Article of footwear incorporating braided tensile strands

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9554614-B2
Application number	US-201514753779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jan 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A branched braid member has a central braid portion and one or more tensile strands or small braids at either end of the central braid portion. The branched braid member may be incorporated into a shoe upper.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper and a sole structure;
a group of tensile strands forming a branched braid member;
the branched braid member comprising a first braid portion, a second braid portion, a first tensile strand, and a second tensile strand;
the first braid portion having a first end and a second end;
the second braid portion having a third end and a fourth end;
the first braid portion being spaced from the second braid portion;
wherein at least the first tensile strand extends from the first end of the first braid portion to the third end of the second braid portion;
wherein at least the second tensile strand extends from the first end of the first braid portion to the third end of the second braid portion;
the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand forming a void between the first braid portion and the second braid portion; and
wherein the branched braid member is incorporated into the upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first tensile strand extends from the second end of the first braid portion;
the second tensile strand extends from the second end of the braid portion;
the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand being braided together to form the first braid portion; and
the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand being braided together to form the second braid portion.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the branched braided member further comprises a third tensile strand and a fourth tensile strand, the third tensile strand and the fourth tensile strand extending from the second end of the first braid portion, at least a portion of one of the third tensile strand and the fourth tensile strand being permanently secured to the sole structure.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 3 , wherein the third tensile strand has an end distal from the first braid portion, and wherein a plurality of threads extend from the end of the third tensile strand.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 4 , wherein the first tensile strand and the third tensile strand are a continuous piece.

6. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand are fused together at a first intersection at the first end of the first braid portion.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of threads extend from the fourth end of the second portion.

8. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper and a sole structure;
a group of tensile strands forming a branched braid member;
the branched braid member comprising a central braid portion, a first tensile strand, and a second tensile strand;
the central braid portion including a first end and a second end;
wherein the first tensile strand extends from the first end;
wherein the second tensile strand extends from the first end;
the first tensile strand forming a first loop along a first side of the upper;
the second tensile strand forming a second loop along the first side of the upper;
wherein the first loop and the second loop are disposed proximate to one another;
wherein the branched braided member is incorporated into the upper;
wherein a first portion of the first tensile strand is enclosed in a first channel, the first channel having a first opening;
a second portion of the first tensile strand is enclosed in a second channel, the second channel having a second opening;
the second opening being proximate to the first opening; and
wherein a third portion of the first tensile strand extends between the first opening of the first channel and the second opening of the second channel forming the first loop.

9. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of one of the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure.

10. The article of footwear of claim 8 , wherein the central braid portion is located along the upper in a heel region of the article of footwear.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10 , wherein a fourth portion of the second tensile strand is enclosed in a third channel;
a fifth portion of the second tensile strand is enclosed in a fourth channel;
the third channel having a third opening;
the fourth channel having a fourth opening;
the third opening being proximate to the fourth opening; and
wherein a sixth portion of the second tensile strand extends between the third opening and the fourth opening forming the second loop.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand overlap.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12 , wherein the third channel includes a first side and a second side;
the first side facing an instep portion of the article;
the second side facing the sole structure;
at least a first channel portion of the second channel extending from the first side of the third channel;
at least a second channel portion of the second channel extending from the second side of the third channel.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the first channel further comprises a fifth opening;
wherein the third channel further comprises a sixth opening; and
the fifth opening being adjacent to the sixth opening.

15. The article of footwear of claim 11 , wherein the second channel includes a first end located proximate to the sole structure;
the fourth channel includes a second end located proximate to the sole structure;
the first end of the second channel and the second end of the fourth channel being proximate to one another.

16. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper and a sole structure;
a group of tensile strands forming a branched braid member
the branched braid member comprising a central braid portion, a first tensile strand, and a second tensile strand;
the central braid portion including a first end and a second end;
wherein the first tensile strand extends from the first end, and the second tensile strand extends from the first end;
the central braid portion passing through a first securing loop located proximate an ankle opening;
the first tensile strand extending through a second securing loop;
the second tensile strand also extending through the second securing loop;
the second securing loop being located proximate the sole structure;
wherein the branched braided member is incorporated into the upper.

17. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein at least a portion of one of the first tensile strand and the second tensile strand is permanently secured to the sole structure.

18. The article of footwear of claim 16 , wherein the first tensile strand extends from the second securing loop toward an instep area and back toward the sole structure;
wherein a lace passes through a lace loop formed by the first tensile strand; and
wherein the first tensile strand is located along an exterior of the upper.

19. The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein the upper is formed of a spacer textile material;
wherein a majority of the second tensile strand is located within the spacer textile material of the upper.

20. The article of footwear of claim 18 , wherein the second tensile strand extends from the second securing loop to a first opening in the upper;
wherein the second tensile strand extends through the upper from the first opening to a second opening;
wherein the second tensile strand exits the upper from

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Follet Lysandre

Classifications

• A43B1/04 Primary

  braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted · CPC title

• A43B23/0245

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• D04C1/12

  Cords, lines, or tows · CPC title

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title

• D10B2501/043

  Footwear · CPC title