Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a tensile strand with a cover layer

摘要

An article of footwear may have a sole structure and an upper that includes a foundation element, a strand, and a cover layer. The strand is positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the foundation element and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The cover layer extends along the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, and the strand is positioned between the cover layer and the foundation element. In some configurations, the cover layer has a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand is substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface are exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer.

主权项

1. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
securing a plurality of separated sections of strand along an exterior surface of an upper of the article of footwear; wherein the step of securing the plurality of separated sections of strand further includes the steps of: simultaneously laying each separated section of strand and an associated separated section of cover layer against the exterior surface of the upper of the article of footwear, each of the plurality of separated sections of strand having the configuration of a one-dimensional material, and each separated section of strand being positioned between the associated separated section of cover layer and the exterior surface, and each separated section of strand being substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a distance of at least five centimeters; and bonding each associated separated section of cover layer to the exterior surface to secure each separated section of strand to the upper.