Article of footwear with improved structure

Abstract

An article of footwear that includes a first envelope extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a bottom to a top end, the first envelope demarcating a volume for receiving a foot, the article of footwear including a second envelope extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a bottom to a top end, the second envelope demarcating a volume for receiving a foot, the first envelope and the second envelope being arranged opposite one another. In the area of at least one subdivision, the article of footwear includes an intermediate component deformable elastically and reversibly, the intermediate component being arranged between the first envelope and the second envelope.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . Article of footwear comprising:
 a first envelope extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a bottom to a top end, the first envelope demarcating a volume configured to receive a foot of a wearer;   a second envelope extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise from a bottom to a top end, the second envelope demarcating a volume configured to receive the foot of the wearer;   the first envelope and the second envelope being arranged opposite one another; and   in an area of at least one subdivision of the article of footwear, a reversibly elastically deformable intermediate component arranged between the first envelope and the second envelope.   
     
     
         19 . Article of footwear according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a reinforcement, the reinforcement comprising a bottom, at least one lateral arm extending from the bottom to a free end in a direction away from the bottom, the free end having a keeper, at least one medial arm extending from the bottom to a free end in a direction away from the bottom, the free end having a keeper, and at least one lace extending through the keepers.   
     
     
         20 . Article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the lateral arm and the medial arm are at least partially arranged between the first envelope and the second envelope, and in that the keepers are arranged outside of the first envelope and also outside of the second envelope.   
     
     
         21 . Article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the intermediate component is a tongue, the tongue being located in an area of the top ends of the first and second envelopes, the tongue extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and depthwise between a bottom and a top.   
     
     
         22 . Article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the rear end of the tongue is affixed to the first envelope and/or to the second envelope, a substantial portion of the remainder of the tongue being detached from the first envelope and/or from the second envelope.   
     
     
         23 . Article of footwear according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a lacing portion; and   the tongue extends beneath the lacing portion.   
     
     
         24 . Article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 the tongue comprises a layer of elastically deformable synthetic material.   
     
     
         25 . Article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 at least one of the first and second envelopes has folds in an area of the lateral side and/or of the medial side of the tongue.   
     
     
         26 . Article of footwear according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a sole assembly;   the intermediate component is a portion of the sole assembly, the portion of the sole assembly being located in an area of respective bottoms of the first and second envelopes; and   the portion of the sole assembly extends lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and depthwise between a bottom and a top.   
     
     
         27 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the intermediate component extends opposite the entirety of the bottoms of the first and second envelopes.   
     
     
         28 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the intermediate component extends opposite the bottoms of the first and second envelopes.   
     
     
         29 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the intermediate component is affixed to the first envelope and/or to the second envelope.   
     
     
         30 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 the intermediate component comprises a layer of elastically deformable synthetic material.   
     
     
         31 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a wear layer and at least one intermediate layer located between the wear layer and the bottoms of the envelopes; and   the wear layer and the intermediate layer form the sole assembly.   
     
     
         32 . Article of footwear according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a wear layer directly affixed to a bottom of an envelope.   
     
     
         33 . Article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 for the first envelope, at least a portion of the yarns comprises at least one hot melt filament.   
     
     
         34 . Article of footwear according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 for the second envelope, at least a portion of the yarns comprises at least one hot melt filament.