An article of footwear includes sensory elements. The sensory elements are embedded in an upper of an article of footwear, the upper having a first layer and a second layer. Sensory elements are proximally disposed toward a foot when contacted by an object. Sensory elements may partially protrude from the first layer and/or the second layer. Sensory elements may also be fully covered between the first layer and the second layer.

Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.

A cap for capping an upper surface of a shoe a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer has an outer surface that has a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of the upper surface of the shoe that the cap caps. The second layer is an adhesive layer. The third layer is a release layer that can be peeled off the adhesive layer to expose it, thereby enabling the adhesive layer to stick to the shoe.

A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a textile and applying heat and/or pressure to the textile using a texturing device to form a textured area of the textile. The textured area is spaced apart from a substantially smooth area of the textile. The method further includes forming at least part of an upper from the textile after applying the heat and/or pressure to the textile. The upper includes a cavity configured to receive a foot. The substantially smooth area is configured to define a reference boundary of the upper. The substantially smooth area and the textured area are each configured to be disposed at predetermined regions of the upper. Furthermore, forming the textured area includes forming a plurality of projection structures that project outward from the reference boundary at varying distances.

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.

A cap for capping an upper surface of a shoe a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer has an outer surface that has a coefficient of friction that is greater than that of the upper surface of the shoe that that the cap caps. The second layer is an adhesive layer. Third layer is a release layer that can be peeled off the adhesive layer to expose it, thereby enabling said adhesive layer to stick to said shoe.

An upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, includes at least one tape covering at least 50% of the upper. At least one tape portion includes a plurality of connected tapes. A further aspect relates to an upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, including at least one tape portion including a plurality of connected tapes. In some connected tapes, the tapes are zig-zag stitched to each other on their edges.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.

A method for forming a bladder comprises providing a mold including a chamber wall having a first height and a cavity wall having a second height. The cavity wall is surrounded by the chamber wall and defines a plurality of cavities. A first sheet, a second sheet, and a gasket are provided to the mold, whereby the gasket is disposed adjacent to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The mold is moved such that a peripheral portion of the at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet and the gasket are compressed by the chamber wall. A first pressure is provided between the first sheet and the second sheet through the gasket to form a plurality of chambers, and the mold is moved to a second position to seal the first pressure between the first sheet and the second sheet.

A football shoe or boot including a sole (12), an upper (14) and a tongue (16), wherein the upper includes a flap (22) that overlies the tongue and at its lateral edges (33) is separated from side portions (15) of the upper by respective slits (25) open at their rear ends (26) and closed at their forward ends (27). The flap has an upper surface (23) that includes a ball control region (30). In one aspect the ball control region extends rearwardly from a foremost extremity located rearwardly of the forward ends of said slits. In another aspect, the slits are provided with lacing (60) whereby, when the shoe or boot is being worn, the relative positions of said lateral edges and the opposed side portions of the upper may be controlled.