A43B23/0275

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH DYNAMIC SUPPORT

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

KNITTED ARTICLE WITH AT LEAST ONE SCALLOP ELEMENT AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
20220110400 · 2022-04-14 ·

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to an article at least partially formed by a knitted component. In some embodiments, the article may include an upper for an article of footwear. The knitted component may include a seamless portion extending from a toe area, through a midfoot area, and to a heel area of the upper on at least one of a lateral and a medial side of the upper. A first course may at least partially form the knitted component, and the first course may extend from the heel area to the toe area of the upper. The knitted component may include one or more scallop elements at least partially overlapping.

Method of Making Article with Ribbon Structure and Embroidered Edges
20220098773 · 2022-03-31 ·

A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

UPPER STRUCTURE OF AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR INCLUDING A CUFF MEMBER
20220087365 · 2022-03-24 · ·

An upper structure of an article of footwear includes an upper, a cuff member, and a strobel. The upper includes an exterior upper member and an interior upper member. The cuff member includes a first end coupled to the exterior upper member and a second end coupled to the interior upper member. The cuff member is folded over on itself at a fold to define an ankle opening. The strobel is coupled to the upper and cooperates with the upper to at least partially define a foot-receiving void.

Shoe Upper With Floating 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.

Method of Making Article with Ribbon Structure and Embroidered Edges
20220074097 · 2022-03-10 ·

A method of making an article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The method includes laying down ribbon elements in straight and winding sections. The method includes stitching or otherwise attaching the ribbon elements to a backing layer. The method also includes embroidering a periphery of the ribbon structure to tack down any raised portions of the ribbon at the periphery. The method also includes inserting a lace through loops in the ribbon structure.

Human locomotion assisting shoe
11234482 · 2022-02-01 ·

Embodiments of footwear, in particular, a shoe, sandal or boot, may reduce the effort and improve the performance of walking, running, hiking, as well as jumping, hopping, and other motion involving the ankle, lower leg and Achilles tendon, through integration of force-carrying mechanisms within footwear that manage the forces and energy associated with such motion by productively harvesting and storing energy during dorsiflexion motion and releasing and returning energy during plantar flexion and limiting range of motion that conduce towards ankle inversion and eversion. Such footwear may comprise a yoke connected to footwear at a pivot region in parallel to the axis of rotation of the ankle and a tension spring region suspended between the yoke and the heel counter.

Running shoe having lacing
11147344 · 2021-10-19 · ·

A running shoe includes medial and lateral eyelets arranged on the medial and lateral side in the longitudinal direction from the front foot area of the running shoe to the heel section, wherein in each case a medial eyelet and a lateral eyelet located at the same height in the longitudinal direction form an eyelet pair; reinforcing ribs are arranged on the medial and lateral side in the front foot area, wherein the reinforcing ribs are arranged at an acute rib angle to the longitudinal direction of the running shoe, and a lace having lace sections for lacing, wherein the lace is led through the eyelets in such a way that the lace sections extending from the eyelets of the first lace pair in relation to the front foot area, each run at an acute lacing angle to the longitudinal direction to at least one further eyelet closer to the heel section.

SHOE UPPER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SHOE UPPER
20210315317 · 2021-10-14 · ·

Provided is a shoe upper that includes an upper body including a region having elasticity, and a film arranged in the region, in which the film has a heat shrinkage rate of 30% or more at least in one direction. Also provided is a method for producing a shoe upper that includes: a preparation step of preparing an upper body including a region having elasticity; an arrangement step of arranging a film in the region of the upper body, in which the film has a heat shrinkable rate of 30% or more at least in one direction; an attachment step of attaching the upper body to a shoe last or foot; and a heating step of, after the arrangement step and the attachment step, heating the upper body with the film arranged thereon to thereby allow the film to shrink to conform to the shoe last or foot.

Skate boot having a lace member with at least one opening
11140942 · 2021-10-12 · ·

A skate boot comprising an outer shell including medial and lateral side portions for facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot. Each of the medial and lateral side portions has an upper edge. The skate boot also comprises a lace member mounted to either of the upper edges of the medial and lateral side portions. The lace member has at least one opening for receiving an insert. The lace member has a first flexion mode when no insert is received in the at least one opening and a second flexion mode when the insert is received in the at least one opening. The second flexion mode is different from the first flexion mode.