Method of making knit footwear having an integral footbed
First Claim
1. A method of making a footwear upper comprising:
- providing a knitted element from a plurality of strands of material so that the knitted element forms a first sock portion and a second sock portion joined with one another at an intermediate portion with the second sock portion being knit in an inside-out configuration, the second sock portion including a second opening adjacent a second toe portion of the second sock portion;
placing a footbed adjacent a first lower panel of the first sock portion;
folding the second sock portion relative to the intermediate portion so that the second sock portion acquires a right-side out configuration;
moving the second sock portion in the right-side out configuration adjacent the first sock portion; and
entrapping the footbed in a footbed void formed between the first lower panel of the first sock portion and a second lower panel of the second sock portion so that the footbed cannot be removed without destroying at least one of the first sock portion and the second sock portion;
whereby the footbed is sandwiched between underfoot knitted layers of the first sock portion and the second sock portion so as to form a completed footwear upper having underfoot padding concealed within the footwear upper.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for making a footwear upper assembly, including knitting a tube to form first and second sock portions integrally joined at an intermediate portion; defining a first sock void and a first opening in the first sock portion; turning the second sock portion inside out, folding relative to the intermediate portion, and moving the second sock portion into the first sock void; inserting a footbed through the first opening into a footbed void formed between first and second lower panels of respective first and second sock portions; and closing the first opening to trap the footbed between the first and second lower panels. Alternatively, the method includes placing the knit tube on a last, placing a footbed adjacent the first lower panel, turning the second sock portion right-side out and moving it around an exterior of the first sock portion, and trapping the footbed within the footbed void.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of making a footwear upper comprising:
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providing a knitted element from a plurality of strands of material so that the knitted element forms a first sock portion and a second sock portion joined with one another at an intermediate portion with the second sock portion being knit in an inside-out configuration, the second sock portion including a second opening adjacent a second toe portion of the second sock portion; placing a footbed adjacent a first lower panel of the first sock portion; folding the second sock portion relative to the intermediate portion so that the second sock portion acquires a right-side out configuration; moving the second sock portion in the right-side out configuration adjacent the first sock portion; and entrapping the footbed in a footbed void formed between the first lower panel of the first sock portion and a second lower panel of the second sock portion so that the footbed cannot be removed without destroying at least one of the first sock portion and the second sock portion; whereby the footbed is sandwiched between underfoot knitted layers of the first sock portion and the second sock portion so as to form a completed footwear upper having underfoot padding concealed within the footwear upper. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making a footwear upper comprising:
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knitting a tube from a plurality of strands of material so that the tube forms a first sock portion and a second sock portion joined with one another at an intermediate portion; defining in the first sock portion a first sock void and a first opening adjacent a first toe portion of the first sock portion; defining in the second sock portion a second sock void configured to receive a human foot; turning the second sock portion inside out so that it acquires an inside out configuration; folding the second sock portion relative to the intermediate portion; moving the second sock portion in the inside out configuration into the first sock void; forming a footbed void between a first lower panel of the first sock portion and a second lower panel of the second sock portion; inserting a footbed through the first opening into the footbed void, between the first lower panel and the second lower panel; and closing the first opening so that the footbed is trapped between the first lower panel and the second lower panel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification