Under Armour. has filed a patent for an innovative article of footwear that includes a textile element with interlocked strands and a structural element. The textile element is stitched onto a temporary substrate, which is then removed and the article is coupled to a sole structure to create the footwear. GlobalData’s report on Under Armour gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Under Armour, Footwear 3D Printing was a key innovation area identified from patents. Under Armour's grant share as of September 2023 was 78%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Footwear with textile element and interlocked strands for structure
A recently filed patent (Publication Number: US20230292884A1) describes an innovative upper for an article of footwear. The upper is made of a textile structure that includes multiple yarn rows, with each row consisting of interlocked first and second strands. These strands are connected through stitches at selected locations along the length of the yarn row. The upper features a grid pattern formed by intersecting first and second yarn rows, with a third yarn row extending in a transverse direction to both the first and second directions.
The textile structure of the upper includes areas where the first and second yarn rows are aligned orthogonally, creating a grid pattern with strands intersecting at right angles. Additionally, the upper may have third and fourth yarn rows connected to the grid pattern, extending in transverse directions to further enhance the structure.
The patent also highlights the stitch density within the upper. Different areas of the upper possess varying stitch densities, with a higher stitch density in one area compared to another. The stitches in the higher density area are present every 0.20 mm to 1.50 mm, while in the lower density area, the stitches are present every 1.60-3.50 mm. There may also be a third area with a different stitch density than the first two.
Furthermore, the upper includes a tongue that is coupled to the body of the upper and positioned within a tongue opening. The tongue comprises a textile structure with intersecting yarn rows, similar to the body of the upper. The strands of the tongue's grid pattern may intersect orthogonally with each other, enhancing the overall structure and design.
Overall, this patent presents an upper for footwear that utilizes a unique textile structure with interlocked yarn rows and a grid pattern. The varying stitch densities and the inclusion of a tongue with a similar structure add to the innovation of this design.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
