Article of footwear with a dynamically responsive element for kicking a ball

Abstract

An article of footwear with a dynamically responsive element for kicking a ball is disclosed. In preferred embodiments, an article of footwear comprises a sole element, an upper element, and a ball contacting element. The ball contacting element comprises a first layer configured to contact a ball and a second layer, with the first layer contiguously coupled with a portion of the second layer. The first layer and second layer may be configured to form a ball contacting element on a portion of the upper element. The first layer may comprise a Non-Newtonian material and the second layer may comprise a Newtonian layer, or the first layer may comprise a Newtonian material and the second layer may comprise a Non-Newtonian layer. In further preferred embodiments, a ball contacting element may comprise a third layer, which may be contiguously coupled with a portion of the second layer.

1 . An article of footwear comprising a sole element, and an upper element, the upper element comprising
 dynamically responsive material that exhibits non-Newtonian behavior in response to an impact force.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper element further comprises a ball contacting element, the ball contacting element having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer is configured to contact a ball and comprises a material that exhibits Newtonian behavior in response to the impact force and wherein the second layer comprises a dynamically responsive material that exhibits non-Newtonian behavior in response to the impact force. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the ball contacting element covers 2% to 100% of the upper element. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , where in the first layer is contiguously coupled with a portion of the second layer. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the first layer is contiguously coupled with 2% to 100% of the second layer. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper element comprises a third layer. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the third layer comprises a dynamically responsive material that generally exhibits Non-Newtonian behavior in response to the impact force. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the third layer is contiguously coupled with a portion of the second layer. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the third layer is contiguously coupled with 2% to 100% of the second layer. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first layer, and the second layer are coupled to the sole element. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the first layer, second layer, and third layer are coupled to the sole element. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear comprising a sole element, an upper element, and a ball contacting element, wherein the ball contacting element comprises:
 a) a first layer configured to contact a ball, wherein the first layer comprises a material that exhibits Newtonian behavior in response to an impact force; and   b) a second layer coupled to the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a dynamically responsive material that exhibits Non-Newtonian behavior in response to impact force, wherein the first layer and second layer are configured to form a ball contacting element on a portion of the upper element.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the ball contacting element covers 2% to 100% of the upper element. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the first layer is contiguously coupled with a portion of the second layer. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the first layer is contiguously coupled with 2% to 100% of the second layer. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the upper element comprises a third layer. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the third layer comprises a cushioning material that exhibits Newtonian behavior in response to impact force. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear configured to provide dynamically responsive resistance to a ball when being employed in a kicking motion, the article of footwear comprising:
 a) a sole element;   b) an upper element coupled to said sole element and wherein said upper element is adapted to cover portions of a person's heel, toes, sole, inside foot, outside foot; and   c) wherein the upper element comprises; a first layer configured to contact a ball, wherein the first layer comprises a first material that exhibits Newtonian behavior in response to an impact force; and a second layer comprising a second material that exhibits dynamically responsive non-Newtonian behavior in response to an impact force.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the first material is a Newtonian material selected from one of natural leather and synthetic leather. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the second material is a non-Newtonian material selected from one of a dilatant material and a pseudo-plastic material.