Footwear with dynamic modulation

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear including a sole structure and an upper. The upper includes an area of dynamic modulation. Specifically, the footwear upper defines a discrete band whose elasticity and/or dimension is altered in the presence of a specified temperature. In an embodiment, the footwear upper includes a shape memory polymer operable to alter the circumference of the foot cavity and/or alter the expansion properties of the upper 105. By way of example, the discrete band may be positioned within the collar and/or along the instep of the upper. With this configuration, the footwear defines support areas operable to provide the wearer with improved fit and/or recovery

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear comprising: an upper comprising an outer shell and an inner textile liner coupled to the shell such that it defines at least a portion of a foot cavity configured to receive a foot, the inner liner being formed of dynamic material adapted to possess a first physical property at a first temperature and a second physical property at a second temperature, wherein a change from the first temperature to a second temperature alters a physical characteristic of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the dynamic material is selected from the group consisting of shape memory alloys, shape memory ceramics, and shape memory polymers. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein the dynamic material is shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the shape memory polymer is a polyurethane shape memory polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the foot cavity defines a cross-sectional dimension; and   the physical characteristic is the foot cavity cross-sectional dimension.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to claim  1 , wherein dynamic material is disposed at selected locations within the inner textile liner. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the upper includes:
 a collar region configured to align with a malleolus of a foot, and 
 an instep region configured to align with the area between calcaneous and metatarsis portions of the foot; 
   the collar region is formed of dynamic material to define a first dynamic region; and   the instep region is formed of dynamic material to define a second dynamic region.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the first dynamic region is oriented in spaced relation from the second dynamic region. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein a bridge dynamic material extends from the collar region to the instep region. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the shape memory polymer possesses a switching temperature; and   the switching temperature of the shape memory polymer falls within a range of from about 20° C. to about 37° C.   
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the switching temperature is from about 25° C. to about 33° C. and/or from about 33° C. to about 37° C. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , wherein the shape memory polymer is strand incorporated into textile. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the dynamic textile includes the shape memory polymer strand a non-shape-memory-polymer strand. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the non-shape memory polymer strand strand comprises polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, acrylics, and/or cotton.