Articles of Footwear

Abstract

Articles of footwear are configured to provide functionally correct and predetermined amounts of stretch in functionally correct locations, thus providing comfort to a wearer, while retaining a pleasing aesthetic appearance in use. For example, an article of footwear includes an upper assembly having a first layer coextensive with a second layer. The first layer includes a first material having a first 30% modulus, and the second layer includes at least one first region (e.g., a stretch region) and at least one second region (e.g., a non-stretch region). The at least one first region includes a second material having a second 30% modulus lower than the first 30% modulus. The at least one second region includes a third material having a third 30% modulus higher than both the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a lower assembly comprising a sole assembly; and   an upper assembly attached to the sole assembly, the upper and lower assemblies together defining a void for receiving a foot, the upper assembly comprising:
 a first layer comprising a first material having a first 30% modulus; and 
 a second layer coextensive with the first layer, the second layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; 
 the at least one first region comprising a second material having a second 30% modulus lower than the first 30% modulus; and 
 the at least one second region comprising a third material having a third 30% modulus higher than both the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus. 
   
   
   
       2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a thickness of less than about 0.200 inch (5 mm) and the second layer has a thickness of less than about 0.200 inch (5 mm). 
   
   
       3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a third layer comprising a fourth material having a fourth 30% modulus less than the first 30% modulus. 
   
   
       4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the second layer is interposed between the first and third layers, the first, second, and third layers being coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the third layer has a thickness of less than about 0.080 inch (2 mm). 
   
   
       6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first 30% modulus is less than 2 kg/cm. 
   
   
       7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the first 30% modulus is between about 0.2 kg/cm and about 1.9 kg/cm. 
   
   
       8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the second 30% modulus is less than about 0.3 kg/cm. 
   
   
       9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the second 30% modulus is between about 0.04 kg/cm and about 0.25 kg/cm. 
   
   
       10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third 30% modulus is greater than about 2.0 kg/cm. 
   
   
       11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a lower assembly comprising a sole assembly; and   an upper assembly attached to the sole assembly, the upper and lower assemblies together defining a void for receiving a foot, the upper assembly comprising:
 a first layer comprising a first material having a first 30% modulus; and 
 a second layer coextensive with the first layer, the second layer comprising at least one first region and at least one second region; 
 the at least one first region comprising a second material having a second 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus; and 
 the at least one second region comprising a third material having a third 30% modulus higher than both the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus. 
   
   
   
       12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first layer has a thickness of less than about 0.200 inch (5 mm) and the second layer has a thickness of less than about 0.200 inch (5 mm). 
   
   
       13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , further comprising a third layer comprising a fourth material having a fourth 30% modulus less than the first 30% modulus. 
   
   
       14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the second layer is interposed between the first and third layers, the first, second, and third layers being coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the third layer has a thickness of less than about 0.080 inch (2 mm). 
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the first 30% modulus is less than 2 kg/cm. 
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the first 30% modulus is between about 0.2 kg/cm and about 1.9 kg/cm. 
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the second 30% modulus is greater than 2 kg/cm. 
   
   
       19 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the third 30% modulus is greater than about 2.0 kg/cm. 
   
   
       20 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a lower assembly comprising a sole assembly; and   an upper assembly attached the sole assembly, the upper and lower assemblies together defining a void for receiving a foot, the upper assembly comprising:
 a first layer; and 
 a second layer coextensive with the first layer, the second layer defining a plurality of slits in at least one stretch control region defined by the second layer. 
   
   
   
       21 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the article of footwear defines a longitudinal axis, and the slits are arranged to run substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       22 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , wherein the first layer comprises a first material having a first 30% modulus and the second layer comprises a second material having a second 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus. 
   
   
       23 . The article of footwear of  claim 20 , further comprising a third layer having a third 30% modulus lower than both the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus. 
   
   
       24 . A method of making an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 selecting a first sheet material having a first 30% modulus;   selecting a second sheet material having a second 30% modulus lower than the first 30% modulus;   applying a stretch control material having a third 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus to the second sheet material to form at least one stretch control region of the second sheet material; and   arranging the first sheet material and the second sheet material to be coextensive with each other.   
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising selecting a third sheet material and arranging the second sheet material between the first sheet material and the third sheet material, the first, second, and third sheet materials being coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       26 . A method of making an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 selecting a first sheet material having a first 30% modulus;   selecting a second sheet material having a second 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus;   applying a stretch control material having a third 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus and the second 30% modulus to the second sheet material to form at least one stretch control region of the second sheet material; and   arranging the first sheet material and the second sheet material to be coextensive with each other.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising selecting a third sheet material and arranging the second sheet material between the first sheet material and the third sheet material, the first, second, and third sheet materials being coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       28 . A method of making an upper of an article of footwear, the method comprising:
 selecting a first sheet material having a first 30% modulus;   selecting a second sheet material having a second 30% modulus higher than the first 30% modulus; and   forming slits through the second sheet material to provide at least one stretch control region.   
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising arranging the first sheet material and the second sheet material to be coextensive with each other. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising selecting a third sheet material and arranging the second sheet material between the first sheet material and the third sheet material, the first, second, and third sheet materials being coextensive with each other.