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Performance footwear

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-02-19
UNDER ARMOUR
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a type of footwear with an upper that is connected to a sole structure. The upper is made up of two parts that are both made using a process called compression molding. This process helps to control the structure of the upper and makes it comfortable and fit well. The upper has a smooth heel cup and toe cage area with integrated toe guides that help to position the toe of the person wearing the footwear in a specific position. The upper also has a microstructure made of protrusions that improve its fit and comfort.

Problems solved by technology

The processes for constructing performance footwear can be labor intensive, often requiring sophisticated and expensive stitching and / or injection molding equipment.
The end result is a shoe having a significant number of seams.
While generally seamless, this type of footwear is water and vapor impermeable, resulting in footwear lacking breathability.
In the context of athletic footwear, this process results in wearer discomfort because airflow into and out of the shoe is prevented.
Accordingly, heat and perspiration from the wearer cannot be evacuated to the ambient environment, resulting in wearer discomfort.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0024]Turning to FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C, an article of footwear 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper 105 coupled to (e.g., mounted on) a sole structure 110. The article of footwear 10 defines several regions corresponding with various parts of a foot. Specifically, the footwear 10 defines a rear footwear region 115 generally corresponding with the rear of the foot (e.g., the hindfoot including the heel); an intermediate footwear region 120 disposed forward the rear region and generally corresponding to the midfoot (e.g., the arched, instep, and ball areas of the foot); and a forward footwear region 125 disposed forward of intermediate region and generally corresponding to the forefoot (e.g., the toes of the foot). The article of footwear 10 may further include a fastener 127 (e.g., a shoe lace) and a heel counter 129 (discussed in greater detail below).

[0025]The upper 105 includes a heel 130, a lateral side 135, a medial side 140, an instep 14...

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Abstract

The present invention is directed toward footwear including an upper connected to a sole structure. The upper includes two portions formed via compression molding in which textile layers are compressed to form a fabric laminate. One of the upper portions generally defines a seamless heel cup. The other upper portion generally defines a toe cage. The toe cage includes one or more integrated toe guides operable to position a toe of a wearer in a predetermined position within the cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to provisional application No. 61 / 865,384, filed 13 Aug. 2013 and entitled “Performance Footwear,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear and, in particular, to a running shoe.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Performance footwear such as running shoes is designed for comfort and durability. To provide these features, performance footwear is typically constructed from a material or a combination of materials having insulative, moisture resistant, and / or abrasion resistant characteristics. The processes for constructing performance footwear can be labor intensive, often requiring sophisticated and expensive stitching and / or injection molding equipment. For example, conventional uppers may are constructed via stitching, i.e., by cutting material according to a pattern to form...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A43B7/26A43B5/00
CPCA43B5/00A43B7/26
Inventor FALLON, KEVINDOMBROW, DAVID
Owner UNDER ARMOUR
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