Upper for a shoe with a ball contact area

Abstract

An upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions. Each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis, a sole facing side portion and an instep facing side portion. Each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable such that each protrusion is configured to bend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis upon contact with a ball, and such that each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep facing side portion touches an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An upper for a shoe, comprising:
 a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions;   wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis, a sole facing side portion, and an in-step facing side portion; and   wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend in a substantially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis up-on contact with a ball, and such that each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep facing side portion touches an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.