Upper for an article of footwear with at least one strand for lasting

• US 10,321,739 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2017
• Issued: 06/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Farris, Bryan N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US15/423,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20170143076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 12142 C, 12142 F, 12145
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/38 Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0205 characterised by the material material of the lining A43B23/07, material of toe stiffeners or heel stiffeners A43B23/08
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/042 Uppers made of one piece one piece slippers A43B3/106; one piece sandals A43B3/124
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/02 Footwear stitched or nailed through
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/00 Lasts
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/02 Lasts for making or repairing shoes making of wooden lasts B27M3/20
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/021 Lofty fabric with equidistantly spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/022 Lofty fabric with variably spaced front and back plies, e.g. spacer fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/40 Knit fabric [i.e., knit strand or strip material]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a knitted component, the knitted component with a knit element that forms at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear and defines an interior void for receiving a foot. A lower perimeter edge of the knit element may extend between a lateral side and a medial side of the upper. At least one strand of the knitted component may extend through the lower perimeter edge on opposite sides of the knitted component so as to extend between the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. The knitted component may be formed on a knitting machine, and the at least one strand may be configured to be tensioned to tighten the upper around a last.

Claims

1. An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising:

a first knit element formed with a knitted material and defining an exterior surface of the upper, wherein the first knit element includes a lower perimeter edge located adjacent at an underfoot portion of the first knit element; and

a second knit element that is knit separately from the first knit element, the second knit element being formed with a knitted material, and the second knit element defining a lasting element, the lasting element including;

a first knitted strip joined to the lower perimeter edge on a first side of the upper;

a second knitted strip joined to the lower perimeter edge on a second side of the upper, the second side being opposite the first side; and

at least one strand extending through the first knitted strip and the second knitted strip,

wherein the at least one strand is configured to be tensioned to cause the lasting element to tighten the knit element around a last.

2. The upper of claim 1, wherein the first side is a lateral side of the upper and wherein the second side is a medial side of the upper.

3. The upper of claim 1, wherein the at least one strand passes through the opposite sides such that it forms a w-shaped configuration between the opposite sides.

4. The upper of claim 1, wherein tensioning the at least one strand causes drawing of the opposite sides closer together along the entire length of the first knit element.

5. The upper of claim 1, wherein the first and second knitted strips are joined to the lower perimeter edge of the first knit element via at least one of stitching, thermal bonding, and adhesive bonding.

6. The upper of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first knitted strip, the second knitted strip, and the lower perimeter edge of the first knit element is configured to secure to a sole structure of an article of footwear.

7. The upper of claim 1, wherein the at least one strand alternates between the opposite sides of the upper along an entirety of a length of the upper.