An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having extended floated portions to distribute forces acting on the knitted component and resist stretching of the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.

An article of footwear having a removable outsole, midsole, and upper is provided. A portion of the upper may have a perimeter lip that may be coupled to a perimeter channel in an upper surface or side of the outsole. The midsole may be securely placed into the upper to further secure the upper to the outsole. The fit of the outsole, upper, and midsole generates a securely assembled article of footwear ready for user wear. In aspects, the removable outsole, midsole, and upper may be changed to customize the article footwear for the user.

The invention relates to a shoe upper (1) for a shoe (2), especially for a sports shoe. To create an upper which allows an optimal lacing at a pleasant appearance the invention proposes that the upper comprises: a plane base layer (3) of material, a structured layer (4) being arranged on the outer surface (5) of the base layer (3) facing away from the foot of the wearer of the shoe (2), wherein the structured layer (4) comprises a plurality of tunnel sections (6), wherein each tunnel section (6) has at least one tunnel (7) which extends from a first side (8) to a second side (9) of the tunnel section (6) and wherein the tunnel section (6) comprises at least one connecting channel (10) which connects the tunnel (7) with the outer surface (11) of the tunnel section (6).

A shoe may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include a shell and first, second, third, and fourth sets of tensile restraints. Each of the sets may have one or more tensile restraints extending over and/or through a corresponding portion of the shell. The shell may be engaged with the sole structure and define an interior void configured to receive insertion of a user's foot. The first, second, third, and fourth sets of tensile restraints may be configured so that, upon securing of one or more structures to tighten the upper and connect the sets of tensile restraints, two linear axes of tension with anchors located in the forefoot and heel region extend diagonally across the article from one side to the other.

A lacing system for footwear (1) is disclosed, comprising one or more shoelaces (2, 3; 16). Each edge of the upper (12) carries two gripping points, one (7(2), 7(3); 17) fastened to said edge of the upper and apt to obtain the opening of the shoe (1) and one (6(2), 6(3)) fastened to the opposite edge of said upper (12) and apt to obtain the closing of the footwear (1).

Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The article of footwear may comprise a sole and a braided upper comprising a toe portion having a toe seam, a heel portion comprising a seamless braided structure, and a throat portion. The toe portion may comprise a base yarn. The throat portion may comprise a stretch yarn. Additionally, the heel portion may comprise both the stretch yarn and the base yarn.

A footwear construction including a support cage that wraps an upper to provide an adaptive fit to accommodate a variety of foot shapes and to adapt to changes in foot shape during a gait cycle, while providing exceptional stability and support. The footwear can include an upper, a support cage and a sole assembly. The upper can be joined with the sole assembly and can include an exterior. The sole assembly can define a recess extending across a width of the sole assembly from a medial side to a lateral side. The support cage can be constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymeric material, disposed over the exterior of the upper and free floating relative to the exterior of the upper. The support cage can include a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, through the recess defined by the sole assembly.

A shoe comprising an upper, a midsole coupled to the upper and comprising a recess proximal to a junction between the upper and the midsole, a midsole insert comprising a channel, the midsole insert configured to seat within the recess, and a shoe panel configured to detachably couple to the upper of the shoe, the shoe panel comprising a first end configured to seat within the channel of the midsole insert. The shoe panel may be a midfoot or heel panel and may be detachably coupled to the upper by a hook and loop closure. The shoe may be a slip on shoe comprising a tongue side extension that is tucked under a quarter extension to allow a midfoot panel to smoothly couple to the upper over the tongue.

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).

A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.