Woven Planar Footwear Upper

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention relate to a shoe upper that is formed as a substantially planar article with varied functional zones integrated therein. The varied functional zones may be strategically positioned zones having varied degrees of stretch. Additionally, it is contemplated that the functional zones may provide dimensional variation (e.g., thickness) and/or permeability (e.g., breathability) characteristics. The substantially planar upper may then be formed into a three-dimensional upper having a volume that may be occupied by a wearer's foot.

1 . A woven planar shoe upper comprising:
 a woven first side portion extending from a heel end towards a toe end and also extending from an upper edge towards a first side edge, the upper edge defining, in part, a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;   a woven second side portion extending from the heel end towards the toe end and also extending from the upper edge towards a second side edge, the second side portion and the woven first side portion form, in part, a medial side and a lateral side of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;   a first side sole flap coupled at least partially to the woven first side portion, and a second side sole flap coupled at least partially to the woven second side portion;   an integrally formed stretch portion defined by a convergence of the woven first side portion and the first side sole flap; and   an integrally formed perimeter region at least partially surrounding the woven planar shoe upper, the perimeter region having at least a first layer and a second layer.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter region has a lower modulus of elasticity than the woven first side portion. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter region has a higher modulus of elasticity than the woven first side portion. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer of the perimeter region is formed from a different weaving technique than the second layer of the perimeter region. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the ankle opening of the woven planar shoe upper. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the first side sole flap. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe upper of  claim 6 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the woven first side portion. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the second side sole flap. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe upper of  claim 8 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the woven second side portion. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter portion forms at least a portion of the toe end. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the woven first side portion and the woven second side portion include a filler yarns that forms a thickness at the woven first side portion and the woven second side portion that is greater than another portion of the shoe upper. 
     
     
         12 . A woven shoe upper comprising:
 a woven first side portion extending from a heel end towards a toe end and also extending from an upper edge towards a first side edge;   a woven second side portion extending from the heel end towards the toe end and also extending from the upper edge towards a second side edge;   a first side sole flap extending at least partially from the woven first side portion, and a second side sole flap extending at least partially from the woven second side portion;   an integrally formed stretch portion defined by a convergence of the woven first side portion and the first side sole flap; and   an integrally formed perimeter region at least partially circumscribing the woven planar shoe upper, the perimeter region having at least a first layer and a second layer.   
     
     
         13 . The woven shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter region has a lower modulus of elasticity than the woven first side portion. 
     
     
         14 . The woven shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the perimeter region has a higher modulus of elasticity than the woven first side portion. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the first layer of the perimeter region is a first woven structure and the second layer of the perimeter region is a second woven structure different from the first woven structure. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter at least partially circumscribes the heel end of the woven planar shoe upper. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter at least partially circumscribes the toe end of the woven planar shoe upper. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe upper of  claim 12 , wherein the integrally formed perimeter at least partially circumscribes the toe end of the woven planar shoe upper. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe construction comprising:
 a sole; and   an upper, the upper comprising:   a woven first side portion extending from a heel end towards a toe end and also extending from an upper edge towards a first side edge, the upper edge defining, in part, a forefoot opening and an ankle opening into an interior of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;   a woven second side portion extending from the heel end towards the toe end and also extending from the upper edge towards a second side edge, the second side portion and the woven first side portion form, in part, a medial side and a lateral side of the shoe upper portion when the shoe upper portion is formed as a non-planar shoe upper;   and   an integrally formed perimeter region at least partially surrounding the woven planar shoe upper, the perimeter region having at least a first layer and a second layer.   
     
     
         20 . The woven shoe upper of  claim 19 , wherein the perimeter region has a lower modulus of elasticity than the woven first side portion.