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 includes 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 the toe cage disposed above the toes of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe guide comprises a truncated wall extending downward from the toe cage. 
     
     
         4 . 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, 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein at least one of the interior layer and the exterior layer comprises fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a planum portion including a seamless heel cup and a dorsum portion including the toe cage, the toe cage being seamless and disposed above the toes of the foot. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the toe cage comprises an undulating surface defined by a plurality of raised areas and recesses; and   the toes of the foot align with the raised area of the toe cage.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe guide is formed into the upper via compression molding. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe guide is effective to deflect and receive a hallux of the foot, thereby separating it from a second toe of the foot. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper comprising:
 a compression-molded, seamless planum section forming a unitary structure that extends continuously around a heel, a lateral side, a medial side, and a sole of a foot disposed within the article of footwear, and 
 a dorsum section coupled to the planum section, the dorsum section covering an instep, the lateral side, and the medial side of the foot disposed within the article of footwear, the dorsum section including a toe cage having a plurality of toe guides operable to position toes of a foot disposed within the article of footwear in predetermined positions within a toe cage cavity. 
   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the dorsum section is compression molded with the plurality of toe guides of the toe cage. 
     
     
         12 . The article footwear of  claim 10 , where the toe cage is seamless. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of toe guides are truncated walls that extend at least partially into the toe cage cavity. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the truncated walls extend downward from a ceiling of the toe cage into the toe cage cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of toe guides are configured to laterally flex each toe of the foot disposed within the article of footwear away adjacent toes so that the toes of the foot disposed within the article of footwear are separated from adjacent toes. 
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper secured to the sole structure, the upper comprising:
 a compression-molded, seamless planum section including a heel cup and a planum support, the planum section forming a unitary structure, wherein the planum section is configured to extend around a lateral side, a medial side, and a sole of a foot, and 
 a dorsum section to cover an instep, the lateral side, and the medial side of the foot, the dorsum section including a toe cage having a series of recessed areas and raised areas integrated into the dorsum section. 
   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein each raised area defines an elongated open channel operable to receive at least a portion of a toe. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the recessed areas extend downward at a depth sufficient to direct a toe into the channel of each of the raised areas. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein each of the raised areas include an apex, and each of the recessed areas include a nadir, each of the nadirs extending into a toe cage cavity at a depth that enables the channels to interact with the toes positioned within the toe cage cavity and permit passage of a toe underneath the recessed areas. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the series of recessed areas and raised areas define a curved surface contoured with outer surfaces of the toes disposed within the article of footwear.