit such additional material.

In some embodiments, the upper may include an exposed outer layer. The outer layer may be formed of a substantially elastic material that may conform to the contours of the wearer's foot. In addition, the upper may include pads selectively positioned to define padded and unpadded portions of the upper. The padded portion may be located in an area of the upper that corresponds with a predetermined anatomical feature of the foot. For example, in some embodiments, the padded portions may be located in areas corresponding to the distal phalanges of the foot. In some embodiments that include a padded portion corresponding to the distal phalanx, the non-padded portion may correspond to the proximal phalanx. Also, in some embodiments, the padded portions may include padding in a heel region of the footwear, around a collar of an opening configured to receive a foot, in a lace region of the footwear, and in selected portions of a medial or lateral side of the footwear. The location at which the insert is incorporated into the upper may vary depending on the athletic activity for which the footwear is intended to be used.

In some embodiments, upper 105 may include one or more padded portions 135. The padded portion 135 can also define one or more non-padded portions 140. The unpadded portion may include a first unpadded portion 145, and the first unpadded portion 145 may be disposed in a toe region of footwear 100. In some embodiments, upper 105 may also include a second unpadded pad 150 and a third unpadded pad portion 155 that may be disposed on side portions of upper 105. For example, as shown in fig. 1, second unpadded portion 150 and third unpadded portion 155 may be located on a lateral side of footwear 100. Further, in some embodiments, padded portions 135 may also be included in lace region 160 of footwear 100. For example, tongue 165 may include padding under lace 170.

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded view of the article of footwear shown in fig. 1, illustrating the various layers of upper 105. For example, in some embodiments, upper 105 may include an exposed outer layer 185 that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of upper 105. In addition, upper 105 may include padding layer 180, as shown in fig. 2. The liner layer 180 may be disposed inside the outer layer 185. Padding layer 180 may be disposed adjacent to portions of exposed outer layer 185 to form padded portions of upper 105. In addition, upper 105 may include an interior lining material layer 175. The liner material layer 175 may be disposed inside the outer layer 185 and inside the liner layer 180. That is, in some embodiments, the liner layer 180 may be disposed between the outer layer 185 and the liner material layer 175.

Any suitable method may be used to secure liner material layer 175, padding layer 180, and outer layer 185 together to form upper 105. For example, stitching, adhesive, welding, or any other suitable attachment technique may be used. It should also be noted that additional layers may be included in footwear 100, although neither is shown. For example, a waterproof or windproof layer, an additional foam layer, an additional reinforcing material, and/or an additional lining material may be included. Such layers may be full length or partial length.

In some embodiments, the padding material of the padding layer 180 may be layered with the outer layer 185 and the lining material layer 175, but not attached to the outer layer 185 and the lining material layer 175. In other embodiments, the padding material may be at least partially attached to other components of the footwear. In some embodiments, the reinforcing material may be attached to the outer layer 185, for example, by stitching, adhesive, bonding, welding, or any other suitable attachment method. In some embodiments, the padding material may be attached to the outer layer 185 only in selected areas. For example, a strip of padding material may be attached to the outer layer only at the ends of the strip, leaving the middle portion of the strip separate from the outer layer 185. This may provide greater flexibility to the upper to conform to the shape of the foot, while maintaining the strength benefits of the reinforcement material.

Liner material layer 175 may include any material suitable for providing an interior lining to upper 105. In some embodiments, the liner material layer 175 may provide moisture wicking properties. In some embodiments, the liner material layer 175 may be formed of a moisture absorbent material. In such embodiments, liner material layer 175 may be configured to wick perspiration away from the wearer's foot. In other embodiments, the liner material layer 175 may be waterproof to prevent the liner from becoming flooded.

In addition, the liner material layer 175 can provide a smooth and relatively non-abrasive surface configured to contact the foot (or sock) of the wearer. In some embodiments, the liner material layer 175 may be formed of leather or synthetic leather. For example, in some embodiments, the liner material layer 175 may include synthetic leather such as vest (Lorica) or relatively thin elastic nylon.

Exposed outer layer 185 may be formed from any material suitable for use as an outer layer of footwear 100. In some embodiments, the outer layer 185 may be formed of a relatively thin material. In some embodiments, the outer layer 185 may be formed of a natural or synthetic material, such as leather. Additionally, in some embodiments, the outer layer 185 may be formed of a substantially elastic material. For example, in some embodiments, the outer layer 185 may be formed of stretchable polyurethane. In some embodiments, the outer layer 185 can be formed of a synthetic leather such as Clarino. Further, exemplary elastic materials suitable for use in the disclosed embodiments may include latex, spandex, or elastic fibers (which are typically incorporated with the spandex)

Trademarks sold) and/or any other suitable resilient material.

Elastic materials can provide improved fit and comfort. The incorporation of the elastic material enables a tight fitting article of footwear to maintain comfort. In some athletic activities, such as soccer, a particular, close-fitting upper may be desirable. For example, while some athletic shoes may be fitted with a small amount of space (e.g., 3/8 inches to 1/2 inches) between the wearer's toes and the inner forward portion of the cavity in the upper, soccer shoes may be fitted with little or no space between the toes and the inner forward portion of the upper. Any extra length of a soccer shoe will tend to catch on the ground when attempting to play a soccer ball. In addition, soccer shoes require a tight fit around the top and sides of the shoe to prevent the foot from sliding around the inside of the shoe and thereby provide a predictable outer surface that will contact the ball. Further, a relatively thin upper material is also suitable for soccer shoes in order to provide a ball feel and reduced weight. Accordingly, to provide a comfortable and high performance, close-fitting, thin upper, an elastic material may be utilized in the upper.

In some embodiments, upper 105 may include an elastic skin material that forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of upper 105. Because upper 105 may include an elastic skin material, for a given standard shoe size, the cavity defined by upper 105 and configured to receive the foot of the wearer may be formed to have a volume that is less than the volume of the foot of most wearers having the given standard shoe size. For example, in some embodiments, for a given standard shoe size, the cavity may have a volume that is less than approximately 90% of the foot of a wearer having the given standard shoe size. In other embodiments, the percentage of the wearer's foot for which the cavity has a smaller volume may vary, and thus may be greater or less than 90 percent.

With a smaller interior cavity, upper 105 may have a stretch-to-fit configuration. That is, upper 105 (or portions of upper 105) may expand as the foot is inserted into footwear 100. The result is an upper that fits very much like a sock, conforming to almost the full contour of the foot. In addition, because stretching to the appropriate configuration includes fitting the upper of the foot in a stretched manner, such configuration provides for elastic bonding of the upper against the foot by virtue of the elastic bias of the upper. Accordingly, in some embodiments, such an upper may be provided without the need for a closure mechanism (e.g., a lace, strap, or other closure system). Further, the exposed outer layer 185 may be formed using any of the configurations and materials disclosed in U.S. patent No. __________ entitled "Article of Footwear with Reinforced Elastic Upper" issued to Adami et al at ________ (now U.S. patent application No. 13/777,230 filed 2/26 2013), the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Padding layer 180 may be formed from any material suitable to provide protection to the foot of the wearer and, in some embodiments, reinforcement of upper 105. In some embodiments, the cushion layer 180 may be formed of a foam material. For example, one or more portions of the cushion layer 180 may be formed from a polymer foam material. In some embodiments, padding layer 180 may comprise a substantially incompressible foam material. Although substantially incompressible, such material may be flexible so as to conform to the contours of the foot. In some embodiments, the backing layer 180 may comprise a substantially compressible material. Such compressible materials may also be flexible. Both compressibility and flexibility may enable the foam to conform to the foot. In some embodiments, the cushion layer 180 may be formed of a material having minimal elasticity. For example, in some embodiments, padding layer 180 may be relatively inelastic, which may provide support and stability to the wearer's foot and may provide reinforcement to upper 105. In some embodiments, the cushion layer 180 may be formed of a thin lightweight foam material produced by PebaxFoam. In some embodiments, materials other than foam may be used in the cushion layer 180.

In addition to the performance characteristics of the material used for padding layer 180, the layout of the padding for padding layer 180 may be selected to provide protection and/or reinforcement in various areas of upper 105. As shown in fig. 2, padding layer 180 may include padding selectively positioned in various portions of upper 105. For example, padding layer 180 may include heel cup padding 190. The heel cup pad 190 may provide support, stability, and protection to the heel area of the foot. In some embodiments, the heel cup pad 190 may be formed from a substantially rigid material. The padding layer 180 may include a collar insert 195, which collar insert 195 may be disposed adjacent a throat of the footwear 100 (i.e., an opening into which a foot of a wearer may be received). Collar lining 195 may provide protection and reinforcement around the ankle as well as provide comfort around the ankle and improved fit.

In some embodiments, padding layer 180 may include one or more skeletal ribs that may provide generally directional reinforcement to upper 105. For example, in some embodiments, padding layer 180 may include first rib padding 200, second rib padding 212, third rib padding 215, fourth rib padding 217, and fifth rib padding 218. In the lacing area, padding layer 180 may include padding surrounding the tongue opening adjacent to the eyelets through which the lace passes. For example, padding layer 180 may include eyelet region padding 210. The eyelet area pad 210 may be formed in a generally U-shaped configuration around a tongue opening of the upper 105.

In some embodiments, one or more of first rib padding 200, second rib padding 212, third rib padding 215, fourth rib padding 217, and fifth rib padding 218 may be connected to eyelet region padding 210. For example, as shown in fig. 2, first rib pad 200, second rib pad 212, third rib pad 215, fourth rib pad 217, and fifth rib pad 218 may extend from eyelet area pad 210 generally downward to a bottom edge of upper 105. In some embodiments, first rib padding 200, second rib padding 212, third rib padding 215, fourth rib padding 217, and fifth rib padding 218 may extend to exterior member 115 of sole structure 110 (see fig. 3), thereby connecting the reinforcement portion of eyelet area padding 210 with the stabilizing structure of exterior member 115 to provide stability and reinforcement to upper 105. Further, first rib padding 200, second rib padding 212, third rib padding 215, fourth rib padding 217, and fifth rib padding 218, positioned as described above and shown in fig. 2, may also provide a degree of protection for the medial and lateral sides of the foot.

Padding layer 180 may be disposed in an area of upper 105 that corresponds with a portion of the foot that may be susceptible to undesired contact. Such areas may be specific to the athletic activity for which the article of footwear is intended. For example, the foot of a soccer player may be inadvertently kicked by an opponent. The severity of the impact of such inadvertent kicks may increase when two players are kicking balls simultaneously, in which case contact is typically between the instep portion of one player's foot and the instep portion of the other player's foot. When two players kick in opposite directions, the severity of the impact increases over the situation where only one of the players kicks. To protect the instep portion of the wearer's foot, footwear 100 may include padding in lacing regions, such as eyelet region padding 210 and tongue padding 205.

Another type of undesirable contact that the foot of a soccer player is susceptible to is being stepped on by another player who also wears cleats. The parts of the foot that need to be protected from this type of unwanted contact include the distal phalanx. Accordingly, in some embodiments, padding layer 180 may include toe padding 220, as shown in fig. 2.

In some embodiments, various portions of the gasket layer 180 may be formed of the same material. In other embodiments, different materials may be used for one or more of the pad components. For example, in some embodiments, a relatively thicker liner may be used for some components, and a relatively thinner liner may be used for other components. Additionally, in some embodiments, each of the pad components described above may be formed as a separate component, such as a toe pad 220, as shown in fig. 2. In other cases, the components may be formed as a unitary continuous structure such as a rib padding strip and an eyelet area padding 210.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of footwear 100, with a portion of outer layer 185 peeled away at wing portions 225 to show the layers of assembled upper 105. As shown in fig. 3, a liner layer 180 may be disposed between the liner material layer 175 and the outer layer 185. Padded portions of upper 105, including heel cup pad 190, collar pad 195, first ribbed pad 200, and second ribbed pad, may define (between) non-padded portions of upper 105. For example, the first unpadded portion 145 can be defined by the second rib area pad 212 and the eyelet area pad 210 (as well as the toe pad 220; see FIG. 4). As also shown in fig. 3, second non-padded portion 150 may be bounded by first rib padding 200, second rib padding 212, and eyelet region padding 210. Similarly, third non-padded portion 155 may be defined by heel cup pad 190, collar pad 195, and first rib pad 200.

Fig. 4 is a top view of footwear 100 illustrating the arrangement of padded portions of the upper relative to the skeletal structure of a wearer's foot. In fig. 4, the pad layer 180 is shown with light shading for illustrative purposes. Further, the bones of the foot are shown in solid lines and the boundaries of the padding layer 180 are shown in dashed lines as a covering. Accordingly, the padded portions of the upper are shown shaded, and the non-padded portions are shown unshaded.

In some embodiments, padded portions of upper 105 are located in areas of the footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of the wearer's foot. In some cases, the padded portion of the upper may be located in an area of the article of footwear corresponding with the distal phalanx. For example, as shown in fig. 4, the toe pad 220 may be placed to correspond to the positions of the distal phalanx 430 of the big toe or first toe, and the second toe distal phalanx 435, third toe distal phalanx 440, fourth toe distal phalanx 445, and fifth toe distal phalanx 450.

In some embodiments, the unpadded portions of upper 105 may be located in areas that correspond with the proximal phalanges of the wearer's foot. For example, the fourth non-padded portion 147 may be located in an area corresponding to the first proximal phalanx 405 of the hallux (first toe). In addition, the first unpadded portion 145 may be located in areas corresponding to the second proximal phalanx 410 of the second toe, the third proximal phalanx 415 of the third toe, the fourth proximal phalanx 420 of the fourth toe, and the fifth proximal phalanx 425 of the fifth toe. Further, fourth unpadded portion 147 may be located in an area corresponding to the metatarsophalangeal joint 400 of the big toe.

By omitting the pads in the first and fourth

unpadded portions

145, 147, an increased feel of the ball may be provided in the area of the foot that is used for frequent contact with the soccer ball during play. In addition, by omitting the pads in first unpadded portion 145 and fourth unpadded portion 147, increased flexibility may be provided to upper 105 in areas where the foot is significantly flexed.

Also shown in fig. 4 are second and third

unpadded portions

150, 155 on the lateral side of upper 105, and fifth and sixth

unpadded portions

148, 149 on the medial side of upper 105. The lateral non-padded portion and the medial non-padded portion may provide weight savings in areas of the foot that are not often used to contact a ball and are less likely to be stepped on or kicked. The medial unpadded portion may also provide increased ball feel in areas of the foot not commonly used for controlling soccer balls.

FIG. 5 illustrates an assembled view of footwear 100, and also illustrates a partial enlarged cross-sectional view of a toe region of footwear 100, taken generally along section line 5-5 in FIG. 4. As shown in fig. 5, upper 105 may be non-padded in areas corresponding with first proximal phalanx 405 and second proximal phalanx 410, as shown by lining material layer 175 and outer layer 185 abutting one another in these areas. As also shown in fig. 6, upper 105 may include portions of padding layer 180 corresponding with third distal phalanx 440, fourth distal phalanx 445, and fifth distal phalanx 450.

Fig. 6 is a top view of an article of footwear 600 according to another embodiment. In some embodiments, footwear 600 may have selectively placed inserts similar to the inserts discussed above. As shown in fig. 6, footwear 600 may include an upper 605 having a plurality of transparent portions. In some embodiments, the placement of the transparent portion may coincide with the non-cushioned portion of upper 605.

The substantially transparent portion may have any suitable transparency. In some embodiments, the upper may be transparent throughout the substantially transparent portion. This may allow the wearer's sock to be seen through the upper. In some sports, such as soccer, the socks are part of a uniform and may be colored with team colors. Thus, by providing transparency all the way through the upper, portions of the footwear may appear to have the same color as the wearer's socks and thus the same color as the team uniform. This may enable a unique footwear style to be formed to match teams of all colors, rather than creating several different shoes with different accents. In some embodiments, the multiple layers may be substantially transparent so as to provide complete transparency through the entire thickness of the upper.

In other embodiments, in a substantially transparent portion, one or more layers of the upper may be transparent while other layers are not. The partial transparency may expose various interior structures of the upper, such as a reinforcement layer, a liner, a lining, or other structural elements.

As shown in fig. 6, in some embodiments, upper 605 may include padded regions, such as eyelet region pad 610, collar pad 695, and toe pad 620. These padded portions may have similar attributes to those discussed above with respect to the corresponding components of the other disclosed embodiments.

Disposed between padded portions of upper 605 may be a plurality of unpadded portions. For example, upper 605 may include a first unpadded portion 625. The first unpadded portion 625 may be positioned to correspond with the proximal phalanx of the foot. Additionally, the area of upper 605 that includes unpadded portion 625 may include multiple substantially transparent portions. For example, as shown in fig. 6, the unpadded portion 625 can include a first plurality of substantially transparent portions including a first substantially transparent portion 801, a second substantially transparent portion 802, a third substantially transparent portion 803, and a fourth substantially transparent portion 804. In some embodiments, the first plurality of substantially transparent portions may be elongated and arranged substantially parallel to each other, as shown in fig. 6.

Upper 605 may also include a second non-padded portion 630. The second non-cushioned portion 630 may also correspond to the proximal phalanx of the foot. As shown in fig. 6, second unpadded portion 630 may include a second plurality of substantially transparent portions including a fifth substantially transparent portion 805, a sixth substantially transparent portion 806, a seventh substantially transparent portion 807, and an eighth substantially transparent portion 808.

In some embodiments, the second plurality of substantially transparent portions may also be elongated and may be arranged substantially parallel to each other, as shown in fig. 6. Further, in some embodiments, the first plurality of elongate transparent portions may be aligned with the second plurality of elongate transparent portions. For example, as shown in fig. 6, the first substantially transparent portion 801 may be aligned with the fifth substantially transparent portion 805, as indicated by a first dashed line 636. In some embodiments, the first plurality of transparent portions and the second plurality of transparent portions may be discontinuous. Further, in some embodiments, a padded strap 622 may be disposed between a first unpadded portion 625 and a second unpadded portion 630.

As shown in fig. 6, upper 605 may also include a third non-padded portion 635. A third non-padded portion 635 may be disposed on a medial side of footwear 600 and may generally correspond with a first metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe of the foot. This may provide increased feel and reduced weight. The third non-padded portion 635 may include a third plurality of substantially transparent portions similar to the first plurality of substantially transparent portions in the first non-padded portion 625 and the second plurality of substantially transparent portions of the second non-padded portion 630. As shown in fig. 6, edges of the third plurality of substantially transparent portions may be substantially aligned with edges of the second plurality of substantially transparent portions, as indicated by second dashed line 637.

As shown in fig. 6, upper 605 may also include a fourth unpadded portion 640. Fourth unpadded portions 640 may also be disposed on the medial side of footwear 600. This may provide increased feel and reduced weight. The fourth non-padded portion 640 can include a fourth plurality of substantially transparent portions similar to the third plurality of substantially transparent portions in the third non-padded portion 635. As shown in fig. 6, edges of the fourth plurality of substantially transparent portions may be substantially aligned with edges of the third plurality of substantially transparent portions, as indicated by third dashed line 641.

Upper 605 may also include fifth unpadded portion 645. Fifth unpadded portions 645 may also be provided on the medial side of footwear 600. This may provide increased feel and reduced weight. The fifth unpadded portion 645 may include a fifth plurality of substantially transparent portions similar to the fourth plurality of substantially transparent portions in the fourth unpadded portion 640. As shown in fig. 6, edges of the fifth plurality of substantially transparent portions may be substantially aligned with edges of the fourth plurality of substantially transparent portions, as indicated by fourth dashed line 642.

As shown in fig. 6, upper 605 may also include a sixth unpadded portion 650. Sixth unpadded portion 650 may be disposed on a lateral side of footwear 600. This may provide for a reduced weight. Sixth unpadded portion 650 may include a sixth plurality of substantially transparent portions similar to the fifth plurality of substantially transparent portions in fifth unpadded portion 645. As shown in fig. 6, edges of the sixth plurality of substantially transparent portions may be substantially aligned with edges of the first plurality of substantially transparent portions, as indicated by a fifth dashed line 651.

Upper 605 may also include a seventh unpadded portion 655. Seventh unpadded portion 650 may also be disposed on a lateral side of footwear 600. This may provide for a reduced weight. The seventh non-padded portion 655 can include a seventh plurality of substantially transparent portions similar to the sixth plurality of substantially transparent portions in the sixth non-padded portion 650. As shown in fig. 6, edges of the seventh plurality of substantially transparent portions may be substantially aligned with edges of the sixth plurality of substantially transparent portions, as indicated by sixth dashed line 656.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of footwear 600, with a stripped-away section showing an interior layer of the upper. As shown in fig. 7, upper 605 may include an exposed exterior layer 685. Fig. 7 shows a section of outer layer 685 peeled away in wing 700. The wing 700 exposes the inner layer including the liner layer 680 and the liner material layer 675. The liner material layer 675, liner layer 680, and outer layer 685 can have similar properties as the corresponding components of the embodiments discussed above.

As shown in fig. 7, the toe area pad 620 may extend to the edge of the unpadded portion 630. Similarly, the padded strap 622 can extend to the opposite edge of the unpadded portion 630. In some embodiments, the substantially transparent portion may be completely transparent through the thickness of upper 605. In such embodiments, the liner material layer 675 may include additional substantially transparent portions or may include only openings. The outer layer 685 may be similarly configured, i.e., having a transparent portion or opening, as shown in fig. 7. Further, portions of the layer of liner material 675 are shown adjacent to the fifth substantially transparent portion 805 and the sixth substantially transparent portion 806. Specifically, a first lining portion 705, a second lining portion 710, and a third lining portion 715 are shown in the substantially transparent portion of the second unpadded portion 630.

Fig. 8 is a medial side view of footwear 600. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of the medially positioned non-padded and substantially transparent portions of upper 605. As shown in fig. 8, third non-padded portion 635 may include a ninth substantially transparent portion 809, a tenth substantially transparent portion 810, and an eleventh substantially transparent portion 811. Second dashed line 637 shows these transparent portions aligned with those of second unpadded portion 630.

Additionally, the fourth non-padded portion 640 may include a twelfth substantially transparent portion 812, a thirteenth substantially transparent portion 813, a fourteenth substantially transparent portion 814, and a fifteenth substantially transparent portion 815. It should be noted that the unpadded portions may include different numbers of substantially transparent portions. Third dashed line 641 shows ninth substantially transparent portion 809 aligned with twelfth substantially transparent portion 812.

The fifth unpadded portion 645 may include a sixteenth substantially transparent portion 816, a seventeenth substantially transparent portion 817, an eighteenth substantially transparent portion 818, and a nineteenth substantially transparent portion 819. A fourth dashed line 642 shows that the twelfth substantially transparent portion 812 is aligned with the seventeenth substantially transparent portion 817. In some embodiments, one or more substantially transparent portions of a non-padded portion may not be aligned with a substantially transparent portion of an adjacent non-padded portion. For example, the fifteenth substantially transparent portion 815 is not aligned with any other substantially transparent portions of the adjacent non-padded portions. In some cases, this may be because adjacent unpadded portions have fewer substantially transparent portions, such as third unpadded portion 635. In some cases, this may be because the substantially transparent portions of adjacent non-padded portions are positioned offset, as is the fifth non-padded portion 645. It should also be noted that in some embodiments, the substantially transparent portion may extend along an arc. Further, in some embodiments, the substantially transparent portions of a given non-padded portion may have different lengths. For example, the medially positioned substantially transparent portion shown in fig. 8 may have an arcuate and tapered configuration.

Fig. 9 is a lateral elevational view of footwear 600. Fig. 8 shows the arrangement of the laterally positioned non-padded and substantially transparent portions of upper 605. As shown in fig. 9, in some embodiments, the substantially transparent portion may be substantially linear. As further shown in fig. 9, in some embodiments, the substantially transparent portions of a given non-padded portion may be staggered, i.e., offset from each other along its elongate length, as shown by the substantially transparent portions of seventh non-padded portion 655.

While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the current embodiments. Accordingly, the present embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached items and their equivalents. Features described in one embodiment may or may not be included in other embodiments described herein. In addition, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached items.

Claims

1. An article of footwear including a sole structure fixedly attached to an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper comprising:

an exposed outer layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and

a polymer foam material selectively positioned on an interior side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper; the padded portion of the upper is located in an area that includes an area of the upper corresponding to a distal phalanx of a hallux of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear and includes a rib pad that extends downward from an eyelet area pad disposed adjacent a tongue opening of the upper to a bottom edge of the upper; and is

A padded portion of the upper disposed between the padded portions of the upper, the padded portion including an area of the upper corresponding with a first metatarsophalangeal joint of the big toe,

wherein the eyelet area pad is U-shaped, and the U-shaped eyelet area pad includes a leg portion that extends continuously along a tongue opening to an ankle opening in a direction away from a forefoot region.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the padded portion of the upper is located in an area corresponding with another phalanx of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the upper further includes a liner disposed inside the exposed outer layer and the polymer foam material.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the exposed outer layer is a substantially elastic material.

5. The article of footwear of any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper includes one or more transparent portions in at least one of the non-cushioned portions of the upper.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the unpadded portions of the upper include a first unpadded portion including a first plurality of elongated transparent portions arranged substantially parallel to one another.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6, wherein the unpadded portion of the upper includes a second unpadded portion including a second plurality of elongated transparent portions arranged substantially parallel to one another;

8. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the non-padded portions of the upper including one or more transparent portions is located on a medial side or a lateral side of the article of footwear.

9. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-4 and 6-8, wherein the sole structure includes a ground engaging surface having one or more ground engaging members extending therefrom.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the sole structure includes a ground engaging surface having one or more ground engaging members extending therefrom.

11. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-4, 6-8, and 10, wherein the sole structure includes a ground-engaging surface having one or more anti-slip members extending therefrom.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 5, wherein the sole structure includes a ground-engaging surface having one or more anti-slip members extending therefrom.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 9, wherein the sole structure includes the ground-engaging surface with one or more anti-slip members extending from the ground-engaging surface.

14. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-4, 6-8, 10, and 12-13, wherein the padded portion includes a heel cup pad that extends around a heel region of the sole structure.

15. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the padded portion includes a heel cup pad that extends around a heel region of the sole structure.

16. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the padded portion includes a heel cup pad that extends around a heel region of the sole structure.

17. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the padded portion includes a heel cup pad that extends around a heel region of the sole structure.

18. The article of footwear of any of claims 1-4, 6-8, 10, 12-13, and 15-17, wherein the padded portion comprises a collar pad disposed adjacent a throat of the article of footwear.

19. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the padded portion comprises a collar pad disposed adjacent a throat of the article of footwear.

20. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the padded portion comprises a collar pad disposed adjacent a throat of the article of footwear.

21. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the padded portion comprises a collar pad disposed adjacent a throat of the article of footwear.

22. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the padded portion comprises a collar pad disposed adjacent a throat of the article of footwear.