Shoe

Abstract

Described is a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe. The shoe can include a sole and a shoe upper. The shoe upper can include (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion. The intermediate portion can include a portion uncoated by a first coating portion on the lateral portion and a second coating portion on the medial portion.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe upper for a shoe, the shoe upper comprising:
 a. a lateral portion comprising a first coating portion applied to a first base fabric portion;   b. a medial portion comprising a second coating portion applied to a second base fabric portion; and   c. an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion and uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion, wherein the first coating portion is adapted to modify a stiffness of the first base fabric portion of the lateral portion to be at least 2 times higher than a stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion, and wherein the second coating portion is adapted to modify a stiffness of the second base fabric portion of the medial portion to be at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , wherein the stiffness of at least one of the medial portion and the lateral portion is between 2 and 50 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one forefoot portion with a stiffness at least equal to the stiffness of the medial portion. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe upper of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heel portion comprising a third coating portion applied to a third base fabric portion, the third coating being adapted to modify the stiffness of the third base fabric portion. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first coating portion or the second coating portion comprises a surface structure configured to facilitate grip of the shoe upper relative to a ball. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lateral portion is adapted to extend from a lateral junction of the upper with the sole to the intermediate portion;   the medial portion is adapted to extend from a medial junction of the upper with the sole to the intermediate portion; and the intermediate portion extends at least partly on a dorsal portion of the shoe upper.   
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the intermediate portion is between 20% and 50% of a length of the shoe upper; and
 a width of the intermediate portion is between 10% and 60% of the width of the shoe upper.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one continuous one-piece layer at least partially covering the lateral portion and at least partially covering the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a knitted layer. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the knitted layer is knitted in one piece and extends over at least 80% of a surface area of the shoe upper. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 9 , the knitted layer further comprising a first area having a first knit structure and a second area having a second knit structure different from the first knit structure. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a sock arranged at least partially inside the shoe upper. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a collar surrounding a shoe opening; and   a holding tab proximate a junction between the intermediate portion and the collar, wherein a first end of the holding tab is attached to the shoe upper, and a second end of the holding tab is attached to the sock.   
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the holding tab is attached to the shoe upper at a top of the intermediate portion. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a collar portion connecting to the intermediate portion and at least partially surrounding a foot opening, the collar portion being uncoated by the first coating portion and the second coating portion;   wherein when the shoe upper is independent from the sole and arranged on a flat surface, a majority of the collar portion lies above and out of contact with the flat surface.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the collar portion holds a portion of a rim of the foot opening of the shoe at least partially upright to keep from collapsing into a position obstructing a portion of the foot opening and to facilitate introduction of a wearer's foot into the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the arrangement of the first coating portion and the second coating portion contribute to the collar portion maintaining its shape. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe upper of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate portion is configured to deform so as to permit introduction of the foot in the shoe and extraction of the foot out of the shoe.