Zigzag Stitch Reinforcement for Braided Footwear Upper

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional stitching techniques for attaching components to braided footwear upper layers often result in missed stitches, leading to potential detachment and discomfort due to overlapping layers or ridges.

Innovation Solution

The use of a zigzag stitch that passes through the component and a reinforcement element, extending beyond the connecting stitches, ensures secure attachment without overlapping, using a thread that goes through the component at a first location and the braided upper at a second location, thereby catching loops of connecting stitches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional stitching techniques are used to attach components to braided upper layers, then the stitching process is simple, but missed stitches occur leading to potential detachment and discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidstitching process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A reinforcement element is attached to the braid body before attaching the component. This preliminary action creates a stable foundation that prevents missed stitches and potential detachment, while the reinforcement element's loops are designed to be caught by the zigzag stitch thread, ensuring secure attachment without requiring complex stitching techniques

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement element acts as an intermediary between the braid body and the component. It provides a reliable attachment point that simplifies the stitching process while ensuring component security, eliminating the need for complex stitching patterns to achieve reliable attachment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If conventional stitching techniques are used, then the process is straightforward, but overlapping layers or ridges cause discomfort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching operation easeVSAvoiddiscomfort from overlapping

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcement element is pre-positioned and attached to the braid body with connecting stitches before the component is attached. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the zigzag stitch can pass through the reinforcement element's loops without creating overlapping layers or ridges, maintaining ease of operation while eliminating discomfort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement element is strategically placed at the connection area where the component attaches to the braid body. This localized reinforcement allows the zigzag stitch to secure the component without creating overlapping layers in the surrounding areas, thus maintaining comfort while ensuring attachment reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11452340B2Braided article with reinforced stitch

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 UNDER ARMOUR INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, an article of footwear including an upper is described. The upper includes a braid body and at least one component. The braid body includes at least one braided layer. A reinforcement element is attached to the braid body along a connection area using a connecting stitch. The component is attached to the braid body at the connection area using a zigzag stitch including a thread that passes through the component at a first location and passes through the reinforcement element and the braid body at a second location. The second location extends beyond the connecting stitch attaching the reinforcement element to the braid body.