Active stance last

Abstract

An article of footwear, a method of making the footwear, and an active last for forming the footwear are described. An example active last may comprise a heel portion disposed at a first end. The active last may comprise a forefoot portion disposed adjacent a second end, opposite the first end. At least a portion of the forefoot portion may have a curvilinear shape that curves upwardly from a horizontal axis to model an active stance.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An active last for forming footwear comprising:
 a heel portion disposed at a first end; and   a forefoot portion disposed adjacent a second end, opposite the first end,   wherein at least a portion of the forefoot portion has a curvilinear shape that curves upwardly from a horizontal axis to model an active stance, and   wherein an angle of the forefoot portion from the horizontal axis is greater than 25 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The active last of  claim 1 , wherein the footwear is configured for at least one particular activity and an angle of the forefoot portion from the horizontal axis is dependent upon the at least one particular activity. 
     
     
         3 . The active last of  claim 1 , further comprising an arch along a bottom side of one or more of the heel portion or the forefoot portion, and wherein a curve of the arch is based on the active stance. 
     
     
         4 . The active last of  claim 1 , wherein an angle of the forefoot portion from the horizontal axis is from about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The active last of  claim 1 , wherein an angle of the forefoot portion from horizontal axis is about 50 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The active last of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft extending from a top side of the heel portion for modeling a leg, wherein a length of the shaft allows for forming an upper to cover an ankle of a wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The active last of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft is canted based on the active stance. 
     
     
         8 . The active last of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft us canted from −20 degrees to +20 degrees from an axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. 
     
     
         9 . The active last of  claim 1 , wherein a size of one or more of the heel portion or the forefoot portion is adjusted for forming a compression fit of an upper using a stretch material. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising a front portion for enclosing a forefoot, wherein the front portion has a curvilinear shape that curves upwardly in a resting position from a horizontal axis to fit an active stance of a wearer, wherein the upper is configured to resist movement from the resting position; and   a flexible sole coupled to the upper,   wherein an angle of the front portion from the horizontal axis is greater than 25 degrees.   
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the footwear is configured for at least one particular activity and the active stance is dependent upon the at least one particular activity. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the footwear is configured for at least one particular activity and an angle of the front portion from the horizontal axis is dependent upon the at least one particular activity. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the front portion comprise a plurality of flexible tubes disposed in a fabric side of the front portion. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein an angle of the front portion from the horizontal axis is from about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein an angle of the front portion from the horizontal axis is about 50 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the upper comprises a back portion having a top side and a bottom side, and wherein the top side is configured to extend above an ankle of a wearer. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the top side is canted based on the active stance. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the shaft us canted from −20 degrees to +20 degrees from an axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 10 , wherein the upper comprises a plurality of fabric zones, each of the plurality of fabric zones comprising a corresponding material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of making footwear comprising:
 forming an upper comprising a front portion, wherein in a resting position the front portion has a curvilinear shape, based on a curved forefoot of an active last used to form the upper, that curves upwardly from a horizontal axis to fit an active stance of a wearer, wherein the upper is configured to resist movement from the resting position; and   coupling a flexible sole to the upper,   wherein an angle of the front portion from the horizontal axis is from about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees.