Resilient knitted component with wave features

• US 10,368,606 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2014
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Meir, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Worrell, Danny
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bravo, Jocelyn
• Application Number:
  US14/252,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20150289579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,939 Days
• Field of Search: 66170, 66173
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0018 made at least partially of flexible, bellow-like shaped material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• 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 23/027 with a part of the upper particularly flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/102 with stitch pattern D04B1/06, D04B1/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/246 Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0311 Small thickness fabric, e.g. ribbons, tapes or straps
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/033 Three dimensional fabric, e.g. forming or comprising cavities in or protrusions from the basic planar configuration, or deviations from the cylindrical shape as generally imposed by the fabric forming process
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2505/10 Packaging, e.g. bags

Abstract

A knitted component formed of unitary knit construction includes a ridge structure and a channel structure. The ridge structure is biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position. The channel structure is biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position. The first direction is opposite the second direction. Courses of the ridge structure extend in the same direction as the first axis. Courses of the channel structure extend in the same direction as the second axis.

Claims

1. A knitted component that provides resiliency to an object, the knitted component comprising:

a ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, the ridge courses being inherently biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position of the ridge structure, the first axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge courses, and at least one ridge course of the plurality of ridge courses having loops that are intermeshed with an adjacent ridge course;

a channel structure that is adjacent the ridge structure, the channel structure including a plurality of channel courses, the channel courses being inherently biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position of the channel structure, the second axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the channel courses, the first direction being opposite the second direction, and at least one channel course of the plurality of channel courses having loops that are intermeshed with an adjacent channel course; and

a first bridge portion, the first bridge portion including a yarn segment that extends across the channel structure to limit an extended position of the channel structure, wherein the yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component,

the ridge structure configured to move between the compacted position and an extended position, the channel structure configured to move between the compacted position and the extended position,

the plurality of ridge courses extending in the same direction as the first axis, the plurality of channel courses extending in the same direction as the second axis, and

the ridge structure configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the ridge structure in response to a force applied to the ridge structure, and the channel structure being configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the channel structure in response to a force applied to the channel structure.

2. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the ridge structure includes an apex, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure extend away from each other from the apex,

wherein the channel structure includes a nadir, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure extend away from each other from the nadir,

wherein the first side wall of the ridge structure is attached to the second side wall of the channel structure,

wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure curl in the first direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position, and

wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure curl in the second direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position.

3. The knitted component of claim 1,

wherein the knitted component defines a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction,

wherein the knitted component further comprises an adjacent ridge structure, the adjacent ridge structure configured to move between a compacted position and an extended position, the adjacent ridge structure being biased to curl in the first direction toward the compacted position of the adjacent ridge structure,

wherein the ridge structure, the channel structure, and the adjacent ridge structure extend in the longitudinal direction,

wherein the ridge structure, the channel structure, and the adjacent ridge structure are spaced apart in the lateral direction,

wherein the channel structure is disposed between the ridge structure and the adjacent ridge structure, wherein the ridge structure is connected to the channel structure to define a first transition between the ridge structure and the channel structure, wherein the channel structure is connected to the adjacent ridge structure to define a second transition between the channel structure and the adjacent ridge structure, and

wherein the knitted component is configured to stretch in the lateral direction between a neutral position and a stretched position, the knitted component biased toward the neutral position, the first transition being closer to the second transition in the neutral position than in the stretched position.

4. The knitted component of claim 3, wherein the ridge structure and the adjacent ridge structure abut when the knitted component is in the neutral position.

5. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the ridge structure includes a first yarn and the channel structure includes a second yarn.

6. The knitted component of claim 5, wherein the first yarn and the second yarn differ in appearance.

7. The knitted component of claim 1, further comprising:

a second bridge portion being different than the channel structure and the ridge structure, wherein the second bridge portion extends across the ridge structure, and wherein the second bridge portion includes a second yarn segment that limits the extended position of the ridge structure, the second yarn segment being excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component.

8. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the ridge structure has one of a front jersey knit structure and a reverse jersey knit structure, and wherein the channel structure has the other of the front jersey knit structure and the reverse jersey knit structure.

9. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the ridge structure includes at least four ridge courses, and wherein the channel structure includes at least four channel courses.

10. The knitted component of claim 1, wherein the object is an upper of an article of footwear, and wherein at least one of the ridge structure and the channel structure is attached to an adjacent portion of the upper.

11. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper including a knitted component, the knitted component comprising;

a ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, the ridge courses being inherently biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position of the ridge structure, the first axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge courses;

a channel structure that is adjacent the ridge structure, the channel structure including a plurality of channel courses, at least one of the channel courses including a plurality of adjacent loops within the channel structure, where each loop of the plurality of adjacent loops is intermeshed with a loop of an adjacent channel course, the channel courses being inherently biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position of the channel structure, the first direction being opposite the second direction, and the second axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the channel courses; and

a first bridge portion, the first bridge portion including a yarn segment that extends across the channel structure to limit an extended position of the channel structure, wherein the yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component,

the ridge structure configured to move between the compacted position and an extended position, the channel structure configured to move between the compacted position and the extended position,

the plurality of ridge courses extending in the same direction as the first axis, the plurality of channel courses extending in the same direction as the second axis, wherein at least one ridge course includes a plurality of loops,

the ridge structure configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the ridge structure in response to a force applied to the ridge structure, and the channel structure being configured to uncurl toward the extended position of the channel structure in response to a force applied to the channel structure.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the ridge structure includes an apex, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure extend away from each other from the apex,

wherein the channel structure includes a nadir, a first side wall, and a second side wall, wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure extend away from each other from the nadir,

wherein the first side wall of the ridge structure is attached to the second side wall of the channel structure,

wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the ridge structure curl in the first direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position, and

wherein the first side wall and the second side wall of the channel structure curl in the second direction when moving away from the extended position toward the compacted position.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the upper defines a void that is configured to receive a foot, wherein the upper defines a medial side, a lateral side, and a throat opening defined between the medial side and the lateral side, further comprising a securement member that is attached to the medial side and the lateral side, wherein the securement member is configured to move the medial side relative to the lateral side to change a size of the void, and

wherein the knitted component defines a tongue that is disposed within the throat opening with the channel structure extending toward the void and the ridge structure projecting away from the void.

14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the throat opening is defined by a throat edge, and wherein the knitted component includes a terminal edge that is removably attached to the throat edge at a seam.

15. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein the knitted component also defines at least one of the medial side, the lateral side, and a forefoot region of the upper, and wherein the tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the at least one of the medial side, the lateral side, and the forefoot region of the upper.

16. A knitted component comprising:

a first ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, wherein the first ridge structure is inherently biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction, and wherein the plurality of ridge courses extend in the same direction as the first axis, the first axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ridge courses;

a second ridge structure that includes a plurality of ridge courses, wherein the second ridge structure is inherently biased to curl about a third axis in the first direction, the third axis extending parallel to the first axis;

a first channel structure located between the first ridge structure and the second ridge structure, wherein the first channel structure includes a plurality of channel courses, wherein the first channel structure is inherently biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction, wherein the first direction is opposite of the second direction, and wherein the plurality of channel courses extends in the same direction as the second axis, the second axis being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the channel courses; and

a first bridge portion, the first bridge portion including a first yarn segment that extends across the first channel structure to limit an extended position of the first channel structure, and wherein the first yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component.

17. The knitted component of claim 16, further comprising:

a second channel structure, wherein the second ridge structure is located between the first channel structure and the second channel structure; and

a second bridge portion, the second bridge portion including a second yarn segment that extends across the second ridge structure to limit an extended position of the second ridge structure, wherein the second yarn segment is excluded from all knitted loops of the knitted component.