US 12,484,656 B2
Upper for a shoe with a ball contact area
Rohan Abel, Nuremberg (DE); Jose Munoz, Nuremberg (DE); Benjamin Alexander Thompsett, Nuremberg (DE); Rupert Malein, Nuremberg (DE); Andreas Hierl, Nuremberg (DE); and Raphael Curet, Nuremberg (DE)
Assigned to adidas AG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed by adidas AG, Herzogenaurach (DE)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/758,383.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2023 206 175.9 (DE), filed on Jun. 29, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0000201 A1, Jan. 2, 2025
Int. Cl. A43B 5/02 (2006.01); A43B 7/1425 (2022.01); A43B 13/04 (2006.01)
CPC A43B 7/1425 (2013.01) [A43B 13/04 (2013.01); A43B 5/025 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An upper for a shoe, comprising:
an outer surface comprising a recess and a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions, wherein the recess extends from a lateral to a medial side of the outer surface and between a first and a second group of protrusions of the plurality of protrusions;
wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis, a sole facing side portion, and an in-step facing side portion; and
wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend in a substantially perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis upon contact with a ball, and wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the in-step facing side portion touches the outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.