Upper with forefoot airflow features for articles of footwear

Abstract

An upper for an article of footwear includes a three-dimensional engineered textile having an inner section, an outer section, and a middle section disposed between the inner section and the outer section. The intermediate section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side. The midsection extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper. In the forefoot region, the middle section includes a plurality of curved portions disposed adjacent to each other such that each curved portion of the plurality of curved portions is spaced apart from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps. Air is configured to flow from an interior of the upper to an exterior of the upper through the one or more gaps between adjacent ones of the plurality of curved portions in the forefoot region of the upper.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present embodiments relate generally to uppers for articles of footwear, and more particularly to uppers for articles of footwear having airflow features for ventilation. Background Art

[0002] Conventional footwear can be used for a variety of activities. Typically, these activities may cause the wearer's foot to increase in temperature and may produce sweat. Depending on the material used to construct the upper of the footwear, heat and / or sweat may be trapped within the interior of the upper of the footwear.

[0003] There is a need in the art for an article of footwear having an upper that provides improved ventilation for the wearer. Summary of the invention

[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for a footwear article. The upper includes a three-dimensional engineered textile having an inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section disposed between the inner section and the outer section. The intermediate section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side. The intermediate section extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper. In the forefoot region, the intermediate section includes a plurality of curved portions arranged adjacent to each other such that each of the plurality of curved portions is separated from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps. Air is configured to flow between an interior of the upper and an exterior of the upper through the one or more gaps between adjacent curved portions of the plurality of curved portions in the forefoot region of the upper.

[0005] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for a footwear article. The upper includes a three-dimensional engineered textile having an inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section disposed between the inner section and the outer section. The intermediate section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side, and extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper. In the forefoot region, the intermediate section includes at least a first curved portion and a second curved portion disposed adjacent to each other, such that the first curved portion is spaced apart from the second curved portion by a gap. Air is configured to flow between an interior of the upper and an exterior of the upper through the gap between the first curved portion and the second curved portion in the forefoot region of the upper.

[0006] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper includes a three-dimensional engineered textile having an inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section disposed between the inner section and the outer section. The intermediate section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side and extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper. In the forefoot region, the intermediate section includes a plurality of curved portions arranged adjacent to one another such that each of the plurality of curved portions is spaced apart from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps. In a midfoot region of the upper, the inner section is a foam layer.

[0007] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the present disclosure will be or will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the following drawings and detailed description. All such additional systems, methods, features and advantages are intended to be included in this specification and this summary, are within the scope of the present disclosure, and are protected by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The present disclosure may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and descriptions. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but rather emphasize the principles of the present disclosure. In addition, in the drawings, the same reference numerals represent corresponding components in different views.

[0009] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features;

[0010] Figure 2 is a lateral side view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features;

[0011] Figure 3 is a medial side view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features;

[0012] Figure 4 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features;

[0013] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of an exemplary embodiment of a forefoot region of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features;

[0014] Figure 6 is a schematic plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an upper having airflow features for an article of footwear;

[0015] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 A cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an upper with airflow features shown in FIG. 7 taken along line 7-7 in the forefoot area;

[0016] Figure 8 is an enlarged plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a forefoot area of ​​an upper having airflow features, illustrating the curvature of a curved portion;

[0017] Fig. 9 is a representative view of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear including an upper having airflow features that provide ventilation in a forefoot area;

[0018] Fig.10 is an enlarged view of a lateral side in the midfoot region of an exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear showing molded ridges in the upper; and

[0019] Fig.11 yes Figure 6 An exemplary embodiment of an upper with airflow features shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11 - 11 in the midfoot area. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] This article describes an article of footwear having an upper with airflow features in the forefoot area. The technology of the present embodiment provides an upper for an article of footwear that allows air to flow between the interior of the upper and the exterior of the upper in the forefoot area. With this arrangement, ventilation can be provided to the foot of the wearer of the article of footwear.

[0021] For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are used throughout the detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. For the purposes of this disclosure, when used with reference to an article of footwear, the following directional terms refer to the article of footwear when placed in an upright position, with the sole facing the ground, i.e., the orientation of the article of footwear when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially horizontal surface. The terms "medial", "lateral", "front", "rear", etc. are intended to refer to anatomical directions corresponding to the person on whom the article is configured to be placed or worn. For example, "medial" refers to a relative position disposed toward the center of the human body, while "lateral" refers to a relative position disposed away from the center of the human body. With respect to footwear, the term "front" refers to a relative position closer to the toes of the wearer, and "rear" refers to a relative position closer to the heel of the wearer. In the absence of a wearer, the same directional terms may be used as if the article of footwear were worn in its intended configuration.

[0022] As used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, the term "longitudinal" refers to a direction extending the length of an article. In some cases, the longitudinal direction may extend from a forefoot region to a heel region of the article. Additionally, as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, the term "lateral" refers to a direction extending the width of the article. In other words, the lateral direction may extend between an inboard side and an outboard side of the article.

[0023] Terms such as "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," and the like should be understood in the context of the particular article in question. For example, the article can be oriented about defined X-, Y-, and Z-axes, with the X-axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction and the Y-axis corresponding to the lateral direction. In those examples, the XY plane would define the horizontal, with upper being defined as the positive Z direction and lower being defined as the negative Z direction. Additionally, as used throughout this detailed description and the claims, the term "vertical" refers to a direction that is generally perpendicular to the XY plane and / or the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, with the article lying flat on the ground, the vertical direction may extend upward from the ground. It should be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to various components of the article, such as an upper and / or a sole assembly.

[0024] Figures 1 to 11 An exemplary embodiment of an article of footwear 100 is shown. For clarity, the following detailed description discusses the exemplary embodiment in the form of a running shoe, but it should be noted that the technology described herein can be applied to any form of footwear, including but not limited to: athletic shoes, training shoes, yoga shoes, soccer shoes, football shoes, basketball shoes, baseball shoes, rugby shoes, other types of athletic shoes, casual shoes, hiking boots, and other types of footwear. Figures 1 to 11 As shown, article of footwear 100 (also referred to simply as article 100 ) is intended for use with a left foot; however, it should be understood that the following discussion may apply equally to a mirror image of article of footwear 100 intended for use with a right foot.

[0025] refer to Figures 1 to 11 , for reference purposes, article 100 may include a forefoot region 10, a midfoot region 20, and a heel region 30. Forefoot region 10 may be generally associated with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsal bones with the phalanges. Midfoot region 20 may be generally associated with the arch of the foot. Similarly, heel region 30 may be generally associated with the heel including the calcaneus. In addition, article 100 may include a medial side 40 and a lateral side 50. In particular, medial side 40 and lateral side 50 may be opposite sides of article 100. In addition, both medial side 40 and lateral side 50 may extend through forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30.

[0026] It should be understood that forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30 are intended for descriptive purposes only and are not intended to demarcate precise areas of article 100, but rather to describe relative locations. Likewise, medial side 40 and lateral side 50 are intended to generally represent two sides of the article, rather than precisely dividing article 100 into two halves. Furthermore, forefoot region 10, midfoot region 20, and heel region 30, as well as medial side 40 and lateral side 50, may also apply to various components of an article, such as a sole assembly and / or an upper.

[0027] Article 100 may include an upper 110 and a sole assembly 120. In some embodiments, sole assembly 120 may be configured to provide traction to article 100. In addition to providing traction, sole assembly 120 may reduce ground reaction forces when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. The configuration of sole assembly 120 may vary significantly in different embodiments to include various conventional or unconventional structures. In some cases, the configuration of sole assembly 120 may be configured according to one or more types of ground on which sole assembly 120 may be used. Examples of ground include, but are not limited to, dirt, concrete, paved roads, natural turf, synthetic turf, and other surfaces.

[0028] The sole assembly 120 is fixed to the upper 110 and extends between the foot and the ground when the article 100 is worn. In different embodiments, the sole assembly 120 may include different components. For example, the sole assembly 120 may include an outsole, a midsole, and / or an insole. In some cases, one or more of these components may be optional. In addition, in some cases, the sole assembly 120 itself may be optional.

[0029] The upper 110 may generally be configured to receive and cover a foot. To this end, the upper 110 may include an opening 112 that provides access to the interior of the upper 110 and / or article 100. In addition, the upper 110 may include a provision for tightening or otherwise securing the upper 110 and article 100 to the wearer's foot. In some embodiments, for example, the upper 110 may be provided with one or more lace receiving members 114 that may include a plurality of eyelets 116 configured to receive laces. Although not shown in this embodiment, some embodiments of the article 100 may include laces, or other fastening members that may be used to adjust the size of the opening 112 and thus adjust the fit of the upper 110 around the wearer's foot.

[0030] Some embodiments of upper 110 may include tongue 118. Tongue 118 may facilitate comfort and fit of upper 110 and / or article 100. In an exemplary embodiment, tongue 118 extends longitudinally from opening 112 through the throat area of ​​upper 110 in a direction toward forefoot region 10 to a front end 119 of the throat area. Tongue 118 is configured to cover the instep of a foot of a wearer of article 100. However, in other embodiments, the tongue may be optional.

[0031] Figure 2 The lateral side 50 of the article 100 is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the upper 110 of the article 100 extends from a toe end 200 located at a front portion of the article 100 to a heel end 202 located at a rear portion of the article 100 longitudinally opposite the toe end 200. In one embodiment, the sole assembly 120 extends through each of the forefoot region 10, the midfoot region 20, and the heel region 30 of the article 100 from the toe end 200 to the heel end 202. Figure 2 As shown, sole assembly 120 includes a lower surface 204 extending along the bottom of sole assembly 120. In an exemplary embodiment, lower surface 204 of sole assembly 120 is configured to contact the ground when article 100 is worn. In one embodiment, sole assembly 120 can extend in a vertical direction from lower surface 204 to an upper edge 206 adjacent upper 110 of article 100. In some cases, upper edge 206 can define a bite line or boundary where upper 110 and sole assembly 120 meet on each side of article 100 (e.g., on medial side 40 and lateral side 50).

[0032] Figure 3 1 and 10. In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 may have a similar arrangement on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50. In other embodiments, upper 110 of article 100 may have an asymmetrical arrangement such that a portion of upper 110 on medial side 40 is different from a portion of upper 110 on lateral side 50. Additionally, in this embodiment, sole assembly 120 has a substantially similar arrangement on each of medial side 40 and lateral side 50. For example, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, sole assembly 120 extends vertically from lower surface 204 to upper edge 206 that is adjacent to upper 110 of article 100 on medial side 40 in a similar manner as on lateral side 50. However, in other embodiments, sole assembly 120 may extend vertically to different heights on medial side 40 and lateral side 50 of upper 110.

[0033] Reference now Figure 4, showing a top view of article 100 and upper 110. In some embodiments, portions of upper 110 may be at least partially formed from a three-dimensional engineered textile. A three-dimensional engineered textile may be manufactured as a single textile component, wherein multiple segments are integrally connected to one another as part of a manufacturing process, such as by weaving, knitting, or other forms of textile production techniques. In an exemplary embodiment, the segments of the three-dimensional engineered textile are substantially arranged in a three-dimensional relationship such that each segment is disposed above or below an adjacent segment along a Z-axis extending through the thickness of the three-dimensional engineered textile, the Z-axis being perpendicular to an XY plane defined by the length and width of the three-dimensional engineered textile.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, the three-dimensional engineered textile forming part of the upper 110 may include an inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section disposed between the inner section and the outer section along a Z-axis that extends through the thickness of the three-dimensional engineered textile. During manufacture of the three-dimensional engineered textile, such as by weaving, knitting, or other forms of textile production techniques, the intermediate section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on the opposite side. In this embodiment, the intermediate section extends through at least the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110. In other embodiments, the intermediate section may extend through additional portions of the upper 110, including portions of the midfoot region 20 and / or the heel region 30 of the upper 110.

[0035] In some embodiments, upper 110 of article 100 may be provided with airflow features in at least forefoot area 10 that are configured to allow air to flow between an interior of upper 110 and an exterior of upper 100 in at least forefoot area 10. With this arrangement, increased ventilation may be provided to a foot of a wearer of article of footwear 100. In an exemplary embodiment, a middle section of a three-dimensional engineered textile forming upper 110 may be produced with airflow features in the form of spaced-apart curved portions separated by gaps that allow air to move between an interior and an exterior of upper 110 in at least forefoot area 10 of article of footwear 100.

[0036] In one embodiment, the upper 110 may include a plurality of curved portions 400. Figure 4As shown, a plurality of curved portions 400 are located at least in the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110. According to the principles of the embodiments described herein, the plurality of curved portions 400 are made as part of the middle section of the three-dimensional engineered textile, thereby forming at least a portion of the upper 110 of the article 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of curved portions 400 are arranged adjacent to each other, so that each curved portion of the plurality of curved portions 400 is separated from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps 402. The gaps 402 are portions of the three-dimensional engineered textile forming the upper 110 where no middle section exists. That is, at the location of the gaps 402, the three-dimensional engineered textile forming the upper 110 includes a portion of the inner section and a portion of the outer section that directly face each other, without a middle section located therebetween. With this arrangement, the multiple curved portions 400 separated by gaps 402 in the forefoot area 10 of the upper 110 allow air to move or flow between the interior and exterior of the upper 110 of the article 100 through one or more gaps 402 between adjacent curved portions of the multiple curved portions 400, thereby providing ventilation for the wearer's foot.

[0037] Reference now Figure 5 , shows an enlarged view of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 including a plurality of curved portions 400. In this embodiment, the plurality of curved portions 400 includes a first curved portion 500. Figure 5 As shown, the first curved portion 500 extends from the periphery of the medial side 40 of the forefoot area 10, through the periphery of the toe portion adjacent to the toe tip 200, to the periphery of the lateral side 50 of the forefoot area 10, across the top of the forefoot area 10 adjacent to the front end 119 of the throat area, and connects back to itself at the periphery of the medial side 40. In this embodiment, the first curved portion 500 is surrounded by a first gap 508 that follows the curve of the first curved portion 500 around the forefoot area 10 and separates the first curved portion 500 from the remainder of the upper 110 in the forefoot area 10.

[0038] The plurality of curved portions 400 also includes a second curved portion 502 that is spaced apart from the first curved portion 500 by a second gap 510 that surrounds the second curved portion 502 and separates the first curved portion 500 from the second curved portion 502. In this embodiment, the second curved portion 502 is smaller than the first curved portion 500, such that the first curved portion 500 defines the second curved portion 502. That is, the second curved portion 502 is contained within an area surrounded or bounded by the first curved portion 500.

[0039] In some embodiments, one or more of the plurality of curved portions 400 may be in the form of a loop. In some cases, the loop may be a closed loop extending in an uninterrupted, continuous manner that connects back to itself. In other cases, the loop may be a loop with one or more discontinuous portions, wherein the loop is interrupted at one or more disconnections, but it continues on a path that connects back to itself. In these embodiments, the plurality of curved portions 400 may form a plurality of loops arranged in a nested configuration, such that each of the plurality of loops is spaced apart from each adjacent loop by a gap in one or more gaps 402. For example, in one embodiment, the first curved portion 500 may form a first loop, and the second curved portion 502 may form a second loop that is smaller than the first loop, such that the second loop is defined inside the first loop (e.g., nested within the first loop).

[0040] In one embodiment, the second curved portion 502 may include a triangular annular portion disposed approximately in the middle of the forefoot region 10 on the top portion of the upper 110. The triangular annular portion of the second curved portion 502 includes a central opening 512. The central opening 512 is formed in a manner similar to the gap 402 by forming a portion of a three-dimensional engineered textile in which there is no middle section at a location corresponding to the central opening 512. With this arrangement, the central opening 512 allows air to move or flow between the interior and exterior of the upper 110 of the article 100, thereby providing ventilation for the wearer's foot.

[0041] In some embodiments, second curved portion 502 may also include an outward-facing loop 504 on lateral side 50 of forefoot region 10 and an inward-facing loop 506 on medial side 40 of forefoot region 10. Each of outward-facing loop 504 and inward-facing loop 506 includes an opening at the center of the loop. Figure 5 As shown, the outward ring 504 includes a first opening 514 and the inward ring 506 includes a second opening 516. Each of the first opening 514 and the second opening 516 is formed in a manner similar to the gap 402 and / or the central opening 512, for example, by omitting a middle section of the three-dimensional engineered textile forming the upper 110 at a location corresponding to the first opening 514 and the second opening 516.

[0042] In one embodiment, the inward ring 506 extends from a first end of the triangular ring portion of the second curved portion 502 on one side, and the outward ring 504 extends from a second end of the triangular ring portion of the second curved portion 502 on the opposite side. The triangular ring portion, the outward ring 504, and the inward ring 506 together define the second curved portion 502.

[0043] Figure 6A schematic plan view of an exemplary embodiment of an upper 110 having airflow features for an article of footwear 100 is shown. In this embodiment, the upper 110, which is formed at least in part from a three-dimensional engineered textile, is shown laid flat prior to being assembled into an article of footwear (e.g., article 100 described above). Figure 6 As shown, upper 110 has an outer peripheral edge 600 extending around the outer periphery of upper 110. Upper 110 also includes an inner peripheral edge 602 extending through the throat area of ​​upper 110 and including a medial-inward edge 603 and a lateral-inward edge 604. In some embodiments, a tongue (e.g., tongue 118) can be attached at a front end 119 of inner peripheral edge 602 and extend upward toward opening 112 adjacent medial-inward edge 603 and lateral-inward edge 604.

[0044] In this embodiment, the upper 110 also includes an inward collar edge 605 and an outward collar edge 606, which define the opening 112 when the upper 110 is assembled into the article 100, as described above. In addition, the upper 110 includes an inward heel edge 608 and an outward heel edge 610. The inward heel edge 608 and the outward heel edge 610 are configured to be joined together, such as by stitching and / or adhesive connection, to close the opening 112 at the heel end 202 of the article 100. Figure 6 Also shown in FIG. 6 is a representation of a bite line 612 spaced apart from the peripheral edge 600 along the outer perimeter of the upper 110. As described above, the bite line 612 may represent or define the boundary where the upper 110 and the sole assembly 120 meet on each side of the article 100. For example, Figures 1 to 5 As shown, bite line 612 may correspond to the location of upper edge 206 of sole assembly 120 on medial side 40 and lateral side 50 of upper 110 when upper 110 and sole assembly 120 are joined to form article 100 .

[0045] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 An exemplary embodiment of an upper 110 having airflow features is shown in a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in forefoot region 10. As described above, in some embodiments, at least forefoot region 10 of upper 110 is formed from three-dimensional engineered textile 700. Three-dimensional engineered textile 700 includes inner segment 702 having inner side 704 facing the interior of upper 110 and outer segment 706 having outer side 708 facing the exterior of upper 110 (i.e., facing in a direction opposite to inner side 704 of inner segment 702).

[0046] In this embodiment, three-dimensional engineered textile 700 also includes an intermediate segment 710 disposed between inner segment 702 and outer segment 706. Intermediate segment 710 is attached to inner segment 702 on one side (e.g., on the side opposite inner side 704) and is also attached to outer segment 706 on an opposite side (e.g., on the side opposite outer side 708). In an exemplary embodiment, intermediate segment 710 is attached to inner segment 702 and outer segment 706 as part of a manufacturing process to form three-dimensional engineered textile 700. That is, in contrast to conventional multi-layer arrangements for footwear uppers that use adhesives or bonding to attach layers to one another, three-dimensional engineered textile 700 is manufactured as a single textile component in which multiple segments are integrally connected to one another as part of the manufacturing process, such as by weaving, knitting, or other forms of textile production techniques.

[0047] In accordance with the principles of an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 is provided with airflow features in at least forefoot area 10 of upper 110 to provide ventilation to a foot of a wearer of article 100. In an exemplary embodiment, airflow features may be provided by empty spaces 712 located between inner section 702 and outer section 706 fabricated in three-dimensional engineered textile 700. That is, empty spaces 712 are areas of three-dimensional engineered textile 700 where intermediate section 710 is absent or not present. These empty spaces 712 allow air to move or flow between the interior and exterior of upper 110 to provide ventilation to a foot of a wearer of article 100 in at least forefoot area 10.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, a three-dimensional engineered textile 700 may be manufactured with a middle section 710 that is selectively interrupted by empty spaces 712 in a predetermined arrangement to form a plurality of curved portions 400 separated by gaps 402, as described above. Figure 7 As shown in the cross-sectional view of , two sections of the first curved portion 500 are shown to be separated from the remainder of the upper 110 by two empty spaces 712 corresponding to the first gap 508. Similarly, one section of the second curved portion 502 is shown to be separated from the two sections of the first curved portion 500 by two empty spaces 712 corresponding to the second gap 510. Figure 7 As can be seen in FIG. 5 , the second curved portion 502 is surrounded by and bounded on either side by the first curved portion 500 , with the second curved portion 502 being spaced apart from the first curved portion 500 by a second gap 510 disposed therebetween.

[0049] In some embodiments, at least throughout the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110, the inner section 702 of the three-dimensional engineered textile 700 extends continuously on one side over the plurality of curved portions 400 and the gaps 402 formed in the middle section 710, and the outer section 706 of the three-dimensional engineered textile 700 extends continuously on the opposite side over the plurality of curved portions 400 and the gaps 402 formed in the middle section 710. With this arrangement, the middle section 710 and the empty spaces 712 forming the gaps 402 are disposed on either side between the inner section 702 and the outer section 706. In one embodiment, the inner section 702 and / or the outer section 706 may be made of a mesh material having a mesh-like open appearance, the mesh material having a plurality of openings between the yarns forming the three-dimensional engineered textile 700. The mesh material forming the inner section 702 and / or the outer section 706 , along with the gaps 402 selectively placed between the plurality of curved portions 400 , may together provide improved ventilation to at least the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 of the article 100 .

[0050] Figure 8 4 is an enlarged plan view of a forefoot region 10 of an upper 110 having an airflow feature in the form of a plurality of curved portions 400 separated by gaps 402. As described above, in some embodiments, the curved portions of the plurality of curved portions 400 may be in the form of closed or open loops extending around the perimeter of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110. For example, in this embodiment, a first curved portion 500 is a first loop that extends laterally across a top portion of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 and changes direction on the medial side 40 at a first location 800 adjacent to the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110. The first loop formed by the first curved portion 500 also extends laterally across a top portion of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 in an opposite direction, wherein it changes direction on the lateral side 50 at a second location 802 adjacent to the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110. The first loop formed by the first curved portion 500 extends downwardly from each of the first location 800 and the second location 802 to connect with itself near the toe tip 200 of the upper 110 .

[0051] In the exemplary embodiment, the first loop formed by the first curved portion 500 includes a first bend 804 at a first location 800 and a second bend 806 at a second location 802. Figure 8804 of the first loop formed by the first curved portion 500 defines a curve having a first radius of curvature 816. In general, the radius of curvature is equal to the radius of the arc of a circle that best approximates the curve at that particular point. A smaller radius of curvature represents a sharper curve that curves more or to a greater amount or degree than a larger radius of curvature. Thus, in this embodiment, the first radius of curvature 816 is the radius of the arc of the curve that approximates the first bend 804 at the first location 800. Similarly, the second bend 806 of the first loop formed by the first curved portion 500 defines a curve having a second radius of curvature 820 at the second location 802.

[0052] like Figure 8 As shown, the second curved portion 502 of the plurality of curved portions 400 is in the form of a second loop that is located inside (i.e., nested within) the first loop formed by the first curved portion 500. The second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 extends laterally across a top portion of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 and changes direction on the medial side 40 at a third location 808 adjacent to the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110 that is inward from the first location 800 of the first curved portion 500 in a direction toward the toe tip 200 of the upper 110. The second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 also extends laterally across a top portion of the forefoot region 10 of the upper 110 in an opposite direction, wherein it changes direction on the lateral side 50 at a fourth location 812 adjacent to the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110 that is inward from the second location 802 of the first curved portion 500 in a direction toward the toe tip 200 of the upper 110. The second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 extends downwardly from each of the third location 808 and the fourth location 812 to connect with itself near the toe 200 of the upper 110, inboard of the location where the first curved portion 500 connects with itself.

[0053] In the exemplary embodiment, the second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 includes a third bend 810 at a third location 808 and a fourth bend 814 at a fourth location 812. Figure 8 As shown, the third bend 810 of the second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 defines a curve having a third radius of curvature 818 at the third position 808. The fourth bend 814 of the second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 defines a curve having a fourth radius of curvature 822 at the fourth position 812.

[0054] In one embodiment, the curve of the second loop formed by the second curved portion 502 is a steeper curve (i.e., exhibits a greater amount or degree of curvature) than the curve of the first loop formed by the first curved portion 500, which curves in a more gradual manner than the curve of the second loop. Figure 8 As shown, the third curvature radius 818 of the third bend 810 at the third position 808 is smaller than the first curvature radius 816 of the first bend 804 at the first position 800, so that the third bend 810 forms a sharper curve than the first bend 804. Similarly, on the other side of the forefoot region 10, the fourth curvature radius 822 of the fourth bend 814 at the fourth position 812 is smaller than the second curvature radius 820 of the second bend 806 at the second position 802, so that the fourth bend 814 forms a sharper curve than the second bend 806.

[0055] Reference now Fig. 9 , shows a representative view of an article of footwear 100 including an upper 110 having airflow features that provide ventilation in forefoot area 10. In accordance with the techniques of the exemplary embodiments described herein, the airflow features provided by a three-dimensional engineered textile 700 having a plurality of curved portions 400 separated by gaps 402 allow air 900 to move or flow from the interior to the exterior of upper 110 of article 100 through one or more gaps 402 between adjacent curved portions of the plurality of curved portions 400, thereby providing ventilation for a wearer's foot.

[0056] For example, Fig. 9 As shown, air 900 flows from the interior to the exterior of the upper 110 through one or more of the first gap 508 and the second gap 510 in the forefoot area 10. In this embodiment, the first gap 508 surrounds the first curved portion 500, and the second gap 510 is disposed between the first curved portion 500 and the second curved portion 502, wherein the first curved portion 500 and the second curved portion 502 are adjacent to or positioned adjacent to each other and are separated by the second gap 510. With this arrangement, the air 900 can flow through the empty space 712 corresponding to the gap 402 (including the first gap 508 and / or the second gap 510) in the middle section 710 of the three-dimensional engineered textile 700 to provide ventilation to the forefoot area 10 of the upper 110. Additionally, in some cases, the inner section 702 and / or the outer section 706 of the three-dimensional engineered textile 700 can be a mesh material at least in the forefoot area 10 to further help provide ventilation to the upper 110 of the article 100.

[0057] In some embodiments, other areas or portions of upper 110 may have a different arrangement or configuration than the forefoot region 10 described above. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, portions of midfoot region 20 and / or heel region 30 may include a three-dimensional engineered textile that is the same or different than the arrangement or configuration of three-dimensional engineered textile 700 in forefoot region 10.

[0058] Reference now Fig.10, shows an enlarged view of the lateral side 50 in the midfoot region 20 of the article of footwear 100, showing a plurality of molded ridges 1000 disposed on the upper 110. It should be understood that although Fig.10 100, but the medial side 40 of the upper 110 can have a substantially similar construction. In this embodiment, the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110 is at least partially formed of a three-dimensional engineered textile that is molded to produce a plurality of molded ridges 1000 on the lateral side 50. The plurality of molded ridges 1000 include one or more individual molded ridges, such as a first molded ridge 1002, which are spaced or separated by recesses, such as a first recess 1004 located adjacent to the first molded ridge 1002.

[0059] In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of molded ridges 1000 are provided in a contoured arrangement on the outboard side 50 (and in a similar arrangement on the inboard side 40 ). Fig.10 As shown, the contour arrangement of the plurality of molded ridges 1000 includes a plurality of individual molded ridges that follow a curved or otherwise irregular path and are separated from one another by a series of depressions (such as the first depression 1004) that space each molded ridge apart from an adjacent molded ridge by a substantially similar distance. In this embodiment, the contour arrangement of the plurality of molded ridges 1000 extends upward from the upper edge 206 of the sole assembly 120, changes direction adjacent to a lace receiving member (e.g., one of the lace receiving members 114), and continues in a substantially longitudinal direction along the upper 110 toward the heel end 202 of the article 100, terminating at a position below the opening 112. With this arrangement, the lateral side 50 and / or the medial side 40 of the upper 110 can provide an improved fit and feel for the foot of a wearer of the article 100.

[0060] Fig.10 The illustrated exemplary embodiment is one exemplary arrangement of the plurality of molded ridges 1000 in the midfoot region 20 of the upper 110. In other embodiments, the arrangement of the plurality of molded ridges 1000 may be different. Additionally, in other embodiments, the arrangement of the plurality of molded ridges 1000 on the medial side 40 and the lateral side 50 of the upper 110 may be different on each side.

[0061] Fig.11 yes Figure 6 An exemplary embodiment of an upper 110 with airflow features shown in FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11 in a midfoot region 20 including a plurality of molded ridges 1000. In an exemplary embodiment, upper 110 may be at least partially formed of three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 in at least midfoot region 20. Fig.11As shown, three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 includes first section 1102 and second section 1104, wherein first section 1102 has an outer side facing the outside of upper 110, and second section 1104 faces the inside of upper 110 (i.e., faces the opposite direction of first section 1102). In some embodiments, one or more portions of three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 may also include inner section 1106 disposed below each of first section 1102 and second section 1104 along a Z-axis extending through the thickness of three-dimensional engineered textile 1100.

[0062] In one embodiment, the location of the inner section 1106 corresponds to one or more molded ridges in the plurality of ridges 1000. For example, Fig.11 As shown, inner segment 1106 is located below first segment 1102 and second segment 1104 at a location corresponding to first mold ridge 1002. Inner segment 1106 pushes first segment 1102 and second segment 1104 of three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 upward (e.g., in a direction away from the interior of upper 110) to form first mold ridge 1002. In contrast, first recess 1004 located adjacent to first mold ridge 1002 does not include inner segment 1106. That is, inner segment 1106 is not present or exists in three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 at the location of first recess 1004. By selectively providing inner segment 1106 at one or more locations corresponding to mold ridges of multiple mold ridges 1000, and omitting inner segment 1106 therebetween (i.e., at the location of the recess, such as first recess 1004), a contoured arrangement of multiple mold ridges 1000 can be provided in midfoot region 20 of upper 110.

[0063] In one embodiment, inner section 1106 of three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 can be a foam layer made of a compressible foam material. In some cases, three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 having inner section 1106 in the form of a foam layer can be molded using heat and / or pressure (e.g., using a heat press apparatus) to form a plurality of molded ridges 1000 having a contour arrangement described herein.

[0064] In some cases, three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 can be manufactured together with three-dimensional engineered textile 700 as described above. In these cases, three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 and three-dimensional engineered textile 700 can be formed together with different arrangements in forefoot region 10 and midfoot region 20, as described in the exemplary embodiment. In other embodiments, three-dimensional engineered textile 1100 and three-dimensional engineered textile 700 can be manufactured as separate components and can be joined together using sewing or bonding techniques to form upper 110.

[0065] Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, the description is intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that more embodiments and implementations within the scope of the present disclosure are possible. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited except in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents. Moreover, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A shoe upper for a footwear article, the shoe upper comprising: A three-dimensional engineered textile comprising an inner section, an outer section, and a middle section, wherein the middle section is disposed between the inner section and the outer section along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis extends through a thickness of the three-dimensional engineered textile; wherein the middle section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side; The intermediate section extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper; wherein, in the forefoot region, the intermediate section includes a plurality of curved portions, the plurality of curved portions being arranged adjacent to one another such that each of the plurality of curved portions is spaced apart from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps; and Wherein, air is configured to flow between the interior of the upper and the exterior of the upper through the one or more gaps between adjacent ones of the plurality of curved portions in the forefoot region of the upper.

2. The shoe upper according to claim 1, wherein: The plurality of curved portions form a plurality of loops arranged in a nested configuration such that each loop of the plurality of loops is spaced apart from each adjacent loop by a gap of the one or more gaps.

3. The upper of claim 2, further comprising a triangular annular portion disposed on a top portion of the upper approximately in the middle of the forefoot region.

4. The upper of claim 3, further comprising a medial loop on a medial side of the forefoot area and a lateral loop on a lateral side of the forefoot area.

5. The shoe upper according to claim 4, wherein: Each of the inwardly facing ring and the outwardly facing ring includes a central opening.

6. The shoe upper according to claim 4, wherein: The inwardly directed ring extends from a first end of the triangularly directed ring portion on one side, and the outwardly directed ring extends from a second end of the triangularly directed ring portion on an opposite side.

7. The shoe upper according to claim 1, wherein: The inner section and / or the outer section are made of a mesh material.

8. A shoe upper for a footwear article, the shoe upper comprising: A three-dimensional engineered textile comprising an inner section, an outer section, and a middle section, wherein the middle section is disposed between the inner section and the outer section along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis extends through a thickness of the three-dimensional engineered textile; wherein the middle section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side; The intermediate section extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper; wherein, in the forefoot region, the middle section comprises at least a first curved portion and a second curved portion arranged adjacent to each other, such that a certain gap is spaced between the first curved portion and the second curved portion; and Wherein, air is configured to flow from the interior of the upper to the exterior of the upper through the gap between the first curved portion and the second curved portion in the forefoot region of the upper.

9. The shoe upper according to claim 8, wherein: The first curved portion includes a first ring and the second curved portion includes a second ring, the first ring and the second ring being arranged in a nested configuration such that the first ring is spaced apart from the second ring by the gap.

10. The shoe upper according to claim 9, wherein: The second ring is smaller than the first ring, and wherein the second ring is defined within the first ring.

11. The shoe upper according to claim 9, wherein: The first loop extends from the outer periphery of the medial side of the forefoot area through the outer periphery in the toe portion adjacent to the toe tip of the upper to the outer periphery of the lateral side of the forefoot area, crosses over the top portion of the front end of the forefoot area adjacent to the throat area, and connects back to itself at the outer periphery of the medial side of the forefoot area.

12. The shoe upper according to claim 9, wherein: The first loop changes direction on a medial side at a first location adjacent a midfoot region of the upper; and Wherein, the first loop changes direction on the lateral side at a second location adjacent to a midfoot region of the upper.

13. The shoe upper according to claim 12, wherein: The first ring forms a first bend at the first position and a second bend at the second position.

14. The shoe upper according to claim 13, wherein: The second loop changes direction on the medial side at a third location adjacent a midfoot region of the upper; and The third position is located inward from the first position in a direction toward the tip of the shoe upper.

15. The shoe upper according to claim 14, wherein: The second loop changes direction on the lateral side at a fourth position adjacent a midfoot region of the upper, wherein the fourth position is inward from the second position in a direction toward a toe portion of the upper.

16. The shoe upper according to claim 15, wherein: The second ring forms a third bend at the third position and forms a fourth bend at the fourth position.

17. The shoe upper according to claim 16, wherein the first curved portion has a first radius of curvature, the third curved portion has a third radius of curvature, and wherein: The third radius of curvature is smaller than the first radius of curvature, so that the third bend forms a steeper curve than the first bend.

18. The shoe upper according to claim 16, wherein the second curved portion has a second radius of curvature, the fourth curved portion has a fourth radius of curvature, wherein: The fourth curvature radius is smaller than the second curvature radius, so that the fourth bend forms a steeper curve than the second bend.

19. The shoe upper according to claim 8, wherein: The inner section and / or the outer section are made of a mesh material.

20. An upper for a footwear article, the upper comprising: A three-dimensional engineered textile comprising an inner section, an outer section, and a middle section, wherein the middle section is disposed between the inner section and the outer section along a Z-axis, wherein the Z-axis extends through a thickness of the three-dimensional engineered textile; wherein the middle section is attached to the inner section on one side and to the outer section on an opposite side; The intermediate section extends through at least a forefoot region of the upper; wherein, in the forefoot region, the intermediate section includes a plurality of curved portions, the plurality of curved portions being arranged adjacent to one another such that each of the plurality of curved portions is spaced apart from an adjacent curved portion by one or more gaps; and Therein, in the midshoe region of the upper, the inner section is a foam layer.

21. The upper of claim 20, further comprising a plurality of molded ridges formed in the three-dimensional engineered textile, the plurality of molded ridges having a contoured arrangement on each of the medial side and the lateral side.

22. The shoe upper according to claim 20, wherein: Each molded ridge of the plurality of molded ridges is separated from each adjacent molded ridge by the absence of a recess of the foam layer.

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