Article of footwear for gripping and kicking a ball

Abstract

An article of footwear for use in playing soccer or other activities that require kicking and/or handling of a ball by a player's feet. The article of footwear has a ball control region comprised of a series of raised geometric protrusions which give the player grip and purchase on the ball. The ball control region is formed of three interrelated layers. Each layer is formed of a separate material with a distinct function. The outer layer is comprised of a material which deforms easily and acts to attract and slow the ball during handling by the player. The inner middle layer is comprised of a material that deforms but is harder and more resilient than the outer layer to enhance or over-emphasize a particular effect a player is trying to achieve with the ball. The core layer is comprised of a high tensile metal or plastic to provide a player with extra power and energy during power kicks. Further, the three layers of the ball control region act in unison to allow the player to achieve a variety of desired effects on the ball.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article of footwear to provide grip and purchase on a ball comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper disposed on said sole and having an outer surface; and    a ball control region attached to said outer surface of said upper comprised of a plurality of interrelated layers, wherein one of said layers includes a material of a different hardness than another of said layers.    
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said ball control region covers a substantial portion of said upper.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said ball control region comprises a series of geometric protrusions.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the geometric protrusions are generally conical.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the geometric protrusions are generally pyramidal.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein each of the pyramidal geometric protrusions are of substantially equal dimensions.  
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the conical geometric protrusions are of varying dimension.  
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the pyramidal geometric protrusions are spaced equidistant apart and formed in rows.  
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of interrelated layers of said ball control region further comprises: 
 an outer layer that contacts the ball;    a core layer that is disposed on said outer surface of the upper; and    an inner middle layer sandwiched between said outer layer and said core layer.    
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein said outer layer comprises a soft rubber that deforms easily, said core layer comprises a high tensile metal or plastic, and said inner middle layer comprises a harder rubber than said outer layer.  
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear to provide grip and purchase on a ball comprising: 
 a sole;    an upper disposed on said sole and having an outer surface; and    a ball control surface attached to said outer surface of said upper comprised of a throat region, a medial region and a lateral region, wherein one of said throat, medial or lateral regions includes a material of a different hardness than another of said regions.    
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said ball control surface covers a substantial portion of said upper.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said ball control surface comprises a series of geometric protrusions arranged to form a plurality of ball pockets.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein said geometric protrusions are generally conical.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein said conical geometric protrusions are of varying dimension such that said conical geometric protrusions which are adjacent said ball pockets are smaller in area than said conical geometric protrusions about a remainder of said ball control surface.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein said ball control surface comprises a series of geometric protrusions.  
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of claim,  16 , wherein said geometric protrusions in said throat region are formed from rubber with a Shore hardness of about 50 A .  
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein said geometric protrusions in said medial and lateral regions are formed of rubber with a Shore hardness of about 62 A.