A woven upper

Abstract

The present invention provides a woven upper formed of warp yarns and weft yarns comprising a first area that is elastic in at least one of the warp or weft direction. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns comprise at least 5% elastic yarns. The woven upper being characterised in that the elastic yarns are woven in tension. The upper may also comprise a second area having a different elasticity to the first area, wherein the the warp yarns and/or weft yarns of the second area comprise at least 5% fewer elastic yarns than the equivalent yarns of the first area. Advantageously the woven upper is woven using a jacquard machine. The present invention also provides a method of weaving the woven upper.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A woven upper formed of warp and weft yarns, comprising:
 a first area, wherein the first area comprises elastic yarns and non-elastic yarns;   wherein the warp yarns and/or the weft yarns of the first area comprise at least 5% elastic yarns,   wherein the elastic yarns are woven in tension.   
     
     
         27 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the warp yarns of the first area comprise at least 5% more elastic yarns than the weft yarns. 
     
     
         28 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the warp yarns of the first area comprise at least 20% elastic yarns. 
     
     
         29 . A woven upper according to  claim 28 , wherein the warp yarns of the first area comprise at least 50% elastic yarns. 
     
     
         30 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the weft yarns comprise at least 5% more elastic yarns than the warp yarns. 
     
     
         31 . A woven upper according to  claim 30 , wherein the weft yarns of the first area comprise at least 20% elastic yarns. 
     
     
         32 . A woven upper according to  claim 31 , wherein the weft yarns of the first area comprise at least 50% elastic yarns. 
     
     
         33 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , further comprising:
 a second area;   wherein the first area has a greater elasticity in the warp and/or the weft direction than the second area,   wherein the warp yarns and/or weft yarns of the second area comprise at least 5% fewer elastic yarns than the equivalent yarns of the first area,   wherein the elastic yarns are woven in tension.   
     
     
         34 . A woven upper according to  claim 33 , wherein the warp yarns and/or the weft yarns of the first area and/or the second area comprise a mixture of elastic yarns and non- elastic yarns. 
     
     
         35 . A woven upper according to  claim 33 , wherein the warp yarns and/or the weft yarns of the second area consist exclusively of non-elastic yarns. 
     
     
         36 . A woven upper according to  claim 33 , further comprising a third area having a different elasticity from the first area and the second area in the warp and/or weft directions. 
     
     
         37 . A woven upper according to  claim 33 , wherein during weaving of the upper the elastic yarns were extended from a rest length by at least 20%. 
     
     
         38 . A woven upper according to  claim 37 , wherein during weaving of the upper the elastic yarns were extended from a rest length by at least 100%. 
     
     
         39 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the non-elastic yarns of the upper comprise one or more of polyester, polyamide (basic or HT), polyester (basic or HT), polypropylene, PET, TPU, aramide (meta and para-aramide), HDPE, PTFE, PU, PVC, acrylic, carbon, viscose, acetate, modal, Tencel, cellulosic yarns, wool, silk, cotton, linen, yuta, ramie or hemp yarns. 
     
     
         40 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the warp yarns or the weft yarns of the first area consist exclusively of elastic yarns. 
     
     
         41 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein during weaving of the upper, the elastic yarns were extended from a rest length by at least 5%. 
     
     
         42 . A woven upper according to  claim 41 , wherein during weaving of the upper the elastic yarns were extended from a rest length by at least 50%. 
     
     
         43 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the elastic yarns of the upper comprise one or more of elastane, polyurethane, rubber, or silicone yarns. 
     
     
         44 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , wherein the first area and any second area comprise between 30 and 72 warp yarns/cm. 
     
     
         45 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of eyelets formed on a surface of the woven upper, the eyelets being formed of either the warp yarns or the weft yarns of the upper. 
     
     
         46 . A woven upper according to  claim 26 , further comprising a plurality of eyelets formed on a surface of the woven upper, the eyelets being formed of ribbon woven in the warp or weft of the upper. 
     
     
         47 . A method of weaving an upper formed of warp and weft yarns, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first warp yarn and a first weft yarn; and   weaving a woven upper having a first area woven from the first warp yarn and the first weft yarn;   wherein the first warp yarn and/or the first weft yarn comprise at least 5% elastic yarns,   wherein the first warp yarn and the first weft yarn comprise elastic yarns and non-elastic yarns,   wherein the elastic yarns are woven in tension.   
     
     
         48 . A method of weaving the upper according to  claim 47 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a second warp yarn and a second weft yarn; and   weaving the woven upper having a second area woven from the second warp yarn and the second weft yarn;   wherein the second warp yarn and/or the second weft yarn comprises at least 5% fewer elastic yarns than the equivalent first yarn,   wherein the elastic yarns are woven in tension.   
     
     
         49 . A method of weaving the upper according to  claim 48 , wherein the first area and the second area are woven with different patterns so that they can be visually differentiated. 
     
     
         50 . A method of weaving the upper according to  claim 47 , wherein the upper is woven using a jacquard machine.