Function screen printing on upper

Abstract

Described are shoes, in particular a sports shoe, wherein at least a portion of an upper of the shoe includes a first layer and a functional second layer, wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer.

1 .- 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A shoe upper comprising:
 a first layer comprising an unprinted tensile strength; and   a functional second layer comprising at least one gap;   wherein the functional second layer is joined to the first layer so that the combined layers comprise a composite tensile strength;   wherein the composite tensile strength of the combined layers is at least double relative to the unprinted tensile strength of the first layer; and   wherein the combined layers are elastically deformable by at least 30% in at least one direction.   
     
     
         28 . The shoe upper of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of a length or a width of the at least one gap is 1 mm or less. 
     
     
         29 . The shoe upper of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one gap is shaped so that at least one edge of the at least one gap is arranged parallel to an expected force line. 
     
     
         30 . The shoe upper of  claim 27 , wherein the functional second layer comprising the at least one gap is joined to a first zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         31 . The shoe upper of  claim 30 , wherein the first layer comprises a second zone, wherein another functional second layer comprising at least one isolated layer area is joined to the second zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         32 . The shoe upper of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one isolated layer area comprises at least one dimension ranging from 0.5 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
         33 . The shoe upper of  claim 32 , wherein the functional second layer comprises at least two isolated layer areas, wherein a distance between the at least two isolated layer areas is 2 mm or less. 
     
     
         34 . The shoe upper of  claim 32 , wherein the second zone forms a gradual transition between the first zone of the first layer and an unprinted zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         35 . The shoe upper of  claim 34 , further comprising a transition zone between the at least one gap in the first zone and the at least one isolated layer area in the second zone. 
     
     
         36 . The shoe upper of  claim 30 , wherein the first layer further comprises a zone that is free of the functional second layer. 
     
     
         37 . The shoe upper of  claim 27 , wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer. 
     
     
         38 . The shoe upper of  claim 37 , wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer via a screen printing process or an ink-jet printing process. 
     
     
         39 . A shoe upper comprising:
 a first layer comprising an unprinted tensile strength; and   a functional second layer comprising at least one isolated layer area;   wherein the functional second layer is joined to the first layer so that the combined layers comprise a composite tensile strength;   wherein the composite tensile strength of the combined layers is increased relative to the unprinted tensile strength of the first layer; and   wherein the combined layers are elastically deformable by at least 30% in at least one direction.   
     
     
         40 . The shoe upper of  claim 39 , wherein the at least one isolated layer area comprises at least one dimension ranging from 0.5 mm to 2 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The shoe upper of  claim 39 , wherein the functional second layer comprises at least two isolated layer areas, wherein a distance between the at least two isolated layer areas is 2 mm or less. 
     
     
         42 . The shoe upper of  claim 39 , wherein the functional second layer comprising the at least one isolated layer area is joined to a first zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         43 . The shoe upper of  claim 42 , wherein the first layer comprises a second zone, wherein another functional second layer comprising at least one gap is joined to the second zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         44 . The shoe upper of  claim 43 , wherein at least one of a length or a width of the at least one gap is 1 mm or less. 
     
     
         45 . The shoe upper of  claim 43 , wherein the at least one gap is shaped so that at least one edge of the at least one gap is arranged parallel to an expected force line. 
     
     
         46 . The shoe upper of  claim 43 , wherein the first zone forms a gradual transition between the second zone of the first layer and an unprinted zone of the first layer. 
     
     
         47 . The shoe upper of  claim 46 , further comprising a transition zone between the at least one isolated layer area in the first zone and the at least one gap in the second zone. 
     
     
         48 . The shoe upper of  claim 40 , wherein the first layer further comprises a zone that is free of the functional second layer. 
     
     
         49 . The shoe upper of  claim 41 , wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer. 
     
     
         50 . The shoe upper of  claim 49 , wherein the functional second layer is directly printed onto the first layer via a screen printing process or an ink-jet printing process.