A method of forming a traced element is disclosed. The method may include printing layers of a traced element and incorporating a textile strand in overlapping polymer layers of the traced element. In some embodiments, the traced element may be formed on a base layer. The traced element may be incorporated into an upper for an article of footwear.

Uppers for article of footwear may include one or more skin layers attached to a base layer, wherein the skin layers overlap with one another in varying ways (e.g., with a first skin layer overlaying a second skin layer at some locations and the second skin layer overlaying the first skin layer at other locations). If desired, at least one of the skin layers may be at least partially transparent or translucent. The skin layer(s) may be applied over other elements of the upper (e.g., other skin layers, base layers, reinforcing layers, etc.). Additional aspects of this invention relate to production of curved tongue composite structures and/or footwear having a bonded (hot melt) side seam for forming the upper (and optionally do not include a rear heel seam).

An upper including: a plurality of panels provided in a medial side portion and/or a lateral side portion, the panels being separated from one another in a longitudinal direction of a foot, covering at least a portion of the side surface of the foot, and being pulled by a fastening member toward a center portion between the medial side and the lateral side of the foot; and a plurality of string-like non-stretchable string portions that are extending in the longitudinal direction, the string portions placed between a pair of the plurality of panels that are adjacent to each other in the longitudinal direction.

A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one instance, the device is an external metatarsal protection device for a shoe or boot, having a sole with a first surface for supporting a wearer's foot and a second surface for contacting a ground area, an upper affixed to the sole, and an integral toe cap. An interior surface of the upper and the first surface of the sole define a receptacle for receiving the wearer's foot. The external protection device is incorporated along an exterior surface of the upper and is positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot. In an instance, the external protection device has injection-molded first and second layers of material, with the cushioning elements formed on a surface of the first layer and a plurality of grooves defined on a surface of the second layer.

An article of footwear, such as a shoe, includes an upper and a sole. The upper may be formed with an outer layer and a floating textile layer relative to one or more portions of the outer layer. The floating textile layer has an apparent elongation that is less than an apparent elongation of the outer layer in response to an equal tensile force applied to each of the floating textile layer and the outer layer along a same axis of orientation. The differential in apparent elongation of the outer layer and the floating textile layer may increase wearability and functionability of the upper.

The present invention discloses a novel one-piece sandwich structured knitted waterproof upper with rubber topline, comprises, an upper body, comprising a surface layer, a waterproof and breathing layer and a liner layer, the surface layer is made from yarn, an inner side of the surface layer is provided with evenly distributed yarn meshes, the liner layer is made from a polyester fiber layer, an inner side of the polyester fiber layer is provided with a mildew proof and antibacterial layer; an end of the upper body is provided with a topline, a flexible rubber band is provided at an inner side of the topline; and ventilating pores are provided at an inner side of the surface layer. By configuring the upper body to contain materials such as the polyester fiber layer with waterproof function and cooperating with weaving in different knitting intensities, air ventilation is good compared with leather uppers.

The present invention relates to a process for preparing and compositions for stiffening materials for use in the manufacturing of footwear using a combination of stiffeners and adhesives.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper secured to the sole structure. The upper includes a heel section, lateral side section, medial side section, instep and toe cage that define an interior cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer. At least a portion of the upper includes a laminate, where the laminate includes an inner layer facing the cavity, an outer layer forming an exterior of the shoe, and an intermediate layer disposed between inner and outer layers, the intermediate layer comprising a reinforcing layer having a rigidity that is greater than the rigidity of the inner and outer layers. The reinforcing layer extends from the lateral side section to the medial side section.

Methods for manufacturing uppers for articles footwear that include thermo-forming an upper composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The methods may include disposing a skin for forming an upper over and inflatable bladder. The skin may include at least one of a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The skin and inflatable bladder may be placed into a mold cavity and the mold may be heated to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.

Articles of footwear including a thermo-molded upper having a skin composed of one or more low melting point thermoplastic polymers. The skin may include at least one of: a base layer composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer and a grid layer including a yarn composed of a low melting point thermoplastic polymer. The uppers may be formed by placing a skin and an inflatable bladder into a mold cavity and heating the mold to a predetermined temperature. The inflatable bladder may be inflated such that the skin is pressed against an interior surface of the heated mold cavity to cause the skin to take on the shape of the internal surface of the mold cavity, thereby forming an upper for an article of footwear.