CN112292486A

CN112292486A - Woven footwear with integral lacing and method of making same

Info

Publication number: CN112292486A
Application number: CN201980038626.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: T.M.卡西拉斯; A.R.法默; E.K.李; C.彼得斯; 市川近雄
Original assignee: Nike Inc
Current assignee: Nike Inc
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2019-06-07
Publication date: 2021-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2039-06-07
Also published as: CN112292486B; EP3810839A1; WO2019236945A4; US20210235807A1; WO2019236945A1

Abstract

A method for forming a woven article of footwear is provided. In one aspect, the method includes knitting a unitary knit upper (100) having at least one body (120), and independently knitting at least one knit lace (122,124,160,164) while knitting the unitary upper (100). At a lace unitary portion (130) of the unitary braided upper (100), the method includes integrating at least one braided lace (122,124,160,164) to the unitary braided upper (100).

Description

Woven footwear with integral lacing and method of making same

Technical Field

Aspects herein relate to woven articles, and in particular to woven footwear articles.

Background

Conventional shoes are typically made of a textile or material having an upper that is cut to a desired shape and stitched together. Newer methods also now include forming footwear uppers from knitted textiles. More recent methods involve weaving tubular textiles for footwear uppers. Aspects herein relate to braided tubular structures, which in some aspects are used in articles of footwear. Conventional footwear also typically has a separate lace closure system to secure or secure the footwear to the user's foot. Aspects herein relate to a woven upper for footwear having an integrally woven lace closure system.

Drawings

Aspects of the disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:

fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a knitting machine according to aspects herein;

fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of a knitting machine in an initial configuration, in accordance with aspects herein;

fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of a knitting machine in an active configuration, in accordance with aspects herein;

fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of a knitting machine in a different active configuration than fig. 3, in accordance with aspects herein;

fig. 5 illustrates a top view of one aspect of a braided upper according to aspects herein, with the braid schematically illustrated;

fig. 6 illustrates a side perspective view of one aspect of a braided upper according to aspects herein, with the braid schematically illustrated;

fig. 7 illustrates a plan view of one aspect of a braided upper on a last, in accordance with aspects herein;

fig. 8 illustrates a plan view similar to fig. 7, but with a braided strap wrapped through eyelets of the braided upper, in accordance with aspects herein;

fig. 9 illustrates a method of manufacturing a braided upper according to aspects herein;

fig. 10 shows an enlarged portion of a braided upper according to aspects herein;

fig. 11 illustrates a side view of one aspect of the braided upper, with the braid not shown for clarity, but showing other aspects.

Detailed Description

Aspects described herein relate to a woven article and a method of making the same. Knitting provides a number of advantages over knitting or weaving, such as reducing the frictional forces applied to the yarns used to form the knitted structure, the ability to use high denier yarns (e.g., between 800D to 20000D, between 1000D to 10000D, between 1000D to 5000D, etc.), the ability to combine different types of yarns with non-yarn materials such as rubber cords, ropes, metals, etc.

Weaving is the process of weaving or interlacing three or more yarns diagonally on the product axis to obtain a thicker, wider or stronger product, or to cover (weave) some cross-sections. By interweaving is meant that the yarns are at an angle to the axis of the product which may be between 1 ° and 89 °, but is typically in the range of 30 ° -80 °. This angle is called the braid angle. The braid may be a linear product (rope), a hollow tubular shell or a solid article (one-, two-or three-dimensional textile) with constant or variable cross-section and with closed or open appearance.

As used herein, the yarns, filaments, or other materials used for weaving may be formed of different materials having different properties. The properties that a particular yarn or other yarn imparts to a region of a knitted component may depend in part on the material from which the yarn is formed. For example, cotton provides a softer product, natural aesthetics, and biodegradability. The elastic fibers and elastic polyester each provide significant stretchability and quick recovery, while the elastic polyester also provides recyclability. Rayon provides high luster and moisture absorption. Wool provides high moisture absorption in addition to insulating properties and biodegradability. Nylon is a durable and wear resistant material with relatively high strength. Polyester is a hydrophobic material and also provides relatively high durability. In addition to materials, other aspects of the yarns selected to form the knitted component may also affect the performance of the knitted component. For example, the yarns may be monofilament or multifilament. The yarn may also include individual filaments each formed from a different material. Additionally, the yarn may include filaments that are each formed of two or more different materials, such as a bicomponent yarn having filaments with a sheath-core configuration or two halves formed of different materials.

As described above, the woven article may be formed into a tubular braid on a knitting machine. Different types of braiding machines may be used, such as radial, axial or lace braiding machines. An example of a Lace braiding Machine may be found in EP 1486601 entitled Lace Machine (Torchon Lace Machine), granted by Ichikawa slips (Ichikawa) at 9/5 in 2007, and EP 2657384 entitled Lace Machine, published at 30/10 in 2013, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Fig. 1 shows an upper portion of an exemplary knitting machine 10. Braiding machine 10 includes a plurality of spools 12. In some embodiments, the spool 12 carries a yarn 14 selected for weaving. The yarns 14 from the various spools are selectively interwoven or wound with one another by the knitting machine 10. This interlacing or twisting of the strands forms the woven article 16, as described further below. Each spool 12 is supported and constrained by a track 18 around the circumference of the braiding machine 10. Each spool 12 has a tensioner 20 (shown schematically in fig. 1) that operates in conjunction with a roller 22 to maintain a desired tension in the yarn 14 and the woven article 16. As the yarns 14 extend upwardly, they pass through the knitting loops 24, which are generally considered knitting points. The knit point is defined as the point or area where the yarn 14 is consolidated to form the knitted article 16. At or near the braiding ring 24, the distance between the yarns 14 from the different spools 12 decreases. As the distance between the yarns 14 decreases, the yarns 14 intermesh (i.e., interweave) or weave in a tighter manner and are pulled linearly by the rollers 22.

As best shown in fig. 2, each spool 12 is carried and supported by a carriage 26. Each spool 12 is movable about the circumference of the track 18 by a rotor metal 28. As described in the lace machine previously referenced and disclosed in EP 1486601, each rotor metal piece 28 can be moved clockwise or counterclockwise. In contrast to radial knitting machines or completely non-jacquard machines, in lace knitting machines, each rotor metal does not intermesh with an adjacent rotor metal. Instead, each rotor metal piece 28 can be selectively moved independently. As can be seen by comparing fig. 3 and 4, as the rotor metal pieces 28 rotate, they move the carriage 26 and, thus, the spool 12 supported on the carriage 26 by moving around the circumference of the track 18. Braiding machine 10 is programmable such that each rotor metal 28 rotates carriage 26, and therefore spool 12, to move them around the circumference of track 18. As each spool 12 moves relative to an adjacent spool 12, the yarns 14 carried on the spools 12 are interwoven to form a desired weave pattern. The movement of the spool 12 may be preprogrammed to form a particular shape, design, and specify a linear density of the knitted component or portion of the knitted component. By varying the rotation and position of each spool 12, various knitting configurations can be formed. Such exemplary knitting machines may form complex knitting configurations, including jacquard and non-jacquard knitting configurations or geometries. Such configurations and geometries offer design possibilities beyond those offered by other textiles, such as knitting or weaving.

In some aspects, the dimensions of the knitting machine 10 may be different. It should be understood that the knitting machine 10 shown and described is for illustration purposes only. In some aspects, the knitting machine 10 can accommodate, for example, 144 carriages, although other sizes of knitting machines carrying different numbers of carriages and spools are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure. By varying the number of carriages and spools within the knitting machine, the density of the knitted article and the size of the knitted component may be varied.

One aspect of the technology described herein relates to an article of footwear including a sole and a braided upper coupled to the sole. The woven upper has a medial side, a lateral side opposite the medial side, wherein each of the lateral side and the medial side has a plantar edge that is proximate the sole. The medial and lateral sides have a toe portion, a heel portion, a throat portion, and a midfoot portion. The braided upper also includes at least one braided strap integral with the braided upper at a strap integral portion of the braided upper. In some aspects, the braided upper includes at least two braided straps integral with the braided upper at each edge of the throat portion of the upper.

In one aspect, a woven article of footwear is provided that includes a sole and a woven upper. The woven footwear also includes at least one woven strap integral with the woven upper at a strap integral portion. The throat portion is defined by at least a first edge and an opposing second edge spaced from the first edge. The braided upper includes a first plurality of arch-shaped braided eyelets formed along a first edge of the throat portion and a second plurality of arch-shaped braided eyelets formed along a second edge of the throat portion. Each of the first and second plurality of arch-shaped woven eyelets is continuously woven with the upper.

In one aspect, a method for forming a woven article of footwear is provided. In one aspect, the method includes knitting a unitary knit upper having at least one body, and independently knitting at least one knit lace while knitting the unitary upper. At the strap integral portion of the unitary woven upper, the method includes integrating at least one woven strap to the unitary woven upper.

Turning now to fig. 5 and 6, a top view and a perspective view of an exemplary braided upper 100 provided according to aspects herein is shown. Braided upper 100 has a medial side 102 and a lateral side 104. Additionally, medial side 102 and lateral side 104 may also be defined as having a toe portion 106, a heel portion 108, and a midfoot portion 110. In addition, woven upper 100 includes a defined throat portion 112 having a medial edge 114 and a lateral edge 116 that protrude from a throat base 117. Braided upper 100 also has collar portion 118. Medial side 102, lateral side 104, toe portion 106, heel portion 108, midfoot portion 110, throat portion 112, and collar portion 118 may collectively be referred to as a body 120 of woven upper 100. For simplicity, the weave pattern of the body 120 is schematically illustrated in fig. 5. Any of a number of weave patterns are suitable for the body 120.

Braided upper 100 also includes a first braided strap 122 and a second braided strap 124. First braided strap 122 and second braided strap 124 are independently and continuously braided on main body 120 of braided upper 100. If braided upper 100 is braided in a direction from toe portion 106 toward heel portion 108, first and second braided straps 122,124 are braided on the same braiding machine (e.g., braiding machine 10) as body 120. As the weave of the body 120 progresses to the throat portion 112, the first and second woven ligaments 122,124 weave into the body 120 at the base 117 of the throat portion 112 at the lace integral portion 130. In some aspects, the body 120 further includes integrally knit eyelets 132 (shown schematically in fig. 5 and 6) along the medial and

lateral edges

114, 116 of the throat portion 112. In the as-worn state, first and second braided straps 122,124 may be braided through eyelets 132 in any of a variety of braid patterns, as discussed further below with reference to fig. 8. In some aspects, the main body 120 is woven with a base yarn and the first and second woven ligaments 122,124 are woven with a high performance yarn. Body 120 also has high performance yarns and base yarns that are woven together to form body 120 to increase structural integrity and support the woven upper. For example, the high performance yarns include high tenacity yarns having a higher strength than the base yarn, such as carbon fiber yarns, aramid fiber yarns, liquid crystal polymer yarns, high strength nylon yarns, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the high performance yarn according to aspects herein may be a high denier yarn, for example, ranging between 800D to 20000D, 1000D to 10000D, 1000D to 9000D, 1000D to 5000D, and so forth. In addition, high performance yarns according to aspects herein also include, for example, composite yarns comprising filaments each formed of two or more different materials, such as bicomponent yarns having filaments wherein the filaments have a sheath-core configuration or two halves formed of different materials. The composite yarn comprises, for example, a polyester core, a nylon core, or any of the high tenacity material yarns described above as cores and a sheath of thermoplastic material, such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), silicone based thermoplastic materials, and the like. The bicomponent yarns according to aspects herein may be further processed, for example, by selectively applying heat to melt the thermoplastic material only in certain areas of the article of footwear where the composite yarn is present (e.g., using masking techniques to protect other areas), thereby creating locking areas of the article of footwear. Although not shown in fig. 5 and 6, the body 120 includes eyelet structures that merge into a cover that is attached to the body 120 along the medial 114 and lateral 116 edges of the throat portion 112.

Fig. 7 and 8 illustrate another aspect of the woven upper 100 shown on a last 140. In one aspect, body 120 of woven upper 100 is woven with base yarns 142 in addition to high performance yarns 144 in a woven pattern. In some aspects, high performance yarn 144 is also used to integrally knit eyelet 132 along throat portion 112. Eyelet 132 may be contiguous with the weave pattern of the high performance yarn such that tension on eyelet 132 is transferred to (and through) the remainder of the weave pattern of the high performance yarn. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, first and second braided straps 122,124 are integrally braided with main body 120 of the upper and are joined to main body 120 at strap integral portion 130. Likewise, the first and second braided straps 122,124 may be braided independently while the main body 120 is braided and on the same braiding machine (e.g., braiding machine 10). The weaving of the first and

second laces

122 and 124 continues independently of the main body 120 until the lace integral portion 130 is reached, at which time the first and

second laces

122 and 124 are integrated into the main body 120, as shown in fig. 7 and 8. The term independently knitting generally refers to simultaneously knitting two separate knitted structures by one knitting machine during one knitting operation. At the lace integral portion 130, the separate braided structures (the main body 120, the first braided lace 122, and the second braided lace 124) are consolidated and/or interwoven. In various aspects, the knitting operation may also begin at the toe portion 106 and proceed to the heel portion 108. In this case, woven upper 100 is woven until lace integral portion 130 is reached, at which point the remainder of main body 120 of woven upper 100 is woven independently of first woven lace 122 and second woven lace 124. In other words, the remainder of the main body 120 of the woven upper is woven simultaneously, but independently of the first and second woven straps 122,124, such that the first and second woven straps 122,124 are integral with the main body 120, but project separately from the main body 120. In some aspects, the first and second ligaments 122,124 are woven using a high performance yarn (which may be the same or different than the high performance yarn 144). Fig. 8 shows the first braided strap 122 and the second braided strap 124 as worn in one example of a strap pattern, crossing over the eyelets 132.

In some aspects, the braided framework for the main body 120 of the braided upper is continuously braided with eyelets 132 along throat portion 112. In some aspects, eyelet 132 is woven independently of body 120. In other words, eyelets 132 may be on a single planar or knit layer. Each of the woven eyelets includes an exit location 134 (also referred to as a first location) and an entry location 136 (also referred to as a second location). For example, each of the knitted eyelets 132 is continuously knitted with the main knitted layer forming the main body 120 of the knitted upper 100 and as part of the knitted carcass of the main body 120 up to the edge (medial edge 114 or lateral edge 116) of the throat portion 112 of the knitted upper 100. Once the braided framework reaches the edge of throat portion 112, eyelets 132 continue to be braided separately/independently of the throat portion for a predetermined length from exit location 134 and then rejoin to body 120 of braided upper 100 at entry location 136. In other words, eyelets 132 briefly form a second knit layer at medial side edge 114 and lateral side edge 116 of unitary woven upper 100.

In one aspect, first and second woven straps 122,124 cooperate with high performance yarn 144 in the weave pattern of main body 120 to increase tension across woven upper 100 in a controlled manner as high performance yarn 144 of the main body is pulled through eyelets 132 by first and second

woven straps

122, 124.

Although shown at the base of throat portion 112, in some aspects, lace integral portion 130 may be located at different points along body 120. Further, first braided strap 122 and second braided strap 124 may be any of a variety of lengths based on the desired strap pattern, the type of footwear in which braided upper 100 is used, and the like.

In some aspects, the space or void 148 between the lateral edges of throat portion 112 may be closed by providing a tongue element (not shown) or a knitted elastic portion that covers the top of the wearer's foot when the article of knitted footwear is worn by the wearer. The knitted elastic portion may include, for example, elastic yarns to help put on and take off the article of footwear and, at the same time, help secure the article of footwear to last 140 or the foot of the wearer when the article of footwear is worn. In some aspects, as shown in fig. 8, sole 150 may be coupled to woven upper 100 along joining edge 152 to complete an article of footwear.

While the braided frameworks shown in fig. 7 and 8 form a cruciform pattern section, other pattern sections, such as linear, curvilinear, organic, geometric, logo, etc., are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure.

Turning now to fig. 9, in accordance with aspects herein, a method 900 of knitting a woven upper (e.g., the woven upper 1000 of fig. 5-8) by knitting at least one independently woven lace and a body is provided. At block 902B, at least one lace and a portion of the body of the upper are independently braided. As described above, such independent braiding may be done on the same braiding machine (e.g., braiding machine 10), braiding a body (e.g., body 120) using a portion of the spool 12, and braiding at least one lace (e.g., first braided lace 122 or second braided lace 124) using a different portion of the spool 12. Each of the at least one lace and the body portion may be woven with the same or different yarns.

At block 904, at the lace unitary portion (e.g., lace unitary portion 130), the knitting machine 10 may be configured to interlace the independently knitted at least one lace and the main body portion, thereby connecting the at least one lace to the main body portion through a knitting process. Lace integral portions may be present in any portion of woven upper 100. In one aspect, the integral portion of the strap is located at or near the base of the throat portion (e.g., throat portion 112). At block 906, the method includes finishing or completing the knitting of the knitted upper.

Fig. 10 and 11 illustrate another aspect somewhat similar to fig. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 illustrates a top view of a portion of braided upper 100 in one aspect. Similar to the woven upper of fig. 7 and 8, body 120 of woven upper 100 is woven with base yarns 142 in addition to high performance yarns 144 in a woven pattern. The high performance yarns 144 may be integrally braided with the base yarns 142, or in some aspects may be woven with the base yarns 142. In some aspects, first and second woven straps 122,124 are each formed from six separate high performance yarns 144 that are woven into base yarn 142 in body 120 of upper 100. As shown in fig. 10, at the lace integral portion 130, the respective high performance yarns 144 are woven together to form the first woven lace 122 and the second woven lace 124. Fig. 10 also shows a third braided strap 160 and a fourth braided strap 162. In some aspects, third woven lace 160 and fourth woven lace 162 are each formed from four separate high performance yarns 144 that are woven into base yarns 142 in body 120 of upper 100. As shown in fig. 10, at the lace body portion 130 just above the first and second woven laces 122,124, the respective high performance yarns 144 are woven together to form third and fourth woven laces 160, 162. Having two braided straps on each side of throat portion 112 helps to reduce pressure points along the throat portion to distribute the force applied to main body 120 by first braided strap 122, second braided strap 124, third braided strap 160, and fourth braided strap 162. High performance yarns 144 woven into body 120 and braided into first braided strap 122, second braided strap 124, third braided strap 160, and fourth braided strap 162 form a zone of constraint that allows for increased stability of the lateral side of the foot with minimal upper structure. Integrally woven first, second, third, and fourth woven straps 122,124,160, 162 provide support to upper 100 in the direction of shear forces generated while worn, for example, when a user changes direction laterally ("cuts"). When the first, second, third and fourth braided straps 122,124,160 and 162 are tightened, the functional yarn 144 woven into the main body 120 is tightly wound around the user's foot together with the surrounding braided part formed of the base yarn 142. This is an advantage of the braided structure, which allows the force transmitted in one portion to be distributed throughout the braided structure, effectively allowing the body 120 to tighten around the user's foot when worn. In some aspects, high performance yarn 144 is also used to integrally knit eyelet 132 along throat portion 112. Each of first, second, third, and fourth braided straps 122,124,160, 162 is integral to main body 120 of the upper and joined to main body 120 at strap integral portion 130. Likewise, the first braided strap 122, the second braided strap 124, the third braided strap 160, and the fourth braided strap 162 may be independently braided while the main body 120 is braided and on the same braiding machine (e.g., braiding machine 10). The braiding of first braided lace 122, second braided lace 124, third braided lace 160, and fourth braided lace 162 continues independently of main body 120 until lace integral portion 130 is reached, at which time high performance yarn strands 144 of first braided lace 122, second braided lace 124, third braided lace 160, and fourth braided lace 162 are integrated into main body 120, as shown in fig. 10. The term independently knitting generally refers to simultaneously knitting two separate knitted structures by one knitting machine during one knitting operation. At lace integral portion 130, the separate braided structures (main body 120, first braided lace 122, second braided lace 124, third braided lace 160, and fourth braided lace 162) are consolidated, woven, and/or interwoven. In various aspects, the knitting operation may also begin at the toe portion 106 and proceed to the heel portion 108. In this case, braided upper 100 is braided with base yarn 142, and high performance yarn strands 144 of first, second, third, and fourth braided straps 122,124,160, 162 are merged, woven, and/or interwoven with main body 120 until lace integral portion 130 is reached, at which point the remainder of main body 120 of braided upper 100 is braided independently of first, second, third, and fourth braided straps 122,124,160, 162. In other words, the remainder of main body 120 of the woven upper is woven simultaneously, but independently of first, second, third, and fourth woven tethers 122,124,160, and 162, such that first, second, third, and fourth woven tethers 122,124,160, and 162 are integral with main body 120, but project separately from main body 120.

As discussed above with respect to fig. 7 and 8, eyelet 132 may be contiguous with the weave pattern of high performance yarn 144 such that tension on eyelet 132 is transferred to (and through) the remainder of the weave pattern of high performance yarn. Fig. 11 shows the second braided strap 124 and the fourth braided strap 162 as worn in one example of a strap pattern, crossing over eyelets 132. Fig. 11 illustrates one aspect of high performance yarn 144 forming a different pattern for eyelet 132. As shown, high performance yarns 144 may extend under body 120 of woven upper 100 and up at vertical cut 164 toward throat portion 112, exit throat portion 112 at exit location 134, and re-enter at entry location 136 to form eyelets 132. The high performance yarns 144 may then continue in a horizontal cut plane 166 that surrounds the heel portion 108 in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical cut plane 164. As shown in fig. 11, a desired number of eyelets 132 (four eyelets are shown in fig. 11) may be formed using a series of high performance yarns 144. In other aspects, more or fewer eyelets may be formed with high performance yarn 144. Additionally, in some aspects, the yarns used for first, second, third, and fourth woven straps 122,124,160, 162 may be different than high performance yarn 144 used to form eyelet 132. Note that in fig. 11, the weave pattern of woven upper 100 is not shown to clarify the location of high performance yarns 144 in this regard. Braided upper 100 has high performance yarn 144 forming first, second, third, and fourth braided straps 122,124,160, 162 and extends through upper 100 to form eyelet 132, all of which allow braided upper 100 to provide restraint to a user's foot when braided straps 122,124,160, and 162 are tightened. High performance yarns 144 form a restraining network with the weave pattern of woven upper 100 that provides a restraining force to encircle the foot, thereby providing increased stability. First, second, third, and fourth braided straps 122,124,160, 162 provide a zone of restraint to support upper 100 in the direction of shear forces applied during lateral movement to restrain the foot during lateral movement or "cutting".

In some aspects, the braided framework for the main body 120 of the braided upper is continuously braided with eyelets 132 along throat portion 112. In some aspects, eyelet 132 is woven independently of body 120. In other words, eyelets 132 may be on a single planar or knit layer. Each of the woven eyelets includes an exit location 134 (also referred to as a first location) and an entry location 136 (also referred to as a second location). For example, each of the knitted eyelets 132 is continuously knitted with the main knitted layer forming the main body 120 of the knitted upper 100 and as part of the knitted carcass of the main body 120 up to the edge (medial edge 114 or lateral edge 116) of the throat portion 112 of the knitted upper 100. Once the braided framework reaches the edge of throat 112, eyelets 132 continue to be braided separately/independently of the throat portion for a predetermined length from exit location 134 and then are re-bonded to main body 120 of braided upper 100 at entry location 136. In other words, eyelets 132 briefly form a second knit layer at medial side edge 114 and lateral side edge 116 of unitary woven upper 100.

woven straps

122, 124.

The following clauses represent exemplary aspects of the concepts contemplated herein. Any of the following clauses may be combined in a multiple dependent manner to depend from one or more other clauses. Further, any combination of dependent clauses (clauses expressly dependent on previous clauses) may be combined within the scope remaining the contemplated aspects herein. The following clauses are intended to be illustrative in nature and not restrictive.

Clause 1. an article of woven footwear comprising: a sole; a braided upper coupled to the sole and having a toe portion, a heel portion, a midfoot portion extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, and a throat portion; and at least one braided strap integral with the braided upper at a strap integral portion of the braided upper.

Clause 2. the article of braided footwear of clause 1, wherein the throat portion includes a base, and the lace integral portion is located at the base of the throat portion.

Clause 3. the article of woven footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein at least two woven laces are integral with the woven upper at the lace integral portion of the woven upper.

Clause 4. the article of knitted footwear of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the knitted upper is knitted with a first yarn and the at least one knitted lace is knitted with a second yarn different from the first yarn.

Clause 5. the woven article of footwear of clause 4, wherein the second yarn is a high performance yarn.

Clause 6. the woven footwear article of clause 5, wherein the high performance yarn comprises one or more of a thermoplastic coated polyester yarn, an aramid material yarn, a liquid crystal material yarn, a carbon fiber yarn, or a combination thereof.

Clause 7. the woven footwear article of any of the preceding clauses, wherein the throat portion includes a medial side edge and a lateral side edge, the woven footwear article further including a plurality of integrally woven eyelets along each of the medial side edge and the lateral side edge of the throat portion.

Clause 8. the woven footwear of clause 7, wherein the plurality of integrally woven eyelets are woven with a high performance yarn.

Clause 9. the article of braided footwear of clause 7, wherein at least two braided straps are integral with the braided upper along the medial edge of the throat portion and the at least two braided straps are integral with the braided upper along the lateral edge of the throat portion.

Clause 10. a method of forming a knitted article of footwear, the method comprising: knitting a unitary knit upper having at least one body and independently knitting at least one knit lace when knitting the unitary upper; integrating the at least one braided strap to the unitary braided upper at a strap integral portion of the unitary braided upper.

Clause 11. the method of clause 10, wherein integrating the at least one knitted lace to the unitary knitted upper is performed by knitting a plurality of yarns of the at least one knitted lace and a plurality of yarns of the unitary knitted upper in at least two different directions.

Clause 12. the method of any of the preceding clauses, further comprising forming the body of the unitary braided upper having a toe portion, a heel portion, medial and lateral midfoot portions between the toe and heel portions, a throat portion between the medial and lateral midfoot portions, and a underfoot portion; and knitting a plurality of integrally knit eyelets, each of the plurality of integrally knit eyelets having an exit point and an entry point into the body.

Clause 13. the method of clause 12, further comprising affixing a sole to the underfoot portion of the braided upper.

Clause 14. the method of clause 12, wherein the throat portion has a medial side and a lateral side, the method further comprising: and integrating at least two braided straps to the unitary braided upper along each of the medial side and the lateral side at the strap-integral portion of the unitary braided upper.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects set forth above, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The claims (modification according to treaty clause 19)

1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole; a braided upper formed from a first yarn and coupled to the sole and having a toe portion, a heel portion, a midfoot portion extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, and a throat portion; and at least one woven lace formed from a second yarn different from the first yarn, the second yarn being a high performance yarn, the woven lace being integral with the woven upper at a lace-integral portion of the woven upper.

2. The article of woven footwear of claim 1, wherein the throat portion includes a base, and the lace integration portion is located at the base of the throat portion.

3. The article of woven footwear of claim 1, wherein at least two woven laces are integral with the woven upper at the lace-integral portion of the woven upper.

4. The woven footwear article of claim 1, wherein the high performance yarns include one or more of thermoplastic coated polyester yarns, aramid material yarns, liquid crystal material yarns, carbon fiber yarns, or combinations thereof.

5. The woven footwear article of claim 1, wherein the throat portion includes a medial side edge and a lateral side edge, the woven footwear article further comprising a plurality of integrally woven eyelets along each of the medial side edge and the lateral side edge of the throat portion.

6. The woven footwear article of claim 5, wherein the plurality of integrally woven eyelets are woven with a high performance yarn.

7. The article of woven footwear of claim 5, wherein at least two woven tethers are integral with the woven upper along the medial edge of the throat portion and the at least two woven tethers are integral with the woven upper along the lateral edge of the throat portion.

8. A method of forming a woven article of footwear, the method comprising: knitting a unitary knit upper with a first yarn, the knit upper having at least one body and at least one knit lace independently knitted with a second yarn different from the first yarn, the second yarn being a high performance yarn, and knitting the at least one knit lace when knitting the unitary upper; integrating the at least one braided strap to the unitary braided upper at a strap integral portion of the unitary braided upper.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein integrating the at least one knitted lace to the unitary knitted upper is performed by interlacing a plurality of yarns of the at least one knitted lace and a plurality of yarns of the unitary knitted upper in at least two different directions.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming the body of the unitary braided upper having a toe portion, a heel portion, medial and lateral midfoot portions between the toe and heel portions, a throat portion between the medial and lateral midfoot portions, and a underfoot portion; and knitting a plurality of integrally knit eyelets, each of the plurality of integrally knit eyelets having an exit point and an entry point to the body.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising securing a sole to the underfoot portion of the braided upper.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the throat portion has a medial side and a lateral side, the method further comprising, and integrating at least two braided straps to the unitary braided upper along each of the medial side and the lateral side at the strap-integral portion of the unitary braided upper.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole; a braided upper coupled to the sole and having a toe portion, a heel portion, a midfoot portion extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, and a throat portion; and at least one braided strap integral with the braided upper at a strap integral portion of the braided upper.

4. The woven article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the woven upper is woven with a first yarn and the at least one woven lace is woven with a second yarn different from the first yarn.

5. The woven article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the second yarn is a high performance yarn.

6. The woven footwear article of claim 5, wherein the high performance yarns include one or more of thermoplastic coated polyester yarns, aramid material yarns, liquid crystal material yarns, carbon fiber yarns, or combinations thereof.

7. The woven footwear article of claim 1, wherein the throat portion includes a medial side edge and a lateral side edge, the woven footwear article further comprising a plurality of integrally woven eyelets along each of the medial side edge and the lateral side edge of the throat portion.

8. The woven footwear of claim 7, wherein the plurality of integrally woven eyelets are woven with a high performance yarn.

9. The article of woven footwear of claim 7, wherein at least two woven tethers are integral with the woven upper along the medial edge of the throat portion and the at least two woven tethers are integral with the woven upper along the lateral edge of the throat portion.

10. A method of forming a woven article of footwear, the method comprising: knitting a unitary knit upper having at least one body and independently knitting at least one knit lace when knitting the unitary upper; integrating the at least one braided strap to the unitary braided upper at a strap integral portion of the unitary braided upper.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein integrating the at least one knitted lace to the unitary knitted upper is performed by interlacing a plurality of yarns of the at least one knitted lace and a plurality of yarns of the unitary knitted upper in at least two different directions.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming the body of the unitary braided upper having a toe portion, a heel portion, medial and lateral midfoot portions between the toe and heel portions, a throat portion between the medial and lateral midfoot portions, and a underfoot portion; and knitting a plurality of integrally knit eyelets, each of the plurality of integrally knit eyelets having an exit point and an entry point to the body.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising securing a sole to the underfoot portion of the braided upper.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the throat portion has a medial side and a lateral side, the method further comprising: and integrating at least two braided straps to the unitary braided upper along each of the medial side and the lateral side at the strap-integral portion of the unitary braided upper.