Article of footwear having an upper with cord elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9622542-B2
Application number	US-201414469039-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2014
Priority date	Jul 18, 2011
Publication date	Apr 18, 2017
Grant date	Apr 18, 2017

Abstract

The embodiments relate to an article of footwear and method of manufacturing that includes a first layer and a second layer configured to form a plurality of tunnels configured to receive a cord system. The manufacturing includes steps of placing a first layer, placing a cord on the first layer, securing the cord on the first layer, placing a second layer on the first layer and the cord, attaching the second layer to the first layer, and detaching the cord from the first layer. When the cord is secured with a thread, the thread may be removed by dissolving or cutting. The attaching of the second layer to the first layer can be completed by stitching or thermal welding, for example.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
a first layer;
a second layer fixed to the first layer to create a tunnel system comprising a plurality of tunnels defined between the first layer and the second layer, wherein the plurality of tunnels include at least one turn, the at least one turn being formed between the first layer and the second layer;
at least one cord, wherein the cord is configured to be received by the tunnel system through the at least one turn, wherein the cord is capable of sliding through the tunnel system when the cord is received by the tunnel system, and wherein the second layer covers the at least one cord along the at least one turn when the at least one cord is received through the at least one turn; and
a lacing system in a lacing region, wherein cord elements of the cord are configured to form a plurality of loops to weave through the lacing system, two or more of the plurality of loops being formed by a single cord, and the cord elements being exposed from the tunnel system in at least one region of the upper.

2. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein a first portion of cord is configured to cross over a second portion of the cord in the forefoot portion.

3. The article of footwear according to claim 2 , wherein the cord elements are exposed in the lacing region when the cord is received by the tunnel system, wherein the plurality of tunnels include a first tunnel and a second tunnel each having a first terminal end and a second terminal end, wherein the first tunnel is separated from the second tunnel by a first row of stitching that connects the first layer to the second layer, and wherein the at least one turn connects the second terminal end of the first tunnel and to the second terminal end of the second tunnel.

4. The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the cord elements are exposed in a region corresponding to the sole structure.

5. The article of footwear according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of tunnels include a third tunnel separated from the second tunnel by a second row of stitching that connects the first layer to the second layer.

6. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper having a first layer extending from a toe portion to a heel portion, a second layer extending over the first layer from the toe portion to the heel portion, and at least one cord, wherein the first layer includes a perimeter and the second layer is fixed to the first layer along the perimeter in at least the toe portion, and wherein the second layer is fixed to the first layer to create a tunnel system comprising a plurality of tunnels designed to receive the cord such that the cord is capable of moving longitudinally through the tunnel system; and
a lacing system in a lacing region, wherein the at least one cord is configured to form a plurality of loops to weave through the lacing system, two or more of the plurality of loops being formed by a single cord, and the at least one cord being exposed from the tunnel system in at least one region of the upper.

7. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein the first layer and the second layer both extend from a medial edge of the upper to a lateral edge of the upper in the heel portion and wherein the second layer is fixed to the first layer along the perimeter in the heel portion.

8. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein the first layer and the second layer both extend from a medial edge of the upper to a lateral edge of the upper in the toe portion.

9. The article of footwear according to claim 7 , wherein both the first layer and the second layer extend from a forward edge of the sole structure to a rearward edge of the sole structure and wherein the second layer is fixed to the first layer along a majority of the perimeter.

10. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein at least one tunnel of the plurality of tunnels has a plurality of 180 degree turns defined between the first layer and the second layer.

11. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein the first layer is sewn to the second layer with stitching along at least a portion of the perimeter of the upper.

12. The article of footwear according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one cord is free from the stitching that sews the first layer to the second layer along the perimeter of the upper.

13. The article of footwear according to claim 6 , wherein the at least one cord includes a single cord that extends through the plurality of tunnels such that the cord extends along the medial side, the lateral side, the toe portion, and the heel portion of the upper.

14. An article of footwear, comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper having a first layer extending from a toe portion to a heel portion, a second layer extending from the toe portion to the heel portion over the first layer, and at least one cord having a first terminal end, a second terminal end, and a length disposed between the first terminal end and the second terminal end, wherein the second layer is fixed to the first layer to create a tunnel system comprising a plurality of tunnels having a zig zag pattern including at least three turns designed to receive the cord such that (a) the first terminal end is disposed on a first point of the upper, the second end is disposed on a second point of the upper, and the length of the cord extends through the plurality of tunnels along the at least three turns of the zig zag pattern such that the cord is covered by the second layer along the at least three turns and (b) the cord is capable of sliding through the tunnel system; and
a lacing system in a lacing region, wherein cord elements of the cord are configured to form a plurality of loops to weave through the lacing system, two or more of the plurality of loops being formed by the cord, and the cord elements being exposed from the tunnel system in at least one region of the upper.

15. The article of footwear according to claim 14 , wherein the first layer is sewn to the second layer along a perimeter of the upper in at least the toe portion and the heel portion.

16. The article of footwear according to claim 14 , wherein the at least three turns are disposed in the toe portion.

17. The article of footwear according to claim 14 , wherein both the first layer and the second layer extend from a forward edge of the sole structure to a rearward edge of the sole structure.

18. The article of footwear according to claim 17 , wherein the first layer and the second layer both extend from a medial edge of the upper to a lateral edge of the upper in the toe portion.

19. The article of footwear according to claim 18 , wherein the first layer and the second layer both extend from a medial edge of the upper to a lateral edge of the upper in the toe portion.

20. The article of footwear according to claim 14 , wherein at least one tunnel of the plurality of tunnels has a plurality of 180 degree turns and wherein the second layer covers a majority of the first layer.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Greene Pamela S

Classifications

• A43B23/0265

  having different properties in different directions · CPC title

• A43B23/026 Primary

  Laminated layers · CPC title

• A43C1/00 Primary

  Shoe lacing fastenings (garment fastening devices A41F) · CPC title

• A43C1/04

  with rings or loops · CPC title

• A43B23/025

  assembled by stitching · CPC title