Article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper. The upper includes a single fabric portion including a base layer having breathability. The single fabric portion includes: a strength portion including the base layer, a breathable layer, and a strength layer; and a breathable portion including only the base layer or only the base layer and the breathable layer. The base layer has a shape extending from a toe region located at a front end in a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear to reach a heel region located at a rear end thereof. The strength portion includes: a toe strength portion disposed in the toe region; and a heel strength portion disposed in the heel region. The breathable portion includes an intermediate breathable portion disposed in an intermediate region located between the toe region and the heel region.

1 . An article of footwear comprising a sole and an upper, wherein 
 the upper comprises a single fabric portion including a base layer having breathability,   the single fabric portion comprises:
 a strength portion including the base layer, a breathable layer having breathability, and a strength layer made of a single yarn or a plurality of yarns and connecting the base layer and the breathable layer to each other; and 
 a breathable portion including only the base layer or only the base layer and the breathable layer, 
   the base layer has a shape extending from a toe region located at a front end in a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear to reach a heel region located at a rear end in the longitudinal direction of the article of footwear,   the strength portion comprises:
 a toe strength portion disposed in the toe region; and 
 a heel strength portion disposed in the heel region, and 
   the breathable portion comprises an intermediate breathable portion disposed in an intermediate region located between the toe region and the heel region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of an area of the breathable portion to an area of the strength portion in the intermediate region is higher than a ratio of an area of the breathable portion to an area of the strength portion in each of the toe region and the heel region. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the upper includes:
 a medial foot covering portion covering at least a part of a medial foot surface of a foot; 
 a lateral foot covering portion covering at least a part of a lateral foot surface of the foot; 
 a topline that is located between the medial foot covering portion and the lateral foot covering portion in a width direction of the article of footwear, and allows a foot to be inserted and removed; and 
 a slit located in the intermediate region and extending frontward from the topline in the longitudinal direction. 
   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the strength portion further comprises a plurality of strip-like strength portions arranged at a side of the slit,   each of the plurality of strip-like strength portions has a shape extending, in a height direction of the article of footwear, from the slit to reach the sole,   the intermediate breathable portion comprises a plurality of strip-like breathable portions arranged at a side of the slit,   each of the plurality of strip-like breathable portions has a shape extending, in the height direction, from the slit to reach the sole, and   the strip-like strength portions and the strip-like breathable portions are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein a length, in the longitudinal direction, of each of the strip-like strength portions is greater than a length, in the longitudinal direction, of each of the strip-like breathable portions. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the intermediate breathable portion comprises:
 an inner breathable portion disposed in the medial foot covering portion; and 
 an outer breathable portion disposed in the lateral foot covering portion, 
   the inner breathable portion has a shape extending, in the width direction, from a rear end portion of the slit to reach the sole, and   the outer breathable portion has a shape extending, in the width direction, from a front end portion of the slit to reach the sole.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the strength portion comprises a plurality of front strength portions disposed frontward of the slit,   each of the plurality of front strength portions has a shape extending in the width direction,   the breathable portion comprises a plurality of front breathable portions disposed frontward of the slit,   each of the plurality of front breathable portions has a shape extending in the width direction, and   the front strength portions and the front breathable portions are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the strength portion comprises a plurality of front strength portions disposed frontward of the slit,   the breathable portion comprises a plurality of front breathable portions disposed frontward of the slit,   the plurality of front breathable portions comprise:
 a plurality of first inclined breathable portions inclined inward in the width direction as the plurality of first inclined breathable portions extend frontward in the longitudinal direction; and 
 a plurality of second inclined breathable portions inclined outward in the width direction as the plurality of second inclined breathable portions extend frontward in the longitudinal direction, and 
   each of the plurality of front strength portions is formed by a part enclosed by the plurality of first inclined breathable portions and the plurality of second inclined breathable portions.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the strength portion further comprises a plurality of inner strength portions disposed in the intermediate region of the medial foot covering portion,   each of the plurality of inner strength portions has a shape that is inclined gradually toward the toe region as the inner strength portion extends in a direction from the sole toward the slit,   the intermediate breathable portion comprises a plurality of inner inclined breathable portions each formed in the medial foot covering portion and having a shape inclined gradually toward the toe region as the inner inclined breathable portion extends in the direction from the sole toward the slit, and   the inner strength portions and the inner inclined breathable portions are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the strength portion further comprises a plurality of intermediate strength portions disposed in the intermediate region,   each of the plurality of intermediate strength portions has a shape extending in a direction from the heel region toward the toe region,   the intermediate breathable portion comprises a plurality of longitudinal breathable portions each having a shape extending in the direction from the heel region toward the toe region,   the intermediate strength portions and the longitudinal breathable portions are arranged alternately in the width direction, and   the base layer is disposed to form an outer surface of the upper.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the breathable portion comprises:
 a single layer portion including only the base layer; and 
 a double layer portion including only the base layer and the breathable layer, and 
   the double layer portion is disposed frontward of the slit.