Nike, Inc.

James Y Yoo

Robert M Bruce

Eun Kyung Lee

Chikao Ichikawa

Michihiro Ichikawa

Thomas G Bell

Troy C Lindner

Bryan K Youngs

Yoon Jeong Choi

Yuchung K Chen

Rachel M Savage

Nick S Frank

Bryan P Conrad

Megan Foley

Adam R Farmer

Oliver Mclachian

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.

Woven footwear upper

Shoe

A method of manufacturing a braided footwear upper is provided. The method includes braiding a two-layer, single-tube structure with a first end that couples a first braided layer to a second braided layer, and second end that couples the first braided layer to the second braided layer of the tubular braided structure. The first end is proximate the second end. At least one yarn from the first end, and at least one yarn from the second end are braided with at least one draw yarn. The draw yarn is braided to be easily removable, such that the first end is selectively de-coupled from the second end. When the draw yarn is removed, the double-layer tubular braided structure is expandable to form a larger diameter tubular braided structure.

Double layer, single tube braid for footwear upper

Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The article of footwear may comprise a sole and a braided upper comprising a toe portion having a toe seam, a heel portion comprising a seamless braided structure, and a throat portion. The toe portion may comprise a base yarn. The throat portion may comprise a stretch yarn. Additionally, the heel portion may comprise both the stretch yarn and the base yarn.

Braided articles and methods for their manufacture

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

James Y Yoo