Article of footwear with knitted component having biased inter-toe member

• US 10,130,142 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2016
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Meir, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Collier, Jameson
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANGINE, HEATHER N
• Application Number:
  US15/058,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20160302526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 36 45, 36 94, 36 49, 66178 R, 66184, 66185, 66186
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0265 having different properties in different directions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/04 Uppers made of one piece; Uppers with inserted gussets
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0036 characterised by a special shape or design
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/12 characterised by thread material
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/041 thermoplastic; thermosetting
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2401/061 elastic
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region that is configured to receive a plurality of toes of a foot. The upper includes a first zone having a first elasticity, a second zone having a second elasticity, and a third zone having a third elasticity. The third zone is disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The third elasticity is greater than the first elasticity and the second elasticity. The third zone is configured to bias the first zone and the second zone toward each other. The third zone is biased generally toward the sole structure and configured to be received in a space located between two of the plurality of toes of the foot.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising:

an upper comprising a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region;

the upper comprising a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone, each of the first, second, and third zones extending from a terminal toe edge of the upper and toward the heel region;

the first zone extending laterally from a medial side edge of the upper to a first internal boundary of the upper;

the second zone extending laterally from a lateral side edge of the upper to a second internal boundary of the upper;

the third zone extending in-between the first internal boundary and the second internal boundary and entirely separating the first zone from the second zone in at least the forefoot region;

the third zone defining an indentation, the indentation extending from the terminal toe edge of the upper toward the heel region;

the first zone having a first elasticity, the second zone having a second elasticity, and the third zone having a third elasticity, wherein the third elasticity is greater than the first elasticity and the second elasticity;

and wherein the difference in elasticity between the first, second, and third zones forms the indentation.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the third zone is biased toward the heel region.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the third zone and the first zone cooperate to define a first portion of a toe cavity that is configured to receive at least one of a plurality of toes;

the toe cavity defined by an inner surface of the upper;

wherein at least a portion of the inner surface is configured to nest against the at least one of the plurality of toes.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3, wherein the at least one toe of the plurality of toes is a hallux of a foot;

wherein the third zone and the second zone cooperate to define a second portion of the toe cavity that is configured to receive a second toe of the foot; and

wherein the third zone is configured to be received in the space located between the hallux and the second toe.

5. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper includes a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction;

and wherein the knitted component defines the third zone.

6. The article of footwear of claim 5, wherein the knitted component defines at least one of an inner surface of the upper and an outer surface of the upper.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the upper includes a knitted component and wherein the knitted component defines the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone;

and wherein the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone are formed of unitary knit construction with each other.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the third zone is knitted from an elastic yarn;

wherein at least one of the first zone and the second zone is knitted from an additional yarn; and

wherein the elastic yarn has greater elasticity than the additional yarn.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a sole structure, wherein the sole structure includes an attachment area that attaches to the upper;

wherein the third zone includes a front portion and a lofted portion, wherein the front portion extends from the attachment area away from the sole structure, wherein the lofted portion extends from the front portion generally toward the heel region; and

wherein the front portion and the lofted portion are configured to be received within the space formed between two of a plurality of toes.

10. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a sole structure, wherein the sole structure includes an attachment area that attaches to the upper;

wherein the upper includes a collar with a collar opening configured to allow passage of a foot into and out of the upper;

wherein the upper includes a throat that is disposed between the first internal boundary to the second internal boundary of the upper; and

wherein the third zone extends from the attachment area of the sole structure, along the throat, toward the collar.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the third zone extends along the throat to the collar, and wherein the third zone extends continuously around the collar opening.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first elasticity is equal to the second elasticity.