Footwear and method of formation

Abstract

An article of footwear including a compression molded upper is disclosed. A composite structure including several layers is placed under heat and pressure to form a laminate. One layer of the composite is an optical effect layer possessing an aesthetic that differs from one or more of the other layers of the composite structure. A plurality of holes are cut through one or more of the layers of the laminate to expose the optical effect layer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper defining an exterior side and interior side, the upper defining an interior cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer,   wherein at least a portion of the upper comprises a textile laminate including:
 an exterior textile layer defining an exterior of the upper; 
 an intermediate foam layer; 
 an interior textile layer defining an interior surface of the upper; and 
 an optical effect layer that is viewable along the exterior side of the upper. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the exterior textile layer, the intermediate foam layer, and the interior textile layer are parts of a compression molded layer formed with heat and pressure that softens one or more of the multiple layers of the textile laminate to cause the multiple layers to adhere together; and   the optical effect layer is laminated to an interior side of the compression molded layer.   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the textile laminate further comprises:
 one or more windows that extend through at least the exterior textile layer and allow the optical effect layer to be viewable along the exterior side of the upper.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the optical effect layer is an aesthetic layer and the one or more windows expose the aesthetic layer. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the optical effect layer has a higher degree of brightness than the exterior textile layer, the foam layer, and the interior textile layer. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the optical effect layer comprises at least one of: a metal foil layer; a holographic layer, a reflective layer, or a transparent layer. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the optical effect layer is disposed interiorly of the interior textile layer. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more perforations that extend into the exterior textile layer.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a plurality of holes that extend through at least the exterior textile layer to reveal the optical effect layer and create an aesthetic effect, at least some holes of the plurality of holes being aligned with and disposed within the perforations.   
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure;   an upper defining an exterior side and interior side, the upper defining an interior cavity operable to receive a foot of a wearer, wherein at least a portion of the upper comprises a compression molded textile laminate including an exterior textile layer defining an exterior of the upper and an interior textile layer defining an interior surface of the upper; and   an optical effect layer that is disposed interiorly of the interior textile layer and that is viewable along the exterior side of the upper.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the textile laminate further comprises:
 one or more windows that extend through at least the exterior textile layer and allow the optical effect layer to be viewable along the exterior side of the upper.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the optical effect layer is an aesthetic layer and the one or more windows expose the aesthetic layer. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the optical effect layer has a higher degree of brightness than the exterior textile layer and the interior textile layer. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the optical effect layer comprises at least one of: a metal foil layer; a holographic layer, a reflective layer, or a transparent layer. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 one or more perforations that extend into the exterior textile layer.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a plurality of holes that extend through at least the exterior textile layer to reveal the optical effect layer and create an aesthetic effect, at least some holes of the plurality of holes being aligned with and disposed within the perforations.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the compression molded textile laminate further comprises:
 an intermediate foam layer.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the compression molded textile laminate is formed with heat and pressure that softens one or more of the textile layers to cause the textile layers to adhere together.