Article Of Footwear Having An Upper With Knitted Elements

• US 20140082965A1
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Greene, Pamela S., Aveni, Michael A., Lyke, Christopher James, Farris, Bryan N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,578,919 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/84
• 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 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/025 assembled by stitching
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/026 Laminated layers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/028 Resilient uppers, e.g. shock absorbing
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/22 specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 21/207 Wearing apparel or garment blanks
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/0241 enhancing mechanical properties
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2501/043 Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear may incorporate various elements that are at least partially formed through a knitting process, such as a circular knitting process or a flat knitting process. Examples of the elements include tongue elements, collar elements, and collar-throat elements. In some configurations, the elements include compressible areas and flange areas. The compressible areas may include foam cores or floating yarns that impart compressibility, and the flange areas may be utilized to join the components to the article of footwear.

Claims

1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper defining an interior void for receiving a foot of a wearer, and the upper having an ankle opening that provides access to the void, the upper having a collar element formed of unitary knit construction and comprising:

a knitted exterior forming at least a portion of (a) an exterior surface of the upper adjacent to an ankle opening of the upper and (b) an interior surface of the upper adjacent to the ankle opening, the knitted exterior defining an interior cavity; and

a plurality of floating yarns located within the cavity,

wherein the collar element is formed as a separate component from other portions of the upper and is secured to the other portions of the upper.

2. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the collar element includes a flange formed of unitary knit construction with the knitted exterior, the flange being secured to the other portions of the upper.

3. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the knitted exterior includes a first knitted layer and a second knitted layer, the first knitted layer and the second knitted layer being joined to each other at the ankle opening and at a location spaced from the ankle opening to define the cavity.

4. The article of footwear recited in claim 1, wherein the collar element extends along a portion of a lateral side of the upper, around a heel area of the upper, and along a portion of a medial side of the upper in an area of the ankle opening.

5. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper defining an interior void for receiving a foot of a wearer, and the upper having an ankle opening that provides access to the void, the upper having a collar element comprising:

a first knit layer and a second knit layer formed of unitary knit construction, the first knit layer forming at least a portion of the exterior surface of the upper adjacent to the ankle opening, and the second knit layer forming at least a portion of an interior surface of the upper adjacent to the ankle opening, areas of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are spaced from each other to define a cavity within the knitted component;

a plurality of floating yarns located within the cavity and between the first knit layer and the second knit layer; and

a flange extending outward from at least one of the first knit layer and the second knit layer, the flange being secured to another element of the upper.

6. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein edges of the first knit layer and the second knit layer are joined to each other around at least a portion of the cavity.

7. The article of footwear recited in claim 5, wherein the collar element extends along a portion of a lateral side of the upper, around a heel area of the upper, and along a portion of a medial side of the upper in an area of the ankle opening.

8. A method of manufacturing a collar element for an article of footwear, the method comprising:

flat knitting the collar element to have unitary knit construction that includes (a) a tubular structure with an interior cavity and (b) a plurality of floating yarns within the cavity; and

securing the collar element to an upper of the article of footwear.

9. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of flat knitting includes forming a flange that extends outward from the tubular structure.

10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the step of securing includes placing the flange adjacent to a material layer of the upper and joining the flange to the material layer.

11. The method recited in claim 8, wherein the step of securing includes locating the collar element along a portion of a lateral side of the upper, around a heel area of the upper, and along a portion of a medial side of the upper.