Article of footware with upper incorporating knitted component providing variable compression

• US 10,383,388 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Podhajny, Daniel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao-Thieu L
• Application Number:
  US14/200,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20150250256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,992 Days
• Field of Search: 36 83, 36 88, 36 93, 36 501, 36 51, 66169 R, 66170, 66171
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/02 made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• 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 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/1493 Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/02 Pile fabrics or articles having similar surface features
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/0632 of the touch-and-close type

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper includes a knitted component with a compression member that is configured to apply compression to the wearer. The knitted component also includes a selection element that is configured for selecting and changing the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The selection element is spaced away from the sole structure. The selection element includes a first area and a second area. The first area is configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The first area is spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, and the first area is attached to the second area in the secured position.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper that is attached to the sole structure, the upper defining a void that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including a one-piece knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, wherein the upper comprises a collar with a rim, the one-piece knitted component including a compression member adjacent the collar, wherein the compression member is configured to apply an amount of compression to the wearer to secure the article of footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot, the compression member including a selection element, the selection element including a first area and a second area, the first area configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member, the first area spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, the first area attached to the second area in the secured position;

the selection element further including an attachment member formed from a plurality of strands of the one-piece knitted component, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands defines a hook on one of the first and second areas and another of the plurality of strands defines a loop on the other of the first and second areas; and

wherein the hook and loop are configured to secure the first area and the second area in the secured position.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first area is configured to move relative to the second area between a first secured position and a second secured position, the first area being attached to the second area in both the first secured position and the second secured position, wherein the selection element is configured to apply a first amount of compression to the wearer in the first secured position, the selection element is further configured to apply a second amount of compression to the wearer in the second secured position, and the second amount of compression is greater than the first amount of compression.

3. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the compression member is elastic and the compression member is configured to stretch between an unsecured position and a secured position, wherein the amount of compression applied by the compression member changes between the unsecured position and the secured position, and wherein the selection element is configured to stretch the compression member between the unsecured position and the secured position as the first area moves relative to the second area.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the rim defines a collar opening, and wherein the first area and the second area of the selection element are defined proximate the rim.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein the upper includes a throat portion and a forefoot portion, the throat portion extending from the rim toward the forefoot portion, and wherein the first area and the second area of the selection element are defined proximate the throat portion.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the opening separates the first area and the second area.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein the first area is defined by the rim and by a first area edge and wherein the second area is defined by the rim and by a second area edge, wherein the opening is defined between the first area edge and the second area edge, and wherein the first area edge and the second area edge have substantially corresponding curvature.

8. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first area overlaps the second area in the secured position.

9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the plurality of strands is formed of unitary knit construction with an adjacent portion of the knitted component.

10. An article of footwear comprising:

a sole structure; and

an upper that includes a one-piece knitted component formed of unitary knit construction, wherein the one-piece knitted component includes a collar, the collar having a rim at an uppermost edge of the collar that at least partially defines a collar opening, the one-piece knitted component further including a selection element with a first area and a second area, the first area configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position, the first area spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, the first area attached to the second area in the secured position, wherein the selection element further includes an attachment member formed from a plurality of strands of the one-piece knitted component, wherein at least one of the plurality of strands defines a hook on one of the first and second area and another of the plurality of strands defines a loop on the other of the first and second area; and

wherein the hook and loop are configured to secure the first area and the second area in the secured position, and wherein the selection element is configured to stretch the collar when the selection element moves from the unsecured position to the secured position, and the collar is configured to compress against a wearer when the selection element is in the secured position.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the selection element further includes an aperture that separates the first area and the second area, and wherein the first area is configured to span across the aperture and stretch the collar when moving from the unsecured position to the secured position.

12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first area is configured to cover over and close off the aperture when in the secured position.

13. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first area overlaps the second area when in the secured position.

14. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the aperture extends from the rim and is open to the collar opening.

15. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the plurality of strands is formed of unitary knit construction with an adjacent portion of the one-piece knitted component.