Abstract: An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.

Abstract: An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a shoe upper that is formed as a substantially planar article with varied functional zones integrated therein. The varied functional zones may be strategically positioned zones having varied degrees of stretch. Additionally, it is contemplated that the functional zones may provide dimensional variation (e.g., thickness) and/or permeability (e.g., breathability) characteristics. The substantially planar upper may then be formed into a three-dimensional upper having a volume that may be occupied by a wearer's foot.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a shoe upper that is formed as a substantially planar article with varied functional zones integrated therein. The varied functional zones may be strategically positioned zones having varied degrees of stretch. Additionally, it is contemplated that the functional zones may provide dimensional variation (e.g., thickness) and/or permeability (e.g., breathability) characteristics. The substantially planar upper may then be formed into a three-dimensional upper having a volume that may be occupied by a wearer's foot.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.

Abstract: A footwear system includes an article of footwear that has a sole with a medial side, a lateral side, and a foot-receiving surface. The article of footwear has an upper with a medial side portion and a lateral side portion. The medial side portion is fixed to the medial side of the sole and has a first distal end. The lateral side portion is fixed to the lateral side of the sole and has a second distal end. The medial side portion and the lateral side portion are configured to wrap at least partially around a foot positioned on the foot-receiving surface. The medial side portion is securable at the first distal end, and the lateral side portion is separately securable at the second distal end remote from the medial side portion when the medial side portion and the lateral side portion are wrapped at least partially around the foot.

Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.

Abstract: A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise a tensioning member secured to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable, and a floating overlay attached to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable. The tensioning members can comprise an elastic member. The tensioning members can be configured to provide a stiff lockout zone and an elastic stretch zone.

Abstract: A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise an elastic member extending between two lace guides of the plurality of lace guides, an elastic member extending between first and second portions of the upper, an elastic member extending between a portion of the upper and a lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, a heel channel connected to a heel portion of the upper and configured to facilitate access to an interior space, an elastic member coupled to the footwear assembly that functions to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.

Abstract: One general aspect of the present disclosure includes an article having a first zone, the first including a first region of a knitted base layer and a knitted second layer, where the second layer is disposed primarily on one side of the base layer. The article may further include a second zone that may include a second region of the base layer, where the second region of the base layer and the first region of the base layer have a common yarn, and where the second region of the base layer and the second layer have a common yarn. The first zone may have a first degree of elasticity such that it has a first elongation when subjected to a tensile load, and the second zone may have a second degree of elasticity such that it has a second elongation when subjected to the tensile load.

Abstract: Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim (e.g., the ground-facing surface and/or the upper-facing surface) and across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area, wherein a plurality (e.g., at least a majority) of the open cells have curved perimeters with no distinct corners.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a dynamic woven material that is capable of undergoing a dimensional change in response to an external stimulus. The dynamic woven material comprises a plurality of discrete woven cells, where each woven cell comprises a reactive region and a non-reactive region. The reactive region changes from a first physical state to a second physical state when the woven material is exposed to the external stimulus. The woven material may be formed with zonal stretch properties by varying the areas occupied by the reactive region and the non-reactive region in each woven cell. For example, the bigger the area occupied by the reactive region in the woven cells in a particular zone of the dynamic woven material, the higher the level of stretch in the particular zone may be. Exemplary products manufactured from the dynamic woven material include, for example, articles of footwear.

Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a seamless bootie or textile upper formed from a knitted component removed from a knitted textile element of unitary warp knit construction. The knitted component may include a first knitted component portion in the form of a seamless bootie and a second knitted component portion associated with the first knitted component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be tucked-in or folded into a pocket of first knitted component portion, such as a knitted dynamic fit component portion or a knitted tongue component portion. In some embodiments the second kitted component portion may be wrapped around at least part of the first knitted component portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention comprise woven multilayer textiles having shaped, enclosed, inflatable pockets, where the inflated textile carries tension, compression, torsion and/or bending loads. Composite structures incorporating such inflatable members or spars are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a seamless bootie or textile upper formed from a knitted component removed from a knitted textile element of unitary warp knit construction. The knitted component may include a first knitted component portion in the form of a seamless bootie and a second knitted component portion associated with the first knitted component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be tucked-in or folded into a pocket of first knitted component portion, such as a knitted dynamic fit component portion or a knitted tongue component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be wrapped around at least part of the first knitted component portion.

Abstract: Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).

Abstract: A reinforcement component for an article of footwear is formed by a folded knit element. The knit element includes a plurality of strap members that are separated by slits when the knit element is in a contracted position. In an expanded position, the slits become openings between the plurality of strap members. The knit element has an upper portion that is folded over a lower portion so that ends of the plurality of strap members are brought together and a plurality of loops are formed along a top of the folded knit element. The folded knit element forms the reinforcement component and the plurality of loops are configured to receive a lace. Forces applied to the reinforcement component by the lace are distributed through the plurality of strap members across the upper of the article of footwear.