Article of Footwear with a Water Repelling Member

Abstract

An article of footwear with a gripping system is disclosed. The gripping system helps to enhance the wearer's ability to contact an athletic ball during kicking. The gripping system can be centered about a region where the wearer tends to kick the ball, and the gripping system can be distributed in a pattern that provides an even or symmetric contact area with the ball. Additionally, a water repelling member for the article of footwear is also disclosed. The water repelling member helps to repel water from the gripping system, especially horizontal water or water from splashing. The water repelling member is also breathable and helps to dissipate water vapor caused by heat evaporation of the foot.

1 . An article configured to cover a foot, comprising:
 an upper including a gripping system configured to contact a ball;   the gripping system including a first gripping member and a second gripping member; and   wherein a water repelling member corresponds to the gripping system.   
   
   
       2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping system includes between three and six gripping members. 
   
   
       3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping system includes seven gripping members. 
   
   
       4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the gripping system includes more than seven gripping members. 
   
   
       5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the water repelling member is disposed below the entire gripping system. 
   
   
       6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the water repelling member is associated with the entire gripping system. 
   
   
       7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the water repelling member is associated with a portion of the gripping system. 
   
   
       8 . An article configured to cover a foot, comprising:
 a water repelling member associated with the article;   a transition region of the article of footwear disposed between an outsole and an upper, the transition region including a bottom surface of the upper; and   wherein an outer periphery of the water repelling member is spaced from the transition region.   
   
   
       9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the upper includes a gripping system. 
   
   
       10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the gripping system includes a plurality of gripping members. 
   
   
       11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the water repelling member is disposed beneath a portion of the gripping system. 
   
   
       12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the water repelling member is disposed beneath the entirety of the gripping system. 
   
   
       13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the water repelling member is equal in size to the gripping system. 
   
   
       14 . An article configured to cover a foot, comprising:
 a gripping system including a plurality of gripping members;   a water repelling member corresponding to the gripping system;   the water repelling member comprising a first layer and a second layer; and   wherein one of the layers is a water resistant layer.   
   
   
       15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the second layer is a backing layer associated with an upper of the article of footwear. 
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein the second layer is attached directly to the upper. 
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the first layer is the water resistant layer. 
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the first layer is attached directly to the gripping system. 
   
   
       19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the gripping system includes a mesh. 
   
   
       20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein the water resistant layer comprises expanded Teflon.