Article of footwear incorporating tensile strands with an elongated cross-sectional shape

摘要

An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a base layer and a plurality of strands. The base layer forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper. The strands are located adjacent to the base layer and form another portion of the exterior surface of the upper, the strands being unsecured to the base layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape.

主权项

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
a base layer extending from a lace region of the upper to a lower region of the upper, the lace region defining a plurality of lace-receiving elements, and the lower region being where the sole structure is secured to the upper; and a plurality of strands extending from at least one of the plurality of lace-receiving elements in the lace region to the lower region, the plurality of strands being secured to the upper in a fixed position at the lace region and the lower region, the plurality of strands being unsecured for a distance of at least five centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, and the plurality of strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape; wherein the plurality of strands is configured to lay against the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is placed in tension; and wherein the plurality of strands is configured to be spaced away from the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is compressed.