Hybrid Braided Article

Abstract

An upper for an article of footwear is formed by incorporating different braided portions. The upper may be formed by incorporating a first braided portion with a second braided portion. The top portion of the upper may have the first braided portion. The lower portion of the upper may have the second braided portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole;   wherein the upper includes a first portion and a second portion;   wherein the first portion has a Jacquard braid pattern; and   wherein the second portion has a Non-Jacquard braid pattern.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes at least a first stitch, and a second stitch, and wherein the first stitch is different than the second stitch. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the first stitch forms a first texture, and the second stitch forms a second texture, and wherein the first texture is different than the second texture. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first flexibility, and the second portion has a second flexibility, and wherein the first flexibility is different than the second flexibility. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first abrasion resistance, and the second portion has a second abrasion resistance, and wherein the first abrasion resistance is different than the second abrasion resistance. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion has a first tensile strength, and the second portion has a second tensile strength, and wherein the first tensile strength is different than the second tensile strength. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a finished edge. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole;   an upper attached to the sole;   wherein the upper comprises a seamless braided structure;   wherein the seamless braided structure includes a top portion and a lower portion;   wherein the top portion has a Jacquard braid pattern; and   wherein the lower portion has a Non-Jacquard braid pattern.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the top portion includes a finished edge. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the top portion has a surface area substantially encompassing 50 percent of a total surface area of the seamless braided structure. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the top portion includes a first stitch, and a second stitch, and wherein the first stitch is different than the second stitch. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the top portion has a surface area substantially greater than the lower portion. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the lower portion has a surface area substantially greater than the top portion. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the top portion includes a throat opening. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the lower portion is substantially in contact with the sole. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:
 providing a set of spools configured with a set of tensile elements;   providing a braiding machine having a first section and a second section;   wherein the braiding machine is configured with the set of spools;   passing a last through a braiding point, the braiding point being a region where the set of tensile elements converge, thereby forming a seamless braided structure on the last;   moving the set of spools through the first section to form a first braid portion of the seamless braided structure;   moving the set of spools through the second section to form a second braid portion of the seamless braided structure;   wherein a set of rotor gears move the set of spools in a Jacquard motion in the first section; and   wherein the set of rotor gears move the set of spools in a Non-Jacquard motion in the second section.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including forming a Jacquard braid pattern in the first braid portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including forming a Non-Jacquard braid pattern in the second braid portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further including forming the first braid portion with a first texture and a second texture, and wherein the first texture is different than the second texture. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further including forming a finished edge in the first braid portion.