Upper for shoe with ball contact area

Abstract

To provide an improved upper for a shoe.SOLUTION: An upper for a shoe (in particular a sports shoe), the upper comprises: a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions; where each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis (LA), a sole facing side portion and an instep facing side portion; and where the ball contact area is configured to assist with shooting a ball in that each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable such that each protrusion is configured to bend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis (LA) upon contact with the ball, and such that each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep facing side portion touches an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, the upper including a ball contact area configured to assist in shooting a ball, and to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, including such an upper attached to a sole. [Background technology]

[0002] A shoe, or generally an article of footwear, is generally described as a combination of an upper and a sole structure. Typically, the upper covers areas of the wearer's foot, such as the instep, toe, medial side, lateral side, and heel, and provides an opening to allow the wearer to step inside the footwear. The sole is connected to the upper, with its top side facing the foot and its bottom side adapted to contact the ground during normal use of the shoe.

[0003] The upper for a shoe generally provides a number of functionalities: it provides an enclosure for receiving the foot, stabilizes the foot during locomotion, protects the foot against the environment, and, in the case of certain sports shoes, provides a surface specifically adapted to the needs of the athlete. Among other things, athletic footwear should be comfortable to wear, stabilize the foot, and reduce stress from rebounding between the foot and the ground when performing exercises. The footwear should support locomotion and avoid physical injury to the wearer.

[0004] In particular, uppers for shoes used in athletic activities (such as soccer, rugby, football, and other ball sports) are widely used and popular among wearers, and such uppers are becoming increasingly important and have specific requirements for improving the performance of such athletic activities.

[0005] An example of such a requirement may include an enhanced grip of the shoe upper on the ball. Such enhanced grip may allow the player to control the ball even more. In particular, the contact between the shoe and the ball is very important, and the surface of the shoe upper plays an important role. One way to achieve increased grip between the upper and the ball is to provide a texture on the outer surface of the shoe upper. Another way to achieve increased grip is to provide protrusions on the upper. Both ways may increase the energy transfer from the upper to the ball during a shot.

[0006] It is known that different types of shots are involved, such as a curled pass, a flat pass, or a striking shot. Different placements on the shoe upper are required for different types of shots. Nevertheless, proper spin is desired for any kind of shot, because otherwise the ball will flutter.

[0007] By way of example, the following prior art documents may be mentioned in the context of the present disclosure:

[0008] EP 3909459 A1 relates to an upper for a sports shoe, the upper comprising a plurality of areas, the plurality of areas including a medial area, a lateral area, a toe area, an instep area, a heel area, and a collar area, the upper comprising at least one protrusion in at least four of the plurality of areas, the protrusion protruding from an outer surface of the upper.

[0009] US 2011 / 0258883 relates to a ball control portion for an article of footwear. The ball control portion extends downwardly from a side of the article of footwear. The ball control portion includes a lattice having a plurality of protrusions arranged in a grid. The plurality of protrusions includes a plurality of groups of protrusions arranged having one or more of different orientations, different types of protrusions, and different heights.

[0010] EP 2891422 relates to an article of footwear comprising a first group of gripping members including a first ball control portion and a second group of gripping members including a second ball control portion, the height of the first ball control portion varying along a first direction and the gripping members of the first group being generally aligned with the gripping members of the second group relative to the second direction.

[0011] Additionally, the following prior art may be mentioned for background information:

[0012] WO 2010 / 086672 relates to a sports shoe, the upper of which comprises a deformable protrusion in the forefoot area that includes a suction cup form.

[0013] CN206390385U is directed to a training sports shoe having an outer layer of highly elastic rubber, which is distributed over the outer surface in the form of small rubber cylindrical shaped protrusions.

[0014] CN207269957 relates to a football shoe with high speed ball control, the upper is provided with protrusions containing small circular suction cups.

[0015] US Patent No. 9,693,694 is directed to an article of footwear, where the outsole may include lateral and medial arch portions for traction.

[0016] EP 1 430 801 A1 relates to an article of footwear, such as a soccer shoe, that includes a ball control area. The ball control area comprises a series of raised geometric protrusions of various sizes that are disposed on the upper of the soccer shoe.

[0017] WO 2010 / 055276 is directed to a ball control component for a sports shoe, where the upper surface of the ball control portion comprises a plurality of diamond-shaped pieces of rubber.

[0018] Although the above documents claim improvements over the previously known prior art, the proposed solutions in said documents still have some deficiencies with regard to improving the grip of the upper. For example, most of the prior art proposals relate to rather stiff and rigid geometries that do not promote sufficient deformation. Such stiff and / or rigid geometries deform the ball that contacts it during the shot. This limits the creation of a grip between the upper and the ball. The grip may then depend solely on the material. In addition, the prior art solutions reveal rather severe movement transitions when the upper impacts the ball.

[0019] When reviewing the prior art, one must conclude that there is still room for improvement.

[0020] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved upper for a shoe. The upper should provide improved means for assisting the shot. In particular, a more advanced and / or dedicated spin should be provided to the ball. This should be possible in particular for striking shots. Moreover, the object is to provide a respective shoe comprising such an upper. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0021] [Patent Document 1] European Patent Application Publication No. 3909459 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2011 / 0258883 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 2891422 [Patent Document 4] International Publication No. 2010 / 086672 Brochure [Patent Document 5] CN206390385U [Patent Document 6] CN207269957 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 9,693,694 [Patent Document 8] European Patent Application Publication No. 1430801 [Patent Document 9] International Publication No. 2010 / 055276 Brochure Summary of the Invention

[0022] The above-stated objects are at least partly achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims, and further suitable aspects of the invention are described throughout the overall disclosure of the present application.

[0023] In one aspect, this object is solved by an upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising: a) a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions, b) each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis, a sole facing side portion and an instep facing side portion, and c) the ball contact area is configured to assist in shooting a ball, in that each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable such that each protrusion is configured to bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis upon contact with a ball, and each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep facing side portion touches an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.

[0024] Thus, the upper promotes improved assistance in shooting the ball, which is particularly useful for ball sports such as soccer. In particular, the ball contact area provides an enhanced means for contacting the ball, which ensures that sufficient grip is available. In addition, a smoother transition for shooting (e.g., shooting the ball) is provided. Due to the elastically bendable protrusions, a brushing effect can be established. Without wishing to be bound by theory, such a brushing effect means that multiple brushes (e.g., protrusions) can contact the ball and affect the path of travel of the ball after it leaves the upper. Furthermore, the elastically bendable protrusions have the additional benefit of being able to increase the contact time of the upper with the ball. The inventors have found this to be particularly advantageous compared to most of the proposals in the prior art, whereby rather rigid protrusions are provided. The latter do not allow the desired elastic bending described herein and, consequently, cannot provide the advantages described herein.

[0025] Moreover, bending of the protrusions has the advantage that the surface area of ​​the upper that can contact the ball is increased, which promotes improved shooting. It is understood that the amount of bending may be dependent on the striking force. For example, bending may increase with increasing striking force.

[0026] To further highlight the advances of the present disclosure, an analysis of the travel trajectory of the ball along the upper may be helpful. The term "travel trajectory" may refer to the relative movement between the upper and the ball. In one example, the ball may first contact the upper at a first contact portion and move along the ball contact area toward a second contact portion where the ball finally contacts the upper. From the second contact portion, the ball may accelerate away from the upper. The first contact portion may be located closer to the sole edge. The second contact portion may be located closer to the instep portion. This movement of the ball may be more or less dominant, which may depend on the type of shot. It may be more present, for example, in a curling shot where the foot is "followed through" to generate the ball spin. Such spin has also been found to be desirable for straight shots (such as a striking shot into the goal). Notably, a shot without spin would flatter, whereas spin provides the added benefit of maintaining the ball on a substantially straight path, such as to a goal. It is noted that there are many different types of shots (such as curled or flat paths). However, the present disclosure may primarily target striking shots. Such striking shots may be understood as shots at a goal or the like. As explained in more detail elsewhere herein, the inventors have found that orienting the longitudinal axis of the protrusion substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of movement provides an additional benefit for assisting in shooting the ball.

[0027] Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the spin of a ball has a beneficial effect on its path of travel due to the Magnus effect. The Magnus effect may be understood as a phenomenon in fluid mechanics that describes the forces acting on an object, such as a spinning (i.e., rotating) ball, moving through a fluid, such as air. As a spinning ball moves through the air, the ball may thereby experience a force perpendicular to the direction of its path of travel. The Magnus effect is commonly observed in athletic activities. However, it is also known from aerodynamics, industrial processes, and / or vehicle performance. When a ball is kicked or thrown with a spin, the air moving around the ball may be deflected in different directions due to the spin. Such deflection may create a pressure difference between the two opposing sides of the ball. This may result in a net force perpendicular to the direction of its path of travel (i.e., air flow). As a result, the ball may deviate from a straight path. This may have an advantage, as striking shots may become less predictable for the opposing team's goalkeeper. This in turn may increase the chances of scoring and / or realizing the expected result. Alternatively or additionally, it may allow the opposing team to shoot around or above the wall for a free kick in soccer. The direction and magnitude of the Magnus force may depend on various factors, including but not limited to the speed of the ball, the rate of spin, the density of the air, and / or the roughness of the surface of the ball.

[0028] The striking shot referred to in this specification requires a different arrangement of the protrusions on the upper to take into account the different movement trajectory of the ball (compared to a flat pass, for example). The striking shot is typically a more powerful shot than other types of shots (such as a simple passing shot). Although there may be variances between players, an expert can still distinguish between striking shots and other types of shots (such as a passing shot). Striking shots occur frequently during a match, and the first metatarsal joint part and the medial and superior sides of the first metatarsal part are most often used to contact the ball. In particular, the foot may be tilted outward, and the impacted ball may move toward the lateral rear direction along the surface.

[0029] The ball contact area may be understood as a region, portion, surface, etc. that can come into contact with a ball, etc. In particular, the ball contact area may be the area that comes into contact with the ball during a shot. As will be appreciated, due to the deformation of the ball during a shot, the ball contact area may be larger than the area that is covered when the ball is simply resting on the upper without a shot.

[0030] Each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape, which means that there may be a dimension along one axis of the shape that is larger than one dimension (preferably both dimensions) along the remaining axis (preferably both axes) that is substantially perpendicular to the one axis. When dimensions are described herein, it is generally understood that manufacturing tolerances must be taken into account. Although not always explicitly expressed (e.g., by using the term "substantially"), it is understood that the parts, elements, units, shapes described herein include such manufacturing tolerances. Thus, the dimensions described herein may vary slightly.

[0031] The sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion may be understood as portions on two different sides of the protrusion. As an example, the portions may be on two opposite sides of a plane along the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, as will be explained later. Furthermore, the portions may alternatively or additionally be essentially perpendicular to the outer surface of the upper. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the sole-facing portion may not be the side of the protrusion facing the outer surface of the upper and / or the side of the protrusion in contact with the outer surface of the upper (e.g., where the protrusion may be attached to the outer surface of the upper).

[0032] The sole-facing portion may be oriented toward a front portion of the upper (e.g., toward a toe portion). For example, when the ball touches the protrusion in a normal striking shot, the ball may first touch the sole-facing portion, which leads to bending of the protrusion. The sole-facing portion may then be oriented at least partially upward when the protrusion is bent.

[0033] The instep-facing portion may be directed toward the instep portion and / or more generally toward the rear portion of the upper when the protrusion is not bent. As will be understood, the protrusion may be bent when the ball touches the protrusion in a normal striking shot. The instep-facing portion may then be directed at least partially downward when the protrusion is bent. For example, the instep-facing portion may be directed toward the upper and / or toward the sole of the shoe when the protrusion is bent.

[0034] The sole facing portion and the instep facing portion may be free portions (e.g., portions that are free with respect to the environment). To illustrate this in one example, the sole facing portion and the instep facing portion may be touchable by a user, etc.

[0035] Shooting may include any possible action in which a player positions the shoe so that the upper contacts the ball. As an example, shooting may include striking, dribbling, passing, etc. However, as discussed in more detail herein, shooting preferably means that a player is striking (e.g., shooting) with a fairly fast foot movement toward the goal.

[0036] Each of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable, meaning that the protrusion can bend due to an external force, such as a force provided by a ball. Moreover, the bending is elastic, meaning that the bending is performed substantially within the elastic deformation range of the material of the protrusion. In such an elastic deformation range, the stress and strain of the material may behave according to a linear relationship. This elastic (and linear) relationship for a material may also be known as Young's modulus. In contrast, plastic bending means that some of the deformation cannot be reversed.

[0037] Each protrusion is configured to bend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis upon contact with the ball. This means that bending occurs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to a greater or greater extent. It may still be possible for the protrusions to bend in different directions. It may be emphasized that the term substantially may include manufacturing tolerances with respect to the determination of the perpendicular direction.

[0038] Such bending in the vertical direction has been found to be particularly useful in view of the trajectory of the ball during a shot. This allows a vertical bend to be established in virtually any portion of the upper along which the ball travels, which helps provide improved grip, increased contact area, and increased contact time along the entire trajectory. Thus, the benefits of one lobe are additive along the trajectory on the upper during a shot whenever the lobe bends.

[0039] Each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep-facing portion touches the outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. The term "touching" may be understood such that the instep-facing portion at least partially touches the outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. Under all circumstances, it may not be possible for all of the instep-facing portions to actually touch the outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. Rather, a portion thereof, i.e., the instep-facing portion of the protrusion (which may be the top of the instep-facing portion), may typically touch said outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions. In one example, the plurality of protrusions may be spaced far apart such that contact with an adjacent protrusion is not possible even if the protrusion is bent to a significant degree.

[0040] The uppers described herein may be particularly useful in connection with sports shoes (such as soccer shoes). However, it should be noted that the uppers can be used with virtually any type of footwear article, including, but not limited to, football shoes, hiking boots, sneakers, basketball shoes, rugby shoes, baseball shoes, golf shoes, tennis shoes, and cross-training shoes. Moreover, the uppers may be used in connection with shoes for any type of athletic activity. The term athletic activity should be understood to encompass at least one or more and / or any combination of the following non-exhaustive list: aerobics, athletic exercise, running, hiking, climbing, group fitness classes, walking, cycling, yoga, soccer, tennis, football, basketball, working out, volleyball, gymnastics, weightlifting, cross-training, baseball, softball, rugby, field hockey, wrestling, squash, track and field (sprinting, long jump, high jump, etc.), and cross-country skiing.

[0041] It may be possible that the protrusions providing the additional benefits described herein may additionally or alternatively be used for clothing and / or equipment used in athletic activities, i.e., the protrusions are not necessarily limited to the example of uppers for shoes. It may be feasible that the ball contact area concept may be transferred to any type of athletic activity that requires the ball to be provided with spin, such as a (table tennis) tennis racket.

[0042] Nonetheless, it has been found that the advantages of the protrusions described herein are particularly pronounced when applied to uppers for shoes (such as shoes used during athletic activities, especially soccer).

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, each lobe of the plurality of lobes has a substantially triangular cross-section.

[0044] A cross section is understood as a cross section along a plane, the normal of said plane being parallel to the longitudinal axis. In one example, the triangular cross section of this embodiment may mean that the bottom portion of the projection is larger than the top portion. Alternatively, the top portion may be larger than the bottom portion, although other examples may be preferred.

[0045] This has the advantage that the projections are supported to a greater extent, in addition this cross section improves bending as the tip portion can be more flexible.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, each of the plurality of lobes has a top edge and a bottom edge along a longitudinal axis that are substantially parallel to one another.

[0047] The top edge may be understood as the free edge (i.e. the edge facing the environment). The bottom edge may be opposite said top edge and may be attached to the upper or may be integrally formed with the upper. This has the benefit of improved bending. For example, when the ball hits the protrusion, it may easily bend around the bottom edge, thereby forming a pivot axis.

[0048] Each of the multiple protrusions may be able to include additional edges at the top and / or bottom portions of the protrusion to allow for the creation of more advanced constructions and / or shapes, which may increase the variety of use cases of the upper, for example, by providing specifically shaped protrusions on certain portions of the upper.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, each lobe of the plurality of lobes has a substantially rectangular shaped longitudinal cross-section, preferably a trapezoidal shaped longitudinal cross-section.

[0050] A longitudinal section may be understood as a plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the elongate projection, in other words as a plane, the normal of which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the elongate projection.

[0051] A rectangular cross section means that four corners may be visible. A rectangular cross section further improves bending and supports the beneficial effects associated therewith (e.g., increased ball contact area and increased contact time). A trapezoidal cross section has the added benefit that one edge may be shorter than the opposite edge. The shorter edge may be the top edge. This has the advantage that no sharp corners are provided that may adversely affect providing sufficient spin to the ball.

[0052] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the longitudinal axis forms an acute angle α with the heel-to-toe axis of the upper, in a toe portion of the upper, of at least 45°, preferably at least 50°, preferably at least 60°, preferably at least 65°, preferably at least 70°, preferably at least 75°, preferably at least 80°, preferably at least 85°, and / or forms an acute angle α with the heel-to-toe axis of the upper, in an upper medial midfoot portion of the upper, of at most 45°, preferably at most 40°, preferably at most 35°, preferably at most 30°, preferably at most 25°, preferably at most 20°, preferably at most 15°.

[0053] In this embodiment, the acute angle of the protrusions in the toe portion of the upper is greater compared to the acute angle of the protrusions in the upper medial midfoot portion of the upper. This has the advantage that the orientation of the protrusions is adapted to take into account the trajectory of the movement of the ball. In particular, it may therefore be the case that during a shot, the ball moves substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each of the protrusions. This improves the support for shooting the ball.

[0054] Among other things, such an orientation relative to the ball may lead to greater deformation of the protrusions, which may increase the restoring force of the protrusions, which acts in the direction of the desired ball spin. In addition, the contact time may increase. Also, the contact area may increase. It is understood that the contact area and / or amount of bending may increase with the force acting on the ball (e.g., striking force).

[0055] As will be understood, an acute angle is less than 90 degrees. The heel-to-toe axis of the upper corresponds to a substantially straight line connecting the heel and toe portions of the upper.

[0056] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, a first of the multiple lobes is disposed in a toe portion of the upper and a second lobe is disposed further posteriorly relative to the first lobe, and the acute angle of the first lobe is preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 15°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, preferably at least 30°, preferably at least 35°, preferably at least 40° greater than the acute angle of the second lobe.

[0057] The respective advantages of this embodiment can be derived from the previous embodiment. In particular, it has been found that a larger deformation of the protrusions can thereby be realized. Moreover, the restoring forces of the protrusions act in opposite directions to the ball's movement trajectory. This promotes the desired ball spin.

[0058] In one example, as the second protrusion is disposed further rearward relative to the first protrusion, the acute angle of the second protrusion continuously decreases.

[0059] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has the shape of at least one of a ridge, a lip, a lamella, or a fin.

[0060] Such shapes are usually understood as protruding or extending structures. They may be thin, flat, etc. They may provide some functionality in terms of modifying the fluid dynamics in their vicinity and / or enhancing stability. These shapes may be less intrusive, for example, when the upper is used most of the time, not shooting. Thus, they promote a natural feeling on the wearer's foot. Such shapes may be easily manufactured and promoted to assist in shooting the ball.

[0061] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, at least two lobes of the plurality of lobes differ in at least one of their shape, size, and / or orientation.

[0062] Depending on the portion of the upper, a particular shape, size and / or orientation may be desired. Also, different materials may be desired. As described elsewhere herein, the orientation may vary along the ball contact area. Moreover, the length of the protrusions may vary along the ball contact area. This may provide dedicated functionality to certain portions of the ball contact area. Also, the length of the protrusions may depend on the number of protrusions in one area.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, each of the plurality of projections has a beveled edge at one end, and preferably at both ends, along the longitudinal axis.

[0064] A beveled edge may refer to an edge or surface that is angled or sloped, rather than perpendicular or flush with the adjacent edges and / or surfaces. A beveled edge may be characterized by a beveled or chamfered cut that creates an inclined plane along the edge.

[0065] This has the advantage that sharp corners and / or points on the protrusions are avoided, which could otherwise lead to undesirable effects on the ball. As an example, when the upper is used for passes etc. with a fairly low travel speed, the ball may be adversely affected when hit by such sharp corners and / or points.

[0066] In addition, the beveled edges provide reduced mechanical stresses, especially stress peaks that often occur close to sharp corners and / or points, which can be avoided by this embodiment.

[0067] One or both ends may be understood as edges forming one or both opposing ends that may be free with respect to the environment.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, a path of motion is defined on the upper and the longitudinal axis of each projection is oriented substantially perpendicular to the path of motion.

[0069] Preferably, the movement trajectory includes one or more movement directions, a first movement direction is located in the toe portion of the upper and extends from the toe portion of the upper (in particular from the toe tip) towards the instep portion or the intermediate midfoot portion, a second movement direction is preferably located in the medial portion of the upper and extends from the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper towards the instep portion or the intermediate midfoot portion, and the one or more intermediate movement directions are preferably located between the first and second movement directions, and an orientation of the one or more intermediate movement directions changes between an orientation corresponding to one of the first movement directions and an orientation corresponding to one of the second movement directions, the change being preferably continuous and / or monotonous from the toe portion of the upper to the medial portion of the upper.

[0070] This has the advantage that the protrusion is substantially curved in the direction in which the movement trajectory is defined.

[0071] It is understood that the movement trajectory may depend, in part, on personal preference, the type of shot, and / or the strength of the shot.

[0072] As explained elsewhere in this specification, this motion trajectory applies to normal striking shots that are commonly performed during soccer. Moreover, as explained elsewhere in this specification, the motion trajectory of the ball may potentially be reversed, for example in the case of so-called "topspin shots".

[0073] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, a plurality of projections protrude from the outer surface of the upper.

[0074] This may be understood as the protrusion clearly extending from the outer surface of the upper. This means that, in one example, the protrusion may not be understood as an element that is placed within a recessed portion of the outer surface of the upper. Rather, it should be recognizable that the protrusion begins substantially from the outer surface of the upper and extends into the free environment. This is added to assist in shooting the ball, as described herein.

[0075] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a height, substantially in the direction of protrusion, of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, most preferably at least 2.5 mm, and / or at most 5 mm, preferably at most 4.5 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, preferably at most 3.5 mm, preferably at most 3 mm, most preferably at most 2.5 mm.

[0076] The protrusions should not have an excessively large height, as this may adversely affect the natural feeling of the upper on the wearer's foot. In addition, this may lead to a rather high weight. The protrusions should additionally or alternatively not have a rather short height, as this may detract from the desired benefit in assisting in shooting the ball.

[0077] Applicant has succeeded in achieving an optimum compromise between these conflicting requirements with respect to projection height, as specified herein.

[0078] A protrusion direction as described herein is a direction in which a protrusion extends from and along an outer surface of the upper. The protrusion direction may be defined in a state in which the protrusion is not bent. The protrusion direction may be a direction that corresponds substantially to a normal to the outer surface of the upper.

[0079] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a width, relative to the protrusion direction and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, of at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, most preferably at least 0.6 mm, and / or at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1.25 mm, preferably at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.9 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, preferably at most 0.7 mm, most preferably at most 0.6 mm.

[0080] The widths specified herein may provide an optimum balance between sufficient bendability, savings in terms of material, and / or a more natural feel with less interference (wherein a smaller width would be desired) and sufficient support and / or mechanical integrity (wherein a larger width would be desired).

[0081] It will be appreciated that the width may vary along the height of the protrusion, for example the width at the bottom portion of the protrusion may be greater than the width at the top portion of the protrusion (although this may be reversed in certain cases).

[0082] The width of the bottom portion of the protrusion may be about 1 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably about 1.1 mm to 1.4 mm, preferably about 1.2 mm to 1.3 mm. At about half the height of the protrusion, the width may be about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm, preferably about 0.6 mm to 0.7 mm. The width of the top portion of the protrusion may be smaller than the width at about half the height of the protrusion.

[0083] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a length substantially along the longitudinal axis of at least 2 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, preferably at least 6 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, preferably at least 10 mm, most preferably at least 15 mm, and / or at most 40 mm, preferably at most 30 mm, preferably at most 25 mm, preferably at most 20 mm, most preferably at most 15 mm.

[0084] A protrusion having a greater length promotes improved support for shooting the ball, whereas a protrusion having a shorter length has the advantage of reduced stiffness of the upper and / or risk of breakage.

[0085] With the proposed lengths specified herein, applicants have found an optimal compromise between these conflicting requirements.

[0086] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the top edge has a length along the longitudinal axis that is at most 100%, preferably at most 90%, preferably at most 80%, preferably at most 70%, preferably at most 60%, preferably at most 50%, and / or at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, preferably at least 100% of the length of the bottom edge along the longitudinal axis.

[0087] The length of the top edge is preferably smaller compared to the bottom edge, which promotes improved bending and aids in shooting the ball, however, the present disclosure also encompasses embodiments in which the top edge is larger compared to the bottom edge.

[0088] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the distance between two adjacent protrusions is at least 0.5 times the height of one of the protrusions, preferably at least 0.75 times the height of one of the protrusions, and more preferably at least 1 time the height of one of the protrusions.

[0089] This has the advantage that there is sufficient space between two adjacent protrusions to allow one or both of them to bend as described herein.

[0090] The protrusion that serves as a reference in determining the distance can be a front protrusion. The front protrusion can be the one that is disposed closer to the toe portion of the upper when viewed along a heel-to-toe axis of the upper. Alternatively, the protrusion that serves as a reference in determining the distance can be a rear protrusion (i.e., the one on the opposite side of the front protrusion).

[0091] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each lobe of the plurality of lobes is configured to bend through a bend angle of at least 5°, preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 15°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, preferably at least 30°, preferably at least 35°, preferably at least 40°, preferably at least 45°.

[0092] This facilitates that each lobe can bend to a relatively large amount, which provides improved grip and increased contact time with the ball. As described herein, when the lobe is bent, the instep facing portion can touch the outer surface of the upper or adjacent lobes of the plurality of lobes. Thus, it is understood that increasing the bending angle supports such contact. Prior art solutions are usually rather stiff and / or rigid and do not allow for such bending.

[0093] The bend angle may be understood as the acute angle of a line extending from the base portion to the tip portion of each protrusion when bent, relative to a line along the direction of protrusion of the protrusion when unbent.

[0094] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each projection is spaced at the medial portion of the upper from the sole of the shoe by at least 5 mm, preferably at least 6 mm, preferably at least 7 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, preferably at least 10 mm, preferably at least 12 mm, preferably at least 16 mm, preferably at least 20 mm.

[0095] This embodiment may provide a better placement of the protrusions for striking shots, as compared to curling shots, for example. A striking shot may be characterized, inter alia, in that the ball may not contact the inner part of the upper in such a portion adjacent to the sole. It is therefore advantageous that the protrusions are spaced sufficiently far away therefrom and / or are not present in such a portion. In particular, finer ball control movements (such as dribbling or flat passing) are not thereby impaired. Moreover, since the protrusions are placed only in the desired places, this reduces their amount and the weight resulting therefrom.

[0096] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, no protrusions are located on the lower, medial portion of the upper substantially directly adjacent to at least one of the sole of the shoe, the lateral portion of the upper, and / or the heel portion of the upper.

[0097] This embodiment also promotes better placement of the protrusions for striking shots compared to passing shots. As explained elsewhere, particularly in the previous embodiment, it is beneficial that the protrusions are not present in such areas, so that finer ball control movements (such as dribbling or flat passing) are not compromised, as such movements typically entail, for example, that the lower medial portion of the upper adjacent the sole primarily contacts the ball. Additionally, this embodiment reduces the amount of protrusions required and the resulting weight.

[0098] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the ball contact area is at least partially disposed in at least one of the big toe portion, the big toe knuckle portion, the first metatarsal knuckle portion, the first metatarsal portion, the upper medial midfoot portion, and / or the intermediate midfoot portion. In one example, one or more of the plurality of lobes is at least partially disposed in at least one of the big toe portion, the big toe knuckle portion, the first metatarsal knuckle portion, the upper medial midfoot portion, and / or the intermediate midfoot portion.

[0099] This embodiment encourages ball contact areas and / or protrusions to be strategically located in highly relevant portions of the upper, which may be the case, inter alia, for striking shots.

[0100] The upper medial midfoot portion can include bones such as the cuneiform and navicular bones. The intermediate midfoot portion can be the dorsal portion (i.e., the portion between the medial portion and the lateral portion). A ball contact area including a protrusion can be present in the intermediate midfoot portion when the laces are not present.

[0101] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, no protrusions are located on the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper, or flat or non-bendable protrusions are located on the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper.

[0102] Respective advantages of this embodiment may also be derived from the previous embodiment. Moreover, the flat or non-bendable protrusions may correspond to different types of protrusions than the (bendable) protrusions described elsewhere in this specification. In particular, the flat or non-bendable protrusions may be printed protrusions, etc.

[0103] The term unbendable may describe an object and / or material that does not easily bend, flex, and / or deform under normal conditions. An unbendable protrusion may exhibit a strong resistance to bending. An unbendable protrusion may exhibit an inability to bend.

[0104] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, at least two lobes from the plurality of lobes are connected by a base element on the outer surface of the upper.

[0105] This has the advantage that the protrusions are provided with sufficient support, which additionally facilitates the positioning of the protrusions and their attachment. The base element may be implemented by a stiffer material than the protrusions. Alternatively, the base element may be implemented by substantially the same or similar material as the protrusions.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the base element passes substantially through the middle of each lobe.

[0107] The middle of each protrusion may be understood as being middle with respect to its length along its longitudinal axis. This improves the protrusions being held together in the portion that may be subjected to the greatest external forces. Thereby, the base element further supports the protrusions being securely attached. This also improves the durability of the upper and its lifespan. And the upper may be more cost-effective.

[0108] As will be appreciated, the base element may additionally encompass a larger portion of the protrusion on the outer surface of the upper, i.e., it may encompass, for example, at least 20%, at least 50%, or at least 80% of its length along its longitudinal axis. Nevertheless, it is preferred that the base element is fairly thin relative to its extent along the outer surface of the upper. Thus, it may preferably encompass at most 30% or at most 20% of the length of the protrusion along its longitudinal axis.

[0109] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the base element has a thickness of at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, and / or at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, most preferably at least 0.5 mm.

[0110] This has the advantage that a bulky and / or stiff feeling of the upper is generally avoided, thus providing a more natural feeling on the wearer's foot.

[0111] The thickness should not be too large, as this may adversely affect the natural feel of the upper on the wearer's foot. In addition, a large thickness may lead to a significant weight. Additionally or alternatively, the thickness should not be too small, as this may compromise the desired benefits in supporting the protrusions and in providing a firm attachment.

[0112] Applicants have succeeded in achieving an optimum compromise between these conflicting requirements by means of the thicknesses specified herein.

[0113] The thickness may be measured substantially parallel to the direction of protrusion of the protrusions, in other words, the thickness may be measured substantially parallel to a normal to the outer surface of the upper.

[0114] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, at least two projections are integrally formed with the base element and are disposed within the first group of ball contact areas.

[0115] The fact that the at least two protrusions are integrally formed with the base element has the advantage that its manufacture is improved. Furthermore, the mechanical integrity is strengthened and thus the service life of the upper is improved. In particular, there may be fewer parts subjected to stress peaks etc. This may be due, in particular, to the absence of any means for attachment (glue etc.).

[0116] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the ball contact area includes at least two additional protrusions, the at least two additional protrusions being integrally formed with the additional base element and arranged in a second group, the first group and the second group being spaced apart greater than any two (preferably adjacent) protrusions of the first group or the second group.

[0117] The same advantages as those mentioned in the previous embodiment also apply to this embodiment.

[0118] Additionally, this embodiment has the advantage that the ball contact area can be increased and / or more protrusions are included by said ball contact area, whereby a number of different designs can be established. For example, the second group can be placed in any desired portion of the upper (e.g., above the toe / bump / instep area) to promote that desired characteristics in assisting in shooting the ball can be realized.

[0119] In various examples, the first group and / or the second group include two, three, four, five, or six lobes, and preferably the first group includes six lobes. When the second group is located further back when viewed from the toe portion, the second group preferably includes fewer lobes compared to the first group. For example, when the second group constitutes the rearmost group, said group may include two or three lobes.

[0120] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the ball contact area includes a recess disposed between the first group and the second group.

[0121] The recesses may have the advantage that water and / or mud may be guided therethrough, improving the portion of the upper that contacts the ball remaining substantially dry and / or clean, thereby improving grip and enhancing the spin imparted to the ball.

[0122] The recesses may be particularly beneficial in rainy conditions where moisture can adversely affect friction as water may sit on the exterior surface of the upper.

[0123] The recesses may be implemented in a variety of ways, including but not limited to recesses having shapes such as channels or pipes. The recesses may be continuous. The recesses may additionally or alternatively include sections having varying depths to provide a number of different constructions to improve the properties of the upper in certain portions thereof.

[0124] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the first and / or second groups of projections are disposed substantially parallel to one another along their longitudinal axes, and the first and / or second groups of projections are preferably spaced substantially equidistant from one another.

[0125] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, each lobe of the plurality of lobes comprises a material including at least one of rubber, elastomer, cast polyurethane (CPU), and / or silicone.

[0126] These materials are easy to source, cost-effective, and widely accepted in the upper and / or shoe sector. Moreover, depending on the desired degree of flexibility, softer or harder materials can be used. This allows fine-tuning the reaction of the upper to the ball. In addition, the choice of material for the protrusions can depend on the remaining material of the upper (e.g., the underlying material of the upper). This can have advantages in terms of attachment. In addition, using rubber and / or CPU allows fine-tuning and customizing the grip and the assistance of shooting the ball.

[0127] Rubber includes high energy transfer, which is preferred in the ball contact areas described herein. CPU and / or silicone materials may be used in cases where better bonding is desired compared to rubber materials. In particular, CPU and / or silicone materials are particularly suitable when bonding with textiles is to be performed.

[0128] Generally, the material has the advantage of having high energy transfer, which promotes that bending of the protrusions leads to high restoring forces, so that the energy stored in the bent protrusions can be returned to the ball to provide the desired spin.

[0129] The protrusions may be manufactured by any type of manufacturing method, including, but not limited to, overmolding, additive manufacturing methods (e.g., 3D printing methods), and / or composite manufacturing methods.

[0130] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, each of the plurality of lobes comprises a material having a hardness in the range of 30 to 60 Shore A, more preferably 35 to 55 Shore A, even more preferably 40 to 50 Shore A, and most preferably 40 to 45 Shore A.

[0131] This Shore A hardness provides an advantage in terms of bending of the protrusions and their respective restoring forces when bent, which may provide an additional benefit in providing a desired spin to the ball.

[0132] Moreover, this Shore A hardness ensures a smoother transition for striking shots (e.g., compared to the rather rigid geometries known in the prior art), which has been found to be particularly advantageous for striking shots (e.g., compared to other shots such as passing).

[0133] Shore hardness may be a measure of the resistance a material has to indentation. Different types of Shore hardness scales are suitable for measuring the hardness of different materials (e.g., soft rubber, rigid plastic, and super soft gel). Generally, the higher the number on the scale, the harder the material. The difference between scales, for example, Shore A and Shore D, is that Shore A may be designated to measure flexible rubber, while Shore D may be designated for harder rigid materials. The ranges may overlap at some levels, for example, at higher levels.

[0134] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the upper further includes a tongue, the tongue configured to fold at least partially overlying the lace of the upper.

[0135] The tongue has the advantage that it at least partially covers the lace of the upper. Thus, the tongue may improve ball contact. In particular, the tongue may provide a smooth surface for the ball. Thereby, impairment of ball contact by the lace may be reduced and / or substantially mitigated.

[0136] In one example, the tongue may be located at the instep portion and / or mid-midfoot.

[0137] In a preferred embodiment of the upper as described herein, the ball contact area is a first ball contact area and the tongue includes a second ball contact area including a plurality of protrusions according to any one of the embodiments described herein.

[0138] This has the advantage that the beneficial properties provided by the multiple protrusions are extended to a larger area of ​​the upper. In particular, the part of the foot on which the tongue is located may be the part along which the ball travels during its movement trajectory. It has therefore been found that providing a second ball contact area on said tongue improves the provision of spin to the ball.

[0139] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the second ball contact area is configured to substantially abut the first ball contact area when the tongue is folded.

[0140] This may be understood in such a manner that the second ball contact areas provide a continuous increase in overall ball contact area without any gaps etc. in between, thereby providing a smooth and coherent overall ball contact area.

[0141] Abutting may be understood as the boundary of the second ball contact area being directly adjacent to the boundary of the first ball contact area. It may not be excluded that the first and second ball contact areas are spaced apart some distance. This may depend on the exact location of the tongue and / or the degree to which the tongue is folded, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0142] As an alternative to the upper that includes a tongue, the upper may be a laceless upper. Such a laceless upper has the potential to save the time of an athlete wearing a shoe that includes such an upper. Moreover, the shoe is easier to care for. In addition, the laceless upper avoids the possibility that the laces may get tangled, which may result in an accident or injury. Moreover, the laceless upper also avoids the problem of the laces suddenly coming undone during exercise, such as playing soccer.

[0143] In embodiments where the upper is a laceless upper, the ball contact area is at least partially located in the intermediate midfoot portion, i.e., for uppers that have laces, the area where the laces are typically located, which increases the ball contact area.

[0144] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0145] This may have advantages from a manufacturing point of view. It may still be possible that the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion do not extend perfectly parallel to the longitudinal axis. For example, as explained elsewhere, the cross section may have a triangular shape. In this respect, it may be emphasized that the term substantially may include manufacturing tolerances with regard to the parallel alignment.

[0146] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion lie on opposite sides of a plane along a longitudinal axis that is essentially perpendicular to the outer surface of the upper.

[0147] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the one or more protrusions are disposed in the big toe portion, the big toe joint portion, the medial midfoot portion, and / or the lateral portion of the upper, and each of the one or more protrusions are spaced apart a first average distance. Additionally, the one or more protrusions are disposed in the upper medial midfoot portion and / or the first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, and each of the one or more protrusions are spaced apart a second average distance. The first average distance can be greater than the second average distance.

[0148] The advantage of the described embodiment, in which the spacing of the protrusions varies in various parts of the shoe's upper, is its ability to provide tailored structural support and comfort to the wearer's foot. This may include, for example, targeted support and flexibility. For example, by placing the protrusions at different intervals in certain areas of the upper, the shoe can provide more support where it is needed, such as around the big toe and knuckle areas, while allowing greater flexibility in other areas, such as the medial midfoot or first metatarsal joint. This can help address natural foot movement and provide stability. Additionally, the varying distance between the protrusions can help the upper more closely conform to the unique shape of the wearer's foot, potentially enhancing fit and reducing slippage on the inside of the shoe.

[0149] In preferred embodiments of the upper as described herein, the one or more lobes are disposed in the big toe portion, the big toe joint portion, the medial midfoot portion, and / or the lateral portion of the upper, and each of the one or more lobes has a first average density of lobes. Further, the one or more lobes are disposed in the upper medial midfoot portion and / or the first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, and each of the one or more lobes has a first average density of lobes. The first average density can be lower than the second average density.

[0150] Similar advantages as described above in the previous embodiment may be applicable.

[0151] In a further aspect, the object is solved by a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising an upper according to any one of the embodiments described herein and a sole attached to the upper.

[0152] It goes without saying that the technical properties, advantages and improvements over the state of the art shown or described with respect to the upper are equally applicable to shoes, in particular sports shoes.

[0153] The present invention includes the following embodiments.

[0154] [1] An upper (101, 201) for a shoe (100, 200, 300), particularly a sports shoe, comprising: a. a ball contact area (150) including a plurality of protrusions (151); b. each of the plurality of protrusions (151) has an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis (LA), a portion facing the sole (102, 202), and a portion facing the instep; c. the ball contact area (150) is configured to assist in shooting the ball (80) in that each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) is elastically bendable such that each protrusion (151) is configured to bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (LA) upon contact with the ball (80), and each of the plurality of protrusions (151) is configured to bend such that an instep opposing portion (151b) contacts an outer surface of the upper (101, 201) or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions (151), the upper (101, 201).

[0155] [2] The upper (101, 201) of the preceding embodiment, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a substantially triangular cross-section.

[0156] [3] An upper (101, 201) as described in any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a top edge and a bottom edge along the longitudinal axis (LA) that are substantially parallel to one another.

[0157] [4] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a substantially rectangular cross-section, preferably a trapezoidal cross-section.

[0158] [5] the longitudinal axis (LA) forms an acute angle (α) of at least 45°, preferably at least 50°, preferably at least 65°, preferably at least 85° with a heel-to-toe axis (HT) of the upper (101, 201) at a toe portion (105) of the upper (101, 201); and / or The upper (101, 201) according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper (101, 201) at a medial midfoot portion of the upper (101, 201) forms an acute angle (α) with a heel-to-toe axis (HT) of the upper (101, 201) of at most 45°, preferably at most 35°, preferably at most 25°, preferably at most 15°.

[0159] [6] a first protrusion of the plurality of protrusions (151) is disposed in a toe portion (105) of the upper (101, 201), and a second protrusion is disposed further rearward relative to the first protrusion; The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the acute angle of the first protrusion is preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 30°, preferably at least 40° greater than the acute angle of the second protrusion.

[0160] [7] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has at least one shape of a ridge, a lip, a lamella, or a fin.

[0161] [8] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least two protrusions (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) differ in at least one of their shape, size, and / or orientation.

[0162] [9] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a beveled edge at one end, and preferably at both ends, along the longitudinal axis (LA).

[0163]

[10] A path of movement (TT) is defined on the upper (101, 201), and a longitudinal axis (LA) of each projection (151) is oriented substantially perpendicular to the path of movement (TT); The movement trajectory (TT) preferably includes one or more movement directions (TD1, TDi, TD2), the first direction of movement (TD1) is disposed in a toe portion (105) of the upper (101, 201) and extends from the toe portion (105) of the upper (101, 201) (particularly from the toe tip) toward an instep portion or intermediate midfoot portion (120); the second direction of movement (TD2) is preferably disposed in the medial portion (110) of the upper (101, 201) and extends from the lower medial midfoot portion (111) of the upper (101, 201) toward the instep or intermediate midfoot portion (120); The upper (101, 201) according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more intermediate movement directions (TDi) are preferably disposed between the first movement directions (TD1) and the second movement directions (TD2), and the orientation of the one or more intermediate movement directions (TDi) changes between an orientation corresponding to one of the first movement directions (TD1) and an orientation corresponding to one of the second movement directions (TD2), the change being preferably continuous and / or monotonic from the toe portion (105) of the upper (101, 201) to the medial portion (110) of the upper (101, 201).

[0164]

[11] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the plurality of protrusions protrude from an outer surface of the upper (101, 201).

[0165]

[12] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a height, substantially in the protrusion direction (PT), of at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, most preferably at least 2.5 mm, and / or at most 5 mm, preferably at most 4.5 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, preferably at most 3.5 mm, preferably at most 3 mm, most preferably at most 2.5 mm.

[0166]

[13] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a width, in a protrusion direction (PT) and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (LA), of at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, most preferably at least 0.6 mm, and / or at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1.25 mm, preferably at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.9 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, preferably at most 0.7 mm, most preferably at most 0.6 mm.

[0167]

[14] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) has a length substantially along the longitudinal axis (LA) of at least 2 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, preferably at least 6 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, preferably at least 10 mm, most preferably at least 15 mm, and / or at most 40 mm, preferably at most 30 mm, preferably at most 25 mm, preferably at most 20 mm, most preferably at most 15 mm.

[0168]

[15] An upper (101, 201) according to [3], wherein the top edge has a length along the longitudinal axis (LA) of at most 100%, preferably at most 90%, preferably at most 80%, preferably at most 70%, preferably at most 60%, preferably at most 50%, and / or at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, preferably at least 100% of the length of the bottom edge along the longitudinal axis (LA).

[0169]

[16] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the distance between two adjacent protrusions (151) is at least 0.5 times, preferably at least 0.75 times, and more preferably at least 1 times the height of one of the protrusions (151).

[0170]

[17] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) is configured to bend through a bend angle (β) of at least 5°, preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 15°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, preferably at least 30°, preferably at least 35°, preferably at least 40°, preferably at least 45°.

[0171]

[18] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) is spaced at a distance of at least 5 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, preferably at least 12 mm, preferably at least 16 mm, preferably at least 20 mm from the sole (102, 202) of the shoe (100, 200, 300) on the medial portion (110) of the upper (101, 201).

[0172]

[19] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the protrusion (151) is not disposed on the lower medial portion (111) of the upper (101, 201) substantially directly adjacent to at least one of the sole (102, 202) of the shoe (100, 200, 300), the lateral portion (115) of the upper (101, 201), and / or the heel portion (125) of the upper (101, 201).

[0173]

[20] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the ball contact area (150) is at least partially disposed in at least one of a big toe portion, a big toe joint portion, a first metatarsal joint portion, a first metatarsal portion, a medial midfoot portion of the upper (101, 201), and / or a medial midfoot portion (120).

[0174]

[21] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the protrusion (151) is not located on a lower medial midfoot portion of the upper (101, 201) or wherein a flat or non-bendable protrusion (151) is located on a lower medial midfoot portion of the upper (101, 201).

[0175]

[22] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein at least two protrusions (151) from the plurality of protrusions (151) are connected by a base element (156) on an outer surface of the upper (101, 201).

[0176]

[23] The upper (101, 201) of the preceding embodiment, wherein the base element (156) passes substantially through a middle portion of each projection (151).

[0177]

[24] The upper (101, 201) according to embodiment

[22] or

[23] , wherein the base element (156) has a thickness of at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, and / or at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, most preferably at least 0.5 mm.

[0178]

[25] An upper (101, 201) according to any one of embodiments

[22] to

[24] , wherein at least two protrusions (151) are integrally formed with the base element (156) and are disposed within a first group (160) of the ball contact area (150).

[0179]

[26] the ball contact area (150) comprises at least two further protrusions (151), the at least two further protrusions (151) being integrally formed with the further base element and arranged in a second group (160′); The upper (101, 201) as described in the preceding embodiment, wherein the first group (160) and the second group (160') are spaced apart greater than any two (preferably adjacent) protrusions (151) of the first group (160) or the second group (160').

[0180]

[27] The upper (101, 201) of the preceding embodiment, wherein the ball contact area (150) includes a recess (155) disposed between the first group (160) and the second group (160').

[0181]

[28] The upper (101, 201) according to embodiment

[26] or

[27] , wherein the protrusions (151) of the first group (160) and / or the second group (160') are arranged substantially parallel to one another along their longitudinal axis (LA), and the protrusions (151) of the first group (160) and / or the second group (160') are preferably spaced substantially equidistant from one another.

[0182]

[29] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) comprises a material comprising at least one of rubber, elastomer, cast polyurethane (CPU), and / or silicone.

[0183]

[30] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein each protrusion (151) of the plurality of protrusions (151) comprises a material having a hardness in the range of 30 to 60 Shore A, more preferably 35 to 55 Shore A, even more preferably 40 to 50 Shore A, and most preferably 40 to 45 Shore A.

[0184]

[31] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the upper (101, 201) further comprises a tongue, the tongue being configured to be folded to at least partially overlap a lace of the upper (101, 201).

[0185]

[32] The upper (101, 201) as described in any preceding embodiment, wherein the ball contact area (150) is a first ball contact area and the tongue includes a second ball contact area including a plurality of protrusions (151) as described in any one of the preceding embodiments.

[0186]

[33] The upper (101, 201) of the preceding embodiment, wherein the second ball contact area is configured to substantially abut the first ball contact area when the tongue is folded.

[0187]

[34] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sole (102, 202) opposing portion and the instep opposing portion (151b) extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA).

[0188]

[35] The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the sole (102, 202) opposing portion and the instep opposing portion (151b) are on opposite sides of a plane along a longitudinal axis (LA) that is essentially perpendicular to an outer surface of the upper (101, 201).

[0189]

[36] one or more projections (151) are disposed on a big toe portion, a big toe joint portion, a mid-midfoot portion, and / or a lateral portion (115) of the upper (101, 201), each of the one or more projections (151) being spaced apart by a first average distance; the one or more protrusions (151) are disposed in an upper medial midfoot portion and / or a first metatarsal joint portion of the upper (101, 201), each of the one or more protrusions (151) being spaced apart by a second average distance; The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first average distance is greater than the second average distance.

[0190]

[37] one or more protrusions (151) are disposed in a big toe portion, a big toe knuckle portion, a mid-midfoot portion, and / or a lateral portion (115) of the upper (101, 201), each of the one or more protrusions (151) having a first average density of protrusions (151); the one or more protrusions (151) are disposed in an upper medial midfoot portion and / or a first metatarsal joint portion of the upper (101, 201), each of the one or more protrusions (151) having a first average density of protrusions (151); The upper (101, 201) of any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the first average density is lower than the second average density.

[0191]

[38] A shoe (100, 200, 300), in particular a sports shoe, comprising: An upper according to any one of embodiments [1] to

[37] ; A sole (102, 202) attached to an upper (101, 201) Including, Shoes (100, 200, 300).

[0192] In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0193] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2A-2C show the embodiment of FIG. 1 in different views. [Diagram 3] 2A-2C show the embodiment of FIG. 1 in different views. [Figure 4] 1A-1C are schematic diagrams of a protrusion in a normal state and in a bent state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a different perspective. [Figure 7] 6 shows the embodiment of FIG. 5 in a different perspective. [Figure 8] FIG. 7 shows a portion of FIG. 6 in detail view. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10]10A-10C show the embodiment of FIG. 9 in different viewpoints and in different transparency modes. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0194] In the following, only some possible embodiments of the present invention are described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and many other embodiments are applicable without departing from the scope of the present invention. The presented embodiments can be modified in multiple ways and combined with each other whenever compatible, and certain features can be omitted insofar as they appear unnecessary. In particular, the disclosed embodiments can be modified by combining certain features of one embodiment with one or more features of another embodiment.

[0195] It should be understood that not all features of the described aspects / embodiments must be present to achieve the technical advantages provided by the present disclosure as defined by the subject matter of the claims. The disclosed aspects / embodiments may be modified by combining a particular feature of one aspect / embodiment with one or more features of another aspect / embodiment. In particular, those skilled in the art will understand that features and / or functional elements of one aspect / embodiment may be combined with technically compatible features and / or functional elements of any other aspect / embodiment of the present disclosure, provided that the resulting combination falls within the definition of the present disclosure.

[0196] Although the embodiments described below are primarily described with reference to uppers for shoes, particularly sports shoes, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure according to the present invention may be equally applied in a number of different technical fields and / or use cases.

[0197] Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the figures and specification. For clarity and brevity, certain features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps of particular embodiments have been presented without undue detail (where such detail would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings herein and / or where such detail would obscure a more precise understanding of the embodiments).

[0198] As understood by those skilled in the art and / or to avoid redundancy, reference is also made to the descriptions in the preceding sections, which also apply to the following detailed description. Moreover, not all features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps are explicitly indicated by reference signs for brevity and clarity. This applies especially when those skilled in the art recognize that such features, parts, elements, aspects, components, and / or steps exist in a plurality of instances. One example thereof may be the protrusion 151.

[0199] definition As used herein, "toe portion" may include the portion at the big toe and / or adjacent to the big toe joint.

[0200] As used herein, "upper medial midfoot portion" can include the portion proximate the first metatarsal and / or the medial midfoot bones (such as the cuneiform and navicular).

[0201] Unless otherwise stated, as used in this context, the term "substantial" or "substantially" may be understood to a large or significant extent, or for the most part or essentially. In particular, manufacturing tolerances are included by this term.

[0202] The term "and / or" is simply an associative relationship that describes related objects and represents that three relationships may exist. For example, A and / or B may represent three conditions: the independent presence of A, the presence of both A and B, and the independent presence of B. Additionally, the character " / " in this disclosure typically represents that the previous and next related objects form an "or" relationship.

[0203] Terms such as "bottom," "top," "one end," "other end," "outer side," "upper," "upper," "inner side," "lower," "lower," "horizontal," "coaxial," "center," "end," "part," "length," "outer end," and the like, indicate orientations or positions and are based on the orientations or positions shown in the drawings.

[0204] When used herein to indicate relative positions in space, terms such as "upper", "upper", "lower" and "underside" are used for ease of description purposes to describe garments, elements, parts, objects and / or features shown in the drawings relative to the relationship of other garments, elements, parts, objects and / or features.

[0205] Text description of the illustration image024.gif. 1-3 show an exemplary upper 101 for a shoe 100 (particularly a sports shoe) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure in three different views (FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3).

[0206] Upper 101 includes a ball-contacting area 150 that includes a plurality of protrusions 151 (not all of which are shown for simplicity). Each protrusion 151 of plurality of protrusions 151 has an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis LA (as shown in FIG. 2), a sole-facing portion 151a (as best seen in FIG. 4), and an instep-facing portion 151b (as best seen in FIG. 4). Ball contact area 150 is configured to assist in shooting ball 80 (as best seen in FIG. 4 ) in that each protrusion 151 of multiple protrusions 151 is elastically bendable such that each protrusion 151 is configured to bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis LA upon contact with ball 80, and each protrusion 151 of multiple protrusions 151 is configured to bend such that instep opposing portion 151b contacts the outer surface of upper 101 or an adjacent protrusion 151 of multiple protrusions 151.

[0207] As can be inferred from FIG. 1 , each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 may have at least one shape of a ridge, a lip, a lamella, or a fin. For example, the protrusion 151 may have a major axis, such as a length, that is substantially greater than a minor axis, such as a width. Moreover, each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 may have a beveled edge at one end, preferably at both ends, along the longitudinal axis LA. The beveled edge may be formed by removing material from the edge at a particular angle and / or by cutting a sloped surface along the edge. The angle of the bevel may vary depending on the intended purpose and / or aesthetic considerations.

[0208] As shown in FIG. 2, a heel-to-toe axis HT is shown. Additionally, a longitudinal axis LA of an exemplary protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 of the toe portion 105 is shown (each longitudinal axis LA has a suffix 105). The longitudinal axis LA_105 forms an acute angle α of at least 45°, preferably at least 50°, preferably at least 65°, preferably at least 85° with the heel-to-toe axis HT of the upper 101 at the toe portion 105 of the upper. Additionally, a longitudinal axis LA of an exemplary protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 of the upper medial midfoot portion 112 of the upper 101 is shown (each longitudinal axis LA has a suffix 112). Moreover, the longitudinal axis LA_112 forms an acute angle α with the heel-to-toe axis HT in the upper medial midfoot portion 112 of the upper 101 of at most 45°, preferably at most 35°, preferably at most 25°, and preferably at most 15°.

[0209] 2, a first lobe 151 of the plurality of lobes 151 is disposed in the toe portion 105 of the upper 101, and a second lobe 151 is disposed further posteriorly relative to the first lobe 151 (e.g., in the upper medial midfoot portion 112). The acute angle α of the first lobe 151 (in the toe portion 105) may be greater than the acute angle α of the second lobe 151 (in the upper medial midfoot portion 112), preferably by at least 10°, preferably by at least 20°, preferably by at least 30°, preferably by at least 40°.

[0210] Furthermore, each of the plurality of protrusions 151 has a substantially rectangular shaped longitudinal cross-section, preferably a trapezoidal shaped longitudinal cross-section, the longitudinal cross-section being taken along the longitudinal axis LA of the elongated protrusion 151.

[0211] 1-3, at least two of the plurality of protrusions 151 differ in at least one of their shape, size, and / or orientation. Each of the plurality of protrusions 151 may protrude from an outer surface of the upper 101. Thus, they may extend into the free environment.

[0212] The ball contact area 150 may be at least partially located in at least one of the big toe portion, the big toe joint portion, the first metatarsal joint portion, the first metatarsal portion, the upper medial midfoot portion 112, and / or the intermediate midfoot portion 120.

[0213] The ball contact area 150 may include one or more of a medial and / or medial toe portion, a medial metatarsal portion (which may be near the sole 102), a medial and medial instep portion (which may be similar to the medial midfoot portion 120, as described elsewhere herein), and a front heel portion. The term medial may refer to the portion between the lateral and medial. The term medial may be referred to as dorsal.

[0214] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a plurality of protrusions 151 in normal and bent states according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0215] Each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis, which is oriented into the image plane of FIG. 4. Furthermore, each protrusion 151 has a sole-facing part 151a (on one side of the longitudinal axis) and an instep-facing part 151b (on the other side of the longitudinal axis). Each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 has a substantially triangular cross section. The cross section is along a plane, the normal of which is parallel to the longitudinal axis, i.e. oriented into the image plane of FIG. 4. Moreover, each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 has a top edge at the top part 151d and a bottom edge at the bottom part 151c. Both edges are oriented along the longitudinal axis, i.e. oriented into the image plane of FIG. 4, and are substantially parallel to each other. Due to the triangular cross-section, the bottom portion 151c may have two edges.

[0216] 4, each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 may be configured to bend by a bending angle β of at least 5°, preferably at least 10°, preferably at least 15°, preferably at least 20°, preferably at least 25°, preferably at least 30°, preferably at least 35°, preferably at least 40°, preferably at least 45°. As can be seen, depending on the bending angle, the sole-facing portion 151a may be directed at least partially upward when the protrusion 151 is bent. Moreover, the instep-facing portion 151b may be directed toward the upper and / or the sole of the shoe 100 when the protrusion 151 is bent.

[0217] 4 also shows a height h substantially in the direction of projection of each of the protrusions 151. As explained elsewhere herein, the height may be at least 0.5 mm, preferably at least 1 mm, preferably at least 1.5 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, most preferably at least 2.5 mm, and / or at most 5 mm, preferably at most 4.5 mm, preferably at most 4 mm, preferably at most 3.5 mm, preferably at most 3 mm, most preferably at most 2.5 mm. Additionally, FIG. 4 shows a width w of each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151, which is perpendicular to the direction of projection and to the longitudinal axis LA. As described elsewhere herein, the width w may be at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.3 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, preferably at least 0.5 mm, most preferably at least 0.6 mm, and / or at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1.25 mm, preferably at most 1.0 mm, preferably at most 0.9 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, preferably at most 0.7 mm, most preferably at most 0.6 mm. The length of each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 is measured substantially along a longitudinal axis (as best seen in FIG. 2, i.e., along the longitudinal axis LA_105 of the toe portion 105 or along the longitudinal axis LA_112 of the upper medial midfoot portion 112). It is noted that the protrusions 151 may have a maximum length such that there may not be any protrusion 151 that extends continuously across the ball contact area 150. This has the advantage that recesses 155, 155', 155'' such as channels may be provided between the protrusions 151, for example along an inner-outer or outer-inner direction, as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0218] The channels may have different cross-sectional shapes, such as rectangular, trapezoidal, circular, and / or irregular shapes, and / or combinations thereof. The cross-sectional shape may depend on the width, depth, and / or angle of its sides. The width of a channel may refer to the distance between its two substantially parallel sides. It may be measured substantially perpendicular to the direction of flow, e.g., water flow (e.g., due to rain). The depth of a channel may refer to the vertical distance between the bottom of the channel and the top of the channel. It may usually be measured from the channel floor to a reference point. A channel may also be described by its slope or gradient. Such a slope or gradient may describe the change in rise along its length. It may represent a measure of how steeply the channel slopes upwards or downwards. Variations in slope or gradient may be an advantage in cases where rain is to be guided fairly quickly from one point of the upper to another. Slope is typically expressed as a ratio or percentage. One or more of the recesses 155, 155', 155'' described herein may alternatively or additionally be implemented by a passageway, conduit, tube, duct, canal, corridor, trench, or the like.

[0219] 5-7 show an exemplary upper 201 for a shoe 200 (particularly a sports shoe) according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure in three different views (FIGS. 5, 6, 7).

[0220] This embodiment corresponds to the remaining embodiments described herein, with most of the differences being highlighted, but common features also being presented. The reference symbols correspond here to the remaining embodiments, with the hundreds counter incremented by 1, i.e., Upper 201 corresponds to Upper 101 in the remaining embodiments described herein.

[0221] This embodiment is a laceless upper 201, which saves time when putting on a shoe 200 that includes such an upper 201. Such a laceless upper 201 avoids the possibility of laces getting tangled, resulting in an accident or injury.

[0222] In addition, although a ball movement trajectory TT is shown in this embodiment, it is applicable to any other embodiment described herein and is not limited to those shown in Figures 5 to 7. The movement trajectory TT is only omitted in the remaining embodiments for clarity.

[0223] The movement trajectory TT may include one or more movement directions TD1, TDi, TD2 (as exemplarily shown in Figs. 6 and 7). A first movement direction TD1 is shown, which is disposed substantially in the toe portion of the upper 201. The first movement direction TD1 may extend from the toe portion of the upper 201 (in particular from the toe tip) toward the instep portion. The second movement direction TD2 is disposed substantially in the medial portion 110 of the upper 201. The second movement direction TD2 may extend from the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper 201 toward the instep portion. As can be further inferred from Figs. 6 and 7, a plurality of intermediate movement directions TDi are shown, which are disposed substantially in the portion between the first movement direction TD1 and the second movement direction TD2. The intermediate movement directions TDi smoothly transition from an orientation substantially corresponding to the first movement direction TD1 to an orientation substantially corresponding to the second movement direction TD2. As will be appreciated, in FIG. 6 two intermediate movement directions TDi are shown, and although in FIG. 6 one intermediate movement direction TDi is shown, there are multiple ones.

[0224] As described herein, the movement trajectory TT may include one or more of the movement directions TD1, TDi, TD2. As an example, the ball may first move along the movement direction TD1 when the first contact portion is at the toe portion of the upper 201, and then move along the movement direction TD2, terminating at the second contact portion proximate the instep portion of the upper 201.

[0225] As can be understood, multiple exemplary movement trajectories TT are involved. For example, the player may shoot the ball slightly differently compared to the previous example. For example, the first contact part may be closer to the metatarsal. In such an example, the movement direction TD1 shown in Figures 6 and 7 may not be included in the movement trajectory TT, i.e., during the shot.

[0226] The movement trajectory TT includes one or more of the depicted movement directions TD1, TDi, TD2. Without wishing to be bound by theory, this may be explained in terms of the way that the ball may deform during the shot, whereby a significant surface of the upper 201 may come into contact during ball impact, as described elsewhere herein.

[0227] The longitudinal axis LA of each protrusion 151 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the movement directions TD1, TDi, TD2 in the respective portion of the upper 201. When the movement trajectory TT includes one or more of these movement directions TD1, TDi, TD2, the longitudinal axis LA of each protrusion 151 may also be oriented substantially perpendicular to the movement trajectory TT. The movement trajectory TT may be directed upward and rearward of the upper 201. It may start from multiple points along the edge of the sole 202 of the shoe 200. It may extend toward the intermediate midfoot portion 120.

[0228] In addition to the above analysis of the ball travel trajectory TT, for example, in the case of a so-called "topspin shot", the ball travel trajectory may be reversed. For such a shot, the first ball contact portion may be toward the rear of the shoe opening and / or toward the shoe opening. The second ball contact portion may be toward the toe portion 105. For such a "topspin shot", topspin is required and / or desired. During this type of shot, the foot strikes the ball substantially in the center and travels in an upward direction of the ball. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the ball travel trajectory TT for these types of shots may be reversed from the travel trajectory TT described elsewhere herein.

[0229] As can be appreciated, multiple protrusions 151 may be positioned on upper 201 such that at least one of protrusions 151 is oriented substantially perpendicular to each type of shot (such as a curved shot or a straight shot).

[0230] 7, and as applicable to all embodiments described herein, each projection 151 may be spaced apart on medial portion 120 of upper 201 from sole 202 of shoe 200 by at least 5 mm, preferably at least 8 mm, preferably at least 12 mm, preferably at least 16 mm, preferably at least 20 mm. Moreover, projection 151 does not have to be located on lower medial portion 111 of upper 201 substantially directly adjacent at least one of sole 202 of shoe 200, lateral portion 115 of the upper (as best seen in FIG. 3), and / or heel portion 125 of upper 201.

[0231] In particular, as exemplarily shown in Figures 1 and 7, it may be possible that either no protrusions 151 are disposed in the lower medial midfoot portion 111 of the upper 101, or flat or non-bendable protrusions may be disposed in the lower medial midfoot portion 111 of the upper 101. These flat or non-bendable protrusions may be manufactured in a variety of manners, including, but not limited to, 3D printing, etc.

[0232] As exemplarily shown in FIG. 7, the shoe 100, 200 may be provided with studs 180 (for simplicity, only two are shown), which may also be referred to as cleats. These may serve to provide traction for the player on the ground (especially on soft ground such as grass). The use of studs is known in the field of ball sports activities such as soccer or football (e.g., American football) or rugby. In some examples, the studs may be integrally formed with the sole 202 of the shoe 200. The studs 180 may be at least partially injected onto a base material. In various examples, prefabricated stud tips may be placed in a mold and overinjected with the base material. The base material may comprise a portion of the sole 202. In various examples, the studs 180 may comprise TPU. Integral formed or injected studs 180 have the advantage that no screws are required and / or that the studs 180 do not require replacement. Nevertheless, it is also possible to apply interchangeable studs 180 or screw-on studs 180.

[0233] 8 shows a portion of FIG. 6 in detail. As described elsewhere herein, at least two protrusions 251 from the plurality of protrusions 251 may be connected by a base element 156 on the outer surface of the upper 201. The at least two protrusions 151 may be integrally formed with the base element 156. The at least two protrusions 151 may be disposed in a first group 160 in the ball contact area 150. In this view, an exemplary six protrusions 151 are connected by the base element 156, and the six protrusions 151 form one group 160 disposed in the toe portion 105 of the upper 201.

[0234] The base element 160 may have a thickness (in the protruding direction PT of the protrusion 151 as shown in FIG. 4) of at most 1.5 mm, preferably at most 1 mm, preferably at most 0.8 mm, and / or at least 0.2 mm, preferably at least 0.4 mm, most preferably at least 0.5 mm.

[0235] In various examples, the first base element 156 and / or the second base element 156' encompasses an area on the upper 201 that corresponds to the sum of the areas of the bottom portions of the protrusions 151 on said base element 156, 156'. Preferably, the first base element 156 and / or the second base element 156' is at least 1.05, preferably at least 1.1, and most preferably at least 1.15 times larger than the sum of the areas of the bottom portions of the one or more protrusions 151 on said base element 156, 156' and / or is at most 1.3, preferably at most 1.25, preferably at most 1.2, and most preferably at most 1.15 times larger than the sum of the areas of the bottom portions of the one or more protrusions 151 on said base element 156, 156'.

[0236] In various examples, the contour of the base element 156, 156' may correspond to the contour of the bottom portion of each of the protrusions 151, but may protrude slightly outward. In one example, there may be a connection between the contours. As an alternative, the spacing between each of the protrusions 151 of the same group 160, 160' may be completely covered by the base element 156, 156'.

[0237] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8, the base element 160 passes substantially through the middle of each projection 151 .

[0238] Additionally, the ball contact area 150 may include at least two additional protrusions 151, which are integrally formed with the additional base element 156' and are arranged in a second group 160' (note that the protrusions 151 of the second group 160' are not shown for clarity only). The second group 160' is also arranged in the toe portion 105 of the upper 201. However, as explained elsewhere herein, the second group 160' may be arranged further back (e.g., as shown in FIG. 5). It can be seen that the first group 160 and the second group 160' are spaced apart more than any two (preferably neighboring) protrusions 151 of the first group 160 or the second group 160'. This allows for the formation of recesses (e.g., channels) to allow water and mud to flow therethrough, as explained below.

[0239] Additionally, the ball contact area 150 includes recesses 155 disposed between the first group 160 and the second group 160'. Additional recesses 155' are shown in this view that are disposed proximate to the first group 160 and / or the second group 160' toward the rear end. The recesses 155, 155' may adopt shapes such as channels, as described elsewhere herein.

[0240] As can be inferred from Fig. 8, the protrusions 151 of the first group 160 and / or the second group 160' are arranged substantially parallel to each other along their longitudinal axis LA. Moreover, the protrusions 151 of the first group 160 and / or the second group 160' are preferably spaced substantially equidistant from each other. Moreover, Fig. 8 shows that the distance between two adjacent protrusions 151 may be at least 0.5 times, preferably at least 0.75 times, more preferably at least 1 times the height of one of the protrusions 151 (preferably the front protrusion 151).

[0241] It is emphasized that the description of the base element 156, 156', the first group 160, and / or the second group 160' may be equally applicable to any other embodiment described herein. Moreover, the number and arrangement of the groups 160, 160' are in no way limited to the example of FIG. 8. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates four groups 160, 160', 160'', 160''', each of which may comprise a respective base element. The first group 160 is disposed in the toe portion 105 and has six lobes 151. The second group 160' is disposed in a portion encompassing a portion of the toe portion 105 and a portion of the upper medial midfoot portion 112 and has six lobes 151. The third group 160'' is disposed in the upper medial midfoot portion 112 and has two lobes 151. The fourth group 160''' is also disposed in the toe portion 105 and has six lobes 151. Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows two recesses 155 in a similar manner to FIG.

[0242] As a further example of the arrangement of the groups, FIG. 1 shows two groups 160, 160', each of which may comprise a respective base element. The application of the groups is not limited to these examples, and the skilled person will note that, for example, deriving from FIG. 1 that the upper 101 may include eight groups, three of which are in the toe portion 105 and the rest of which are in the rear portion relative to the toe portion 105. Exemplarily, FIG. 1 shows three recesses 155, 155', 155'' arranged between the groups 160, 160' (for the sake of brevity, not all groups are shown). Although not explicitly shown in FIG. 1, also in this embodiment, at least two protrusions 151 from the plurality of protrusions 251 may be connected by a base element 156 on the outer surface of the upper 101. Said at least two protrusions 151 may be integrally formed with the base element 156.

[0243] 9 and 10 show an exemplary upper 301 for a shoe 300 (particularly a sports shoe) according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 10 shows the embodiment of Fig. 9 in a different perspective and in a different transparency mode.

[0244] This embodiment corresponds to the remaining embodiments described herein, with most differences being highlighted, but common features also being presented.

[0245] Here, upper 301 includes tongue 390 that is configured to fold over at least partially over the lace of upper 301 .

[0246] The ball contact area 150 described elsewhere herein is the first ball contact area 150, and the tongue 390 includes a second ball contact area 350 that includes a plurality of protrusions 151 according to any one of the embodiments described herein. As can be seen, the second ball contact area 350 can be configured to substantially abut the first ball contact area 150 when the tongue 390 is folded.

[0247] It should be noted that the one or more protrusions 151 may be disposed at the big toe portion, the big toe joint portion, the medial midfoot portion, and / or the lateral portion of the upper, with each of the one or more protrusions 151 spaced apart a first average distance. Additionally, the one or more protrusions 151 may be disposed at the upper medial midfoot portion and / or the first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, with each of the one or more protrusions 151 spaced apart a second average distance. The first average distance may be greater than the second average distance.

[0248] This may have the advantage that closer spacing of the protrusions in certain areas may provide a cushioning effect that may reduce pressure points and increase comfort during activities involving a lot of foot movement or impact. In addition, strategic placement of the protrusions may reinforce high stress areas of the shoe, potentially improving the durability and lifespan of the product. The placement of the protrusions may also be designed to create visually appealing patterns, which may enhance the marketability of the shoe. Depending on the design, the spacing between the protrusions may also affect the breathability of the upper, with more space allowing more air circulation. By adjusting the spacing of the protrusions, the design may affect how weight and pressure are distributed across the foot, which may be beneficial in reducing fatigue and improving the wearer's gait.

[0249] It should be noted that one or more lobes 151 may be disposed in the big toe portion, big toe joint portion, medial midfoot portion, and / or lateral portion of the upper, each of the one or more lobes 151 having a first average density of lobes. Additionally, one or more lobes 151 may be disposed in the upper medial midfoot portion and / or first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, each of the one or more lobes 151 having a first average density of lobes 151. The first average density may be lower than the second average density.

[0250] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, the instep-facing portion of each of the projections encompasses at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, preferably at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90% of the instep-facing portion of each of the projections. In other words, each of the plurality of projections is configured to flex such that at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, preferably at least 40%, preferably at least 50%, preferably at least 60%, preferably at least 70%, preferably at least 80%, preferably at least 90% of the instep-facing portion of each of the projections contacts an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent projection of the plurality of projections.

[0251] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, the first group is disposed in a toe portion of the upper, and the longitudinal axis LA of the one or more projections of the first group is oriented substantially from the medial to the lateral portion of the upper, and preferably the longitudinal axis LA forms an acute angle with the heel-to-toe axis of the upper of at least 45°, preferably at least 50°, preferably at least 55°, preferably at least 60°, preferably at least 65°, preferably at least 70°, preferably at least 75°, preferably at least 80°, preferably at least 85°.

[0252] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, the second group is positioned in the upper medial midfoot portion (such as adjacent to the first metatarsal and / or medial midfoot bones (such as the cuneiform and navicular)) and / or in the intermediate midfoot portion, and the longitudinal axis of one or more protrusions of the second group is oriented from the medial portion to the toe portion of the upper, and preferably the longitudinal axis forms an acute angle of at most 45°, preferably at most 40°, preferably at most 35°, preferably at most 30°, preferably at most 25°, preferably at most 20°, preferably at most 15° with the heel-to-toe axis of the upper at the upper medial midfoot portion of the upper.

[0253] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, the protrusions 151 may be implemented by curved protrusions 151 and / or by varying the angle of adjacent protrusions 151, which may be essentially aligned along their longitudinal axis LA.

[0254] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 comprises a material including at least one of rubber, elastomer, cast polyurethane (CPU), and / or silicone. Further, in all of the above embodiments, each protrusion 151 of the plurality of protrusions 151 comprises a material having a hardness in the range of 30-60 Shore A, more preferably 35-55 Shore A, even more preferably 40-50 Shore A, and most preferably 40-45 Shore A.

[0255] As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, the upper and lower limits of the ranges of hardness values ​​may be combined with each other.

[0256] In any one or more of the embodiments of the upper described herein, references such as "first" or "second" merely correspond to the naming of an element, part, or group, etc. This naming is not to be construed as limiting, but merely serves the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure.

[0257] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, it is noted that any one or more of the embodiments and / or examples described herein may be combined with further aspects as described herein, and details of the embodiments and / or examples may be omitted. The scope of protection is determined by the claims and is not limited by the embodiments and / or examples disclosed in the above figures.

[0258] Further embodiments In the following, further embodiments are described to facilitate understanding of the present invention.

[0259] 1a. An upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, comprising: a. comprising a ball contact area including at least one protrusion protruding from an exterior surface of the upper; b. the ball contact area is located at least partially in a toe portion of the upper; c. An upper, wherein no protrusions protruding from the lateral surface are located on the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper.

[0260] 1b. An upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, comprising: a. comprising a ball contact area including at least two protrusions protruding from an exterior surface of an upper; b. the ball contact area is located at least partially in a toe portion of the upper; c. an upper, wherein the at least two projections are connected by a base element on an outer surface of the upper.

[0261] 1c. An upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, comprising: a. a ball contact area including a plurality of protrusions; b. a movement path TT is defined on the upper and / or on the ball contact area, the movement path preferably including one or more movement directions; the first direction of movement is disposed in a toe portion of the upper and extends from the toe portion of the upper (particularly from the toe tip) toward an instep portion or intermediate midfoot portion; the second direction of movement is preferably disposed in a medial portion of the upper and extends from a lower medial midfoot portion of the upper toward an instep portion or an intermediate midfoot portion; the one or more intermediate movement directions are preferably disposed between the first and second movement directions, and the orientation of the one or more intermediate movement directions varies between an orientation corresponding to one of the first movement directions and an orientation corresponding to one of the second movement directions, the variation being preferably continuous and / or monotonic from a toe portion of the upper to an inner portion of the upper; c. An upper, wherein the longitudinal axis of the one or more protrusions is oriented substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of movement.

[0262] 1d. An upper for a shoe, particularly a sports shoe, comprising: a. comprising a ball contact area disposed at least in a toe portion of an exterior surface of an upper, the ball area including one or more projections extending from the exterior surface in a first direction; b. the one or more protrusions each have an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis; c. an upper, wherein the one or more projections each have top and bottom edges along a longitudinal axis that are substantially parallel to one another.

[0263] The above-listed embodiments 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d may be combined with the accompanying claims (in particular with the features of the claims referring to independent claim 1). [Explanation of symbols]

[0264] 100 Shoes 101 Upper 102 Sole 105 Toe part 110 Inner part 111 Lower inner part 112 Upper inner midfoot part 115 Outer part 120 Mid-foot area 125 Heel part 150 Ball Contact Area 151 Protrusion 151a Sole facing part 151b Instep opposing part 151c Bottom part of protrusion 151d Upper part of protrusion 155 Recess 155' Recess 155'' recess 156 Base Element 156' Further base elements 160 First Group 160' 2nd Group 160'' 3rd Group 160'' 4th Group 180 studs 190 Balls 200 Shoes 201 Upper 202 Sole 300 Shoes 350 Secondary Ball Contact Area 390 Tan α Acute angle β bending angle HT Heel-to-toe axis LA Longitudinal axis of the elongated shape of the protrusion PT protrusion direction TT Ball movement trajectory TD1 First moving direction TDi intermediate movement direction TD2 Second movement direction

Claims

1. 1. An upper for a shoe, comprising: a. a ball contact area including a plurality of protrusions; b. each of said plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape having a longitudinal axis (LA), a sole-facing portion, and an instep-facing portion; an upper, wherein each lobe of the plurality of lobes is resiliently bendable such that each lobe is configured to bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (LA) upon contact with a ball, and wherein each of the plurality of lobes is configured to bend such that the instep facing portion contacts an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent lobe of the plurality of lobes, and wherein the ball contact area is configured to assist in shooting the ball.

2. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each lobe of the plurality of lobes has a substantially triangular cross-section.

3. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each lobe of said plurality of lobes has a top edge and a bottom edge along said longitudinal axis (LA) that are substantially parallel to one another.

4. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of lobes has a longitudinal cross-section that is substantially rectangular in shape.

5. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis (LA) forms an acute angle (α) of at least 45° with the heel-to-toe axis (HT) of the upper at a toe portion of the upper, and / or forms an acute angle (α) of at most 45° with the heel-to-toe axis (HT) of the upper at an upper medial midfoot portion of the upper.

6. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein a first of the plurality of lobes is disposed in a toe portion of the upper and a second of the lobes is disposed further rearward relative to the first lobe, and an acute angle of the first lobe is greater than an acute angle of the second lobe.

7. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has the shape of at least one of a ridge, a lip, a lamella, or a fin.

8. The upper of claim 1 , wherein at least two lobes of the plurality of lobes differ in at least one of their shape, size, and / or orientation.

9. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of lobes has a beveled edge at one end along said longitudinal axis (LA).

10. A trajectory of movement (TT) is defined on the upper, and the longitudinal axis (LA) of each projection is oriented substantially perpendicular to the trajectory of movement (TT); said movement trajectory (TT) includes one or more movement directions (TD1, TDi, TD2); a first direction of movement (TD1) disposed in a toe portion of the upper and extending from the toe portion of the upper toward an instep portion or an intermediate midfoot portion; a second direction of movement (TD2) disposed in a medial portion of the upper and extending from a lower medial midfoot portion of the upper toward an instep portion or an intermediate midfoot portion; 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein one or more intermediate movement directions (TDi) are disposed between the first movement direction (TD1) and the second movement direction (TD2), and the orientation of the one or more intermediate movement directions (TDi) changes between an orientation corresponding to one of the first movement directions (TD1) and an orientation corresponding to one of the second movement directions (TD2), and the change is continuous and / or monotonic from a toe portion of the upper to an inner portion of the upper.

11. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions protrude from the outer surface of the upper.

12. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a height, substantially in a protrusion direction (PT), of at least 0.5 mm and / or at most 5 mm.

13. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has a width, in a protrusion direction (PT) and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (LA), of at least 0.1 mm and / or at most 1.5 mm.

14. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of lobes has a length substantially along said longitudinal axis (LA) of at least 2 mm and / or at most 40 mm.

15. 4. The upper of claim 3, wherein the top edge has a length along the longitudinal axis (LA) that is at most 100% and / or at least 50% of a length of the bottom edge along the longitudinal axis (LA).

16. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the distance between two adjacent protrusions is at least 0.5 times the height of one of said protrusions.

17. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each lobe of the plurality of lobes is configured to bend through a bend angle (β) of at least 5°.

18. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each projection is spaced at least 5 mm from the sole of the shoe on a medial portion of the upper.

19. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein there is no protrusion located on a lower medial portion of the upper substantially directly adjacent to at least one of the sole of the shoe, the lateral portion of the upper, and / or the heel portion of the upper.

20. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein the ball contact area is at least partially disposed in at least one of a big toe portion, a big toe joint portion, a first metatarsal joint portion, a first metatarsal portion, an upper medial midfoot portion, and / or a medial midfoot portion.

21. 2. The upper of claim 1, wherein no protrusions are located on a lower medial midfoot portion of the upper, or wherein a flat or non-bendable protrusion is located on the lower medial midfoot portion of the upper.

22. The upper of claim 1 , wherein at least two projections from the plurality of projections are connected by a base element on the exterior surface of the upper.

23. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the base element passes substantially through a medial portion of each projection.

24. 24. The upper of claim 22 or 23, wherein the base element has a thickness of at most 1.5 mm and / or at least 0.2 mm.

25. 24. The upper of claim 22 or 23, wherein the at least two projections are integrally formed with the base element and are disposed in a first group of the ball contact areas.

26. the ball contact area includes at least two further protrusions, the at least two further protrusions being integrally formed with a further base element and arranged in a second group; The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first group and the second group are spaced apart greater than any two lobes of the first group or the second group.

27. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the ball contact area includes a recess disposed between the first group and the second group.

28. 28. Upper according to claim 26 or 27, wherein the projections of the first group and / or the second group are arranged substantially parallel to one another along their longitudinal axis (LA).

29. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions comprises a material including at least one of rubber, elastomer, cast polyurethane (CPU), and / or silicone.

30. The upper of claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of lobes comprises a material having a hardness in the range of 30-60 Shore A.

31. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises a tongue, the tongue configured to fold at least partially overlying a lace of the upper.

32. 10. The upper of claim 1, wherein the ball contact area is a first ball contact area and the tongue includes a second ball contact area including a plurality of protrusions according to claim 1.

33. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the second ball contact area is configured to substantially abut the first ball contact area when the tongue is folded.

34. The upper according to claim 1 , wherein the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA).

35. The upper of claim 1 , wherein the sole-facing portion and the instep-facing portion are on opposite sides of a plane along the longitudinal axis (LA) that is essentially perpendicular to the outer surface of the upper.

36. one or more projections are disposed at a big toe portion, a big toe knuckle portion, a medial midfoot portion, and / or a lateral portion of the upper, each of the one or more projections being spaced apart a first average distance; one or more projections are disposed on an upper medial midfoot portion and / or a first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, each of the one or more projections being spaced apart a second average distance; The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first average distance is greater than the second average distance.

37. one or more lobes are disposed in a big toe portion, a big toe knuckle portion, a medial midfoot portion, and / or a lateral portion of the upper, each of the one or more lobes having a first average density of lobes; one or more protrusions are disposed in an upper medial midfoot portion and / or a first metatarsal joint portion of the upper, each of the one or more protrusions having a first average density of protrusions; The upper of claim 1 , wherein the first average density is less than the second average density.

38. An upper according to claim 1; A sole attached to the upper; Shoes that are equipped with

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