Performance footwear

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward footwear including an upper connected to a sole structure. The upper includes two portions formed via compression molding in which textile layers are compressed to form a fabric laminate. One of the upper portions generally defines a seamless heel cup. The other upper portion generally defines a toe cage. The toe cage includes one or more integrated toe guides operable to position a toe of a wearer in a predetermined position within the cavity.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper secured to the sole structure,   wherein the article of footwear includes a hindfoot section, a midfoot section, and a forefoot section, the sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer,   and wherein the article of footwear comprises a single compartment toe cage operable to house all toes of the foot, the toe cage including a toe guide extending into the cavity, the toe guide operable to orient a toe of the foot in a predetermined position relative to at least one of the upper and an adjacent toe.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a planum portion including a seamless heel cup and a dorsum portion including a toe cap disposed above the toes of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the toe cap includes the toe guide operable to position the toe within the footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the toe guide comprises a truncated wall extending downward from the toe cap. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a laminate comprising an interior layer facing the cavity, an exterior layer forming an exterior of the shoe, and an intermediate layer disposed between interior and exterior layers. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the interior layer and the exterior layer comprises fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a planum portion including a seamless heel cup and a dorsum portion including a seamless toe cap, the toe cap being disposed above the toes of the foot. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the toe cap comprises an undulating surface defined by a plurality of raised areas and recesses; and   the toes of the foot align with the raised areas of the toe cap.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe guide is formed into the upper via compression molding. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe guide is effective to deflect and receives the hallux, thereby separating it from the second toe. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper comprising:
 a planum section including a seamless heel cup, and 
 a dorsum section including a toe cap, 
 wherein the planum section is connected to the dorsum section, the planum and dorsum sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer. 
   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the planum section and the dorsum section comprises a laminate including an interior layer facing the cavity, an exterior layer forming an exterior of the shoe, and an intermediate layer disposed between interior and exterior layers. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the interior layer and the exterior layer comprises fabric. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the interior layer comprises a synthetic fabric including an elastic fiber;   the intermediate layer comprises foam; and   the exterior layer comprises a synthetic fabric including an elastic fiber.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the laminate is capable of being formed into a three-dimensional shape via compression molding. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the toe cap is seamless. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the sole structure includes a first, upper-facing surface and a second, ground-facing surface; and   the second surface of the sole structure further comprises a generally transverse groove, the groove defining a flection line of the sole structure.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the toe cap cooperates with the planum portion to form a toe cage; and   the toe cap is a molded structure including a generally horizontal toe cover portion bordered by rim extending toward the sole structure.   
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure;   an upper coupled to the sole structure;   a toe cage operable to house a plurality of toes; and   a partition extending into the cavity, the partition operable to orient a toe of the plurality of toes in a predetermined position.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the toe cage defines a ceiling; and   the partition extends distally from the ceiling toward the sole structure such that a gap exists between a distal end of the partition and sole structure.   
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the upper defines a toe cage having a ceiling and a floor; and   the partition extends distally from the ceiling toward the floor such that a gap exists between a distal end of the partition and floor of the toe cage.   
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the upper further includes a seamless heel cup. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the article of footwear includes a hindfoot section, a midfoot section, and a forefoot section, the sections cooperating to define a cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the partition is truncated. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the partition is defined by a curved recess molded into the toe cage. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear of  claim 19  further including a raised area formed into the upper, the raised area being operable to receive a single toe.