Abstract: Presented are polymeric cover panels with permanently affixed plastic fragments for articles of footwear, methods for making/using such cover panels, and footwear fabricated with such cover panels. A cover panel for an article of footwear includes a cover layer that is formed, in whole or in part, from an at least partially transparent polymeric material, such as a hot-melt adhesive, adhesive-coated polymer, or tacky thermoplastic material. The cover panel mounts onto one or more select segments of the footwear upper such that an outer face of the cover layer defines an outermost surface of these select segment(s) of the footwear upper. An assortment of plastic fragments is dispersed across and permanently affixed to an interior face of the cover layer, e.g., such that the plastic fragments are encapsulated between the cover layer and the footwear upper. Each plastic fragment may have a distinct shape, size, and/or color.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a carcass layer including an interior liner defining an interior void of the upper and an exterior liner joined to the interior liner to define a plurality of resilient pads protruding from an exterior surface of the upper. In some examples, the upper includes an outer shell attached to the exterior liner of the carcass layer and including a plurality of openings each configured to receive a respective one of the resilient pads therethrough. Here, each of the resilient pads includes a distal end surface defining a first portion of a ball control surface and the outer shell defines a second portion of the ball control surface. In some implementations, each of the resilient pads includes a compressible material enclosed between the interior liner and the exterior liner. Optionally, each of the resilient pads includes a tensile element disposed therein.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a carcass layer including an interior liner defining an interior void of the upper and an exterior liner joined to the interior liner to define a plurality of resilient pads protruding from an exterior surface of the upper. In some examples, the upper includes an outer shell attached to the exterior liner of the carcass layer and including a plurality of openings each configured to receive a respective one of the resilient pads therethrough. Here, each of the resilient pads includes a distal end surface defining a first portion of a ball control surface and the outer shell defines a second portion of the ball control surface. In some implementations, each of the resilient pads includes a compressible material enclosed between the interior liner and the exterior liner. Optionally, each of the resilient pads includes a tensile element disposed therein.

Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a carcass layer including an interior liner defining an interior void of the upper and an exterior liner joined to the interior liner to define a plurality of resilient pads protruding from an exterior surface of the upper. In some examples, the upper includes an outer shell attached to the exterior liner of the carcass layer and including a plurality of openings each configured to receive a respective one of the resilient pads therethrough. Here, each of the resilient pads includes a distal end surface defining a first portion of a ball control surface and the outer shell defines a second portion of the ball control surface. In some implementations, each of the resilient pads includes a compressible material enclosed between the interior liner and the exterior liner. Optionally, each of the resilient pads includes a tensile element disposed therein.