阅读说明：本技术 包括突起的鞋面 (Shoe upper including protrusions ) 是由 马克·伊兰·阿拉纳 加埃唐·圣-安德烈 斯文·罗威 多米尼克·桑德鲁特 于 2021-05-11 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种运动鞋的鞋面,包括多个区域,该多个区域包括：内侧区域、外侧区域、脚趾区域、脚背区域、脚跟区域和鞋领区域,其中鞋面包括在上述多个区域中的至少四个中的至少一个突起,并且其中突出从鞋面的外表面突出。(The present invention relates to an upper for a sports shoe, comprising a plurality of zones, the plurality of zones comprising: a medial side region, a lateral side region, a toe region, an instep region, a heel region, and a collar region, wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in at least four of the plurality of regions, and wherein the protrusion protrudes from an exterior surface of the upper.)

1. An upper for an athletic shoe, comprising:

a plurality of regions comprising:

in the region of the inner side of the inner,

in the outer region of the outer side,

the area of the toes of the foot,

the area of the instep of the foot,

the heel area, an

A collar region;

wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in at least four of the plurality of regions, and wherein the protrusion protrudes from an exterior surface of the upper.

2. The upper of claim 1, wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in the medial region, the lateral region, the toe region, and the instep region.

3. The upper of claim 1, wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in the medial side region, the lateral side region, the toe region, the instep region, and the heel region.

4. The upper according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the at least one protrusion in a first area of the plurality of areas differs from the at least one protrusion in a second area of the plurality of areas in terms of its size and/or shape and/or orientation.

5. The upper of one of claims 1-4, wherein the upper includes a plurality of protrusions in a first area and a second area of the plurality of areas, and wherein a distribution density of the protrusions in the first area is different than a distribution density of the protrusions in the second area.

6. The upper of one of claims 1-5, wherein the upper includes at least two protrusions in at least one of the plurality of regions, and wherein the at least two protrusions differ in their size and/or shape and/or orientation.

7. The upper of one of claims 1-6, wherein the upper includes a plurality of protrusions in at least one of the plurality of regions, and wherein the protrusions are unevenly distributed in the at least one region.

8. The upper of one of claims 1-7, wherein the upper includes a plurality of protrusions in at least one of the plurality of regions, and wherein two adjacent protrusions in the at least one region include substantially the same orientation.

9. The upper of claim 8, wherein two non-adjacent projections in the at least one area include different orientations.

10. The upper according to one of claims 1-9, wherein the upper includes a base material that forms a mount for the at least one protrusion.

11. The upper according to claim 10, wherein the base material forms the exterior surface of the upper.

12. An upper according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the base material of the upper includes a textile and/or a synthetic material.

13. The upper according to one of claims 10-12, wherein the base material of the upper includes a first stretchability in a first region of the plurality of regions and a second stretchability in a second region of the plurality of regions, and wherein the first stretchability and the second stretchability are different.

14. The upper of one of claims 1-13, wherein the at least one protrusion includes rubber and/or cast polyurethane CPU and/or silicon.

15. The upper of one of claims 1-14, wherein the protrusions in the lateral, medial, and toe regions include rubber.

16. An upper according to one of claims 1-15, wherein the protrusions in the instep area, and/or the heel area, and/or the collar area include cast polyurethane CPU and/or silicon.

17. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper according to any one of claims 1-16; and

a sole attached to the upper.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an upper for a shoe comprising protrusions, and in particular to protrusions having a specific arrangement on the upper.

Background

Sports shoes must meet a variety of requirements. In addition to good wearing comfort, they must also support the athlete as well as possible. Especially in sports using balls, such as soccer or football, the upper of the shoe must be designed in a manner that provides optimal foot-to-ball contact. A key aspect is the customized friction between the shoe upper and the ball to improve ball control over the entire shoe, rather than only certain areas of the shoe.

By means of various applications applied to the upper of a sports shoe, the energy transfer during kicking can be optimized. These applications allow players to perform special skills, such as spinning a ball. In the prior art, these applications are mostly made of rubber and are distributed only on the specific areas of the upper of the shoe where the main contact with the ball occurs.

For example, WO 2010/086672 a1 relates to an athletic shoe in which the upper of the athletic shoe includes a deformable projection in the forefoot region, the deformable projection including the form of a suction cup.

CN206390385U relates to a training sports shoe with a highly elastic rubber outer layer distributed over the outer surface in the form of small rubber cylindrical protrusions.

CN207269957 relates to a football shoe with high speed ball control, wherein the upper is provided with protrusions comprising small circular suckers.

US 9693694B 2 relates to an article of footwear in which an outsole may include lateral and medial arch portions for traction.

EP 1430801 a1 relates to an article of footwear, such as a football shoe, including a ball control region. The ball control region includes a series of differently sized raised geometric protrusions disposed on the upper of the soccer shoe.

WO 2010/055276 a1 relates to a ball control element for sports shoes, in which the upper surface of the ball control part is provided with a plurality of diamond-shaped rubber elements.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shoe for ball sports, in particular for soccer, having an improved grip, allowing improved ball control. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe for ball sports, in particular for soccer, with improved fit.

Disclosure of Invention

The above problem is solved by an upper for a sports shoe, comprising a plurality of zones comprising: a medial side region, a lateral side region, a toe region, an instep region, a heel region, and a collar region, wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in at least four of the plurality of regions, and wherein the protrusion protrudes from an exterior surface of the upper.

The fact that the protrusions are not only distributed over a limited area, but also extend to many areas of the upper of the sports shoe results in improved ball control throughout the sports shoe. Because many areas of the upper include gripping and damping elements, a more creative style of motion is possible. Thus, a player can interact with the ball using not only the front and sides of the shoe, but also the heel or instep area. This has led to many new ways of manipulating the ball and performing special tricks or false actions and improving the spin of the ball.

The upper may include at least one protrusion in each of the plurality of areas. In this way, the advantageous effects of the present invention are even more pronounced.

The upper may include at least one protrusion in a medial region, a lateral region, a toe region, and an instep region. By distributing the protrusions in these areas, the ball control can be further improved. The combination of medial, lateral, toe and instep areas having protrusions specifically supports ball control during kicking for scoring. The distribution in the mentioned area enables a more accurate goal shooting.

The upper may include at least one projection in a medial region, a lateral region, a toe region, an instep region, and a heel region. By distributing the protrusions in these areas, ball control can be improved even further with respect to shooting and executing skills. The skills of many false actions of soccer players include guiding the ball around the heel of the player. Having a protrusion in the heel area also further supports the ability of the athlete to perform tricks and false actions.

According to the invention, at least one protrusion in a first one of the above-mentioned plurality of regions may differ in its size and/or shape and/or orientation from at least one protrusion in a second one of the above-mentioned plurality of regions. In order to provide improved functional performance of athletic shoes, different areas of the athletic shoe should have specific and varying characteristics, and thus allow for optional ball control. In the kicking area, maximum energy transfer is required, while in the heel area, better ball control is required when performing skills. In some areas, the player should easily spin the ball, while in other areas, lateral movement of the ball should be avoided.

The upper may include a plurality of protrusions in a first area and a second area of the plurality of areas, and a distribution density of the protrusions in the first area may be different than a distribution density of the protrusions in the second area. Different distribution densities result in different cushioning behavior and ball control. Therefore, by changing the distribution density of the protrusions, a varying response to the ball contact is possible. Furthermore, by adjusting the distribution density of the protrusions in the different areas, the stretchability of the upper may be adjusted. If the base material of the upper in the first area is flexible, the high distribution density results in the first area having less stretch. A low distribution density results in a greater stretch in the first region.

The upper may include at least two protrusions in at least one of the plurality of regions, and the at least two protrusions may differ in their size and/or shape and/or orientation. In the case of at least two protrusions which differ in their size and/or shape and/or orientation, the properties of each of the plurality of regions can be adjusted very individually. This also enables the product to be customized to meet the needs of individual athletes.

The upper may include a plurality of protrusions in at least one of the plurality of areas, and the protrusions may be unevenly distributed in at least one area. The transition from one area to another may require adjusting the density of the protrusions so that they are not uniformly distributed within one area. The uneven distribution is not random and a pattern (pattern) for a specific function can be designed. For example, the pattern may have a "flowing" or generally dynamic appearance. In this way, for example, channels may be formed by the protrusions, through which channels moisture may be better removed from the surface of the upper. Water is more effectively drained from the surface of the upper because of the air flow that can be created through these channels during dynamic movements.

The upper may include a plurality of protrusions in at least one of the plurality of regions, and two adjacent protrusions in at least one region may include substantially the same orientation. In the context of the present invention, this is to be understood as meaning that the symmetry axes of adjacent protrusions may be aligned within a tolerance of a few degrees, for example within ten degrees, more preferably within five degrees. Alignment of one protrusion with respect to an adjacent protrusion results in a region having a similar protrusion orientation. In this way, streamlined orientation is possible. However, on a larger scale, the alignment of the protrusions may differ by more than just a few degrees.

In the context of the present invention, two non-adjacent protrusions in at least one region may comprise different orientations. By slowly changing the orientation, a tortuous path may be formed. Through these curved channels, a targeted removal of moisture can be achieved. Further visual effects may be created which may help identify the players on the field.

The upper may include a base material forming an attachment element for the at least one projection. The upper may be formed only from the base material. Alternatively, the base material may cover a lower layer of the upper. Such a bottom layer may be an inner lining, such as a fabric lining that contacts the foot when the shoe is worn.

The base material may form an exterior surface of the upper. Depending on the material of the protrusions, the base material may be selected to ensure a desired bond. This allows protrusions to be provided in different areas of the upper, even though the underlying material may be different in those areas. Alternatively, the base material may be at least partially covered by a coating. Such a coating may be arranged on the outside of the base layer and provide additional properties, such as additional wear resistance. The coating may form an exterior surface of the upper, at least in some areas. This allows protrusions to be provided with a desired bond in different areas of the upper, for example in areas where the base material forms the exterior surface of the upper and/or in areas where the coating forms the exterior surface of the upper. The protrusions may be provided directly on the base material and/or directly on the coating.

The base material of the upper may include a textile and/or a synthetic material. Depending on the material of the protrusions, the base material may comprise a fabric or a synthetic material to ensure a desired bonding.

The base material of the upper may include stretchability in a first region of the plurality of regions and a second stretchability in a second region of the plurality of regions. The first and second stretchability may be different. The different stretchability characteristics of the base material in the different zones improves the functionality of the shoe. For example, the instep area may require greater flexibility than the kicking area.

The protrusions may comprise rubber and/or Cast Polyurethane (CPU) and/or silicon (silicon). Depending on the degree of energy transfer desired, softer or harder materials may be used. This allows for fine tuning of the response of the upper to the ball. In addition, the selection of the protrusion material may depend on the base material or underlying material of the upper to achieve a good bond. The use of protrusions made of rubber and protrusions made of CPU on one upper enables a fine and customized grip and control of the ball.

The protrusions in the lateral, medial and toe regions may comprise rubber. The rubber comprises a high energy transfer, preferably in the kicking area. Furthermore, the base material of these areas may comprise a coated fabric or a foiled fabric, so that a strong bond with the rubber material may be provided.

The protrusions in the instep area, heel area, and collar area may include a CPU and/or silicon. Softer materials increase the cushioning characteristics of the upper, which is desirable for players when performing skills. The base material of these regions may comprise a fabric, such as a knitted, mesh or lycra material. CPU and/or silicone materials generally have better adhesion to fabrics than rubber materials.

The invention also relates to a shoe comprising an upper as described herein and a sole attached to the upper.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an upper for a sports shoe, comprising at least one protrusion on an exterior surface of the upper, wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a triangular-shaped or rounded base region and forms at least one peak extending from the exterior surface of the upper. The shape of the protrusions directly affects the friction. With this particular shape, the coefficient of friction can be optimized, giving the athlete advantages. Thereby, an upper is provided that provides more control when kicking a ball. When kicking the ball, the protrusions interact with the surface of the ball, whereby the friction between the upper and the ball, and thus the ball control, will be enhanced.

The base region of the triangle may comprise a convex triangle (covex deltoid) and/or a concave triangle (concave deltoid). Both triangular forms positively affect the friction in the foot-ball interaction.

The base region of the triangle may comprise two adjacent sides of a first length and two adjacent sides of a second length different from the first length. For example, the base region of a triangle may have the shape of a kite. It is important to clarify that a normal diamond shape has different friction than an actual triangle. The triangular base areas give a greater freedom of designing the protrusions than the generally diamond-shaped base areas, so that they can interact with the ball in a beneficial manner.

The at least one protrusion may comprise at least one notch such that the at least one protrusion comprises at least two peaks. Maximum energy transfer is achieved with one peak. However, several peaks are advantageous if the player wants not only to kick the ball but also to perform skills, thereby requiring more cushioning of the ball on the shoe.

The upper may include at least one protrusion in each of a medial side region, a lateral side region, an instep region, a heel region, a collar region, and a toe region. The distribution of the protrusions throughout the shoe allows 360 ° control of the ball.

The at least one protrusion in the different regions may comprise different shapes and/or materials. Depending on the area of the upper, specific shapes and materials are required. For example, in the kicking area, a different shape and material is required than in areas not intended for kicking, but in this area, for example, it may be desirable for the ball to be balanced on the upper for as long as possible.

The at least one protrusion in the lateral, medial and toe regions may include one peak, and the at least one protrusion in the instep and heel regions may include at least one peak. By adjusting the number of peaks included in at least one of the protrusions, the cushioning or absorption effect of the upper may be customized according to the preferences of the athlete.

The at least one protrusion may comprise rubber and/or Cast Polyurethane (CPU) and/or silicon. In addition to the shape, the elasticity of the material also plays an important role. Different materials are used to form the protrusions depending on whether the ball's momentum is to be maintained or weakened as much as possible.

At least one of the lateral region, the medial region and the toe region may comprise rubber. The rubber is characterized by the high energy transfer required in the lateral, medial and toe regions.

At least one of the protrusions in the instep region, the heel region, and the collar region may include a CPU and/or silicon. These areas have different requirements, where the control of the ball is the main focus and maximum impulse transfer is not required. Therefore, CPUs and/or silicon are used in these fields.

The at least one projection of the upper may be flexible. The flexible protrusions may provide better absorption of the impact from the ball.

The upper may include at least two protrusions having different hardnesses. Stiffness also affects how ball impacts are absorbed by the upper.

The invention also relates to a shoe comprising an upper as described herein and a sole attached to the upper.

Another aspect of the invention relates to an upper for an athletic shoe that includes an instep portion and a collar portion, wherein the collar is partially attached to the instep portion such that the collar partially overlaps the instep portion. In particular, the instep portion and the collar portion are advantageously separate pieces that are connected to each other only at selected points or areas. In the unattached region, the separation between the instep portion and the collar portion allows the upper to easily stretch as the user steps into the shoe. An advantage of this aspect of the invention is to provide a shoe that is comfortable to wear, easy to step in and at the same time reliable to lock, and in particular for a mid-cut shoe (mid-cut shoe), i.e. a shoe that at least partially covers the wearer's ankle. Furthermore, a secure locking can be achieved without a lace.

The instep portion may include an edge, and the collar portion may be connected to the instep portion at a portion of the edge. The edge of the instep portion can be attached to the collar portion at a lower portion of the ankle region or the heel region. Due to this connection, a partial overlap of the collar portion and the instep portion and a firm support in the ankle region are achieved. By means of the stretchable overlap, an easy stepping-in can be achieved.

In the overlap region, the collar portion may define an exterior surface of the upper and the instep portion may define an interior surface.

The collar portion may include a rim, and a portion of the rim of the collar portion may be connected to the instep portion.

Alternatively, or in addition to the attachment of the edge of the instep portion to the collar portion, and in particular the rim of the collar portion, may be attached to the instep portion at the midfoot region of the upper. By means of this connection, the instep portion fits closely to the rear side of the foot. Further, due to this connection, the collar portion is more closely attached to the achilles tendon and the heel of the wearer's foot when the instep portion is pushed forward by the wearer's foot, for example, when the wearer runs or makes sudden movements with the foot. Thus, the shoe remains on the foot even under a large load such as sprinting or kicking.

The collar portion and/or the instep portion may be made of a textile material, preferably a knitted textile. This allows the shape of the collar portion and/or the instep portion to be precisely designed while reducing the production of waist material.

The collar portion may include a first component and a second component. The division of the collar portion allows the collar portion to be more precisely shaped with respect to the anatomy of the foot and results in a better distribution of forces acting on the material under strain.

The first component may be disposed at a medial side of the upper, and the second component may be disposed at a lateral side of the upper. The connection of the closed heel area to the medial and lateral sides of the shoe provides secure wearing comfort and a snug fit.

The first component and the second component may be at least partially connected at a heel region of the upper. The first component may be partially connected to the instep portion at a medial side of the upper, and the second component may be partially connected to the instep portion at a lateral side of the upper. The particular design and arrangement and connection of the three components of the fabric, in particular of the knitted fabric (first component, second component and instep portion), results in the advantageous effect that a 3D construction of the upper around the instep and also around the achilles tendon and over the heel area is formed, which can be achieved without complex knitting techniques. Thus, by simply using and connecting the components of the knitted fabric, a stable 3D construction can be achieved.

The distance between the rim of the collar portion and the sole portion of the upper may increase from a midfoot region of the upper to a heel region of the upper. In particular, in the hindfoot region of the shoe, the distance between the rim of the collar portion and the sole portion may be greater than the distance between the instep portion and the sole portion. More clearly, in the hindfoot region, the collar portion may extend higher in the midfoot region than the instep portion. By the particular design and arrangement of the collar and instep portions of the upper, the wearer's achilles tendon region may be covered and protected by the upper while the front of the ankle may remain uncovered and allow greater freedom of movement when the shoe is worn.

Thus, the collar portion may be adapted to at least partially cover the achilles tendon of the wearer. This partial coverage of the wearer's achilles tendon ensures that the area is protected. On the other hand, this configuration also results in an easier step-in and a more stable fit once the shoe is worn.

As previously discussed, the upper may include a knitted fabric. The use of knitted fabrics has several advantages, such as comfortable wear provided by optimal alignment with a given foot shape, and better protection of the athlete's foot from damage provided by the high flexibility of knitted fabrics.

The upper may be a lace-free upper. Because of the shoe upper without the shoelace, the athlete saves time when putting on the shoe and the shoe is easier to clean. Furthermore, it avoids the possibility that the laces may become tangled and cause accidents or injuries, and also avoids the problem of sudden loosening of the laces during the performance of an exercise.

The invention also relates to a shoe comprising an upper as described herein and a sole attached to the upper.

Drawings

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These figures show:

FIG. 1A: an example of a preferred embodiment of a sports shoe according to the invention is shown;

FIG. 1B: an example of a preferred embodiment of a sports shoe according to the invention is shown from the front side;

FIG. 1C: an example of a preferred embodiment of a sports shoe according to the invention is shown from the rear side;

FIG. 2: an upper for a sports shoe having a plurality of protrusions, the protrusions having a shape according to another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3A: an exterior surface of an upper of an athletic shoe having a plurality of protrusions, the protrusions having a shape in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 3B: an illustration of an exterior surface of another embodiment of an upper for an athletic shoe having a plurality of protrusions, the protrusions having a shape in accordance with another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 4A: examples of preferred embodiments, an upper for a sports shoe according to a further aspect of the invention is shown from a top view;

FIG. 4B: examples of preferred embodiments show an upper for a sports shoe having a lace according to another aspect of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Possible embodiments of the invention will be described in the following detailed description, mainly with reference to sports shoes. It is emphasized that the invention is not limited to these embodiments.

Fig. 1A, 1B and 1C show an embodiment of an upper 101 of a sports shoe 100 according to the invention from the lateral, front and rear side of the shoe, respectively. Upper 101 includes a plurality of protrusions 102 and 110 in instep region 116, a plurality of protrusions 103 in lateral region 118, a plurality of protrusions 104 in toe region 117, a plurality of protrusions 107 in medial region 119, a plurality of protrusions 105 in collar region 114, and a plurality of protrusions 106 in heel region 115. The protrusions protrude from the outer surface of upper 101 and are flexible so that they can deform when in contact with, for example, a ball.

All of the protrusions in lateral region 118, medial region 119, and toe region 117 have one peak and comprise rubber, preferably a rubber material having a very light weight composition. Protrusions 102 and 110 in instep region 116 have one peak (such as protrusion 110) or two peaks (such as protrusion 102), and protrusion 106 in heel region 115 and protrusion 105 in collar region 114 have one, two, or three peaks. Protrusions 102 and 110 in instep area 116, protrusion 106 in heel area 115, and protrusion 105 in collar area 114 comprise Cast Polyurethane (CPU). In another embodiment, the protrusions in these regions may comprise silicon.

Upper 101 is made of a flexible base material that is not uniform throughout athletic shoe 100. The base material may comprise different materials depending on the desired flexibility of a particular area of the athletic shoe 100. In the medial region 110, lateral region 118, and toe region 117, the base material comprises a fabric. In these areas, the fabric base material is at least partially covered with a coating. In a further embodiment, the coating may comprise a foil, preferably a polyurethane foil. The base material in collar region 114, heel region 115, and instep region 116 includes a textile. In further embodiments, the fabric may comprise a knitted material and/or a mesh material and/or a material made of elastic fibers (elastane). In a preferred embodiment, the textile base material in collar region 114, heel region 115, and instep region 116 is not covered by a coating, and the textile base material forms an exterior surface of upper 101.

The protrusions are distributed unevenly on upper 101, either in one of the regions or in both regions, for comparison. The density of the protrusions is significantly different in the outboard region 118 and the inboard region 119. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, the outer region 118 includes a lower distribution density region 1181 having protrusions and a higher distribution density region 1182 having protrusions. For athletic footwear, particularly soccer shoes, region 1181 is near the quarter region (quarter region), as is commonly understood in the art, and region 1182 is near the commonly known midfoot region. The inboard region 119 (not shown) may have a similar arrangement of protrusions.

The alignment (alignment) of the protrusions within each of the multiple areas of the upper is specifically designed to provide the best ball control effect. The alignment of one protrusion is substantially based on the alignment of adjacent protrusions. This configuration results in a streamlined orientation of the protrusions in each region and also throughout the entire upper. In the transition from the lateral region 118 to the toe region 117, the arrangement and orientation of the protrusions may be described as segments 111 (segments) of concentric circles.

Protrusions 105, 106 in heel region 115 and collar region 114 include increased dimensions as compared to protrusions 102, 110, 103, 104, 107 in other regions 116, 117, 118, and 119.

In the context of the present invention, and with reference to FIG. 1C, heel region 115 is defined to further include ankle region 113, which should be understood to be the area around the ankle of a player when wearing athletic footwear. In a preferred embodiment, the protrusion in the ankle region 113 also includes a CPU, similar to the protrusion 106 in the heel region 115. The additional CPU bumps in ankle region 113 provide shock absorption and thus additional ankle/ankle protection as compared to conventional athletic footwear.

In a preferred embodiment, the athletic shoe is a bootless shoe, and thus, there is no lace in instep region 116. In this case, the extra free space on instep area 116 is available for placement of more CPU bumps to increase friction when kicking the ball, thereby improving ball spin. In another embodiment, the protrusion may be made of silicon. Alternatively, the athletic shoe may have laces in instep area 116, and optionally have fewer or no protrusions in instep area 116.

Instep region 116 may include a tongue region 1161, which is generally understood to be the top region of instep region 116 that is adjacent to the user's ankle when the athletic shoe is worn. In addition to the protrusions 102, 110 in instep area 116, the upper may also have protrusions in the tongue area. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the tongue region may be devoid of protrusions to provide easier stepping when the athletic shoe is worn.

Fig. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of another aspect of the invention, namely an upper 201 of a sports shoe 200. Upper 201 includes a base material that may include a textile and/or a synthetic material.

In the embodiment of fig. 2, the base material comprises a fabric. In particular, the base material includes a knit material, e.g., a jersey, in region 204 and a coating on top of the fabric base material in region 205. Furthermore, the base material may also comprise non-woven material in other areas, for example a mesh material or a material made of elastic fibers. For example, in a further embodiment, the coating on top of the base material in region 205 may comprise a foil, preferably a polyurethane foil.

Upper 201 includes a plurality of protrusions 202 having one peak and a plurality of protrusions 203 having two peaks. The protrusions have base regions of convex triangular shapes. The base of the convex triangle corresponds to the base area of the kite shape. Typically, the triangle includes two adjacent sides having a first length and two opposing sides having a second length different from the first length. In other embodiments, the base region may have a concave triangular shape or a circular shape. In the present embodiment, all protrusions, in particular protrusions with two peaks, have at least one concave increase (concave increase). This means that the concavity between the two peaks rises.

A protrusion 202 having one peak is located in region 205 of upper 201 and comprises rubber. A protrusion 203 having two peaks is located in a region 204 of the knitted material and comprises a CPU. In a further embodiment, the CPU may be replaced by silicon.

Fig. 3A shows an upper 300 of an athletic shoe. Upper 300 includes a coated textile, i.e., a textile base material having a coating, having a plurality of protrusions 302. The protrusion 302 has a base region of a convex triangle and one peak. Protrusions 302 are unevenly distributed on the exterior surface of upper 300. Accordingly, upper 300 includes areas of different distribution densities of protrusions. For example, the distribution density of the protrusions in the region 311 is significantly higher than the distribution density of the protrusions in the region 312. The distribution and orientation of the protrusions results in a pattern corresponding to the structured profile.

Fig. 3B shows another embodiment of the present invention. On the first surface 307, the protrusions formed thereon have circular base regions, such as protrusions 303, 304, 305. On the second surface 308, the protrusions formed thereon have, in part, concave triangular base regions, such as protrusions 306. The protrusions having a rounded base region may include one peak, such as protrusion 304, or two peaks, such as protrusion 303. The peaks may be described as sharp cones that curve in one direction, such that they resemble spikes, as shown in more detail with respect to the protrusion 305.

Fig. 4A and 4B illustrate another aspect of the present invention. Fig. 4A shows a lace-free upper 401 of athletic shoe 400. Fig. 4B shows upper 401 of athletic shoe 400 with lace 406. Accordingly, it should be understood that lace 406 is optional for embodiments. Both the upper of fig. 4A and the upper of fig. 4B are, in particular, mid-upper uppers, i.e., uppers for at least partially covering the ankle of a wearer wearing the shoe.

Upper 401 includes collar portion 403 and instep portion 402. As shown in fig. 4A, collar portion 403 may be understood as a portion that extends around at least a portion of an opening of a shoe on which a user wears the shoe and covers at least a portion of the wearer's heel. In particular, for mid-tops, such as the high-cut heel (high-cut heel) shown in fig. 4A and 4B, and for high tops, the collar portion 403 is configured to at least partially cover the achilles tendon and possibly at least a portion of the ankle of the athlete when the athletic shoe 400 is worn. The edge of collar portion 403 is connected to instep portion 402 on both sides 405. In particular, the edges of collar portion 403 are connected to instep portion 402 at the lateral and medial sides of upper 401. Since collar portion 403 and instep portion 402 are made of a knitted material, they may be sewn together at locations 405a and 405b on both sides 405, respectively.

The primary advantage is through second connection 404 from the edge of instep portion 402 and collar portion 403. These connections may be sewn. The connecting portion, and in particular seam 404, is located at the level of the ankle in the heel region or under the ankle of a player wearing athletic shoe 400 and is responsible for the partial overlap of collar portion 403 and instep portion 402. Via this connection in the heel region near the ankle of the athlete's foot, a safe wearing comfort can be ensured.

In particular, in the overlap region, instep portion 402 defines an interior surface of upper 401, while collar portion 403 defines an exterior surface thereof. The dashed lines shown in FIG. 4B illustrate the extension of instep portion 402 within collar portion 403 in the area of overlap.

The fact that collar portion 403 and instep portion 402 are only connected at selected points or areas, and thus are separated in the remaining areas by the separation therebetween, allows for a higher stretchability of the two portions in the unconnected areas, thus allowing upper 401 to stretch easily when a user steps into footwear 400.

In one embodiment, collar portion 403 includes one component disposed at a medial side of the upper and another component disposed at a lateral side of the upper.

The medial and lateral parts are preferably connected to each other at the heel area of the upper, in particular at the back side of the shoe. For example, the inner and outer parts may be sewn together along their rear edges. The two-part construction of the collar portion allows upper 401 to be more precisely shaped at the heel region, thereby providing better support for the player's foot. In addition, embodiments in which the components in collar portion 403 are made of knitted fabric also provide comfort and flexibility.

In another embodiment, collar portion 403 may be made from a single component.

Instep portion 402 is partially surrounded by collar portion 403, which provides a stable 3D configuration using stitches 404a and 404b located near the ankle and more generally in the heel region and stitches 405a and 405b located in the instep region. This results in a secure arrangement of the collar and instep portions, while enhancing the stretchability of both portions, as previously described, without the need to use complex knitting techniques. Therefore, a complicated knitting process is not required, which can minimize production costs and time expenses.

In the heel area, collar portion 403 is designed to be high enough to cover the player's achilles tendon. Thus, collar portion 403 peaks at the rear of the foot and slopes toward the midfoot. In other words, the distance between the edge of collar portion 403 and the sole of the footwear gradually decreases from the heel region to the midfoot region of upper 401. This results in collar portion 403 in the rear of the shoe passing over instep portion 402, and then decreasing its height in the midfoot portion in such a way that instep portion 402 passes over collar portion 403. As shown in the embodiment of fig. 4B, lace 406 is optional.

In the following, embodiments of another aspect of the invention are described that relate to an upper having a particular collar portion and an instep portion.

1. An upper for an athletic shoe, comprising:

an instep portion; and

a collar portion;

wherein the collar is partially attached to the instep portion,

such that the collar partially overlaps the instep portion.

2. The upper of embodiment 1, wherein the collar portion includes a rim, and wherein a portion of the rim of the collar portion is connected to the instep portion.

3. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-2, wherein the collar portion is connected to the instep portion at a midfoot region of the upper.

4. The upper of one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the collar portion includes a first component and a second component.

5. The upper according to embodiment 4, wherein the first component is disposed at a medial side of the upper and the second component is disposed at a lateral side of the upper.

6. The upper according to embodiment 5, wherein the first component and the second component are joined at least partially at a heel region of the upper.

7. The upper according to one of embodiments 5-6, wherein the first component is partially connected to the instep portion at a medial side of the upper, and wherein the second component is partially connected to the instep portion at a lateral side of the upper.

8. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-7, wherein the collar portion includes a rim, and a distance between the rim of the collar portion and the sole portion of the upper increases from a midfoot region of the upper to a heel region of the upper.

9. The upper of embodiment 8, wherein, in the rearfoot region, a distance between an edge of the collar portion and the sole portion is greater than a distance between the instep portion and the sole portion.

10. The upper of one of embodiments 1-9, wherein the collar portion is adapted to at least partially cover an achilles tendon of a wearer.

11. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-10, wherein the upper includes a knit fabric.

12. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-11, wherein the upper is a bootless upper.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper according to one of embodiments 1-12; and

a sole attached to the upper.

In the following, embodiments of another aspect of the invention are described, which relate to uppers with specially shaped protrusions.

1. An upper for an athletic shoe, comprising:

at least one protrusion on an exterior surface of the upper;

wherein the at least one protrusion includes a triangular or rounded base region and forms at least one peak extending from an exterior surface of the upper.

2. The upper of embodiment 1, wherein the triangular base region includes a convex triangle and/or a concave triangle.

3. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-2, wherein the base region of the triangle includes two adjacent sides of a first length and two adjacent sides of a second length that is different than the first length.

4. The upper of one of embodiments 1-3, wherein the at least one protrusion includes at least one notch such that the at least one protrusion includes at least two peaks.

5. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-4, wherein the upper includes at least one protrusion in each of a medial side region, a lateral side region, an instep region, a heel region, a collar region, and a toe region.

6. The upper of embodiment 5, wherein the at least one projection in the different areas comprises a different shape and/or material.

7. The upper of embodiment 6, wherein the at least one protrusion in the lateral, medial, and toe regions includes one peak, and wherein the at least one protrusion in the instep and heel regions includes at least one peak.

8. The upper of one of embodiments 1-7, wherein at least one protrusion includes rubber and/or CPU and/or silicon.

9. The upper of embodiment 8, wherein at least one of the lateral, medial, and toe regions includes rubber.

10. The upper of embodiment 8, wherein at least one of the protrusions in the instep area, the heel area, and the collar area includes a CPU and/or silicon.

11. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-10, wherein at least one protrusion is flexible.

12. The upper according to one of embodiments 1-11, wherein the upper includes at least two protrusions having different hardnesses.

13. An article of footwear, comprising:

an upper according to one of embodiments 1-12; and

a sole attached to the upper.