Patent Description:
Traditional shoes are often made from textiles or materials that have uppers that are cut to a desired shape and stitched together. Newer methods also now include forming shoe uppers from a knitted textile. Still newer methods involve braiding a tubular textile for use as the shoe upper. Aspects herein relate to braiding tubular structures that in some aspects are used in articles of footwear. Traditional shoes often also have a separate lace closure system to tighten or secure the footwear to a user's foot. Aspects herein relate to a braided upper for footwear that has an integrally braided lace closure system. <CIT> describes a patterned plexus of filaments, a method of producing and articles containing patterned filaments. <CIT> describes an article of footwear having a flat knit upper construction or other upper construction.

Aspects herein is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:.

Aspects described herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. Braiding offers many advantages over knitting or weaving such as, for example, the reduction of frictional forces applied to the yarns used in the creation of the braided structure, the ability to use high dtex (denier) yarns (e.g., between <NUM> dtex to <NUM> dtex (800D to 20000D), between <NUM> dtex to <NUM> dtex (1000D to 10000D), between <NUM> dtex to <NUM> dtex (1000D to 5000D), and the like), the ability to combine different types of yarns with non-yarn materials such as, for example, rubber strands, ropes, metals, and the like.

Braiding is a process of interlacing or interweaving three or more yarns diagonally to a product axis in order to obtain a thicker, wider or stronger product or in order to cover (overbraid) some profile. Interlacing diagonally means that the yarns make an angle with the product axis, which can be between <NUM>° and <NUM>° but is usually in the range of <NUM>° - <NUM>°. This angle is called the braiding angle. Braids can be linear products (ropes), hollow tubular shells or solid articles (one, two or three-dimensional textiles) with constant or variable cross-section, and of closed or open appearance.

As used herein, the yarns, filaments, or other materials used for braiding may be formed of different materials having different properties. The properties that a particular yarn or other will impart to an area of a braided component partially depend upon the materials that form the yarn. Cotton, for example, provides a softer product, natural aesthetics, and biodegradability. Elastane and stretch polyester each provide substantial stretchability and fast recovery, with stretch polyester also providing recyclability. Rayon provides high luster and moisture absorption. Wool provides high moisture absorption in addition to having insulating properties and biodegradability. Nylon is a durable and abrasion-resistant material with relatively high strength. Polyester is a hydrophobic material that also provides relatively high durability. In addition to materials, other aspects of the yarn selected for formation of a braided component may affect the properties of the braided component. For example, a yarn may be a monofilament or a multifilament. The yarn may also include separate filaments that are each formed of different materials. In addition, the yarn may include filaments that are each formed of two or more different materials, such as a bicomponent yarn with filaments having a sheath-core configuration or two halves formed of different materials.

As stated above, braided articles can be formed as tubular braids on a braiding machine. Different types of braiding machines such as a radial, axial or lace are available. One example of a lace braiding machine can be found in Ichikawa, <CIT> entitled "Torchon Lace Machine" and <CIT> entitled "Torchon Lace Machine,". The upper portion of an exemplary braiding machine <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. Braiding machine <NUM> includes a plurality of spools <NUM>. In some configurations, the spools <NUM> carry the yarn <NUM> selected for braiding. The yarns <NUM> from individual spools are selectively interlaced or intertwined with one another by the braiding machine <NUM>. This interlacing or intertwining of strands forms a braided article <NUM>, as further described below. Each of the spools <NUM> is supported and constrained by a track <NUM> about the circumference of the braiding machine <NUM>. Each spool <NUM> has a tensioner <NUM> (shown schematically in <FIG>) that operates, along with a roller <NUM>, to maintain a desired tension in the yarns <NUM> and the braided article <NUM>. As the yarns <NUM> extend upwardly, they pass through a braid ring <NUM> that is generally considered the braiding point. The braiding point is defined as the point or area where yarns <NUM> consolidate to form braided article <NUM>. At or near braid ring <NUM>, the distance between yarns <NUM> from different spools <NUM> diminishes. As the distance between yarns <NUM> is reduced, the yarns <NUM> intermesh (i.e. interlace) or braid with one another in a tighter fashion and are pulled linearly by roller <NUM>.

As best seen in <FIG>, each spool <NUM> is carried and supported by a carriage <NUM>. Each spool <NUM> is movable about the circumference of the track <NUM> by rotor metals <NUM>. As described on the Torchon Lace Machine referenced previously, and disclosed in <CIT>, each of the rotor metals <NUM> can be moved clockwise or counterclockwise. In contrast to radial braiding machines or fully non-jacquard machines, in a lace braiding machine, each rotor metal is not intermeshed with the adjacent rotor metal. Instead, each rotor metal <NUM> may be selectively independently movable. As can be seen by comparing <FIG>, as the rotor metals <NUM> rotate, they move the carriages <NUM>, and thus the spools <NUM> supported on the carriages <NUM> by moving them about the circumference of the track <NUM>. The braiding machine <NUM> is programmable such that the individual rotor metals <NUM> rotate the carriages <NUM>, and thus the spools <NUM> to move them about the circumference of the track <NUM>. As an individual spool <NUM> moves relative to an adjacent spool <NUM>, the yarns <NUM> carried on the spools <NUM> interlace to create a desired braid pattern. The movement of spools <NUM> may be pre-programmed to form particular shapes, designs, and to specify thread densities of a braided component or portions of a braided component. By varying the rotation and location of individual spools <NUM> various braid configurations may be formed. Such an exemplary braiding machine may form intricate braid configurations including both jacquard and non-jacquard braid configurations or geometries. Such configurations and geometries offer design possibilities beyond those offered by other textiles, such as knitting or weaving.

In some aspects, the size of braiding machine <NUM> may be varied. It should be understood that the braiding machine <NUM> shown and described is for illustrative purposes only. In some aspects, braiding machine <NUM> may be able to accept, for example, <NUM> carriages, although other sizes of braiding machines, carrying different numbers of carriages and spools is possible and is within the scope of this disclosure. By varying the number of carriages and spools within a braiding machine, the density of the braided articles as well as the size of the braided component may be altered.

One aspect of the technology described herein is related to a braided article of footwear comprising a sole and a unitary braided upper formed from a first yarn and coupled to the sole. The braided upper has a medial side, a lateral side opposite the medial side, where each of the lateral and medial sides has an underfoot edge proximate the sole. The medial and lateral sides have a toe portion, a heel portion, a throat portion, and a midfoot portion. The braided upper further includes at least one braided lace formed from a second yarn different from the first yarn, the second yarn being a high-performance yarn, the braided lace integrated with the braided upper, at a lace integration portion of the braided upper. In some aspects, the braided upper includes at least two braided laces integrated with the braided upper at each edge of the throat of the upper.

In one aspect, a braided article of footwear is provided comprising a sole and a braided upper. The braided article of footwear may also include at least one braided lace that is integrated with the braided upper at a lace integration portion. The throat portion is defined by at least a first edge and an opposite second edge spaced from the first edge. The braided upper comprises a first plurality of arcuate braided eyelets formed along the first edge of the throat portion and a second plurality of arcuate braided eyelets formed along the second edge of the throat portion. Each of the first plurality of arcuate braided eyelets and the second plurality of arcuate braided eyelets are contiguously braided with the upper.

In one aspect, a method is provided for forming a braided article of footwear. In one aspect, the method includes braiding a unitary braided upper with a first yarn, the braided upper having at least a main body and independently braiding at least one braided lace with a second yarn different from the first yarn, the second yarn being a high performance yarn, and braiding the at least one braided lace while braiding the unitary upper, the method further comprising forming the main body of the unitary braided upper having a toe portion , a heel portion, a medial midfoot portion and a lateral midfoot portion between the toe portion and the heel portion, a throat portion between the medial midfoot portion and the lateral midfoot portion, and an underfoot portion, affixing a sole to the underfoot portion of the braided upper. At a lace integration portion of the unitary braided upper, the method includes integrating the at least one braided lace into the unitary braided upper.

Turning now to <FIG> and <FIG>, a top view and a perspective view of an exemplary braided upper <NUM> are shown, provided in accordance with aspects herein. The braided upper <NUM> has a medial side <NUM> and a lateral side <NUM>. In addition, the medial side <NUM> and the lateral side <NUM> may further be defined as having a toe portion <NUM>, a heel portion <NUM> and a mid-foot portion <NUM>. Further, the braided upper <NUM> includes a defined throat portion <NUM> having a medial edge <NUM> and a lateral edge <NUM> that project from a throat base <NUM>. The braided upper <NUM> further has a collar portion <NUM>. The medial side <NUM>, lateral side <NUM>, toe portion <NUM>, heel portion <NUM>, mid-foot portion <NUM>, throat portion <NUM> and collar portion <NUM> may be collectively referred to as the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM>. The braid pattern of main body <NUM> is shown schematically in <FIG>, for simplicity. Any of a number of braid patterns are suitable for the main body <NUM>.

The braided upper <NUM> also includes a first braided lace <NUM> and a second braided lace <NUM>. First braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM> are braided independently, and contiguously, to the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM>. If the braided upper <NUM> is braided in the direction from the toe portion <NUM> toward the heel portion <NUM>, first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM> are braided on the same braiding machine (such as braiding machine <NUM>) and at the same time as main body <NUM>. As the braiding of main body <NUM> advances to the throat portion <NUM>, the first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM> are braided into the main body <NUM> at the base <NUM> of the throat portion <NUM> at a lace integration portion <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may also, in some aspects, include integrally braided eyelets <NUM> (shown schematically in <FIG> and <FIG>) along the medial edge <NUM> and lateral edge <NUM> of the throat portion <NUM>. In the worn condition, first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM> may be laced through the eyelets <NUM> in any of a number of lacing patterns, as further discussed below with reference to <FIG>. According to the claimed invention, main body <NUM> is braided with a base yarn, and the first and second braided laces <NUM>, <NUM> are braided with a high performance yarn. The main body <NUM> may also have high performance yarns and base yarns braided together to form the main body <NUM> to add structural integrity and support to the braided upper. For example, the high performance yarns may include high tenacity yarns that have higher strength than the base yarns such as carbon fiber yarns, aramid fiber yarns, liquid crystal polymer yarns, high strength nylon yarns, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the high performance yarns in accordance with aspects herein may, for example, be high dtex (denier) yarns ranging between, <NUM> dtex and <NUM> dtex (800D and 20000D), <NUM> dtex and <NUM> dtex (1000D and 10000D), <NUM> and <NUM> dtex (1000D and 9000D), <NUM> dtex and <NUM> dtex (1000D and 5000D), and the like. Further, the high performance yarns in accordance with aspects herein may further include, for example, composite yarns that may include filaments that are each formed of two or more different materials, such as in a bicomponent yarn with filaments having a sheath-core configuration or two halves formed of different material. The composite yarns may include, for example, a polyester core, a nylon core, or any of the high tenacity material yarns described above as the core and a thermoplastic material sheath, such as, for example, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a silicone based thermoplastic material, and the like. The bicomponent yarns in accordance with aspects herein may be further processed, for example, to create locked down areas for the article of footwear by selectively applying heat to melt the thermoplastic material only in certain areas of the article of footwear where the composite yarn is present (e.g., using a masking technique to protect other areas). While not shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the main body <NUM> may include an eyelet structure incorporated as an overlay attached to the main body <NUM> along the medial edge <NUM> and lateral edge <NUM> of the throat portion <NUM>.

<FIG> show an additional aspect with braided upper <NUM> shown on a last <NUM>. In one aspect, the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> is braided in a braid pattern with a base yarn <NUM> in addition to a high performance yarn <NUM>. In some aspects, the high performance yarn <NUM> is also used to integrally braid eyelets <NUM> along the throat portion <NUM>. The eyelets <NUM> may be contiguous with the braid pattern of the high performance yarn, such that tension on the eyelets <NUM> is transferred to (and through) the remainder of the braid pattern of the high performance yarn. As shown in <FIG>, the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM> are integrally braided with the main body <NUM> of the upper, and are incorporated into the main body <NUM> at the lace integration portion <NUM>. Again, the first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM> may be independently braided at the same time as main body <NUM> is being braided, and on the same braiding machine (such as braiding machine <NUM>). The braiding of the first and second laces <NUM>, <NUM> continues independently from the main body <NUM>, until reaching the lace integration portion <NUM>, at which point the first and second laces <NUM>, <NUM> are integrated into the main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The term independently braided generally refers to the simultaneous braiding of two independent braid structures by one braiding machine during one braiding operation. At the lace integration portion <NUM>, the independent braid structures (the main body <NUM>, the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM>) are merged and/or inter-braided. In aspects, the braiding operation may also start at the toe portion <NUM> and proceed to the heel portion <NUM>. In such a case, the braided upper <NUM> is braided until the lace integration portion <NUM> is reached, at which point the remainder of the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> is independently braided from the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM>. In other words, the remainder of main body <NUM> of braided upper is braided at the same time, but independently from, the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM>, such that the first and second braided laces <NUM>, <NUM> are integral with the main body <NUM>, but project separately from the main body <NUM>. In some aspects, a high performance yarn (which may be the same as, or different from, the high performance yarn <NUM>) is used to braid the first and second laces <NUM>, <NUM>. <FIG> shows the first and second braided laces <NUM>, <NUM> in the as-worn condition in one example of a lace pattern, crisscrossing through eyelets <NUM>.

In some aspects, the braided framework for the main body <NUM> of braided upper is contiguously braided with the eyelets <NUM> along the throat portion <NUM>. In some aspects, the eyelets <NUM> are braided independently from the main body <NUM>. In other words, the eyelets <NUM> may be on a separate plane or braided layer. Each braided eyelet comprises an exit location <NUM> (also referred to as the first location), and an entry location <NUM> (also referred to as the second location). An individual braided eyelet <NUM>, for example, is contiguously braided with the main braided layer forming the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> and as part of the braided framework of the main body <NUM>, up to the edge (either medial edge <NUM> or lateral edge <NUM>) of the throat portion <NUM> of the braided upper <NUM>. Once the braided framework reaches the edge of the throat portion <NUM>, the eyelet <NUM> continues to be braided separately/independently from the throat starting at exit location <NUM> for a predetermined length and then is reincorporated into the main body <NUM> of the braided upper <NUM> at an entry location <NUM>. In other words, the eyelets <NUM> briefly form a second braided layer at the medial edge <NUM> and lateral edge <NUM> of the unitary braided upper <NUM>.

In one aspect, the first and second braided laces <NUM>, <NUM> cooperate with the high performance yarns <NUM> in the braid pattern of the main body <NUM> to add tension across the braided upper <NUM> in a controlled pattern as the high performance yarns <NUM> of the main body are pulled by the first and second braided laces <NUM>, <NUM> though the eyelets <NUM>.

While shown at the base of the throat portion <NUM>, the lace integration portion <NUM> may, in some aspects, be located at different points along the main body <NUM>. Further, the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM> could be any of a variety of lengths based on the desired lacing pattern, the type of footwear for which braided upper <NUM> is used, etc..

In some aspects, the space or gap <NUM> between the lateral edges of throat portion <NUM> may be closed by providing a tongue element (not shown), or a braided elastic portion covering a top portion of a wearer's foot when the braided article of footwear is worn by a wearer. The braided elastic portion may comprise, for example, elastic yarns to aid in the donning and doffing of the article of footwear, and at the same time, to aid in securing the article of footwear on the last <NUM> or a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn. In some aspects, a sole <NUM> may be coupled to the braided upper <NUM> along a joint edge <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, to complete the article of footwear.

Although the braided framework shown in <FIG> forms a crisscross pattern profile other pattern profiles, such as, for example, linear, curvilinear, organic, geometric, logos, and the like, are possible and are within the scope of this disclosure.

Turning now to <FIG>, a method <NUM> of braiding a braided upper (such as the braided upper <NUM> of <FIG>) through the interbraiding of at least an independently braided lace and a main body is provided in accordance with aspects herein. At block 902B, at least one lace and a portion of the main body of a footwear upper are independently braided. As described above, this independent braiding may be done on the same braiding machine (such as braiding machine <NUM>) using a portion of the spools <NUM> to braid the main body (such as main body <NUM>) and a different portion of the spools <NUM> to braid the at least one lace (such as either first braided lace <NUM> or second braided lace <NUM>. Each of the at least one lace and the main body portion are braided with different yarns. The at least one lace is braided with a high performance yarn <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, at a lace integration portion (such as lace integration portion <NUM>), the braiding machine <NUM> may be configured to inter-braid the independently braided at least one lace and the main body portion, joining the at least one lace to the main body portion through the braiding process. The lace integration portion may occur in any portion of the braided upper <NUM>. In one aspect, the lace integration portion is located at, or near, the base of the throat portion (such as throat portion <NUM>). At block <NUM>, the method includes finishing or completing the braiding of the braided footwear upper.

<FIG> and <FIG> show an additional aspect somewhat similar to <FIG>. <FIG> shows a top plan view of a portion of braided upper <NUM> in one aspect. Like the braided upper of <FIG>, the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> is braided in a braid pattern with a base yarn <NUM> in addition to a high performance yarn <NUM>. The high performance yarn <NUM> may be integrally braided with the base yarn <NUM>, or in some aspects may be woven with the base yarn <NUM>. In some aspects the first braided lace <NUM> and the second braided lace <NUM> are each formed from six individual high performance yarns <NUM> that are woven into the base yarn <NUM> in the main body <NUM> of upper <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, at the lace integration portion <NUM>, the individual high performance yarns <NUM> are braided together to form first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM>. <FIG> also shows a third braided lace <NUM> and a fourth braided lace <NUM>. In some aspects the third braided lace <NUM> and the fourth braided lace <NUM> are each formed from four individual high performance yarns <NUM> that are woven into the base yarn <NUM> in the main body <NUM> of upper <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, at the lace integration portion <NUM> just above first braided lace <NUM> and second braided lace <NUM>, the individual high performance yarns <NUM> are braided together to form third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>. Having two braided laces on each side of throat portion <NUM> helps to reduce pressure points along the throat portion to distribute the force applied to the main body <NUM> by first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>. The high performance yarns <NUM> woven into the main body <NUM> and braided into first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> form a containment zone that allows added lateral foot stability with a minimal upper structure. The integrally braided first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> provide support for upper <NUM> in the direction of shear forces generated in the worn condition, such as when a user is changing direction laterally ("cutting"). As the first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are tightened, the performance yarns <NUM> woven into main body <NUM> tighten around the user's foot, along with the surrounding braided portion formed by base yarns <NUM>. This is an advantage of a braided structure that allows forces delivered in one portion to be distributed across the entire braided structure, effectively allowing the main body <NUM> to tighten across a user's foot when worn. In some aspects, the high performance yarn <NUM> is also used to integrally braid eyelets <NUM> along the throat portion <NUM>. Each of first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are integrated into the main body <NUM> of the upper, and are incorporated into the main body <NUM> at the lace integration portion <NUM>. Again, first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> may be independently braided at the same time as main body <NUM> is being braided, and on the same braiding machine (such as braiding machine <NUM>). The braiding of first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> continues independently from the main body <NUM>, until reaching the lace integration portion <NUM>, at which point the high performance yarn strands <NUM> of first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are integrated into the main body <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The term independently braided generally refers to the simultaneous braiding of two independent braid structures by one braiding machine during one braiding operation. At the lace integration portion <NUM>, the independent braid structures (the main body <NUM>, first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>) are merged, woven and/or inter-braided. In aspects, the braiding operation may also start at the toe portion <NUM> and proceed to the heel portion <NUM>. In such a case, the braided upper <NUM> is braided with base yarn <NUM> and the high performance yarn strands <NUM> of first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are merged, woven and/or inter-braided with the main body <NUM> until the lace integration portion <NUM> is reached, at which point the remainder of the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> is independently braided from first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>. In other words, the remainder of main body <NUM> of braided upper is braided at the same time, but independently from, first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>, such that first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are integral with the main body <NUM>, but project separately from the main body <NUM>.

As discussed above with respect to <FIG>, the eyelets <NUM> may be contiguous with the braid pattern of the high performance yarn <NUM>, such that tension on the eyelets <NUM> is transferred to (and through) the remainder of the braid pattern of the high performance yarn. <FIG> shows second braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> in the as-worn condition in one example of a lace pattern, crisscrossing through eyelets <NUM>. One aspect of a different pattern for the high performance yarn <NUM> forming eyelets <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. As shown, high performance yarn <NUM> may extend under main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> and upwardly towards throat portion <NUM> in a vertical section <NUM>, exiting throat portion <NUM> at exit location <NUM>, and re-entering at entry location <NUM> to form eyelet <NUM>. High performance yarn <NUM> may then continue in a generally orthogonal orientation to vertical section <NUM> in a horizontal section <NUM> that wraps around heel portion <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, a series of high performance yarns <NUM> may be used to form the desired number of eyelets <NUM> (with four eyelets being shown in <FIG>). More, or fewer, eyelets can be so formed with high performance yarn <NUM> in other aspects. Additionally, the yarn used for first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> may differ from the high performance yarn <NUM> used to form eyelets <NUM> in some aspects. Note that in <FIG>, the braid pattern of braided upper <NUM> is not shown to clarify the location of the high performance yarn <NUM> in this aspect. The braided upper <NUM>, with high performance yarns <NUM> forming first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM>, as well as extending through upper <NUM> to form eyelets <NUM>, all allow the braided upper <NUM> to provide containment for a user's foot in the as worn condition when the first braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> are tightened. The high performance yarns <NUM> together with the braided pattern of braided upper <NUM> form a containment net that provides containment forces to surround the foot, providing added stability. First braided lace <NUM>, second braided lace <NUM>, third braided lace <NUM> and fourth braided lace <NUM> provide a containment zone to support to upper <NUM> in the direction of shear forces exerted during lateral movement to contain the foot during lateral movement, or "cutting.

In some aspects, the braided framework for the main body <NUM> of braided upper is contiguously braided with the eyelets <NUM> along the throat portion <NUM>. In some aspects, the eyelets <NUM> are braided independently from the main body <NUM>. In other words, the eyelets <NUM> may be on a separate plane or braided layer. Each braided eyelet comprises an exit location <NUM> (also referred to as the first location), and an entry location <NUM> (also referred to as the second location). An individual braided eyelet <NUM>, for example, is contiguously braided with the main braided layer forming the main body <NUM> of braided upper <NUM> and as part of the braided framework of the main body <NUM>, up to the edge (either medial edge <NUM> or lateral edge <NUM>) of the throat portion <NUM> of the braided upper <NUM>. Once the braided framework reaches the edge of the throat <NUM>, the eyelet <NUM> continues to be braided separately/independently from the throat starting at exit location <NUM> for a predetermined length and then is reincorporated into the main body <NUM> of the braided upper <NUM> at an entry location <NUM>. In other words, the eyelets <NUM> briefly form a second braided layer at the medial edge <NUM> and lateral edge <NUM> of the unitary braided upper <NUM>.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A braided article of footwear comprising: a sole (<NUM>); a unitary braided upper (<NUM>) formed from a first yarn (<NUM>) and coupled to the sole (<NUM>) and having a toe portion (<NUM>), a heel portion (<NUM>), a midfoot portion (<NUM>) extending between the toe portion (<NUM>) and the heel portion (<NUM>), and a throat portion (<NUM>); and at least one braided lace (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) formed from a second yarn different from the first yarn (<NUM>), the braided lace (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) integrated with the braided upper (<NUM>), at a lace integration portion (<NUM>) of the braided upper (<NUM>),
characterized in that the second yarn is a high-performance yarn (<NUM>).