ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING A FLAT KNIT UPPER CONSTRUCTION OR OTHER UPPER CONSTRUCTION

• US 20080110048A1
• Filed: 11/10/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Dua, Bhupesh, Thomas, Edward Nathaniel
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,956 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/45
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/04 braided, knotted, knitted or crocheted
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0275 with a part of the upper particularly rigid, e.g. resisting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 1/04 with rings or loops
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0113 One surface including hollow piping or integrated straps, e.g. for inserts or mountings
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0331 with one or more convex or concave portions of limited extension, e.g. domes or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0332 with gussets folding into three dimensional shape, e.g. seat covers
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/061 Piped openings (pockets)

Abstract

Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising a knitted element formed from at least one mechanically manipulated yarn, the knitted element having an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer, the first layer being formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer being joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the area with the first layer and the second layer forms a first channel located on one of a lateral side and an opposite medial side of the upper, and a lace element extends through the first channel, the lace element defining at least one loop for receiving a lace.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein a portion of the lace element extends under the knitted element.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 3, wherein the portion of the lace element extends between the upper and the sole structure.

5. The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein the loop extends outward from an end of the first channel.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 2, wherein the knitted element defines a second channel, and the lace element extends through each of the first and second channels.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted element defines a void for receiving a foot of a wearer.

8. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted element defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper, and the knitted element defines at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot of a wearer.

9. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted element includes a first area and a second area, the first area including a first type of knit structure, and the second area including a second type of knit structure, the first type being different than the second type.

10. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanically manipulated yarn includes a first yarn and a different second yarn, the first yarn being located in a first area of the upper, and the second yarn being located in a second area of the upper.

11. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

a knitted element formed from at least one mechanically manipulated yarn, the knitted element having a lateral side and an opposite medial side, the knitted element defining at least one lateral channel located on the lateral side and at least one medial channel located on the medial side, each of the lateral channel and the medial channel being formed of unitary construction with the knitted element from the at least one mechanically manipulated yarn; and

at least one lace element extending through the lateral channel and the medial channel, the lace element being less stretchable than the knitted element, and the lace element defining areas for receiving a lace.

12. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the lateral channel and the medial channel extend in a substantially vertical direction.

13. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein a central portion of the lace element extends under the knitted element.

14. The article of footwear recited in claim 13, wherein the central portion extends between the upper and the sole structure.

15. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein end portions of the lace element extend outward from upper portions of the lateral channel and the medial channel.

16. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein end portions of the lace element define loops for receiving the lace.

17. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the knitted element defines a void for receiving a foot of a wearer.

18. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the knitted element defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper, and the knitted element defines at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot of a wearer.

19. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the knitted element includes a first area and a second area, the first area including a first type of knit structure, and the second area including a second type of knit structure, the first type being different than the second type.

20. The article of footwear recited in claim 11, wherein the at least one mechanically manipulated yarn includes a first yarn and a different second yarn, the first yarn being located in a first area of the upper, and the second yarn being located in a second area of the upper.

21. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising:

flat knitting a textile element; and

incorporating the textile element into the article of footwear.

22. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming an area of the textile element with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer, the first layer being formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer being joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer.

23. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming a first area and a second area, a stitch type of the first area being different than a stitch type of the second area.

24. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming a first area and a second area, a yarn type of the first area being different than a yarn type of the second area.

25. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming a first area and a second area, a stitch type and a yarn type of the first area being different than a stitch type and a yarn type of the second area.

26. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming the textile element to have a three-dimensional structure.

27. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming the textile element to have two at least partially coextensive layers of unitary construction.

28. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming a channel of unitary construction in the textile element.

29. The method recited in claim 28, further comprising:

extending a lace element through the channel.

30. The method recited in claim 21, wherein the flat knitting includes forming a lateral channel and a medial channel, the lateral channel being of unitary construction and in a lateral side of the textile element, and the medial channel being of unitary construction and in an opposite medial side of the textile element.

31. The method recited in claim 30, further comprising:

extending a lace element through each of the channels; and

interfacing a lace of the footwear with the lace element.

32. The method recited in claim 30, further comprising:

extending a lace element through each of the channels such that end portions of the lace element extend from upper ends of the channels; and

placing a lace of the footwear through loops located in the end portions of the lace element.

33. The method recited in claim 32, wherein the extending includes locating a central portion of the lace element under the textile element.