Athletic shoe having a segmented upper

Abstract

An athletic shoe having an improved upper, and method of manufacture are presented herein. The upper is generally comprised of a forefoot panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a forward area of a wearer's foot, a mid-section panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a midfoot area of the wearer's foot, and a rear panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a rearfoot area of the wearer's foot. The upper further comprises a first expansion joint joining the forefoot panel to the mid-section panel, and a second expansion joint joining the mid-section panel to the rearfoot panel.

1 . An article of footwear having a sole and an upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper is comprised of:
 a forefoot panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a forward area of a wearer's foot;   a mid-section panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a midfoot area of the wearer's foot;   a first expansion joint joining the forefoot panel to the mid-section panel;   a rearfoot panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a rear area of the wearer's foot; and   a second expansion joint joining the mid-section panel to the rearfoot panel;   wherein the first expansion joint and the second expansion joint are formed of a material with a greater stretch characteristic than that of the forefoot panel, mid-section panel, and rearfoot panel.   
   
   
       2 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints comprises a two-way expandable material. 
   
   
       3 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints comprises a four-way expandable material. 
   
   
       4 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints comprises a spandex material. 
   
   
       5 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints comprises a spandex material having a polyurethane coating. 
   
   
       6 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein an end of the forefoot panel is spaced about 3 to 4 millimeters from a first end of the mid-section panel and a second end of the mid-section panel is spaced about three to four millimeters from an end of the rearfoot panel. 
   
   
       7 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints is comprised of a material having a stretch retention of less than about 15%. 
   
   
       8 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints is comprised of a material having a stretch retention of less than about 5%. 
   
   
       9 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints is entirely on a medial side of the article of footwear. 
   
   
       10 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints is entirely on a lateral side of the article of footwear. 
   
   
       11 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 1 , wherein one of the expansion joints extends from a medial side of the article of footwear to a lateral side of the article of footwear. 
   
   
       12 . An article of footwear having a sole and an upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper is comprised of:
 a first panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a forward area of the wearer's foot;   a second panel extending over a portion of the sole corresponding to a rear area of the wearer's foot with respect to the first panel, wherein the first and second panels are formed of a material having a stretch retention of greater than about 15%; and   an expansion joint joining the first panel and second panel, wherein the expansion joint is formed of a material having a stretch retention of less than about 15%.   
   
   
       13 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the expansion joint comprises a two-way expandable material. 
   
   
       14 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the expansion joint comprises a four-way expandable material. 
   
   
       15 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the expansion joint comprises a spandex material. 
   
   
       16 . An article of footwear having a sole and an upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper is comprised of:
 a stretch material having a stretch retention of less than about 15%; and   a non-stretch material overlaying the stretch material, wherein the non-stretch material has a stretch retention of greater than about 15%.   
   
   
       17 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stretch material is a two-way expandable material. 
   
   
       18 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stretch material is a four-way expandable material. 
   
   
       19 . An article of footwear as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stretch material is a spandex material. 
   
   
       20 . A method for manufacture of an upper for an article of footwear, comprising:
 securing a portion of a first expansion joint to a portion of a forefoot panel;   securing a mid-section panel to a portion of the first expansion joint and a first portion of a second expansion joint; and   securing a second expansion joint to a portion of the mid-section panel; and   securing a rearfoot panel to a second portion of the second expansion.   
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the panels are secured respectively by being sewn together. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the panels are secured respectively by an RF welding technique. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein the panels are secured respectively using a zig-zag stitch technique. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 20 , further comprising attaching the upper to a sole. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein a portion of an end of the forefoot panel is spaced about three to four millimeters from a portion of a first end of the mid-section panel, and a portion of a second end of the mid-section panel is spaced about three to four millimeters from a portion of an end of the rearfoot panel.