Upper components for footwear include: (a) a first layer including a first filament including first plural, non-intersecting, spaced apart path segments (wherein the first filament may have a width dimension of less than 3 mm wide); and (b) a second layer including a second filament including second plural, non-intersecting, spaced apart path segments (wherein the second filament may have a width dimension of less than 3 mm), wherein the second layer is fused to the first layer at locations where the layers contact one another. Additional layers of material, including additional layers with filament, may be included in the upper. The filament material in the different layers may be the same or different from one another (e.g., a thermoplastic material, a thermoplastic polyurethane material, a hydrophobic material, a water-repelling material, a non-water absorbing material, etc.). One or more layers each may be formed as a continuous extruded path of filament.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a base layer and a plurality of support members. The base layer has a peripheral portion. The support members have end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the end portions. The end portions of the support members are coupled to the peripheral portion of the base layer. Each of the intermediate portions of the support members intersect with one or more other ones of the support members and is independently movable between a relaxed state and an engaged state relative to the one or more other ones of the support members.

A cycling shoe comprises a sole defining an undersurface of the cycling shoe, the sole having connection holes configured for connection of a pedal cleat to the sole. An upper is connected to the sole and defining with the sole a foot-receiving cavity. An expansion zone is located in a lateral or medial subportion of a metatarsal portion and/or toe portion of the cycling shoe and configured to be opposite a portion of at least a fifth metatarsal of a wearer of the cycling shoe, the expansion zone being entirely surrounded by a window of structural upper paneling and defined by at least one panel having a greater stretching characteristics than the structural upper paneling of the window.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming an upper dispensed component by dispensing material over an upper for an article of footwear. The upper dispensed component includes a bonded segment that bonds to the article of footwear and a non-bonded segment that does not bond to the article of footwear. The non-bonded segment is dispensed over a non-stick material.

Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).

Hot melt sequins and methods of applying these sequins are disclosed. The sequins may be stitched to a layer of an article in a pattern to form a relatively rigid structure. The sequins may be made of a hotmelt material and melted to form a continuous structure. The sequins may be located along a lacing region and used as eyelets to secure laces.

An article of footwear with a medial contact portion disposed on the medial side of the article is described. The medial contact portion includes a plurality of raised elements that extend outwards from the surface of the upper on the medial side. The raised elements are configured to contact a ball during passing or trapping to absorb and dampen forces associated with the impact of the ball with the article to provide cushioning. The sizing and spacing arrangement of the raised elements on the medial contact portion provide sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the surface of the upper to contact a ball. In one embodiment, the upper is made from a synthetic leather material that has substantially the same coefficient of friction under dry conditions and wet conditions.

An upper for an article of footwear includes a base layer, an exterior layer, a first strap, and a second strap. The exterior layer at least partially covers an outer side of the base layer and defines a first aperture and a second aperture both in a forefoot region. Each strap includes a central portion, a front branch, and a rear branch, the front and rear branches disposed between the outer side of the base layer and the exterior layer. The front branch of the second strap crosses the rear branch of the first strap and is disposed forward of the rear branch of the first strap at the lower extent of the base layer. The central portion of the first strap extends through the first aperture and defines a first loop, and the central portion of the second strap extends through the second aperture and defines a second loop.

An article of footwear includes an upper and a ball control region. The ball control region is formed on an exterior surface of the upper and includes at least one ball control pad having a ball control panel attached to and spaced apart from the upper by one or more flexible elements.

An article of footwear may include an upper that has a plurality of discrete sections secured to one another. Each discrete section may include a base layer and a cover layer. Each cover layer may be secured to and may cover the outer side of a corresponding base layer. Each cover layer may be configured to be selectively removable from the base layer independently of each other cover layer to expose the outer side of the base layer. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear may include providing the plurality of base layers and providing the plurality of cover layers. The method may further include securing the cover layers to the base layers so that the cover layers cover the outer sides of the base layers.