Braided article of footwear incorporating flat yarn

Abstract

An upper for an article of footwear is provided, having a braided structure comprising a first yarn having a first cross-sectional shape and a second yarn having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape. The first cross-sectional shape comprises an outer surface parallel to an inner surface in a rectangular orientation. Additionally, the first yarn is oriented such that at least a portion of the outer surface comprises the first side of the first yarn and at least a portion of the inner surface comprises the second side of the first yarn.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:
 a braided structure comprising an inner surface proximate an interior cavity of the article of footwear, an outer surface proximate an exterior of the article of footwear, a first yarn having a first cross-sectional shape having a flat surface, and a second yarn having a second cross-sectional shape having a rounded surface,   wherein the outer surface of the article of footwear comprises the flat surface of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape and the rounded surface of the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape; and   wherein the braided structure comprises a one-to-two ratio of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape to the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is square. 
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional shape is circular. 
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the second cross-sectional shape is ovular. 
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1 , wherein the braided structure is configured to maintain the flat surface proximate an outer surface of the upper, and configured to maintain a second flat surface of the first cross-sectional shape proximate an inner surface of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 6 , wherein the second flat surface of the first cross-sectional shape of the first yarn comprises a rough texture. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole system; and   a braided structure coupled to the sole system, wherein the braided structure comprises an inner surface proximate an interior cavity of the article of footwear, an outer surface proximate an exterior of the article of footwear, a first yarn having a first cross-sectional shape having a flat surface, and a second yarn having a second cross-sectional shape having a rounded surface,   wherein the outer surface of the article of footwear comprises the flat surface of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape and the rounded surface of the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape; and   wherein the braided structure comprises a one-to-two ratio of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape to the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first yarn is oriented within the braided structure such that the flat surface is braided proximate the exterior of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first yarn is oriented within the braided structure such that a second flat surface of the first cross-sectional shape of the first yarn is braided proximate at least a portion of the interior cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is square. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is rectangular. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the second cross-sectional shape is circular. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the second cross-sectional shape is ovular. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the braided structure is configured to maintain the flat surface proximate an outer surface of the upper, and configured to maintain a second flat surface of the first cross-sectional shape proximate an inner surface of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making an article of footwear, comprising:
 forming a braided structure having an inner surface and an outer surface, the braided structure comprising:   a first yarn comprising a first cross-sectional shape having a flat surface;   a second yarn having a second cross-sectional shape having a rounded surface;   forming the braided structure into an upper, the upper having a toe end and a heel end, wherein the outer surface of the article of footwear comprises the flat surface of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape and the rounded surface of the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape, wherein the braided structure comprises a one-to-two ratio of the first yarn having the first cross-sectional shape to the second yarn having the second cross-sectional shape.   
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 16 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is square. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 16 , wherein the first cross-sectional shape is rectangular. 
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 16 , wherein the first yarn is oriented within the braided structure such that the flat surface is braided proximate the exterior of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 19 , wherein the first yarn is oriented within the braided structure such that a second flat surface of the first cross-sectional shape of the first yarn is braided proximate at least a portion of the interior cavity.