A semi-finished component for the manufacture of knitted uppers, comprising a plain knitting and a purl knitting, and at least one longitudinally extended channel which is formed within the knitting between the plane formed by the plain knitting and the plane formed by the purl knitting, the at least one longitudinally extended channel being engageable by an elongated engagement element which forms a lace or a reinforcement element designed to engage with a lace.

A method of forming a fiber-bound engineered material utilizing carrier screens is provided that imparts an intended characteristic at an intended relative location. Also provided are articles formed of fiber-bound engineered materials manufactured utilizing carrier screens. A fiber layer is placed adjacent at least one carrier screen and entangled with additional fibers in a manner to create a non-uniform engineered material. The lack of uniformity of a fiber-bound engineered material may be accomplished through manipulation of the fibers and/or through fiber binding a scrim. The fiber layer binds with additional fibers through entanglement such that a mechanical connection between the entangled fibers is provided. This entanglement allows the fibers to bind without supplemental adhesives, interlacing, or connections.

An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

An eyelet for an article of footwear includes an eyelet body configured to slidably couple a first string to a second string. The eyelet body defines a first arc-shaped aperture and an opposing, second arc-shaped aperture. The first arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the first string, and the second arc-shaped aperture is configured to slidably receive the second string. The eyelet may be disposed over (but not necessarily attached to) an upper of an article of footwear.

The invention relates to a shoe which has two rows of laceholes (4) in the planar upper (3) thereof and a shoelace (1) threaded into the laceholes (4) and an edging element (2, 9, 14) which is fastened to one of the laceholes (4) in the upper (3) and is fixed against movement away from the lacehole (4) and has a through-hole (5) through which the shoelace (1) extends. A rigid connection that is permanent, that is to say cannot be detached non-destructively, is provided between the edging element (2, 9, 14) and the longitudinal region of the shoelace (1) passing through said element.

The invention relates to a shoe which has two rows of laceholes (4) in the planar upper (3) thereof and a shoelace (1) threaded into the laceholes (4) and an edging element (2, 9, 14) which is fastened to one of the laceholes (4) in the upper (3) and is fixed against movement away from the lacehole (4) and has a through-hole (5) through which the shoelace (1) extends. A rigid connection that is permanent, that is to say cannot be detached non-destructively, is provided between the edging element (2, 9, 14) and the longitudinal region of the shoelace (1) passing through said element.

Shoe soles with channels for receiving shoelaces or other tightening devices. The channels penetrate through the sole crossing the lateral direction (long length of the foot). Variation of the lacing pattern provides for many different aesthetic or functional arrangements. Some versions have tubes in or on the walls of the upper of the shoe. These can shield the laces from view, abrasion, etc.

Shoe soles with channels for receiving shoelaces or other tightening devices. The channels penetrate through the sole crossing the lateral direction (long length of the foot). Variation of the lacing pattern provides for many different aesthetic or functional arrangements. Some versions have tubes in or on the walls of the upper of the shoe. These can shield the laces from view, abrasion, etc.

A fastening structure of the present upper includes: an upper that defines a left eyelet row and a right eyelet row arranged along a longitudinal direction of a shoe; and a shoelace inserted through eyelets of the left and right eyelet rows, wherein: the left and right eyelet rows each at least include a first eyelet on a tip side, and a second eyelet, a third eyelet and a fourth eyelet that are arranged in this order from the first eyelet toward a posterior side; D.sub.1 is defined as a first average interval between eyelets; D.sub.2 is defined as a second average interval; D.sub.3 is defined as a third average interval; and Expressions (1) and (10) below are satisfied:

D.sub.1>D.sub.2<D.sub.3  (1)

1.0*(D.sub.1+D.sub.2)>D.sub.1>0.6*(D.sub.1+D.sub.2)  (10).

A fastening structure of the present upper includes: an upper that defines a left eyelet row and a right eyelet row arranged along a longitudinal direction of a shoe; and a shoelace inserted through eyelets of the left and right eyelet rows, wherein: the left and right eyelet rows each at least include a first eyelet on a tip side, and a second eyelet, a third eyelet and a fourth eyelet that are arranged in this order from the first eyelet toward a posterior side; D.sub.1 is defined as a first average interval between eyelets; D.sub.2 is defined as a second average interval; D.sub.3 is defined as a third average interval; and Expressions (1) and (10) below are satisfied:

D.sub.1>D.sub.2<D.sub.3  (1)

1.0*(D.sub.1+D.sub.2)>D.sub.1>0.6*(D.sub.1+D.sub.2)  (10).