Footwear including woven upper

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016270474-A9
Application number	US-201313779084-A
Country	US
Kind code	A9
Filing date	Feb 27, 2013
Priority date	Mar 27, 2012
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A shoe component, wherein the shoe component is formed by 3-dimensional weaving such that the shoe component has one or more woven layers, each having a warp direction and a fill direction, wherein the shoe component has one direction of stretch; a shoe containing at least one of the shoe components in an upper; and a shoe in which the entire upper, and optionally the midsole and/or outsole, are entirely formed by 3-dimensional weaving.

First claim

1 . A shoe comprising:
an upper; and a sole, wherein at least one portion of the upper is formed by 3-dimensional weaving, wherein said at least one portion has one or more woven layers, each having a warp direction and a fill direction, such that said at least one portion has one direction of stretch.

2 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein said at least one portion of the upper is at least one member selected from the group consisting of tongue, quarters, vamps, heel seat, and toe box.

3 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portion of the upper formed by 3-dimensional weaving is the entire upper.

4 . The shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a midsole and an outsole, and the upper and the midsole form a unitary structure wherein the entire unitary structure is formed by 3-dimensional weaving.

5 . The shoe of any one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the one direction of stretch is in a heel-toe direction.

6 . The shoe of any one of claims 1 - 4 , wherein the one direction of stretch is in a medial-lateral direction.

7 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein the upper comprises a lace closure.

8 . The shoe of claim 7 , wherein the upper is woven from top down.

9 . The shoe of claim 7 , wherein the upper is woven laterally.

10 . The shoe of claim 3 , wherein the shoe is a slip-on construction.

11 . The shoe of claim 10 , wherein the upper is woven from top down.

12 . The shoe of claim 10 , wherein the upper is woven laterally.

13 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the unitary structure comprises a lace closure.

14 . The shoe of claim 13 , wherein the unitary structure is woven from top down.

15 . The shoe of claim 13 , wherein the unitary structure is woven laterally.

16 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the unitary structure is a slip-on construction.

17 . The shoe of claim 16 , wherein the unitary structure is woven from top down.

18 . The shoe of claim 16 , wherein the unitary structure is woven laterally.

19 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the unitary structure comprises at least one 3-dimensionally woven flange externally projecting laterally from a vicinity of the midsole portion.

20 . The shoe of claim 19 , wherein the at least one 3-dimensionally woven flange is a pair of 3-dimensionally woven flanges each externally projecting laterally from opposite sides of the midsole portion and having holes arranged therein such that the pair of flanges can be externally wrapped over a vamp portion and form lacing structures.

21 . The shoe of claim 19 , wherein the at least one 3-dimensionally woven flange is a pair of 3-dimensionally woven flanges each externally projecting laterally from opposite sides of the midsole portion and wherein the pair of flanges contain a mechanism by which the flanges can be detachably connected to one another when externally wrapped over a vamp portion.

22 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the outsole is a solid piece formed of a member selected form the group consisting of thermoplastic rubbers, natural and synthetic rubbers, crepe rubber, and composite materials; and is affixed to an underside of the midsole portion of the unitary structure.

23 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the outsole comprises a plurality of woven portions on an underside of the midsole portion of the unitary structure, wherein the plurality of woven portions are formed from at least one member selected from the group consisting of fuseable yarns, abrasion resistant yarns, cushioning yarns, and high tenacity yarns.

24 . The shoe of claim 23 , wherein the plurality of woven portions forming the outsole are woven into the underside of the midsole portion of the unitary structure during the 3-dimensional weaving process of forming the unitary structure.

25 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the midsole portion of the unitary structure comprises a plurality of 3-dimensionally woven layers forming a pocket having an opening proximal to one end thereof, wherein said pocket runs substantially an entire length from toe to heel and substantially across an entire width of the midsole portion.

26 . The shoe of claim 25 , wherein the opening for the pocket is in an external layer of the plurality of 3-dimensionally woven layers.

27 . The shoe of claim 26 , further comprising a support member inserted in the pocket, such that a wearer of the shoe is provided with arch support.

28 . The shoe of claim 27 , wherein the support member is formed so as to provide cushioning to a wearer's foot.

29 . The shoe of claim 25 , wherein the opening for the pocket is in an internal layer of the plurality of 3-dimensionally woven layers.

30 . The shoe of claim 29 , further comprising a support member inserted in the pocket, such that a wearer of the shoe is provided with arch support.

31 . The shoe of claim 29 , further comprising an insert member inserted in the pocket, and providing odor and/or bacteria control to a wearer of the shoe.

32 . The shoe of claim 4 , wherein the unitary structure comprises a plurality of 3-dimensionally woven layers, wherein an internal layer of the unitary structure comprises one or more yarns selected from the group consisting of cushioning yarns, antimicrobial yarns, and wicking yarns.

33 . In a conventional shoe construction formed of an upper portion and a sole portion, the improvement wherein the upper portion is a one piece upper formed by 3-dimensional weaving, wherein said one piece upper has one or more woven layers, each having a warp direction and a fill direction, such that said one piece upper has one direction of stretch.

34 . In the conventional shoe construction of claim 33 , wherein the one direction of stretch is in a heel to toe direction.

35 . In the conventional shoe construction of claim 33 , wherein the one direction of stretch is in a medial-lateral direction.

36 . A shoe component, wherein the shoe component is formed by 3-dimensional weaving such that the shoe component has one or more woven layers, each having a warp direction and a fill direction, wherein the shoe component has one direction of stretch.

37 . The shoe component of claim 36 , wherein the shoe component is a member selected from the group consisting of tongue, quarters, vamps, heel seat, and toe box.

38 . The shoe component of claim 36 , wherein the shoe component is a midsole component.

39 . The shoe component of claim 38 , wherein the midsole component comprises a plurality of 3-dimensionally woven layers forming a pocket having an opening proximal to one end thereof, wherein said pocket runs substantially an entire length from toe to heel and substantially across an entire width of the midsole component.

Assignees

• Under Armour Inc

Inventors

• Fallon Kevin Patrick

Classifications

• A43B1/00 Primary

  Footwear characterised by the material · CPC title

• A43B1/05

  woven · CPC title

• A43B23/0205 Primary

  characterised by the material (material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08) · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B23/042

  Uppers made of one piece (one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124) · CPC title