Patent ID: 11925237
Assignee: NIKE, INC.
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC A  B | IPC A  B

Claim 10:
11. An article of footwear comprising:
a sole structure;
an upper coupled to the sole structure and comprising a toe portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion; and
a layer disposed on the upper, wherein the layer terminates at a junction of the upper and the sole structure, wherein the layer includes a first material comprising a first hardness, a second material comprising a second hardness, and a third material comprising a third hardness, wherein the second material is harder than the first material, and wherein the third material is harder than the first material and the second material,
wherein the toe portion of the upper comprises a first region and a second region disposed farther toward the heel portion than the first region, wherein the first region has the first material disposed thereon, wherein the second region has a first mixture of the first material and the second material disposed thereon, and wherein the first mixture is harder than the first material,
wherein the midfoot portion of the upper comprises a third region and a fourth region disposed farther toward the heel portion than the third region, wherein the third region has the second material disposed thereon, wherein the fourth region has a second mixture of the second material and the third material disposed thereon, and wherein the second mixture is harder than the second material and the first mixture,
wherein the heel portion of the upper comprises a fifth region and a sixth region disposed farther toward the heel portion than the fifth region, wherein the fifth region has a third mixture of the second material and the third material disposed thereon, wherein the third mixture is harder than the second mixture and softer than the third material, and wherein the sixth region has the third material disposed thereon, and
wherein a hardness of the layer is gradated, and the layer has a continuous and even gradation that extends along the entire length of the upper.