Patent ID: 7546698
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: A43B,A43D

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a textile layer at least partially formed from a plurality of yarns, the textile layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the textile layer defining a first area and a second area spaced apart by a distance of at least five centimeters, and the textile layer defining a third area and a fourth area also spaced apart by a distance of at least five centimeters; a first thread group having first thread sections that extend between the first area and the second area, the first thread sections lying adjacent to the first surface and substantially parallel to the first surface, and the first thread sections being separate from the yarns of the textile layer; and a second thread group having second thread sections extending between the third area and the fourth area, the second thread sections lying adjacent to the first surface and substantially parallel to the first surface, and the second thread sections being separate from the yarns of the textile layer, wherein at least some of the first thread sections are oriented to extend in a first direction, and at least some of the second thread sections cross the first thread sections and are oriented to extend in a second direction, and wherein the textile layer stretches at least ten percent prior to tensile failure, and the first thread sections and the second thread sections restrain stretch of the textile layer in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the first thread sections and the second thread sections.